Simson Claims 50th CGA Title as Detweiler, Bland and Sadowski Win at Greenville

 

Event: 9th North Carolina Super Senior Four-Ball Championship
Host Site: Greenville Country Club, Greenville, N.C.
Playing Dates: July 22, 2026
Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

Related: Final Leaderboard | Photos | Video Recap

By Joey Forgione

GREENVILLE, N.C. (July 23, 2026) – Two teams claimed titles Thursday at the 9th North Carolina Super Senior Four-Ball Championship at Greenville Country Club in Greenville, N.C., as Donald Detweiler and Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. captured the 70+ Division title and Phil Bland of Sherrills Ford, N.C. and Joey Sadowski of Hickory, N.C. defended their 65+ Division championship.

The championship was shortened to 27 holes due to rain, with teams completing one full round and a nine-hole final round of four-ball stroke play.

In the 70+ Division, Detweiler and Simson finished at 12-under-par 93 after rounds of 63-30, then defeated Lawrence Hicks of Greensboro, N.C. and John Fritz of Mint Hill, N.C. on the first playoff hole to secure the title.

The victory marks Simson’s 50th CGA Championship title since his first win at the 1990 Carolinas Mid-Amateur, further cementing his legacy as the winningest champion in CGA history. Detweiler also added to one of the most accomplished résumés in CGA men’s history, bringing his career total to 15 CGA titles. They now have 12 CGA four-ball titles together as partners. 

Detweiler and Simson opened with a 7-under, 63 before posting a 5-under, 30 in the shortened final round. Hicks and Fritz matched them at 12-under-par after rounds of 64-29, forcing a playoff on the course.

Simson delivered the final shot of the championship, holing a chip in from about 40 feet for birdie on the first playoff hole to seal the win.

“I hit 7-iron left of the green, and then I just hit a perfect chip,” Simson said. “When I saw it check and the angle was on, it looked really good, and it just went right in the middle.”

Detweiler and Simson said their partnership has been built over nearly two decades, with Detweiler often playing steady golf to give Simson chances to stay aggressive.

“My job is to make pars so he can go after me,” Detweiler said. “I get a par, and he can aggressively go at the birdies, and when he goes aggressively at the birdies, a lot of them go in. We teamed really well.”

Hicks and Fritz finished runner-up at 12-under-par 93. Bill James of Leland, N.C. and Randy Naylor of Wilmington, N.C. finished third at 8-under-par 97.

In the 65+ Division, Bland and Sadowski successfully defended their title with a 9-under-par 96 total after rounds of 66-30. The duo finished five shots clear of Rick Riddle of Charlotte, N.C., and Harrison Rutter of Pfafftown, N.C., who finished second at 4-under-par 101.

Bland and Sadowski entered as defending champions after winning the 8th North Carolina Super Senior Four-Ball Championship at Sequoyah National Golf Club in 2025. Bland also continued a strong stretch of CGA play after winning the at the 8th Carolinas Super Senior Championship at Jefferson Landing earlier this summer.

The defending champions opened with a 4-under, 66 before taking control in the shortened final round with a 5-under, 30. They made five birdies and no bogeys over the final nine holes to pull away from the field.

Bland credited Sadowski’s putting as the difference during the final round.

“We made a lot of putts,” Sadowski said. “We limited some mistakes. Bland added, “He putted with his putter for the first time and made everything. I’ve never seen anybody make everything before.”

Despite entering as defending champions, Bland said the team came in with low expectations after both players had been away from competition.

“We hadn’t played in like two and a half weeks,” Bland said. “So we just came here really with kind of low expectations. Defending, sometimes that’s a good thing, and it worked out.”

With the win, Bland added another title to an already strong summer.

“I’d like to win them all,” Bland said. “I won at Jefferson, won here. The last four four-balls, we’ve either won or tied for first.”

Dale Bouguennec and Martin Penson of Pinehurst, N.C. finished third in the 65+ Division at 2-under-par 103. Preston Edmondson of Morrisville, N.C. and Dean Channell of Pinehurst, N.C. finished fourth at 1-under-par 104.

The Carolinas Golf Association extends its appreciation to the staff and membership of Greenville Country Club for their support and hospitality throughout the championship.