PINEHURST, N.C. — Ken Eichele birdied the final two holes Wednesday to win his second straight Harris Teeter Senior Amateur Tour Championship.
Eichele, who plays on the Pinehurst tour, shot a final-round 73 at Talamore after opening with a 74 Tuesday at National Golf Club. His 147 total in the Championship Flight was good for a one-stroke victory over Jim Eskridge and playing partner Eric Ardery. Last year, Eichele shot 140 and won by 10 strokes.
"It was a lot more stressful this year," said the 54-year-old Eichele, a former New York City fireman who retired to Pinehurst two years ago. "I never had the lead until that putt fell on the 36th hole."
Eskridge, who plays the Triad tour, shot 74-74–148 and took second in a scorecard playoff with Ardery of the Raleigh tour. Ardery shot 73-75–148, just missing a birdie on the last hole to force a playoff with Eichele.
In the A Flight, Charlotte’s James Herndon played the last nine holes one under par to shoot 74 and pull away to victory. Herndon’s 152 total was four strokes better than David Frye of the Triad tour, who shot 76-80–156.
Robbie Robinson of the Orlando tour parred every hole of a four-hole playoff to edge Robert Yopp of Charlotte for top honors in the B Flight. Robinson shot 80-79–159.
The C Flight was also decided in a playoff. Jeff Pemberton (88-91–179) of the Ohio River tour rolled in a 45-foot birdie putt from off the green on the first playoff hole to beat Bill Long (87-92) of the Tri-Cities Tennessee tour.
The seventh annual Harris Teeter Senior Amateur Tour Championship drew a record field of 178 golfers from 11 tour divisions across the Eastern U.S.
Harris Teeter
Senior Amateur Tour
2005 Tour Championship
Final Results
National Golf Club &
Talamore, Pinehurst, N.C.
Championship Flight
1. Ken Eichele (Pinehurst) 74-73–147
2. Jim Eskridge (Triad) 74-74–148
3. Eric Ardery (Raleigh) 73-75–148
4. Craig Galbrieth (Triad) 79-70–149
5. Chuck Ingram (Pinehurst) 79-71–150
6. Kim Mansfield (Triad) 74-76–150
7. David Watterworth (Charlotte) 77-76–153
8. George Kennon (Triad) 77-77–154
9. Frank Boone (Raleigh) 73-83–156
10. Gary Schatz (Charlotte) 80-76–156
A Flight
1. James Herndon (Charlotte) 78-74–152
2. David Frye (Triad) 76-80–156
3. Tom Whatley (Raleigh) 81-76–157
4. Fred Berman (Pinehurst) 82-75–157
5. Mark Gregory (Charlotte) 78-81–159
6. Larry Schimel (Charlotte) 80-81–161
7. Craig Stone (Orlando) 84-77–161
8. Toby Tyler (Charlotte) 80-81–161
9. Forrest Kenley (Charlotte) 83-79–162
10. Dudley Barnette (Raleigh) 80-82–162
B Flight
1. Robbie Robinson (Orlando) 80-79–159*
2. Robert Yopp (Charlotte) 79-80–159
3. Wayne Nixon (Charlotte) 81-80–161
4. Ben Baez (Pinehurst) 80-82–162
5. Bill Rhodes (Triad) 80-84–164
6. Art Gose (Northern Va.) 86-80–166
7. Dan Whalen (Triad) 87-80–167
8. Russell Pinkleton (Charlotte) 83-84–167
9. Perry Voncannon (Triad) 86-81–167
10. Don Russell (Charlotte) 79-88–167
C Flight
1. Jeff Pemberton (Ohio River) 88-91–179*
2. Bill Long (Tri-Cities Tenn.) 87-92–179
3. George McKean (Raleigh) 93-90–183
4. Jimmy Taylor (Charlotte) 90-94–184
5. Rick Wirey (Ohio River) 99-86–185
6. Ken Picking (Northern Va.) 97-88–185
7. I.N. Kutty (Tri-Cities Tenn.) 93-92–185
8. Stu Patch (Charlotte) 91-94–185
9. Larry Hollar (Charlotte) 92-93–185
10. Don Elsass (Charlotte) 93-92–185
* — won in playoff
Contact:
