ROCK HILL, S.C. — Rick Cloninger of Rock Hill, S.C., finished alone in third place at the 65th Carolinas Senior Amateur, posting 7-under 206 after rounds of 71, 67 and 68 at Waynesville Inn and Golf Club.
Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C., captured the title Thursday with an eagle on the first playoff hole, defeating Joe Jaspers of Huntersville, N.C., after both finished regulation at 8-under 205.
The 75-year-old Simson, the most decorated champion in Carolinas Golf Association history, carded 68-66-71 before winning sudden death on the par-5 18th with a second shot to about six feet.
Jaspers forced the playoff with a final-round 64, the lowest score of the championship, after starting the day seven strokes behind Simson.
Behind Cloninger, Lenny Nash of Charlotte and Steve Harwell of Mooresville shared fourth at 3-under 210. Skip Taylor of Flat Rock was sixth at even-par 213.
AmateurGolf.com and the Carolinas Golf Association both reported Simson’s eagle playoff win and Cloninger’s solo third, keeping Rock Hill on the leaderboard of one of the region’s top senior amateur events.
