MORGANTON, NC—Final round results of the 25^th Mid-Amateur Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association hosted by Mimosa Hills Golf and Country Cub in Morganton, NC on Sunday, September 18. (6700 yards, par 35-36—71).

John Finster, 37, of Wake Forest, NC fired a final round five-under par 66—199 to win the 25^th Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship by five strokes over Steve Liebler of Irmo, SC. Finster’s 199 total is the lowest 54-hole score in the championship’s history.

Finster, a sales manager for GAF manufacturing, had six birdies and an eagle versus a bogey and double bogey in today’s final round.

"I only made one bogey all week", Finster said. "But I had a triple bogey in my first round and a double bogey today. I just played great this week."

Earlier this month Finster was named to the three-man team that will represent North Carolina at the USGA State Team Matches at Berkeley Hall Club in Buffton, SC, September 26-28.

The 46 year-old Liebler, who began the day only one-stroke behind, tried to hang with Finster. But he could only manage to post a one-under par 70—204. Liebler lost to eventual champion Kevin Marsh in the semi-finals of the U.S. Mid-Amateur last week in Tennessee.

Defending champion Mike Goodes of Reidsville, NC shot a one under par 70—211 to finish in a tie for 11th place.

The top 30 finishers and ties are exempt into the 2006 Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship.

The Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship is open to male golfers over the age of 30 with a 5.4 handicap or less, a resident of one of the Carolinas and a member at a CGA member club.

The Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship is one of 25 major championships conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association as a service to its 735 member cubs and 190,000 individuals.