SIMPKINS TOPS FIELD AT VICTORIA HILLS; LOMBARDO & FOSTER WIN IN PLAYOFFS

PAUL SIMPKINS WINS AT VICTORIA HILLS

On a course with thin fairways and fuzzy greens, Paul Simpkins captured the Championship flight at Victoria Hills with an even par round of 72.  But everyone played the same course and Paul was two shots better than Eric Baker (74) and three over Bill Foster and Mike Kennedy (75's).  Baker's finish pushed him into first place in the Player of the Year race heading into the first major of the season at Reunion on June 4-5.

BILL FOSTER

Doubling in the senior Championship flight, Foster finished in a tie with Joe Ondo who also posted 75.  They headed out for a quick one hole playoff as Bill won on the first hole.  The win pushed Foster into first place in the Player of the Year race.

The A flilght provided some of the best action of the day.  Mike Lombardo posted an early 74 and waitedc to see if it would hold up.  It did--until the last group of A flight players came in.  Jeff Bradshaw, playing his home course, matched Mike's 74.  So off they went to a playoff.  Neither wanted to lose as they matched strokes for two holes.  Finally Lombardo prevailed on the third extra hole.  Jason Carpenter missed the playoff by one shot, finishing with 75.  In all, ten A flight players broke 80 at Victoria Hills.  It is the biggest flight each time out and the competition for invitations to the Tour Championship will be strong all season.

Both Lombardo and Bradshaw also compete in the senior A flight, so the result stood for that flight as well.  David Parker
took third.

Dan Seidenfaden shot an 80 to take first place in B flight.  It was his first win of the year and thrid top 6 finish.  The steady performance has taken him into the top spot for Player of the Year.  Rick Broennle finished second after shooting 81.  Rick Whitman was next on 84.

Whitman's 84 was good enough to top the field in senior B flight, barely.  John Cruise shot 85 for second place.

GORDON GIBBS TEES OFF AT VICTORIA HILLS

For the second week in a row, the C flight belonged to Gordon Gibbs.  He shot 86 and was two shots better than Walt Renton (88).  Tampa director Len Benedetti finished third with 93.  In the D flight, just like in C, Chase Forsyth won for the second straight week.  His 87 was seven better than two players, Alberto Esperon and Joshua Johnson both with 94's.

NEXT EVENT:  Reunion (Watson & Nicklaus), June 4-5