Thomasville, NC  (October 11, 2012)  -  Ron Hockensmith of Whispering Pines started his Senior Amateur Tour "career" as an A Flight player earlier this year.  He played his way out of that flight by posting strong scores that elevated his Tour Handicap to Championship Flight levels.  Hockensmith once again proved that move a judicious one, taking a 2-stroke victory in Championship Flight competition here at Colonial Country Club today.  Carrboro's Jim Guidici was runner-up.  Hockensmith, who has competed in 21 events this season, made the move to Championship Flight in June, Although he had to have his Points Standings adjusted down by over 1000 points after moving up due to Tour guidelines, he still maintained the level of play necessary to remain the Regular Season Championship Flight points leader by over 1000 points.  

Another member who played a full slate of events this year "on-Tour" was Winston-Salem's Mark Robinson, who secured the A Flight crown with a solid 75, also enjoying a 2 stroke margin of victory over Zebulon's Randy Bunn.  Unlike Hockensmith, who is in his first year of competition, Robinson started his Tour career with the young guys playing on what was then called the "Carolina Blonde Tour" over 10 years ago.  

Advance's Dawson Strider was another Tour veteran who rose to the occasion today, taking top B Flight honors with a narrow 1 stroke win over Charlotte's Nolan Elenz - 78 to 79.  It should be noted that the B and C Flight played from shorter tees than their Champ and A counterparts.  

Like Hockensmith in the Championship Flight, another Tour "rookie" prevailed in C Flight competition as Kernersville's Donald Brown managed a single stroke margin of victory over a pair of players - Pinehurst's Marty Carpenter and James Eatmon of Sims.  For Brown, who competed in 16 events this season, his 85 was 1 stroke off his best effort of the year, turned in earlier at Bermuda Run West.    

The top players "on-Tour" will next be teeing it up  in the National Tour Finals in Pinehurst on November 13 and 14.  Anyone requiring information on that event, which is open to the top 15 leaders in the season ending Points Standings race, needs to call Tour Director Bruce Hallenbeck at 336-495-6556.  

THE SENIOR AMATEUR GOLF TOUR
COLONAIL COUNTRY CLUB
EVENT TOP FIVE SCORES BY FLIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT  (6022 YDS) Ron Hockensmith, Whispering Pines  74 Jim Guidici, Carrboro  76 Randy Jones, Greensboro  77 Mike Smith, Lewisville  77 Eddie McBride, Lewisville  78

A  FLIGHT  (6022 yds) Mark Robinson, Winston Salem  75 Randy Bunn, Zebulon  77 David Frye, Winston Salem  79 Jim Alford, Zebulon  79 Tim Stone, Reidsville  79

B  FLIGHT  (5848 yds) Dawson Strider, Advance  78 Nolan Elenz, Charlotte  79 John Henely, Pinehurst  80 Tim Ward, Greensboro  81 Jeff Moore, Burlington  81 John Ashby, Galax, VA  81

C  FLIGHT  (5848 yds) Donald Brown, Kernersville  85 Marty Carpenter, Pinehurst  86 James Eatmon, Sims  86 Dick Schuler, Pittsboro  87 Derek Latham, Charlotte  87