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SENIOR GOLFER DEFEATS YOUNGER PLAYERS AT 2005 STOCKER CUP
-Paul Simson, 54, held off Tripp Davis, and a field of much younger amateur golfers, to win the 2005 Stocker Cup

By Ron Salsig

CARMEL, CALIFORNIA (October 16, 2005) -- This one is for the seniors.

Paul Simson of North Carolina, age 54, held off much younger golfers at The Preserve Golf Club to win the Stocker Cup by one slim stroke.

“I’ve been invited to play here the past few years but it’s a long way to come,” Simson said. “I am so glad I finally did. I fell in love with this place the first time I saw it, and that was no doubt a key to winning.”

Simson shot a final round 73 for a 1-under-par 287 total, the only player in red numbers at the end of the day. Tripp Davis of Oklahoma made a run at Simson, but three-putted the final hole for bogey to post a 2-under-par 70 for the day and a 288 total.
Jeff Wilson (73) of Vallejo took third place at 290. Terrence Miskell (73), a Salinas native who now lives in Texas, was fourth at 291 and Gene Elliott (73) of Iowa took fifth at 294.

Simson started the day with a three-shot lead at 2 under par. He cruised through the front nine with a 1-under 35, playing steady. But he had a start when he heard on the 13th tee that Tripp Davis had closed to within one shot.

“I was surprised to see Tripp at two under,” Simson said. “We’ve butted heads a few times at the U.S. Mid-Am. So I knew I was in for a fight.”

Davis made his move with birdies on four of the last five holes on the front nine, but the birdie barrage stopped at the turn. Simson said the key to his win was two putts – a six-foot putt for birdie on the 13th, and an eight-footer for par on the 14th.

“The bird on 13 gave me a two-stroke lead,” Simson said. “And the par putt on the next hole was real big.”

Simson held his two-shot lead to the final hole, where he hit his second shot left of the slick green. Knowing that he had a shot to play with, he chipped well to the left of the hole, which startled the gallery.

“There was no way I could get it close going straight for the hole,” he said. “I could have tried a flop shot, but then anything can happen. So I played it thirty feet from the hole and trusted my putter to get me a two-putt.”

His downhill putt from 30 feet tickled the front lip of the cup before breaking off, and Simson had a tap-in for the victory.

Simson had only one three-putt the entire tournament, a stat that usually points to victory.

“I play better on courses that are real fast so I was pleased when I saw this golf course the first time on Wednesday,” he said. “It was my kind of golf course. Now it’s my favorite golf course.”

When someone mentioned Pebble Beach, Simson was quick with his response.

“Why play Pebble Beach when you’ve got The Preserve?” he said.

Stocker Notes: Simson was given the Sandy Tatum trophy for the low senior player at Saturday’s dinner since he was the only senior to make the cut, and he acknowledged the trophy but said he wanted that big cup on the table … Tripp Davis said the golf course broke his momentum and his run of birdies. “The twelfth and thirteenth holes played very tough and fifteen is as tough a par-4 as you’ll find,” he said … Terrence Miskell wowed the gallery on the 18th hole by making par from the hay left of the fairway. “I’ve never seen anyone get out of there,” said a member of the club … Simson admitted to some nerves after watching Miskell’s tee shot on that hole. “He hits it four miles left, and then I’ve got to hit,” he said. But Simson found the left side of the fairway with a good drive … Jeff Wilson was satisfied with third place. “This is only my second tournament of the year,” he said. “I’ve been busy.” … Simson said the land around The Preserve reminded him of home. “It’s a lot like the Smokey Mountains,” he said … Simson also predicted that the Stocker Cup will be a very hard invitation to get in the near future. “I’ll spread the word around, and so will these other players,” he said. “The Stocker Cup will be very popular, soon.”

* * *

Final results from the Stocker Cup Invitational, played at the 7067 yard, par-72 Preserve Golf Club. (Note: The top 20 A players advanced to Sunday's final round, while the 54 hole team competition concluded on Saturday)

Pos	Player	Club	Scores
1	Paul Simson	North Ridge Country Club	74-71-69-73--287
2	Tripp Davis	Belmar Golf Club	73-74-71-70--288
3	Jeff Wilson	Green Valley Country Club	72-75-70-73--290
4	Terrence Miskell	Dos Rios Golf Club	71-73-74-73--291
5	Gene Elliott	Glen Oaks Country Club	76-76-69-73--294
6	Dave Nelson	Montreux Golf & C.C.	75-73-74-73--295
7	Bob Niger	Serrano Country Club	78-73-75-70--296
T8	Craig Doell	Victoria Golf Club	79-72-73-74--298
T8	Nick Ushijima	Olympic Club	71-73-77-77--298
10	Mike Goodes	Pennrose Park C.C.	75-75-73-76--299
11	Chip Lutz	Pine Valley	72-76-78-74--300
T12	Jimmy Bryan	Latrobe Country Club	80-72-75-74--301
T12	Kenny Weixel	New Albany Country Club	73-74-76-78--301
T12	Alex Stamey	Olympic Club	74-75-73-79--301
T15	Bowen Osborn	Windsong Farms	77-75-75-77--304
T15	John Balfanz	Stockdale Country Club	80-72-72-80--304
T16	John Pate	The Valley Club	78-75-74-78--305
T16	Steve Nichols	Walnut Hills Country Club	73-76-77-79--305
T16	Chris Carlson	Highlands Ranch	72-77-74-82--305
20	Phil Huff	Olympic Club	72-75-79-81--307

Failed to qualify for final round
	Joe Hillman	Wolf Run Golf Club	77-75-76--228
	Trent Tessler	Scratch Players Golf Club	85-75-69--229
	Jim Lehman	Windsong Farm Golf Club	76-78-75--229
	Keith Kinsel	Oakmont Country Club	77-75-78--230
	Scott Crawshaw	Brookside Golf Club	75-74-81--230
	Brad Wilder	Triple Crown Country Club	75-80-75--230
	Joe Sanders	Incline Village Golf Club	72-78-80--230
	Graham Banister	Wildwood Green Golf Club	80-77-73--230
	Dave Rathjen	The Golf Club	74-79-78--231
	George Kelley	Stevinson Ranch	72-79-81--232
	Todd Barsotti	San Joaquin Country Club	81-78-73--232
	Greg Lopez	Dove Canyon Country Club	78-79-75--232
	Mike Kelley	New Albany Country Club	79-74-80--233
	Gary Young	Scratch Players	79-75-80--234
	Will Johnson	North Ridge Country Club	85-76-73--234
	Steve John	Tehama Golf Club	78-77-79--234
	Mark Gardner	Redlands Country Club	78-77-79--234
	Dave Capel	Stevinson Ranch Golf Club	77-79-79--235
	Mark Maguire	Claremont Country Club	77-81-79--237
	Garrett Larson	UC Golf Club	78-80-79--237
	Jerry Ledzinski	Quail Lodge	74-82-81--237
	Jerry Maatman	Chicago Golf Club	84-75-79--238
	Matt Foley	Los Altos Golf and Country Club	83-77-78--238
	Mike Rowley	San Luis Obispo Country Club	78-78-82--238
	Brian Thibault	Cinnibar Hills Golf Club	84-75-81--240
	John Benson	Totteridge Golf Club	84-74-83--241
	Rob Martin	Rancho Murieta Country Club	80-82-81--243
	Sal Felice	San Juan Oaks Mission Golf Club	83-80-84--247
	Pat Mateer	Spyglass Hill	88-78-82--248
	Kevin Todey	Saticoy Country Club	79-85-85--249
	Stan Lent	The Preserve Golf Club	81-85-87--253
	Patrick Pernice	Amateurgolf.com	86-85-87--258

TEAM COMPETITION:
Nick Ushijima of Japan and partner Jon Reynolds of Oakland held on to win the team championship, which ended Saturday, by one stroke over the team of Simson and John Rodenburg. Ushijima and Reynolds posted a 69 for a 194 total. Simson and Rodenburg had a 64 for a 195 total. Trent Tessler and Robby Robinson tied for third at 199 with Phil Huff and Keith Anderson. To view 54 hole A-player scores and team competition summary, click here>

MEDIA CONTACT INFORMATION:
Pete Wlodkowski
amateurgolf.com
6965 El Camino Real
Suite 105-631
Carlsbad, CA 92009
760-929-9297 office
760-685-3406 mobile
petewl@amateurgolf.com

Notes to Media:
1.) www.amateurgolf.com provides information on amateur tournaments around the U.S., runs a 15-event tournament series, and provides web and media services for events such as The Stocker Cup. The subscription fee of $35/year will be waived for members of the golf media upon receipt of an email or phone request.

2.) A-player biographies can be viewed at- http://www.stockercup.com/contestants.htm

3.) Media Inquiries can be directed to Pete Wlodkowski of amateurgolf.com at 760-929-9297 or by contacting him via email.

RESULTS ARCHIVES:
2004