Paul Simpson is looking to pick up yet another Putter Boy trophy
(Pinehurst photo)
PINEHURST, NC (August 14, 2017) — For sixty-five years, Pinehurst has hosted many of the nation's most prestigious senior amateur golfers at the North & South Senior Amateur Championship. For six of those years
Paul Simson of Raleigh has held the trophy.
Simson is an eight-time North & South champion, having won the North & South Amateur in 1995 and 1996 in addition to his six senior titles, which came in 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2015 and 2016.
Related: Paul Simson makes history at North & South Senior Amateur
Related: Paul Simson wins record fifth North & South Senior Amateur
Simson began his campaign for a ninth Putter Boy trophy on Monday, totaling a 5-under par 67 at the Pinehurst No. 5 Course, just one shot over the 66-year-old's age. The two-time defending champion struck quickly with an eagle on the short par-5 3rd hole. He would make his only bogey of the day at No. 5, bouncing back quickly with a birdie to conclude the front nine to go out in 34. Simson went on to birdie both par threes on the back nine, and added another birdie on the par-five 17th for a 33.
The leaderboard behind Simson is packed, with 16 players under par after the first round. A group of five players is tied for second at three under 69: Scott Smith, Steve Hudson, Ryan Fox and Gary Robinson.
Four more players shot 70 and another six shot 71, so Simson will have to keep his foot on the accelerator to stay ahead and win his ninth North & South championship.
The field will move to Pinehurst No. 6 for Tuesday’s second round before finishing the tournament on the famed No. 2 Course (site of the U.S. Open and U.S. Women's Open) for the final round.
SUPER SENIOR DIVISION:
Kim Mansfield currently holds the 18-hole lead in the Super Senior Division as the only player to shoot even par at Pinehurst’s famed No. 2 layout.
At one point it looked like Mansfield was going low, getting himself to 3-under-par with a birdie on the 8th. Unfortunately for Mansfield, it would be the last birdie he would make, going on to bogey 9, 13, and 15.
Mansfield leads by one shot over Robert Hess and Don Donatoni, who both shot one-over-par 73s. Five players shot 74 and sit just two shots back.
The Super Seniors move to Course No. 5 for the second round, before concluding the tournament on Wednesday at Course No. 6.
ABOUT THE North & South Senior
Part of the annual North & South series of
tournaments at Pinehurst that include Men's,
Women's, Juniors and Seniors. Entries are open
to
male and female golfers who meet the
requirements below. All applicants must
conform
to the USGA Rules of Amateur Status and meet
the requirements of the USGA Gender Policy.
In the Men's Open Division, applicants must
have
reached 55 years of age by tournament date to
be eligible for competition. All applicants must
have a handicap index of 8.4 or less.
In the Men's Super-Senior Division, applicants
must have reached 65 years of age by
tournament date to be eligible for competition.
All applicants must have a handicap index 10.4
or
less.
FORMAT: 54-holes of stroke play will determine
the Champion. Play will be divided into four
divisions (Men’s Open, Men’s Super-Senior,
Women’s Open, and Women’s Super-Senior)
and
contested with one round each on Pinehurst
No.
1, No. 5, No. 8. A full field will consist of 90
Open
Men and 90 Super-Senior Men.
View Complete Tournament Information