Super Senior Four-Ball Champion from Albemarle places second in tournament
Published 11:34 am Wednesday, March 31, 2021
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They have done it again … and for the 10th time to be exact. Don Detweiler and Paul Simson of Raleigh captured the 4th North Carolina Super Senior Four-Ball Championship March 30, which marked their 10th CGA Four-Ball Championship title as a team.
“This is a big accomplishment at age 68, but I owe it all to my partner,” said Detweiler. “When I turned 55, he (Paul) invited me to play and we have been partners ever since. We have accomplished a lot together.”
The side entered the final round at Greenville Country Club in Greenville at 6-under-par, 65 and carded yet another 6-under-par, 65 in the final round to finish at 12-under-par, 130 total.
When asked about their strategy as a team, Detweiler remarked, “If I go for the pars, then he (Paul) can go for the birdies. My job is to hit the greens and make pars to be steady and consistent so that Paul can be on fire and just let go.”
Simson did exactly that, firing off birdies on Nos. 3, 6, 7 and 18. Detweiler was able to birdie Nos. 10 and 16 to cruise his way to his tenth CGA championship title. He joins Simson as one of four players in CGA men’s championship history to win 10 or more championships. This is Simson’s 41st championship title, which further cements his honor as the winningest champion in CGA history.
“This win means that Don will keep me around for another round or two. He’s not going to kick me to the curb just yet,” Simson said with a laugh. “It is a thrill to keep being competitive and to keep winning.” The duo will compete for their 11th CGA four-ball championship title at the Carolinas Senior Four-Ball Championship in just three weeks at Orangeburg Country Club.
Reigning Carolinas Super Senior Four-Ball Champions, Charlie Parks of Albemarle and Doug Owens of Asheboro tied for runner-up with Cliff Seastrunk and Lennie Barton of Raleigh at 7-under-par, 135. Both sides shot 3-under-par, 68 in the opening round and finished the championship with 4-under-par, 67s in the final round.
Pete Allen and Keith Li of Southport captured the 70+ Division with a 6-under-par, 136 total finish. The side carded seven birdies on the day to jump up from fourth to the lead and finish at 5-under-par, 66 in the final round.
Allen and Li have a similar partnership to Detweiler and Simson in that Allen plays a steady round and aims for par so that Li can play aggressively and try to give them as many looks at birdie as possible.
This is the first CGA championship that they have played in together, but now it will certainly not be the last.
“I had my original partner call me up on Friday and said that he had hurt his knee,” said Li. “I thought, ‘who am I going to find in two days’ time?’ I took a shot and called Pete to ask if he could play this Monday. As it turns out he was in town, so we hooked up on Friday for a Monday tournament.”
Just one stroke back from the lead, Robert Desjardins of Wilson and William Boles of Matthews tied for runner-up with John Bunn of Apex and Raymond Davis of Raleigh at 5-under-par, 137 overall. Both teams carded 2-under, 69 in the first round and finished with a solid 3-under, 68 in the final round.