CHARLOTTE, NC (5/15/08) - Gary Strickfaden is in shock. "I had no idea I had a chance, especially with Simson so far ahead of me." Normally, with Simson five shots ahead of you going into the final 18, you’re playing for second at best. But even Paul can have a bad day and it started with a double on the first hole. He never righted the ship and his six over 77 was one short of a playoff.

"This win is going to take a long time to sink in" said Strickfaden. A Missouri native and retired CPA, Strickfaden tried senior professional golf for eight years. He got his amateur status back last October. Gary finished runner up in the 1990 Virginia State Amateur at the age of 46 and until today was his best finish in a major amateur event.

The best round of the day and tournament belonged to Logan Jackson of Winston-Salem. His seven birdie 67 effort was marred only by one early bogey and a double bogey on the final hole. "I’m a choking dog" was the first thing Logan said as he dropped the card on the scoring table.

WEST END, NC (5/11/08) - Two-time defending champion Paul Simson will face plenty of worthy challengers when the 23rd North Carolina Senior Amateur Championship is played at Cedarwood Country Club in Charlotte May 13-15.

Simson, a 57-year-old Raleigh insurance executive who was the CGA's Player of the Year in 1998 and 2005 and Senior Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007, will be tested by the likes of Winston-Salem dentist Robert Kulp, who won the title in 2004 and 2005 and all the runners-up from the past four years -- David Strawn of Charlotte, who was second in 2007, Logan Jackson of Winston-Salem, who was a stroke behind in 2006, Bob Desjardins of Matthews, who trailed Kulp in 2005 and Ernie Newton of High Point, who was No. 2 behind Kulp in 2004.

Other contenders could be among those who survived qualifying events earlier this year.

Ray Womack of Burlington led one half of a rain-shortened event at Bermuda Run CC on Apr. 28 with a 35, while Butch English of Cornelius, Bill Lee of Charlotte and Larry Whitmore of Charlotte were the back-nine leaders at Bermuda Run with 38s. On May 1 at Greenville CC, Munroe Cobey of Chapel Hill was the pace-setter with an even par 71.

Simson, whose ability to scramble for birdies and pars has become the stuff of legend over the years, will be shooting for his 18th victory in a Carolinas Golf Association championship. His most recent victories came in last year's N.C. Senior, which he won for the second straight time, the Carolinas Senior, which he won for the first time last fall, and the Carolinas Senior Four-Ball, which he won with partner Don Detweiler at Landfall CC in Wilmington last month.

In the N.C. Senior last year at Pinewood CC in Asheboro, Simson shot 70-66-68--204 to win by a whopping 10 strokes over Strawn and by 16 strokes over Jim Pridgen of Jamestown, Dennis Helms of Monroe and Logan Jackson, who tied for third at 220.

This year's N.C. Senior, a 54-hole championship for golfers ages 55 and older, attracted nearly 200 entries. New this year is the elimination of a "super senior" division for players age 70 and over. The older fellows will have their own event when the inaugural N.C. Super Senior Championship is played at Greensboro CC's Irving Park course, Sept. 30-Oct. 1.

The par-71 Cedarwood CC course, which was designed by Ellis Maples and refurbished by Kris Spence, will be set up at 6,593 yards. This will be the first time the club has hosted a Carolinas Golf Association championship.

ADDITIONAL MEDIA INFORMATION

23rd North Carolina Senior Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association Cedarwood Country Club 4100 Pineville-Matthews Rd.

Charlotte, NC 28226

704-542-0206

2007 CHAMPION: Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC 70-66-68--204 at Pinewood CC, Asheboro, NC

DATES: May 13-15, 2008

FORMAT: The championship is conducted at 54 holes of stroke play. After 36 holes, the field is cut to low 60 scorers and ties for the final round.

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 North Carolina, 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.

SCHEDULE OF ROUNDS

Monday, May 12. Tee times available for practice.

Tuesday, May 13. First round. 18 holes of stroke play.

Wednesday, May 14. Second round, 18 holes of stroke play.

Field cut to low 60 scorers and ties.

Thursday, May 15. Final round, 18 holes of stroke play.

PRIZES

Champion receives a trophy, merchandise and possession of the Peter V. Tufts Trophy for the ensuing year. An on-course play-off is used to break a tie for the overall champion.

FAVORITES

Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC (two-time defending champion, 2006 & 2007 Men's Senior Player of the Year) Logan Jackson, Winston-Salem, NC (2006 runnerup) Bob Kulp, Jr., Winston-Salem, NC (2004, 2005 champion) David Strawn, Charlotte, NC (2007 runnerup)

PAST NC SENIOR CHAMPIONS

1986 John Pottle, Linville 139 Charlotte CC

1987 Stuart Kennedy, Thomasville 150 Charlotte CC

1988 Truman Kiger, Winston-Salem 149 Charlotte CC

1989 Don Adderton, High Point 147* Charlotte CC

1990 Eddie Pell, Charlotte 148 Charlotte CC

1991 John Woodward, Fayetteville 146 Carmel CC

1992 Tom Langley, High Point 136 Woodlake CC

1993 Sted Morris, Durham 145* Rolling Hills CC

1994 Cliff Cunningham, Monroe 215 Rolling Hills CC

1995 Cliff Cunningham, Monroe 215* Rolling Hills CC

1996 Cliff Cunningham, Monroe 220* Wilson CC

1997 Cliff Cunningham, Monroe 211 Wilson CC

1998 Richard Gwaltney, Taylorsville 218 Keith Hills CC

1999 Tom Hadley, Hendersonville 212 Keith Hills CC

2000 Ronnie Grove, Raleigh 215 Greenville CC

2001 Cliff Cunningham, Monroe 207 Starmount Forest CC

2002 Cliff Cunningham, Monroe 217* Raintree CC (South Course)

2003 Jim Dowtin, Greensboro 225* River Run G&CC

2004 Robert Kulp Jr., Winston-Salem 219 Landfall CC

2005 Robert Kulp Jr., Winston-Salem 211 The Point Lake & GC

2006 Paul Simson, Raleigh 208 CC of Salisbury

2007 Paul Simson, Raleigh 204 Pinewood CC

* Won in playoff.

CEDARWOOD COUNTRY CLUB COURSE INFORMATION

HEAD PROFESSIONAL: Adam Szoke COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Paul Query TYPE COURSE: Private

ARCHITECT: Designed by Ellis Maples, built by built by Alex Guion (refubished by Kris Spence in 2005)

OPENED: 1964.

YARDAGE & PAR: Championship Tees: 6,593 yards, par 71.

FAIRWAYS & TEES: Bermuda grass

GREENS: Bentgrass

COURSE DESCRIPTION: In 1999, Cedarwood took a big step forward by installing an irrigation system that covers the entire course; in 2000, the club built a stylish and attractive clubhouse; in 2003, the swimming complex was renovated and a new grill room was built; and in 2005, the members approved a $1.8 million capital improvement that entailed a complete restoration to the course’s greens complexes and bunkers.

Kris Spence, quickly gaining a national reputation as an expert in renovating Donald Ross and Ellis Maples courses in North Carolina and Virginia, took on the project of restoring the course's Maples design.

Green surfaces, which had shrunk over the years, were increased 30-35 percent, allowing for more strategic pin positions and providing an additional challenge to golfers of all skill levels. The bunkers were restored to their original character.

Cedarwood wanders over rolling terrain dotted with hardwoods, cedars, and lovely ponds.

It is very much a traditional course, with all the challenges placed in front of the golfer with no tricked-up features.

CGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT CEDARWOOD CC: This is the club's first CGA championship.

MAP:

WEST END, NC (5/11/08) -- Paul Simson will be shooting for a third straight North Carolina Senior Championship when the 54-hole Carolinas Golf Association competition is played at Cedarwood Country Club in Charlotte May 13-15.

Simson, a 57-year-old Raleigh insurance executive who was the CGA's Player of the Year in 1998 and 2005 and Senior Player of the Year in 2006 and 2007, will also be chasing his 17th Carolinas Golf Association championship. His previous victories came in the Carolinas Amateur in 1991 and 2005, the Carolinas Mid-Amateur in 1990, 1991, 1994 and 1997, the North Carolina Amateur in 1991, 1996, 2000 and 2004, the North Carolina Mid-Amateur in 1997, the Father-Son with son Phillip in 2002, the Carolinas Four-Ball with Greensboro's Bubba Judy in 1995, the N.C. Senior in 2006 and 2007 and the Carolinas Senior in 2007.

Among Simson's likely challengers are Winston-Salem dentist Robert Kulp, who won the title in 2004 and 2005 and all the runners-up from the past four years -- David Strawn of Charlotte, who finished a distant 10 strokes behind Simson last year at Pinewood CC in Asheboro; Logan Jackson of Winston-Salem, who was just one stroke off Simson's pace at the CC of Salisbury in 2006; Bob Desjardins of Matthews, who came in second to Kulp at The Point Lake in Mooresville in 2005; and Ernie Newton of High Point, was lost to Kulp by a stroke at Landfall in Wilmington in 2004.

This year's N.C. Senior, a 54-hole championship for golfers ages 55 and older, attracted nearly 200 entries. The starting field, which includes players who earned exemptions based on their performances last year, was established at 124 players after two qualifying events held in late April and early May. A further reduction will be made with a cut to the low 60 scores (and ties) after 36 holes of the championship.

New this year was the elimination of a "super senior" division for players age 70 and over. This year, the older fellows will have their own event when the inaugural N.C. Super Senior Championship is played at Greensboro CC's Irving Park course, Sept. 30-Oct. 1.

The par-71 Cedarwood CC course, which was designed by Ellis Maples and refurbished by Kris Spence, will be set up at 6,593 yards. This will be the first time the club has hosted a Carolinas Golf Association championship.

Asheboro, NC (5/17/07) - He did it again and this time it wasn't even close. Paul Simson of Raleigh captured his 15th major CGA championship with a ten stroke victory in the 22nd North Carolina Senior Amateur Championship. Paul bogeyed the par 5 third hole when his attempt to hit the green in two found water. He responded with four straight birdies and the win was assured early.

David Strawn of Charlotte was the only other player to finish under par. He played with Simson all three days and received a lesson in how to get the ball in the hole from anywhere. "I'd call Paul lucky if he didn't do magic every time he teed it up" said Strawn. "He's just good and a real pleasure to play with. He's got the best attitude and I feel like I learned something just playing with him."

Sixty seven players made the cut and the top 30 and ties will be exempt in the 2008 championship.