WCMA: Plenty of slots available for 2018 tournament

By Rudy Coggins
Published in Sports on June 19, 2018 5:51 AM

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By RUDY COGGINS

rcoggins@newsargus.com

Same story.

Different year.

There's a twist this time.

Late entrants into the annual Wayne County Men's Amateur will have to pay an extra $20 fee on top of the normal $125 registration.

Deadline is June 28.

"We put it in motion at the end of last year about the late fee," WCMA tournament committee member Jeremy Joyner said. "We were about at the same juncture last year...roughly at the same number [of entries. Me, Tim [Rose] and Parker [King] have been getting on the phone texting, calling...

"It's been the normal trend, I guess the last three or four years. I'm almost confident now with the U.S. Open gone by, you'll see more people get their stuff in on a little more regular basis."

A total of 144 slots are available for the three-day, 54-hole tournament -- now in its 20th year -- that features some of the county's best golfers. They will duel on three courses that present different challenges and are expected to test their skills.

The WCMA opens July 7 at Lane Tree Golf Club. Round two is at Goldsboro Municipal. The tournament concludes at Southern Wayne Country Club.

Dane Jones is the reigning Open Division champ.

Lionel Sutton claimed his second consecutive Senior title with a 202 -- the lowest three-day score posted by any golfer in any division in Amateur history.

John Zambelli seized the Super Senior Division, his seventh crown in WCMA history. Mickey Nance repeated as the Masters champion.

Rumors circulating about Sutton and Zambelli competing in this year's Open Division are true, according to Joyner. Golfers are allowed to play "up," but not down.

Sutton and Zambelli have 12 WCMA trophies between them.

"We're fine if that's what they want to do," Joyner said. "It actually brings a little more excitement. I think it makes that field that more better with both of those quality players in it."