ROSWELL, Ga. — Jeff Belk of Marietta defeats Doug Stiles of Athens, 2 and 1, and wins the Georgia Senior Match Play Championship. The fifth edition of this competition took place in cool and blustery conditions at Horseshoe Bend Country Club, April 12-15.
Belk made his way to the finals with wins over Ray Perez III of Norcross in the round of 16 (6 and 5), Mel Mendenhall of Marietta in the quarterfinals (19 holes), and James Kiely of Milton in the semifinals (5 and 4). He posted a 2-over-par 146 (71-75) in the 36-hole stroke play qualifier to earn the two seed.
Stiles earned victories over Bill Manson of Gainesville in the round of 16 (5 and 4), John Foster of Woodstock in the quarterfinals (3 and 2), then two-time champion Chris Hall of Kennesaw in the semifinals (19 holes). The Athens native scored a 5-over-par 149 (76-73) over the stroke play portion to claim the five seed.
With the victory in the fifth annual competition, Belk earns an exemption into the Georgia Mid-Amateur Championship, which will be played at Augusta Country Club, May 20-22.
Len McWilliams of Ellerslie won the title in the Super Senior division. He defeated Dave Nichols of Roswell, 5 and 3, in the final match. McWilliams paved his path through the bracket first with a quarterfinal win over Eric Silver of Greensboro, 1 up. In the semifinals, he topped Jim Spall of Atlanta, 21 holes. McWilliams earned the six seed by finishing stroke play at 4-over-par 148 (68-80).
Nichols, playing on his home course at Horseshoe Bend Country Club, earned wins over Dick Van Leuvan in the quarterfinals (2 and 1) and Jim Kamis of Marietta in the semifinals (6 and 4). Nichols turned in a 1-under-par 143 (74-69) to earn medalist honors in stroke play qualifying.