The duo started the final round at 12-under-par and found themselves two shots back of the leaders and their playing partners, Steve Harwell of Mooresville, N.C. and Patrick Brady of Reidsville, N.C.
Stimart and Elam went out with seven birdies and two pars to shoot a 7-under, 29 on the front nine. They started the back nine with a bogey on the 10th hole but quickly got back on track with a bounce-back birdie on the 11th hole. They made three more birdies in route to a 10-under-par, 62 to win championship.
Their 22-under-par, 194 total for the tournament was capped off with a birdie by Elam on the final hole giving them a two-shot victory.
“One of the things that made us successful was having the mindset of playing our own ball and playing for birdie. We weren’t relying on the other guy at any point,” said Stimart. “It gives you a different mindset of feeling like you need to make birdies instead of waiting on your partner to make birdies. Easier said than done.”
The team of Gary Hull of Cornelius, N.C. and Randall Sullins of Claremont, N.C. also started the day two shots off the lead, but after a hot start with six birdies on their first six holes, they had an early two-shot lead.
A bogey on the eighth hole slowed down the momentum for Hull and Sullins. They only made three more birdies on their last 10 holes to finish at 8-under, 64 for the final round. Their 196 total for the three rounds was enough for second place in the championship.
The 36-hole leaders, Brady and Harwell, shot a respectable 5-under, 67 in the final round but it wasn't enough to keep up with the birdie barrage. They finished the championship in third place.
The Carolinas Golf Association would like to thank Old Chatham Golf Club for hosting the 18th North Carolina Senior Four-Ball Championship. Thank you to all the members and staff for allowing the use of their fantastic facilities and for all of their hard work during the event. A special thank you is extended to Director of Operations, John Marino and Director of Grounds, Brian Powell.