Croasdaile Country Club in Durham, N.C. (CGA/Twitter photo)
Evan Long of Charlotte, N.C., played as close to perfect as one can, going bogey free for two days in a row in route to capturing the 12th N.C. Super Senior Championship at Croasdaile Country Club in Durham, N.C. Long finished with a 4-under 68 in the final round after posting a 5-under 67 in Round 1. A 9-under 135 total was good enough for a four-shot victory and Long’s first CGA championship win.
“You just never know when things are going to happen,” said Long. “I always felt like I was capable. It just hadn’t happened.”
Long, the 1992 Indiana Mid-Amateur champion, said he’d been playing well recently and felt good about his game heading into this week’s championship.
“I always felt like I hadn’t performed as well as I could,” said Long. “But things got going this week. The course suited me, I just played steady and hit a lot of good shots.”
Long, who shared the first-round lead with John Fritz of Mint Hill, N.C., jumped out in front early with birdies on Nos. 3 and 6 to make the turn at 2-under 34. Fritz made a couple birdies himself on Nos. 11 and 13 to tie things back up at the top of the leaderboard. Long carried a one-shot lead onto the 16th tee, but a wayward drive by Fritz and a tap in birdie by Long resulted in a three-shot swing. The hole gave Long a comfortable cushion heading into the final two holes, but he made a birdie on No. 18 to cap off the victory.
Reigning Carolinas Super Senior Player of the Year, Russ Perry of Winston-Salem, N.C. finished the championship with a 5-under 139 total to take second place. Mike Kelly of Sanford, N.C had one of the more consistent performances of the championship, posting a pair of 70s to finish at 4-under 140 total. Fritz eventually finished in fourth place at 3-under 141 total for the championship. Logan Jackson of Winston-Salem, N.C. finished at 2-under 142 total to finish in fifth place.
In the 70+ division, Ernie Newton of Winston-Salem, N.C., and Robert Desjardins of Mathews, N.C., finished tied at the end of regulation play at 7-under-par, 137 total for the championship. The two golfers played in a four-hole playoff starting on No. 9 and alternating holes with No. 10. A birdie by Newton on the fourth playoff hole (No. 10) gave him the victory. It was a disappointing finish for Desjardins who made two long putts for birdie on Nos. 17 and 18 to force the playoff.
“I was lucky. I can tell you that,” said Newton. “I’ll be 72 in October and I’m just thankful to god that I can get out here and I’m healthy enough to play. I give him all the glory.”
Rick Kline of Pinehurst, N.C., and Arlis Pike of Kernersville, N.C., both shot 3-under 141 total to finished tied for third. George Leight of Apex, N.C. finished at 2-under 142 total to finish in solo fifth place.
View results for North Carolina Super Senior
ABOUT THE North Carolina Super Senior
Open to any male golfer 65 and older, a resident of
North Carolina, a member of a CGA member club,
and an index that does not exceed 9.9.
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