Fort Mill, SC native Rick Cloninger successfully defended his 2012 Carolinas Senior Championship in comeback fashion on Thursday. Cloninger, an Equipment Consultant in the construction business, started the day five shots behind perennial CGA champion Paul Simson in a tie for 3rd place. Simson struggled on the day, shot 81, and finished in a tie for 5th place.

Cloninger bogeyed his first hole on the day and made pars on the next six holes until a birdie on number 8 and a par on 9 to turn at even par on the day. With the leaders struggling behind him, Cloninger headed to number 10 and suddenly held a one-stroke lead. “When I made the turn I figured I would be two or three shots behind, so I was surprised to be in the lead.” Cloninger said. “I knew the course was playing tough, but they are some good players behind me”. Cloninger extended his lead to three strokes with a birdie on the par-5 13th. “10 is tough to get to, 11 is tough to get to, 12 is 12, 13 is the only birdie hole you can go after on the back side”. Cloninger’s lead shrunk to two with bogeys on 16 and 17, but a par on 18 sealed the victory. “I am glad to be able to take this trophy back home for another year”. This is his third CGA Championship (2003 Carolinas Mid-Amateur, 2012-2013 Carolinas Senior Amateur).

The top-30 finishers are exempt for the 2014 Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship that will take place at Old North State Club in New London, NC. Dates are TBA.

Cloninger now heads to Wade Hampton Golf Club in Cashiers, SC along with Paul Simson and a handful of other Carolinians to play in the USGA Senior Amateur Championship September 21-26.

View results for Carolinas Senior Amateur