SNOW HILL, N.C. (May 7, 2026) – Final results from the 40th North Carolina Senior Amateur Championship, held at Cutter Creek Golf Club in Snow Hill, N.C.

Related: Championship Website | Final Leaderboard | Photos

Jay Barnes fired a final-round 6-under-par 66 to rally from behind and capture his first Carolinas Golf Association championship at the 40th North Carolina Senior Amateur Championship at Cutter Creek Golf Club.

The Charlotte native finished the championship at 10-under-par 206, two shots clear of 2024 Carolinas Senior Amateur Champion, Lee Porter of Pinehurst, N.C. and ten-time N.C. Senior Amateur Champion, Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C., who tied for second at 8-under-par 208.

Entering the final round several shots off the lead, Barnes put together the low round of the championship in difficult weather conditions to surge up the leaderboard. After opening rounds of 67 and 73, Barnes bounced back Wednesday with a bogey-free performance that included nearly two aces and a lengthy hole-out on his final hole of the day.

“Today, I just putted well, kept it in play and hit a lot of greens,” Barnes said. “Playing with Paul Simson inspired me a little bit today. He’s a legend.”

Barnes credited a recent rainy round at Kiawah Island for helping prepare him mentally for the challenging conditions at Cutter Creek.

“I knew it was going to be tough conditions,” Barnes said. “You just have to have a different mindset in the rain. I felt like battling through that last weekend carried over to today.”

The victory marks the biggest win of Barnes’ amateur career and comes after several close calls in recent CGA championships, including a runner-up finish in the Carolinas Senior Four-Ball Championship and a strong showing in last year’s North Carolina Senior Amateur.

“I knew I could play with the guys here,” Barnes said. “This is definitely my biggest win.”

Paul Simson, the 2010 U.S. Senior Amateur champion and the most decorated amateur golfer in Carolinas golf history, climbed seven spots during the final round with a 4-under-par 68 to finish tied for second. Porter, who entered the day near the top of the leaderboard, carded a final-round 71.

The 2022 N.C. Senior Amateur Champion, Jeff Jamieson of Cary, N.C. and Daniel Neveu of Pinehurst, N.C. finished tied for fourth at 7-under-par 209, while Jonathan Sielsky of Huntersville, N.C. also shared fourth place after rounds of 69-67-73.

The CGA extends its sincere thanks to the staff and members at Cutter Creek Golf Club for their hospitality and support of the championship.