Coming into the final round, defending champion Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. held a two-stroke lead over the field after an opening round of 4-under-par, 68. Pearson knew he had to overtake the 44-time CGA champion, but it was just a matter of how to do so.
As Simson began to stumble on the back-nine, Pearson took advantage of the opportunity with another birdie on No. 13 and finished with pars on the rest of the incoming holes. His final round of 2-under-par, 70 set the 2021 Carolinas Super Senior Four-Ball Champion atop the leaderboard and sealed his fate as the North Carolina Super Senior Champion. This is Pearson’s first North Carolina Super Senior Championship title and his sixth CGA Championship title in his career.
Ultimately, Simson tied for runner-up along with Jim Grainger of Charlotte, N.C., Rob Welton of Seven Lakes, N.C. and Johnny Elam of Charlotte, N.C. at 1-under-par, 143.
The action really heated up today in the 70+ Division with a nail-biting five-person playoff for the title. In the end, John Bunn of Raleigh, N.C. came out on top.
“It feels great! I have been trying to win a solo CGA title for probably 55 years and this is the first one that I have ever won,” remarked Bunn. “It was great to win especially at such a fun course and I just love everything about CGA events so this is fantastic.”
Bunn beat out Rick Kline of Pinehurst, N.C., Ken Eichele of Pinehurst, N.C., William Boles of Wilson, N.C. and J. Lawson of Greensboro, N.C. with a par on the fifth playoff hole. The other four players tied for runner-up also at even-par, 144 overall.