The seventh edition of host UNC-Wilmington’s tournament begins Friday, Oct. 24, at the Country Club of Landfall’s Nicklaus course.
A field of 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams will participate in the 54-hole event, which begins at 8:17 a.m. Friday.
2007 British Amateur champion Drew Weaver leads defending champion Virginia Tech in the men’s portion. Nicolas Geyger of Tulsa returns to defend his individual crown.
Wilmington’s Jackson Taylor is a freshman at first-time entrant Davidson, while Port City native Bill Brogden is the longtime coach at Tulsa. He led the Golden Hurricane to the title in 2006 and a runner-up finish last year.
The UNCW men (No. 126 in the country) are led by Will Shambley, runner-up in the 2004 Tradition, and former New Hanover standout Josh Brock. On the women’s side, No. 20 Florida is the favorite. The Gators’ Evan Jensen (36th) is the top-ranked individual in the field, while N.C. State’s Lauren Doughtie is 42nd nationally.
Ashley Tait and Carmen Perez-Narbon lead the UNCW women’s team, ranked 84th by Golfweek.
Simson nips Blackwell at Eagle Point
Wilmington’s John Blackwell battled amateur legend Paul Simson even for 54 holes this week in the Eagle Point Amateur Invitational.
On the 55th hole, Simson prevailed.
After forcing a playoff with a final-hole birdie, Simson, of Raleigh, made par on the first extra hole to win the overall title. Both players shot 1-under 215 on the Eagle Point Golf Club layout where the greens rolled at an Augusta National-esque 13 on the Stimpmeter.
Blackwell led by two shots entering the final nine holes, but Simson closed the gap with a 15-foot birdie putt on No. 10. He briefly pulled even but made back-to-back bogeys and trailed by one shot going to No. 18, a 550-yard par 5.
Blackwell, a two-time Wilmington City Amateur champion, missed the green with his third at the home hole, but chipped within two inches to save par. Then, Simson’s downhill 10-footer curled in the left side of the hole for birdie and a regulation tie.
In the playoff, both players hit good drives, laid up and had short-iron approaches to the green. Playing first, Blackwell hit his third shot into the water hazard in front of the green. Simson played safe to the left and two-putted from the fringe for the winning par.
Simson, 57, has won 19 Carolinas Golf Association major championships, including the Carolinas Senior Amateur last month. He also won his second British Senior Amateur title earlier this summer and was the medalist at the Carolinas Amateur at Cape Fear CC in July.
Rhett Graham of Wilmington finished seventh with a 226 total, while Walker Taylor IV of Wilmington was 10th at 229.
In the senior division, Don Detweiler fired 69-71 to take the title by two shots over Bob Desjardins. John Green won the super senior portion with 80-79–159.
Ladies City Am
The Wilmington Ladies City Amateur is on tap for Oct. 25.
Golfers who are permanent residents of Brunswick, Pender or New Hanover counties will compete for titles in the junior girls, ladies and senior divisions.
Gross and net prizes will be awarded.
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