- All photos by John Patota / PinehurstPhotographer.com

Both, though, can say they brought the Putter Boy home.

Britt, long one of the area’s most decorated golfers, made a slick 5-footer for par on the first playoff hole on Pinehurst No. 4 to beat McDonough, Ga.’s Rusty Strawn to win the 71st Senior Men’s North & South Amateur with a three-day total of 8-under 208.

“I’ve finally won at Pinehurst,” said Britt, who finished as the runner-up two years ago and third last year. “This means a lot to me. I’ve been playing here since I was a little kid.”

Told his name, too, would soon be in bronze on the clubhouse wall, Britt shuddered. “I didn’t know that. I probably would’ve shot 80 today if I had known that.”

But this one, a four-shot victory over Jayne Pardus of Mount Pleasant, S.C., to win the 65th Senior Women’s North & South, was especially sweet.

“I’m vibrating with happiness,” she said. “That’s the feeling I’ve been enjoying since we began the move here from Birmingham. This is just a continuation of that.”

Tied with Vigotsky with three holes to play, Benefield's birdie at the par-4 17th at Pinehurst No. 7 proved pivotal.

History-Maker

Patty Moore is in love. And to the surprise of no one, it is with a golfer.

He doesn’t move much, that is certain. Doesn’t say much, either. Nothing at all, in fact. And history suggests he used to be able to tell time just by the movement of the sun.

He only stands a few inches tall.

But he always has a putter in his hands.

What’s not to love?

Well, we’ll get to that.

Before we do, though, let’s stop burying the lead. With her five-shot victory over Robin Krapfl on Wednesday in the 2022 Super Senior Women’s North & South Amateur, Pinehurst Country Club member Patty Moore moved into select company: her own.

It is Moore’s eighth North & South victory – she won three Senior Women’s North & South Amateurs and now has five Super Senior crowns. That makes her the winningest female player in Pinehurst history, eclipsing Carolyn Cudone, who won one Women’s North & South Amateur (1958) and six senior titles to hold seven Pinehurst championships all time.

“Well, I’m old enough,” Moore quipped when told she now would have her name featured on Pinehurst’s perpetual wall more than any other woman in history. “It’s an honor and privilege, and to be able to come and win against very good competitors, it’s as rewarding as it gets.”

Moore won her eight Putter Boys in a span of 22 years, winning her first Senior title in 2000. She prevailed again in 2005 and 2007, then won Super Senior championships in 2012, 2013, 2016, 2020 and 2022. Cudone won her seven is a similar timeframe, from 1958 to 1975, in one stretch winning four straight Senior titles.

“We’ve been members here for 30 years,” Moore said. “When I won the first Putter Boy, I was in love.”

Moore’s eight trophies inch her closer to amateur golf legend Paul Simson, who has won nine between his two Men’s North & South Amateurs and his North & South Senior victories. Six Putter Boys are in Moore’s home office, she said, with another in her sunroom.

“I think I’m going to have to put some shelving in,” she said. “Some people call it my ‘Obnoxious Room.’

“But I can always find room for another one.”

Moore does have other suitors, though. They’re similar in size, say and move about as much, but are more…upright.

As a Pinehurst Country Club member, Moore has won countless club titles, of all kinds. But for those, the Golf Lad – the original Pinehurst icon that was featured in early 20th century advertising by the Resort and served as the inspiration for Lucy Richards’ sundial sculpture in 1912 – is the featured styling for Club trophies.

Don’t get Moore wrong – she’s grateful for every win.

But the Golf Lad trophies?

“They’ve started doing the Lads. Publicize this: I don’t like the Lads,” she joked. “I want the Putter Boys. But they’re insisting on giving us the Lads. The Lads are on the floor. But the Putter Boys are special. I guess that’s why I have to try to come win this, so I can get back with the Putter Boy.”

Love, it seems, isn’t blind.