“I was really excited about playing here this year,” said Weston. “I kept telling everyone that my Masters is the Carolinas Senior at The Reserve. I knew it would be a test.”
Weston began his pursuit of Hargett with a pedestrian opening nine, carding two birdies and two bogeys to make the turn in an even-par, 36.
He came out blistering in his final nine holes of the Championship, birdieing holes 10, 12, 13, 15 and 17 to shoot 4-under-par, 32 on the back side, and finish at 8-under-par, 208 for the week.
“I made a good birdie on 12,” said Weston. “Then hit a good shot into 13 and was able to get one there. I birdied 15 and then there wasn’t too much pressure. I really wasn’t comfortable hitting irons close at the start, but from No. 7 on that changed.”
Perhaps the most important hole of the day for the newest CGA Champion? The first one.
“It was a hectic start,” said Weston. “I hit it in the left trees and had to chip out on No. 1. I was able to get it up and down for par which was key.”
It was a family affair for Weston today as well. Residing just up the road, his family and friends came out to support him by following his round.
“It’s wonderful,” said Weston. “My son followed me on the front nine and my wife on the back nine. I had some members with me and friends from the community sent me text messages.”
Weston used his home course advantage to perfection, being the only player in the field to card three rounds under par this week to capture his second CGA Championship title.
Finishing in solo second place was Hargett with a three-day total of 2-under-par, 214. In a tie for third with a total score of 1-under-par, 215 are David Reece of Fort Mill, S.C. and Allen Peake of Cashiers, N.C. Rounding out the top-five in a tie for fifth are Larry Cloninger of Gastonia, N.C. and Joe Jaspers of Huntersville, N.C., who tallied a three-day total of even-par, 216.