Southern Pines - (February 26, 2011)  -  Pinehurst's Rick Luzar emerged as the "top dog" in the Championship Flight competition of the Golfweek and Senior Amateur Golf Tours event held at Mid Pines today.  This event is one of only two events all season that brings together players from both the Golfweek and Senior Tours.  Playing from the same tees as the younger set, Luzar fashioned a 1-over 73 to edge Golfweek Tour newcomer Lance Jordan by 3 strokes.

Luzar's round was highlighted by an eagle on the 481 yard, 15th hole.  "On the back side it seemed like I either birdied or bogeyed just about every hole", stated Luzar.  "He reached the par-5 in two", said playing partner Ken Eichele, "but the young guys behind us were hitting 8-irons into that hole".

The largest flight of the day was the A Flight with 41 participants out of a total field of 123 Tour members.  Golfweek Tour newcomer Ed Gregory of Cary, playing in his very first Tour event, used some of that "young-gun" power to take the top spot with a 75.  Greensboro's Robin Gomez, playing in his second year on-Tour was only one back with a 76.

Improving his score by 14 strokes over his last Tour start, Joe Prairie of Asheboro once again proved that the Senior Tour is not one to be taken lightly, as his 79 was 2 stokes clear of Golfweek Tour rookie Roger Sullivan of Castalia and Fuquay-Varina's Tom Handy in B Flight competition.  Prairie's 1-over 37 on the back nine was the key to his win.

The C Flight saw the young guys come out on top with the greatest margin of victory in any flight as Pinehurst's Ben Martin enjoyed a 6-stroke edge over his closest competitor with an 81.  Jack Frazier of Clemmons took second.

Saturday was a good day for the Martin family, as Ben's son Tyler took first place in the D Flight competition with a 98.  He finished a single stroke ahead of Raleigh's Bob Robinson who made it two runner-up finishes in a row, having placed second two weeks ago at The Legacy Golf Links.

"123 players is a nice way to start the season" said Tour Director Bruce Hallenbeck.  "We're adding new members every week and 2011 looks like it's going to be a real successful year".

Any amateur golfer interested in either the Golfweek or Senior Amateur Tours, which will start individual schedules next week, can contact Hallenbeck at 336-495-6556, or by email  at behgolf@aol.com.

THE GOLFWEEK AND SENIOR AMATEUR TOUR

MID PINES EVENT

TOP FIVE SCORES BY FLIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP

Rick Luzar, Pinehurst  73

Lance Jordan, Pinehurst  76

Ken Eichele, Pinehurst  77

Gene Queen, Winston-Salem  77

Doug Masters, Clemmons  78

Gary Strickfaden, Southern Pines  78

Kevin Miller, Clayton  78

A   FLIGHT

Ed Gregory, Cary  75

Robin Gomez, Greensboro  76

Bobby Elder, Randleman  77

Bob Rudolph, Raleigh  77

William Gwinn, Raleigh  79

Tom Fagerli, Yadkinville  79

Jeff Hughes, Charlotte  79

B   FLIGHT

Joe Prairie, Asheboro  79

Roger Sullivan, Castalia  81

Tom Handy, Fuquay-Varina  81

Don Pate, St Paul  82

Edward Burton, Durham  83

Daren Green, Durham  83

C   FLIGHT

Ben Martin, Pinehurst  81

Jack Frazier, Clemmons  87

Dale Rucker, Rockingham  88

Johnny Brooks, Youngsville  89

Steven Bell, Raleigh  89

D   FLIGHT

Tyler Martin, Pinehurst  98

Bob Robinson, Raleigh  99

Prince Dozier, Raleigh  103

Amar Dass, Durham  107

Tony Cashatt, Toast  112