The sponsoring R.J. Reynolds Co. has apparently tired of fighting poor attendance and a seemingly growing indifference to the Senior Tour stop.
The tournament still offers some of the Senior Tour’s brightest stars, however, and its former winners form a virtual list of all-stars. Included are Hale Irwin, Lee Trevino, Jim Colbert (who won three times), Gary Player and Larry Nelson.
Officials had hoped to lure Arnold Palmer to Clemmons for the final championship, but the former Wake Forest University player declined a sponsor’s exemption because of scheduling conflicts.
Mark McCumber, Don Pooley and Charles Coody have accepted sponsor exemptions.
Tournament Winners: The second annual Simon Funeral Home Golf tournament was held on the Tom Jackson-designed course at Hyland Hills Golf & Country Club. The tournament was individual play format, with trophies awarded for first, second and third places.
Donnell Harris of Pinehurst won first place. James McMillan of Raeford was second. Marion Chalmers of Southern Pines was third.
TROA Tourney: Entries are still being accepted into The Retired Officers Association Scholarship Golf Tournament being held Saturday at Southern Pines (Elks Club) Golf Course.
The format is four-person captain’s choice, and players may form their own teams. The entry fee is $55 per player and includes prizes, carts and dinner.
Special prizes include a new Buick for a hole-in-one on a designated par-3, longest drive, longest putt, golf packages and accessories.
Proceeds go to the TROA Scholarship Fund.
More information is available from Frank Salimbene at 215-0438.
Halloween Two-Man: Crescent Golf Club’s fourth annual Halloween Two-Man Championship will take place Oct. 20-21, with a practice round on Oct. 19.
The tournament, hosted annually by Crescent, is becoming one of the more popular two-man events in the Piedmont. Last year’s tourney drew a full field of 66 teams, with another 22 on a waiting list.
Head Pro Ross Desmond has increased the field size to 72 teams (144 players) this fall but still expects to turn people away.
“I expect it to fill up extremely fast based on the inquiries we’ve received,” Desmond said. “There were a lot of people last year who said it was one of the best golf tournaments they’ve played in. This is our premier event. We try to add a little touch to everything about it. This isn’t just a ‘show up and play’ tournament. We try to run it first-class.”
Format is nine holes of best ball and nine holes of captain’s choice on Saturday, Oct. 20. Sunday’s final round is nine holes of Texas scramble and nine holes of alternate shot.
Gift certificates will be awarded to the top 10 teams after Saturday, and all teams will be flighted by first-round scores for Sunday’s play. The top four teams in each flight after Sunday’s round will win gift certificates, with the overall champions receiving Ping Hoofer golf bags. The total purse is in excess of $6,600.
The entry fee is $200 per team. The cost includes cart and green fees for tournament rounds and practice rounds, range balls, tee gifts, drinks and snacks both days, and prizes.
More information is available at the golf shop at Crescent or at (704) 647-0025.
