High Point, NC  (April 10, 2014)  -  Twenty-three players in a field of one hundred and nine failed to break 100 today in The Senior Amateur Golf Tour's first Major Championship of the 2014 season held at Willow Creek Country Club.  In addition to those who finished in the century club, over half the field did not break 90.

"Of course you want to present a real challenge for the event participants when it's Major Championship time", stated Tour Director Bruce Hallenbeck.  "But with the wet conditions, added distance, and difficult greens it proved to be a little more challenging than we had anticipated.  Basically, guys were shooting 6 - 10 shots over their normal averages".

Appropriately the best score of the day was turned in by Tour charter member Craig Sturdivant of Sanford in the Championship Flight with a 76.  Sturdivant started his Tour career 16 years ago on what was then called the Carolina Blonde Tour.  He had not played "on-Tour" for a number of years until coming back this season with a vengeance.  "Craig has been in the top three in every event in which he's competed this year.  By winning this event he automatically qualifies for the season-ending Tour National Championship Event in Pinehurst where he will undoubtedly be one of the favorites for the Championship Flight crown", said Hallenbeck.

One stroke behind Sturdivant were Steve Fox of Huntington, WV and Winston-Salem's Howard Nemenz.

Three A Flight players also finished 1 shot behind Sturdivant's standard although they played from tees that were almost 400 yards shorter than those of the Championship Flight.  Zebulon's Randy Bunn, Charlotte's Steve Romito and David Coolidge of Greensboro all headed back out on the course for a sudden death playoff.  Coolidge emerged the winner with a par on the first extra hole.

Unlike Coolidge, who has tasted victory before "on-Tour", Allen Kayler took home his initial first place prize in the B Flight with an 82, good for a 1 shot win over Salisbury's Russ Priddy and 2 better than both James Jones of Raleigh and Dick Kuehl of Sanford.

Knightdale's Doug Harvey was only 2 shots behind Kayler in winning the C Flight handily.  His 84 was 6 shots better than runner-up Mark Denton from Mocksville.  Taking third was Pittsboro's Dwight Davis with a 91.

The Tour takes next week off for the Easter holidays and resumes play on April 24 at Carolina Trace Country Club - The Creek Course in Sanford.  There is a possibility that that event could make it 2 sell-outs in-a-row "on-Tour", but as of now there are still some spots available for that date.  Any amateur golfer over 50 can contact Hallenbeck at 336-495-6556, or email him at behgolf@aol.com for information on competing at the Carolina Trace event.

THE SENIOR AMATEUR GOLF TOUR

WILLOW CREEK COUNTRY CLUB (MAJOR) EVENT

TOP FIVE SCORES BY FLIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP  (6541 yards)

Craig Sturdivant, Sanford  76

Howard Nemenz, Winston-Salem  77

Steve Fox, Huntington, WV  77

Dan Anthony, Thomasville  79

Mike Smith, Lewisville  79

A  FLIGHT  (6175 yds)

David Coolidge, Greensboro  77

Steve Romito, Charlotte  77

Randy Bunn, Zebulon  77

Jim Alford, Zebulon  78

Chuck Taubersmith, Pinehurst  78

B  FLIGHT  (6175 yards)

Allen Kayler, Winston-Salem  82

Russ Priddy, Salisbury  83

Dick Kuehl, Sanford  84

James Jones, Raleigh  84

Travis Jones, Greensboro  86

Parker Whitt, Winston-Salem  86

Barry Nation, Garner  86

C  FLIGHT  (6175 yards)

Doug Harvey, Knightdale  84

Mark Denton, Mocksville  90

Dwight Davis, Pittsboro  91

Joe Chludzinski, Whitsett  94

Don Michaux, Greensboro  95