RALEIGH, N.C. — The rain held off long enough for play to complete and Sherrill Britt held off the competition to capture his first CGA championship title. Britt, a 50-year-old general contractor from West End, N.C. assembled a three-day total of nine-under-par 207 (66-67-74) to win by one.
"Well, happy I finally did it; took long enough," Britt said about his first win. "I was thinking the other day, I've been playing in these events now for 15 years."
When Britt tapped-in his par putt on the 54th hole for the victory, 28-time CGA champion Paul Simson was the first person to congratulate him as walked off the green (view video of winning putt). Simson won the this championship with a three-day total of 205 when it was held on the same course in 1997. This year Simson posted 215 to tie for twelfth.
Tee Opperman of Pawleys Island, S.C. missed a birdie putt on the 54th hole which would have tied Britt. He finished tied for second at 208 with Chris Mitchell of Prosperity, S.C. who made a back-nine charge of five-under-par 31 which included two eagles and a birdie.
In a few weeks, Britt and Greg Earnhardt of Greensboro, N.C. will be playing as partners in the inaugural U.S. Four-Ball at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, California. Today, the two played against each other in the final group. A one-over-par 73 for Earnhardt earned him a fourth place finish at 209.
North Ridge Country Club's club champion Drew Steffens of Raleigh, N.C. made some noise today with his first-career ace at the 170-yard 3rd. Steffens finished in seventh place at four-under-par 212.
The top 30-players and ties are exempt into next year's championship which will be held on the Cotton Dike course at Dataw Island Club in Dataw Island, S.C. April 15-17.
VIDEO: Sherrill Britt wins Carolinas Mid-Amateur
Sherrill Britt, a 50-year-old general contractor from West End, N.C. assembled a three-day total of nine-under-par 207