WCMA: Former champs, contenders offer perspectives of 2017 tournament

By News-Argus Staff
Published in Sports on July 8, 2017 10:07 AM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

DUDLEY -- Walnut Creek Country Club could easily have been renamed "Heartbreak Ridge" last season during final-day play of the Wayne County Men's Amateur.

Three division races changed dramatically on the back nine.

One ended in playoff fashion.

Two champions staged unbelieveable comebacks that were decided on the final hole of competition.

It's time to pen the next chapter of the WCMA. The 19th installment commences at 8 this morning on the Southern Wayne Country Club links.

Golfers travel to Goldsboro Municipal Golf Club for round two Saturday. Championship day is reserved for Lane Tree Golf Club -- the longest layout of the three courses.

"I've been kind of close several times, but I've never won it," said Brandon Campbell, a C.B. Aycock alum whose home course is LTGC.

"Obviously, the drive and the want to actually go out there and win the thing is definitely what keeps me motivated about it."

Enter Dane Jones.

The Mount Olive resident hasn't forgotten about a six-foot birdie putt that wouldn't drop in the cup on No. 17.

Jones, in his 13th WCMA appearance, wound up third. Jonathan Burke, who is absent from this year's field, won a record fifth Open Division crown.

Nick Adams filed his second consecutive runner-up finish.

"Last year Walnut Creek was a heart-breaker," Jones said. "I had a two-shot lead with five holds to play and let that one slip away. I think this year it's just about staying in the moment and not thinking ahead.

"Take one shot at a time."

Or, as six-time champ John Zambelli says, don't attack a single hole and play what the course gives you.

He, like Jones, experienced dispair in 2016 -- a one-hole playoff loss to Jim Alford. Ironically, the two are scheduled to play together in the same foursome during the first two rounds.

They'll be joined by former WCMA Super Seniors champ Howard Tyndall (2009) and Randy Bunn.

Zambelli seeks his seventh WCMA crown.

"I think anybody would want to have another shot at it," Zambelli said. "I don't like losing. I like to win. I don't that's any different than anybody else who hasn't won one (WCMA title) or someone who has won seven or eight.

"You want to win when you tee it up, so that doesn't change."

Stan Adams appeared well on his way to successfully defending his Senior Division crown on the picturesque WCCC layout.

Who could blame him?

He held a seemingly comfortable six-stroke advantage over former Tar Heel Tour professional Lionel Sutton. The advantage dwindled to two shots with two holes to play. Sutton birdied No. 8 and seized control when Adams hit into the water on No. 9.

Sutton two-putted and secured WCMA title No. 5.

Can he win No. 6?

"To be honest with you, I haven't been playing really well as late the last few months," said Sutton, who holds the single-round record of 63 shot at SWCC during the inaugural WCMA in 1999.

"I hope I shoot a few under par every day. It's going to take that."

A pair of Masters Division champs -- Mickey Nance (2016), Donald Shaver (2015) -- teed off in either the first or second group this morning. Also in the foursome is Joe McLamb, who claimed Super Seniors crowns in 2001 and 2008.

Southern Wayne CC and GMGC are set up as par-71 courses. One is a little more tree-lined and narrow. Golfers can score well if they keep their shots in the fairway.

All three courses have Bermuda greens that are expected to affect putting in some fashion. Players contended with bent greens during the final round at Walnut Creek a year ago.

LTGC is a different beast.

"The most dangerous ... if they set it up the way I think (they will)," Campbell said. "Lane Tree requires a little bit more of shot making versus the other two.

"You can kind of get away with one a little short at Southern Wayne and it will bounce up for you. Goldsboro ... a shot-maker's Heaven there. A course where you can score."

Jones said each course will test a player's mettle. Zambelli warns against getting "greedy" and Campbell doesn't plan to watch the leaderboard at any time.

The veteran Sutton offered his own nugget of advice.

"The scoring is never as good when people play their own course over and over," he said. "Most of the time these tournaments are not won with the scores that most people are capable of shooting all the time because you're changing courses.

"I'll just try to play the best I can and if someone else plays a whole lot better, then they deserve to win."

Even par is 214 for the three-day, 54-hole USGA-governed event.