Mt. Pleasant, SC (9/13/07) - Paul Simson of Raleigh, NC captured his 16th CGA title by claiming the Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship at Dunes West Golf Club.

The 56 year-old Simson edged defending champion Joe Vignati of Bluffton, SC, by four strokes. Vignati made a last-round charge with a tournament-low 67.

"This is a great feeling," said Simson, an insurance executive. "It's nice to add my name to a CGA event that I have not yet won."

Simson, the 2006 British Senior Amateur champion, carded six birdies in his final round which included all of the par 3 holes. He bogied holes 11 and 16.

The Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association.

Last year, the 54-hole tournament for amateurs ages 55 and older was scheduled to be played in mid-September at Cape Fear Country Club in Wilmington, NC, but extreme heat and almost two feet of rainfall in the Wilmington area the prior month slowed the course's recovery from a restoration/renovation project and forced a postponement until mid-November. When it was finally played, Mother Nature again intervened with storms and a tornado threat that forced the final round to be canceled.

One beneficiary of that washout was Joe Vignati of Bluffton, SC, the 36-hole leader who was crowned champion. Vignati, the 1995 South Carolina Mid-Amateur champion, shot 73-69--142 to earn a one-stroke victory over fellow Blufftonian Bill Palmer.

Vignati, Palmer and 99 others will be chasing the Championship Division title this year. Strong challenges could be mounted by 2006 Senior Player of the Year Paul Simson of Raleigh; by Bill Boles of Wilson, NC, who tied for third a year ago; and by golfers who paced the three sectional qualifying events held last month -- Buck Leigh of Columbia, whose 68 led the way at Wyboo Golf Club in Manning, SC on August 17th; Kim Mansfield of High Point, NC, who set the pace at Statesville (NC) Country Club with a 69 on August 22nd; and Bob Yow of Clinton, NC, whose 69 topped the field at Bentwinds Golf & CC in Fuquay-Varina, NC on August 29th. Besides Vignati, past champions in this year's field include Vic Hannon of Camden, SC (2004); Gene Spencer of Blythewood, SC (2003); Larry Boswell of Jamestown, NC (1998) and Tommy Langley of High Point, NC (1996).

An additional 20 golfers will compete in a 36-hole Super Seniors Division for those ages 70 and above. Among this year's entrants are 2005 Super Senior champion Bill Cox of Gastonia, NC, and 2006 runnerup Gene Lookabill of Charlotte.

The par-72 Dunes West course, an Arthur Hills creation that opened in 1991, will play at 6,508 yards for the seniors. This is the first time Dunes West has hosted a Carolinas Golf Association championship.

ADDITIONAL MEDIA INFORMATION

46th Carolinas Senior Amateur Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association Dunes West Golf Club

3535 Wando Plantation Way

Mount Pleasant, South Carolina 29466

843-856-9378

2006 CHAMPION

Joe Vignati, Bluffton, SC

DATES

September 11-13, 2007

FORMAT

The championship division format is 54 holes of stroke play. After 36 holes, the field is cut to low 60 scorers and ties for the final round. The super senior division competes at 36 holes of stroke play with no cut and plays a shorter course. Players who are age 70 and over and who meet the handicap requirement may opt to play in the championship division but waive any right to prizes in the super senior division. The super senior division is re-paired according to score after the first round. This year's field size: Championship (101); Super Senior (20).

ELIGIBILITY

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has reached his 55th birthday by the first day of the championship, is a legal resident of one of the Carolinas, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has a current USGA handicap index at a CGA member club.

The maximum allowable index is 10.4 for championship division and 15.4 for super senior division (70 and over).

SCHEDULE OF ROUNDS

Monday, September 10

Tee times available for practice.

Tuesday, September 11

Championship division: First round of stroke play (18 holes).

Super senior division: First round of stroke play (18 holes).

Wednesday, September 12

Championship division: Second round of stroke play (18 holes).

Cut to low 60 scorers and ties for final round.

Super senior division: Final round of stroke play (18 holes).

Thursday, September 13

Championship division: Final round of stroke play (18 holes).

2007 FIELD (with starting time & starting hole) REGULARS Adkins, Denny, North Myrtle Beach, SC - 8:54 #1 Alchermes, Brian, Columbia, SC - 1:51 #1 Aldous, Rick, Lexington, SC - 1:06 #1 Baker, Brodie, Bermuda Run, NC - 1:42 #1 Barber, William, Pawleys Island, SC - 8:27 #1 Barker, Terry, Chapel Hill, NC - 8:54 #1 Barnette, Jim, Anderson, SC - 1:15 #10 Boles, Bill, Wilson, NC - 1:51 #10 Boswell, Larry, Jamestown, NC - 1:33 #10 Brassfield, Mark, Greensboro, NC - 1:24 #10 Brooks, Michael, Gilbert, SC - 8:00 #10 Brown, David, Clemmons, NC - 8:45 #1 Buchanan, Doug, Charlotte, NC - 8:36 #1 Burgess, Jim, Kingstree, SC - 8:54 #10 Burling, Bill, Greensboro, NC - 8:27 #10 Burns, Robert, Charleston, SC - 8:00 #1 Burris, Brad, High Point, NC - 2:00 #1 Carpenter, Ronald, Durham, NC - 1:51 #1 Cheney, Frank, Greensboro, NC - 9:03 #1 Couch, Lea, Bahama, NC - 8:27 #10 Cowman, Larry, Charlotte, NC - 9:03 #1 Craven, Bobby, Oak Ridge, NC - 1:15 #1 Deal, Jim, Boone, NC - 8:45 #1 Deluise, John, Raleigh, NC - 1:33 #1 Dennis, John, Greenville, SC - 2:09 #10 Desjardins, Bob, Matthews, NC - 2:00 #1 Dollenberg, Eric, Hilton Head Island, SC - 8:36 #10 Doninger, Michael, Cary, NC - 9:12 #10 Dugenske, Hal, Whispering Pines, NC - 8:18 #10 Edwards, Arnold, Charlotte, NC - 1:06 #1 Eichele, Ken, Pinehurst, NC - 1:51 #1 English, Butch, Cornelius, NC - 8:45 #10 Ferguson, Gerry, Indian Trail, NC - 8:18 #1 Ford, Tommy, Mount Pleasant, SC - 1:24 #10 Garahan, William, Rock Hill, SC - 8:09 #1 Gardner, Jay, High Point, NC - 8:09 #1 Golden, Frank, Charlotte, NC - 9:12 #10 Green, John, Ocean Isle Beach, NC - 12:57 #10 Hambly, David, Bluffton, SC - 1:24 #10 Hamilton Jr., James, Aiken, SC - 1:15 #1 Hammersla Jr, Robert, Greenville, SC - 1:42 #10 Hannon, Vic, Camden, SC - 1:33 #10 Happel, Gil, Oak Ridge, NC - 1:06 #1 Helms, Dennis, Monroe, NC - 8:27 #1 Hightower, Bubba, Moncks Corner, SC - 8:45 #10 Hogan, Richard, Burlington, NC - 2:09 #1 Horne, Dick, Mount Pleasant, SC - 12:57 #10 Hucker, Gary, Easley, SC - 9:03 #10 Johnston, Ron, Chapel Hill, NC - 8:00 #1 Joyce, R. Steven, Denver, NC - 1:15 #1 Klug, Bob, Pinehurst, NC - 8:54 #10 Langley, Tom, High Point, NC - 1:42 #10 Leigh, Buck, Columbia, SC - 8:18 #10 Leight, George, Apex, NC - 2:00 #10 Lynch, Charles, High Point, NC - 1:06 #10 Mackie, Mike, Granite Falls, NC - 8:36 #10 Mansfield, Kim, High Point, NC - 8:54 #10 Martin, James, Columbia, SC - 8:18 #1 McLean, Tom, Greenville, NC - 8:27 #1 Mielke, Arthur, Matthews, NC - 2:00 #10 Millis, David, High Point, NC - 8:36 #1 Morris, Frank, Winston Salem, NC - 9:03 #10 Newton, Ernie, High Point, NC - 2:00 #1 Noell, Walt, Winston Salem, NC - 12:57 #10 Pachol, Steve, Columbia, SC - 1:42 #1 Padgette, Joe, North Charleston, SC - 8:45 #1 Palmer, Bill, Bluffton, SC - 2:09 #10 Preston, Steve, Charlotte, NC - 8:36 #10 Pridgen, Jim, Jamestown, NC - 2:00 #10 Rathman, Terry, Gastonia, NC - 8:09 #10 Robinson, Dave, Burlington, NC - 8:45 #10 Robinson, Joe, Rock Hill, SC - 1:24 #1 Rogers, Wayne, Easley, SC - 1:33 #1 Saintsing, Tom, Lexington, NC - 8:18 #10 Sante, Steven, Fuquay-Varina, NC - 1:24 #1 Schatz, Gary, Fort Mill, SC - 9:03 #1 Sears, Rick, Wilmington, NC - 9:03 #10 Seastrunk, Cliff, Raleigh, NC - 1:06 #10 Shimmin, Gary, Okatie, SC - 1:42 #1 Simson, Paul, Raleigh, NC - 2:09 #10 Slater, Donald, Durham, NC - 1:15 #10 Smith, Spike, Pinehurst, NC - 1:33 #10 Smith, Steve, Raleigh, NC - 8:00 #10 Smunk, Bill, Kingstree, SC - 2:09 #1 Spencer, Eugene, Blythewood, SC - 1:51 #10 Spiegler, Steve, Charlotte, NC - 8:00 #1 Stephens, James, High Point, NC - 9:12 #10 Taylor, Roger, Conover, NC - 1:06 #10 Terrell, Larry, Granite Falls, NC - 1:24 #1 Thompson, Edward, Kiawah Island, SC - 8:09 #10 Vignati, Joseph, Bluffton, SC - 2:09 #1 Vodenicker, Jere, Holly Springs, NC - 8:54 #1 Walters, John, Charlotte, NC - 1:51 #10 Watterworth, David, Charlotte, NC - 8:09 #1 Weiner, Mike, Kiawah Island, SC - 1:33 #1 Wise, Jim, Columbia, SC - 8:27 #10 Woodruff, Jerry, Greenville, SC - 8:09 #10 Wunsch, Charles, Pinehurst, NC - 8:18 #1 Yates, Garland, Asheboro, NC - 1:42 #10 York, Mo, Isle of Palms, SC - 1:15 #10 Yow, Robert, Salemburg, NC - 8:36 #1

SUPER SENIORS

Bowman, Tagg, Tryon, NC - 12:48 #1

Budacz, Julius, Greenville, NC - 12:48 #1 Cox, Bill, Gastonia, NC - 12:39 #1 Dermatas, Alex, Greensboro, NC - 12:30 #10 Fortenbery, Wayne, Nashville, NC - 12:48 #10 French, Russell, Pinehurst, NC - 12:57 #1 Hilderbrand, Jim, Pinehurst, NC - 12:39 #10 Horton, Ross, Branchville, SC - 12:30 #10 Houck, Billy, Florence, SC - 12:39 #1 Hubacher, Philip, Aiken, SC - 12:39 #10 Kelly, Hal, Orangeburg, SC - 12:48 #10 Linzel, Gray, Raleigh, NC - 12:48 #10 Lookabill, Gene, Charlotte, NC - 12:48 #1 McGee, Bill, Charlotte, NC - 12:57 #1 Messner, John, Raleigh, NC - 12:30 #10 Morgan, Bill, Laurinburg, NC - 12:57 #1 Pfeiffer, Jack, Spartanburg, SC - 12:30 #1 Raimondo, Nelson, Murrells Inlet, SC - 12:39 #1 Sullivan, Heyward, Greenville, SC - 12:30 #1 Western, William, Aiken, SC - 12:30 #1

PRIZES

Champion receives a trophy, merchandise and possession of the permanent championship trophy for the ensuing year. The super senior champion receives a trophy and merchandise. An on-course playoff is used to break a tie for the overall champion or super senior champion.

FAVORITES

Bill Boles Jr., Wilson, NC

Bill Palmer, Bluffton, SC

Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC

Joe Vignati, Bluffton, SC

PAST CHAMPIONS

1962 Q.G. McCombs, Burlington, NC 229* Pine Needles CC

1963 Jack Norman, Winston-Salem, NC 218 Whispering Pines CC

1964 Ben Goodes, Reidsville, NC 145 Forest Lake Club

1965 Bobby Knowles, Aiken, SC 148 Forest Lake Club

1966 Bobby Knowles, Aiken, SC 146 Forest Lake Club

1967 Ben Goodes, Reidsville, NC 145 Forest Lake Club

1968 Clifford Henson, Aiken, SC 145* Forest Lake Club

1969 Dale Morey, High Point, NC 138 Forest Lake Club

1970 Dale Morey, High Point, NC 140 Forest Lake Club

1971 Dale Morey, High Point, NC 138 Forest Lake Club

1972 Dale Morey, High Point, NC 140 Forest Lake Club

1973 Des Sullivan, Myrtle Beach, SC 148* Willow Creek GC

1974 Dale Morey, High Point, NC 142 Greenville CC Chanticleer

1975 Des Sullivan, Myrtle Beach, SC 142 Forest Lake Club

1976 Bob Clarke, Walkertown, NC 144 Deer Track G&CC

1977 Don Adderton, High Point, NC 144 Myrtlewood GC Palmetto

1978 John Morrell, Charlotte, NC 144* Sea Gull GC

1979 Billy Joe Patton, Morganton, NC 139 Mimosa Hills G&CC

1980 Ken Weavil, Winston-Salem, NC 142 Hope Valley CC

1981 Billy Joe Patton, Morganton, NC 142 Sea Gull GC

1982 Dale Morey, High Point, NC 145 Hope Valley CC

1983 John Morrell, Winston-Salem, NC 140 Florence CC

1984 Dale Morey, High Point, NC 145 Willow Creek GC

1985 Ross Horton, Branchville, SC 147+ Moss Creek CC, South

1986 Don Adderton, High Point, NC 145 CC of Salisbury

1987 Lou Arko, Rock Hill, SC 151 The River Club

1988 Sonny Grant, Greensboro, NC 146 Highland CC

1989 Tommy Langley, High Point, NC 150 Greenville CC, Chanticleer

1990 Bill Harvey, Greensboro, NC 145 Gaston CC

1991 Jack Dover, Etowah, NC 148* Landfall Club, Dye Course

1992 Sonny Furr, Rock Hill, SC 138 Florence CC

1993 Tom Hadley, Hendersonville, NC 143 CC of Salisbury

1994 Tom Hadley, Hendersonville, NC 217* DeBordieu Club

1995 Jim Wiles, N. Wilkesboro, NC 216 Catawba CC

1996 Tommy Langley, High Point, NC 216 Gaston CC

1997 Robert Ferrel, Greensboro, NC 212 Green Valley CC

1998 Larry Boswell, Jamestown, NC 213* Forsyth CC

1999 Bob Clark, Asheville, NC 224* Melrose Course

2000 Ronnie Grove, Raleigh, NC 208 Roaring Gap Club

2001 Robert Kulp Jr., Winston-Salem, NC 213 DeBordieu Club

2002 Don Taylor, Bluffton, SC 222 Lake Hickory CC

2003 Gene Spencer, Blythewood, SC 215 Columbia CC

2004 Vic Hannon, Camden, SC 217* Charlotte CC

2005 Bob Stringer, Blythewood, SC 215 Camden CC

2006 Joe Vignati, Bluffton, SC 142# Cape Fear CC

* Won in playoff. + Won by default. # Rain-shortened

54 holes 1962-1963 and 1994 on.

DUNES WEST CLUB INFORMATION

HEAD PROFESSIONAL: Kevin Zemnickas

COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Rob Mackie

TYPE COURSE: Resort

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Located on the site of historic Lexington Plantation, set amid bermuda-covered dunes and 200-year-old oaks draped in spanish moss, Dunes West offers challenging approach shots to demanding greens. Ranked by both GOLF Magazine and GOLF DIGEST as a "Top Ten New Resort Course" and voted in the "America's Best" category by GOLFWEEK magazine.

ARCHITECT: Arthur Hills

OPENED: 1991

YARDAGE/PAR: 6,648 yards/par 72

COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 71.5/131

FAIRWAYS & TEES: Bermuda grass

GREENS: Bermuda Grass

CGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT DUNES WEST GC: This will be the club's first CGA major.

DIRECTIONS:

From the north or south on I-95 Take I-26 east to I-526 (Mark Clark Expressway) towards Mount Pleasant.

See Directions Below

from Airport/North Charleston

From Dowtown Charleston

Take US-17 N towards MT PLEASANT/GEORGETOWN. (8 miles) Take a Left at the lights onto HWY-41 to Jamestown (3 miles) Turn RIGHT at first set of lights into DUNES WEST. (0.8 miles) Turn LEFT to the guard gate and proceed on WANDO PLANTATION WAY. (1.7 miles)

From The Airport/North Charleston

Take I-526 towards MT PLEASANT.

Take Exit 23B/Clements Ferry Road (5 miles) Clements Ferry will merge into HWY-41 South - Continue over bridge to your first light (1.5 miles) Turn LEFT at the light into Dunes West (.08 miles) Turn LEFT to the guard gate and proceed on WANDO PLANTATION WAY. (1.7 miles)

MAP

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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.