Congratulations to the 2013 National Tour Champions!

PINEHURST, NC — Three Virginians and a Pennsylvanian living in Florida took home the hardware in the annual Senior Amateur Golf Tour Championship played on four Pinehurst courses Nov. 12-13.

Ron Sullins of Yorktown Va., shot a 36-hole score of 151 to capture the Championship Flight hardware, but it took a playoff to get the job done.

Brian Layne, also of Yorktown, simply ran away and hid from the field in Flight A, winning by nine strokes.

Lester Brightbill, the Pennsylvanian now living in The Villages in Florida, won Flight B by three shots and David Davis of Martinsville, Va., claimed a two-stroke win in Flight C.

The championship was played on National Golf Club, Dormie Club, Legacy Golf Links and Seven Lakes Country Club.

Sullins, who is 60, retired from the military and now working for a private security firm, was making his fourth appearance in the national championship and came to Pinehurst feeling good about his game.

“I came here playing well and hoping to be in the running,” he said after posting rounds of 75 at Legacy and 76 at Seven Lakes and clinching the Championship Flight title with a par on the first hole of the sudden-death playoff.

“I drove the ball well both days and that was the key for me; keeping it in the fairway,” Sullins said. “I’ve been playing recreational golf for 42 years and play about three times a week, but this was a lot bigger than anything else I’ve ever won. It’s a good feeling.”

Layne was somewhat more surprised with his A Flight win, especially by the margin. He shot 74 at Seven Lakes and 76 at Legacy.

“I didn’t come here with a lot of confidence,” he said. “I was playing horribly. But I made the decision to cut down on my swing and it paid off. It was just something I did on my own. I was just too ‘handsy’.

“I just tried to keep from making any big mistakes and the key was driving and putting well. And I also had two chip-in birdies today.”

This was the second Tour Championship title for Layne, who won the B Flight in the Regular Tour Championship in 2008, despite having taken up the game only eight years ago.

“The first one was nice, but I like this one better,” he said.

Brightbill, 65, a retired Pennsylvania state policeman, took up the game after leaving the military but had never tasted victory on this level. His B Flight victory came by three strokes.

“I was hitting it straight and my putting came along today,” he said. “This is the first time I’ve ever won anything on a national level.

“It’s top shelf.”

Davis, a 63-year-old playing in only his second Tour Championship, credited an injury for his win in C Flight.

“I’ve never won anything in golf before,” he said. “And the key for me was a pulled muscle in my back that kept me from swinging too hard.

“Seriously, it was so painful that I was close to withdrawing and going home.”

But the 63-year-old retired telephone company employee stuck it out and the result was a two-stroke victory as he shot rounds of 83-93—176.

“Usually, I just grip it and rip it,” he said, “but with the pulled muscle, I played conservatively and it paid off.”

Like the other champions, Davis enjoys more than just competition on the Amateur Tour.

“I really enjoy the fellowship with the other players,” he said. “This is by far the best tour I’ve ever played on.”

The team Cup was won by Charlotte with a 2 day total of 1315 followed closely by Raleigh/Pinehurst at 1335 then the Triad tour and Piedmont, VA.

Champ Flight:

A Flight:

B Flight:

C Flight:

For full results from the 2012 Senior Amateur Golf Tour Championship, click here.

For full results from the 2011 Senior Amateur Golf Tour Championship, click here.
For full results from the 2010 Senior Amateur Golf Tour Championship, click here.
For full results from the 2009 Senior Amateur Golf Tour Championship, click here.