Winston-Salem, NC  (April 7, 2011)  -  Summerfield's Steve Lambert fired a front-side 31 in the Senior Amateur Golf Tour event held at the Meadowlands Golf Club today.  Although Lambert competes in the Championship Flight, ordinarily a score that low on the outward nine would have a player thinking he could cruise to an easy victory.  Greensboro's Randy Coppedge had other ideas however.  Coppedge had a strong front-side with a 35 and was a model of consistency posting the same score on the back.  Lambert's 38 on the back proved to be just enough to hold off the hard-charging Coppedge by one shot - 69 to 70.

The A Flight and B Flight also saw great scoring from their winners.  Gene Jones fired a 2-under 70 to beat Pinehurst's Steve Smith by 2 strokes in A Flight competition.   The 70 Jones posted was more than 11 strokes better than his Tour scoring average this season.  Jones, who entered today's event with an 8.6 Tour Handicap, stated "I’ve never shot under par in my life.  I'm going to buy a lottery ticket, 'cause everything went right today".

Tom Whatley of Durham, with a 12.7 Tour index, was almost as impressive in the B Flight as Jones was in the A Flight.  Whatley bettered his scoring average by more than 9 shots.  It was the first win of the season for both players.  "I putted really well today and the driver was working", said Whatley.  "I only took 29 putts and that's really good for me".  Raleigh's Doug Shank took second with an 80.

The low scoring continued in the C Flight as well as 17-handicapper Len Bullock was 8 strokes lower than his Tour scoring average with an 81 - two strokes better than Pinehurst's John Henely.  Bullock's round was highlighted by a 40 foot downhill twister for a birdie on the 340 yard, par 4, 5th hole.

"The pros started their first Major Event of the season today at The Masters, well, we have our first one going next week at Pinewood CC in Asheboro", stated Tour Director Bruce Hallenbeck.  "Look's like our guys are getting their games ready for the big one".

Any golfer over 50 interested in playing in a Senior Amateur Tour event can call Hallenbeck at 336-495-6556, or email him at behgolf@aol.com.

THE SENIOR AMATEUR GOLF TOUR

MEADOWLANDS GOLF CLUB EVENT

TOP FIVE SCORES BY FLIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP  (6,116 yards)

Steve Lambert, Summerfield  69

Randy Coppedge, Greensboro  70

John Franklin, Danville, VA  71

David Coolidge, Winston-Salem  76

Tim Hunter, Pinehurst  76

Mike Smith, Lewisville  76

A  FLIGHT  (6,116 yards)

Gene Jones, Thomasville  70

Steve Smith, Pinehurst  72

Sonny Rose, Rockingham  74

Marshall Wolfe, Clemmons  75

Mark Robinson, Winston-Salem  76

B  FLIGHT  (6,116 yards)

Tom Whatley, Durham  76

Doug Shank, Raleigh  80

John Doster, Winston-Salem  81

James Dockery, Southern Pines  84

Tal Brown, Bermuda Run  84

Dean Venable, Reidsville  84

C  FLIGHT  (6,116)

Len Bullock, Greensboro  81

John Henely, Pinehurst  83

Jerry Tilley, Pfafftown  84

TJ Warren, Greensboro  86

Brian Costine, Durham  89

John Hall, Raleigh  89

Jim Pritchett, Winston-Salem  89

Barry Whitesell, Greensboro  89