Sutton seeks WCA three-peat

By Ryan Hanchett
Published in Sports on July 9, 2009 1:47 PM

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Over 150 of the best golfers in Wayne County are set to show off their strokes.

The 11th annual Wayne County Men's Amateur begins play on Friday morning at Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course and continues Saturday at Walnut Creek Country Club and concludes Sunday on the links at Southern Wayne Country Club.

Defending open division champion Lionel Sutton is back and is looking for a third consecutive WCMA title. No player has ever won the open division three times.

"We have a lot of great golfers coming out this year and it is certainly a quality field," tournament organizer Parker King said. "We have done all that we can to make this years amateur the best one yet."

Standing in Sutton's way will be the three players he overtook on the final day of last year's event. Ryan Cambell finished second, one stroke back, and Jonathan Burke completed his third round two strokes behind. Dane Jones earned a third place tie.

In the senior division, defending champ John Zambelli will once again battle with three-time division champion Bill Brewer. Runner-up in 2008, Don Garris Jr. will look to claim his first seniors crown.

John Newsome nearly became a four-time champion in the super-senior class last year but fell to Joe McLamb in a sudden death playoff. Both players are back for the 2009 event which also features perennial contenders Howard Tyndall, Charlie Waters and Chuck Kimble.

The WCMA is open to any golfer over the age of 18 who lives in Wayne County or is a member of a golf club in Wayne County.

This year's event is sponsored by longtime supporters Andy's Cheeseburgers and Bent8Design.

"We couldn't do this every year without the sponsors," King said. "They have been great to us and we thank them for all that they do."