Mike Peck started his day trailing the overnight leader Chuck Palmer by five strokes. The Irving native battled through his round and shot the low round of the day with an even-par, 72. That score vaulted him up the leaderboard as Palmer struggled with final round, 81.
Playing in the final group with Palmer was Mansfield’s Stephenson and Aledo’s Wright. Both Stephenson and Wright shot opening rounds of 1-under-par, 71 and followed suit with matching 3-over, 75s in the final round.
Using the course’s first hole as the first playoff hole, Stephenson and Wright were left with about 30 feet for birdie while Peck needed to get up-and-down from behind the green. Peck hit an impressive chip to tap in distance for his par. Wright put his putt five feet past the hole while Stephenson left his just next to the cup. Wright missed his par attempt and was eliminated from the playoff.
Peck and Stephenson made par on Castle Hill’s ninth hole before they returned to the first hole for the third playoff hole.
Both players found the green in two and had a chance to make birdie. Putting first from 35 feet, Peck hit his uphill putt firm and rolled it right into the hole. Stephenson’s putt down the hill from just inside 30 feet came up short and Mike Peck had won the 2018 North Senior Amateur.
For Peck, it was a bit of redemption after finishing runner-up the past two years in the event. This was Peck’s first title with the Texas Golf Association since the 2014 Mid-Amateur Match Play and the 2013 Texas Senior Amateur. He was also Senior Player of the Year in 2013.
This was Westapher’s first Super-Senior title with the Texas Golf Association but is a two-time defending champion of The Lakes at Castle Hills’ Super-Senior Club Champion.
