North Carolina Senior
Amateur Championship Results

GolfCarolina.com Staff Report

GREENSBORO, NC. (MAY 18, 2001) - Wire-to-wire winner Cliff Cunningham of Monroe shot a final round 73 to win by six shots and better his own 54-hole scoring record in the 16th North Carolina Senior Championship at Starmount Forest Country Club in Greensboro. His three-day total of six-under par 207 beat Larry Boswell of Jamestown, who fired a final round 75 for a total of 213.

Cunninham comfortably broke his own record of 211 shot at Wilson Country Club in 1997. The margin of victory record was not broken, due to Cunningham's eight-shot margin of victory that same year.

He gave credit to his perennial Four-Ball partner, 1999 Carolinas Senior champion Bob Clark of Asheville, "I putted really well this week. Bobby Clark has been helping me and it really paid off. He helped me with putting and he helped me with my swing and it really started to come around about a month ago."

Cunningham's four other titles in this championship were won in succession, from 1994 to 1997. Cunningham also won the United States Senior Amateur championship as well as the Carolinas Golf Association Player of the Year Award in 1998.

His five triumphs in the championship dominate the history of the event as no other player has won the event more than once in its 16-year history. Another historical note is that Cunningham has won the title five out of the eight years since the format changed to 54-holes in 1994. It was previously 36-hole stroke play.

Cunningham allowed his drought in this championship to lack of work. "I really haven't worked on things for the last couple of years, but recently things have really started to come around. I shot my age last week for the first time and have been gearing up for this event."

Defending champion Ronnie Grove of Raleigh shot 72 on Thursday for a total of 214 and third place.

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The North Carolina Senior Amateur championship is open to North Carolina residents age 55 and older that are members of a Carolinas Golf Association member club and who carry a USGA Handicap Index of 10.4 or less. The championship trophy is named in honor of longtime Carolinas Golf Association Committeeman Peter V. Tufts.

This championship is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association. North Carolina Senior Amateur Championship Results Starmount Forest Country Club, Greensboro, NC May 15-17, 2001

Final Results

Cliff Cunningham, Monroe 68-66-73--207
Larry Boswell, Jamestown 71-67-75--213
Ronnie Grove, Raleigh 75-67-72--214
Jim Patti, Winston-Salem 73-70-73--216
Richard Gwaltney, Taylorsville 68-73-76--217
Lea Couch, Jr., Bahama 69-72-78--219
John Green, Southern Pines 74-73-72--219
Bill Cox, Gastonia 75-72-73--220
Charles Horne, Gastonia 74-71-76--221
Tom Hadley, Hendersonville 73-74-74--221
Tom McLean, Greenville 71-71-80--222
Deane Hundley III, Carthage 76-74-73--223
Hal Dugenske, Whispering Pines 75-72-77--224
Marshall Fall, Hendersonville 74-73-77--224
Dave Robinson, Burlington 73-76-75--224
Tommy Jeffries, Raleigh 73-71-81--225
Bob Clark, Asheville 75-70-80--225
Yancey Ford, Winston-Salem 71-76-78--225
Tom Saintsing, Lexington 74-74-77--225
Jere Ayers, Greensboro 74-74-77--225
Carl Sharpe, Thomasville 75-74-76--225
David Owens, Hendersonville 77-73-77--227
Bob Ferrel, Greensboro 76-74-78--228
William Hiner, Pinehurst 76-72-82--230
Jim Hilderbrand, Pinehurst 73-76-81--230
Ron Morgan, Clemmons 75-74-81--230
Bobby Neal, Wilmington 71-78-81--230
Bob Bales, Lexington 74-76-80--230
John Sheehan, Charlotte 75-75-80--230
David Whipkey, Charlotte 72-77-WD
Bill Benson, Wilkesboro 74-76-DQ