Wayne County Men's Amateur: 3 division titles up for grabs

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on July 10, 2014 1:48 PM

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rcoggins@newsargus.com

Three new champions will hoist the trophies upon the conclusion of the 16th annual Wayne County Men's Amateur golf championships Sunday afternoon at Southern Wayne Country Club.

Who will they be?

The answer: the player who is the most consistent.

Three challenging courses await more than 100 golfers, who will undoubtedly have their mental and physical abilities pushed to the limit when the three-day, 54-hole event tees off Friday morning at picturesque Walnut Creek Country Club.

Play continues Saturday at Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course. The tournament wraps up Sunday at SWCC.

Tim Rose returns to defend his Senior Division title. However, 2013 Open champ Clark Rose and Super Senior winner John Zambelli are not participating.

An inaugural Masters Division champ will also be crowned.

"The committee created the Masters Division and I think it was the fact that there were quite a few players who had to started to age, and felt it was a little more difficult for them to compete with the younger guys," said WCMA committee member Alex Wingate.

"Even though we're over 70, we still have a competitive spirit. (And) there are some awfully good players in that Masters Division, I can tell you that."

Rain shortened last year's Amateur to 36 holes.

Early forecasts predict normal summer thunderstorms to rumble through the county during the afternoon hours each day when the heat and humidity are at its highest. Rose recalled grinding out 18 holes in a torrential downpour a year ago.

"Miserable," Rose laughed.

Rose and Wingate both agree that golfers can experience misery if they attempt to manhandle or gamble at Walnut Creek. The pristine course plays long and has a mixture of holes where you have to carry the water.

Goldsboro Municipal is a tight, par-72 course that requires precision from tee to green. Trees line the fairway on either side, and some holes have either front- or back-side bunkers along with water.

Southern Wayne has small, fast greens and several dogleg holes that require consistent play from the tee box.

"If you hit it on the greens at Southern Wayne, most of the time you make pars or better," Rose said. "They've all got their own perks. You've got to hit it straight and make putts. It's all about going out there and being consistent on every hole.

"(The winner) is who has the least problems and least mistakes. That's what amateur tournaments are about."

A year ago, just five golfers -- Clark Rose, former Open champ Lionel Sutton, Brandon Campbell, Ian Buschmann and Hayden Gardner -- shot below par in a single round in the three divisions combined. Rose defeated Campbell and Brad Jones by three strokes.

Barton grad Jon Burke is the lone golfer in WCMA history to shoot below par in every round. That occurred in 2010 when he also recorded the lowest 54-hole score (206) and most-lopsided victory (14 strokes) in tournament play.

"In my opinion, you don't have an easy course," said Joe Bailey, who has played in nearly every Amateur since its inception in 1999. "They're all real distinctive. (But) I like the format because when you finish playing, you know your actual score.

"Plus, I like the chance to play different people in the county. After playing so many years, I've met the same ones now. (The Amateur) tests your skill level."