Eight-time Champ Simson Leads the North and South Senior

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
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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.