Aberdeen, NC - (February 12, 2011)  -  After having the first scheduled event of the season postponed for the second straight year last Saturday, the Golfweek and Senior Amateur Golf Tours were finally able to get the 2011 tournament year off to a running start today at the Legacy Golf Links.  Mild temperatures and sunny skies greeted 91 golfers who teed it up for early season bragging rights (and prizes totaling over $2,600.00 in gift cards and skins pay-outs).

Three players enjoyed 1st-place payments of at least $200.  One of these three was Tour newcomer Paul Kim of Lexington.  Kim started the morning playing in the B Flight, but became the 2nd player in the 13-year history of the Tour to be "bumped" a flight before his first event was finished.  He wound up winning the A Flight with a 73.  "This was the best round of my life", said an excited Kim after besting 2nd place finisher Mike Groenewald of Morrisville by 4 strokes.  "I wouldn't be surprised to see Paul get to the Championship Flight sometime this season", declared Tour Director Bruce Hallenbeck.

Trinity's Sonny Gill posted an 82 to take the top spot in the B Flight after edging Greensboro's Cuong Ton in a sudden-death playoff.  Gill won on the first hole of the playoff.  "We both hit poor 2nd shots", he said, "but I was able to get up & down for a par and the win".

In C Flight action, Johnny Brooks of Youngsville shot an 86 which edged 2 other Tour members - James Eatmon of Sims, and Archdale's Elby Hatfield by a single shot.  The win made him the 3rd member of the "$200.00 Club".

Past National Championship winner Kim Mansfield of High Point took top honors in the Championship Flight with a 73.  He finished 5 strokes clear of 2 Raleigh-area Tour members - Cary's David Williams, and Jim Arlington of Apex.

Today was also significant in Triad and Raleigh/Pinehurst Tour history in that competition was held for the first time in the new "D" Flight.  "Other Tours around the country have been doing a D Flight successfully for some years now.  We felt it was time to try and open up our competition to an even greater number of potential members".

The inaugural winner of local D Flight competition was Greensboro's Keith Thomas with a 90.  A pair of Raleigh residents - Bob Robinson and Prince Dozier came in 2nd & 3rd respectively.

"We have one more pre-season event, 2 weeks from now on February 26th at Mid Pines Resort before the regular individual seasons start for both the Golfweek and Senior Amateur Tours", stated Hallenbeck.  Both Tours will have their regular season debuts at Bryan Park in Greensboro, with the Seniors going on Thursday March 3, and The Golfweek Tour on Saturday, March 5.

Any amateur golfer interested in receiving information on playing on either Tour can contact Hallenbeck at 336-495-6556 or by email at behgolf@aol.com.

THE GOLFWEEK & SENIOR AMATEUR GOLF TOUR

LEGACY EVENT - 2/12/2011

TOP FIVE SCORES BY FLIGHT

CHAMPIONSHIP

Kim Mansfield, High Point  73

David Williams, Cary  78

Jim Arlington, Apex  78

Rick Luzar, Pinehurst  80

Mark Macejko, Vass  80

A  FLIGHT

Paul Kim, Lexington  73

Mike Groenewald, Morrisville  77

Bob McQueen, Hope Mills  78

Mark Robinson, Winston-Salem  78

Mark Cobb, Hope Mills  79

Gene Greenawalt, Carthage  79

B  FLIGHT

Sonny Gill, Trinity  82

Cuong Ton, Greensboro  82

Mark Harders, Raleigh  83

Ted Pauling, Knightdale  83

Neil Bleau, Durham  84

Jeffery Silver, Rocky Mount  84

C  FLIGHT

Johnny Brooks, Youngsville  86

James Eatmon, Sims  87

Elby Hatfield, Archdale  87

Bill Wilkerson, Rolesville  88

Landon Wilkes, Apex  92

D  FLIGHT

Keith Thomas, Greensboro  90

Bob Robinson, Raleigh  92

Prince Dozier, Raleigh  99

Greg Green, Apex  102

Full Tournament Results: