Wilmington, NC - With the assistance of Mother Nature, Joe Vignati of Bluffton, S.C. won the Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship at Cape Fear Country Club.

The final round was canceled due to a turbulent low pressure system, which spurred high winds and several area tornadoes. The tournament was reduced to 36 holes.

Vignati edged fellow resident Bill Palmer, also of Bluffton, by one stroke.

"I am glad the rain canceled the final day," said Vignati, a project manager for the Fluor Corporation. "With my very slow swing and my very slow putting stroke, the wind would have certainly been a challenge"

Vignati, who teed off in the final group, completed two holes before the final round was canceled.

The 1995 South Carolina Mid-Amateur champion, Vignati fired a second round three-under par 69 which gave him the sloe lead after two rounds.

This year's event was contested on the 110-year old Cape Fear Country Club, a Donald Ross design. The course has been recently renovated.