James Mason, PGA life-member from The Orchard Golf & Country Club in Dillard, won his second Yamaha Georgia Senior Open contested at the University of Georgia Golf Course in Athens. Mason fired a second round of two-under par 69 for a two-day total of three-under par 139, and defeated Stephen Keppler, head PGA professional at Marietta Country Club in Kennesaw, and Mark Anderson, teaching professional at Brunswick Country Club in a sudden-death playoff.
Mason started the day tied for fourth place after a first round of one-under par 70, and then fell back to even par for the tournament after a double bogey on his 16th hole. He then proceeded to eagle the par five 17th hole and birdied the 18th hole to post three-under par and waited for the final groups to finish their rounds. Keppler and Anderson also shot rounds of two-under par 69 to match Mason in the clubhouse. For his efforts, Mason claimed the first place check for $2,200. It was announced yesterday that Mason will be inducted into the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame next January.
Low amateur honors went to noted amateur Billy Mitchell of Roswell who finished the championship at one-over par 143 and an overall tie for 8th place. Defending champion, PGA teaching professional Craig Stevens of Brookstone Golf & Country Club in Acworth, finished alone in 4th place at 2-under par 140. Rounding out the top five was Charlie King, PGA head professional at Griffin City Golf Course who finished at one-under par 141.
============================================================ Results for Contest Championship: ============================== ============================== 1 James Mason Dillard, GA 70-69--139 -3 T2 Mark Anderson St. Simons Island, GA 70-69--139 -3 T2 Stephen Keppler Kennesaw, GA 70-69--139 -3 4 Craig Stevens Dallas, GA 67-73--140 -2 5 Charles King Griffin, GA 71-70--141 -1 T6 John Crumbley Jefferson, GA 71-71--142 E T6 Sonny Skinner Sylvester, GA 69-73--142 E T8 William Mitchell (a) Roswell, GA 73-70--143 +1 T8 Clark Spratlin Tocca, GA 70-73--143 +1 T8 Glen Herrell Albany, GA 69-74--143 +1 11 Jeff Belk (a) Marietta, GA 73-71--144 +2 T12 Christopher Dare Dawsonville, GA 74-71--145 +3 T12 Bob Royak (a) Alpharetta, GA 72-73--145 +3 T12 Mel Mendenhall (a) Marietta, GA 69-76--145 +3 T15 Chris Murman Perry, GA 76-70--146 +4 T15 Winston Trively Colquitt, GA 74-72--146 +4 T15 Danny Elkins Roswell, GA 72-74--146 +4 T15 Mark Nickerson (a) Roswell, GA 68-78--146 +4 T19 Jack Kearney (a) Peachtree City, GA 75-72--147 +5 T19 Jeff Gotham Hartwell, GA 75-72--147 +5 T19 John Foster (a) Woodstock, GA 74-73--147 +5 T19 Phil Taylor Atlanta, GA 72-75--147 +5 T19 Mike Miller Chickamauga, GA 72-75--147 +5 T24 Mike Schlueter Acworth, GA 76-72--148 +6 T24 Lee Dennis (a) Comer, GA 75-73--148 +6 T26 Scotty Scott (a) Hoschton, GA 76-73--149 +7 T26 Rusty Strawn (a) McDonough, GA 71-78--149 +7 T28 John Smith (a) Cumming, GA 76-74--150 +8 T28 Doug Stiles (a) Athens, GA 75-75--150 +8 T28 Russ Davis Sandy Springs, GA 74-76--150 +8 T28 Scott Hare Buford, GA 72-78--150 +8 T32 Mark Benefield (a) Peachtree Corners, GA 76-75--151 +9 T32 Wendell Coffee Peachtree City, GA 77-74--151 +9 T32 Ted Meier Newnan, GA 76-75--151 +9 T32 Chris Asbell Roswell, GA 75-76--151 +9 T32 Shouting (Hunter) Huang Atlanta, GA 75-76--151 +9 T37 Scott Curiel Cumming, GA 77-75--152 +10 T37 John Skeadas (a) Savannah, GA 75-77--152 +10 T37 Phil Wagoner Duluth, GA 79-73--152 +10 T40 Gay McMichael (a) Macon, GA 76-77--153 +11 T40 Robert Cole Ranger, GA 77-76--153 +11 T40 Frank Perry (a) Fayetteville, GA 76-77--153 +11 T40 Bill Leonard (a) Dallas, GA 75-78--153 +11 T40 Don Marsh (a) Johns Creek, GA 74-79--153 +11 T45 Frank Remmes (a) Lilburn, GA 77-77--154 +12 T45 Sean Eason Palmetto, GA 79-75--154 +12 T45 Bill Manson (a) Gainesville, GA 73-81--154 +12 T48 Brian Slezak (a) Douglasville, GA 77-78--155 +13 T48 Joey Kaney (a) Warrenton, GA 77-78--155 +13 T48 Larry Vaughan (a) Greensboro, GA 79-76--155 +13 T48 Robert Burk Hahira, GA 79-76--155 +13 52 Richard Hatcher Marietta, GA 74-82--156 +14 T53 Mark Siksta Atlanta, GA 77-80--157 +15 T53 Jim Foote (a) Gainesville, GA 78-79--157 +15 T53 Richard Van Leuvan (a) Atlanta, GA 79-78--157 +15 56 DeWitt Weaver Braselton, GA 78-80--158 +16 T57 Paul Gooden Savannah, GA 78-81--159 +17 T57 Mike Shannon St Simons Island, GA 75-84--159 +17 59 James Heard (a) Roswell, GA 79-81--160 +18 60 Tom Murphy (a) Athens, GA 78-83--161 +19 61 Uel Kemp Canton, GA 80-82--162 +20 T62 Michael Moore (a) Douglasville, GA 79-84--163 +21 T62 Bruce Wood (a) Suwanee, GA 80-83--163 +21 T64 Preston Bailey (a) Ringgold, GA 80-84--164 +22 T64 Del Emery (a) Royston, GA 80-84--164 +22 T64 Robert Witherington LaGrange, GA 82-82--164 +22 T64 Leslie Buell (a) Marietta, GA 82-82--164 +22 T68 Dennis Hickam Lawrenceville, GA 80-85--165 +23 T68 John Montgomery (a) Atlanta, GA 82-83--165 +23 T68 Randy Dees (a) Pooler, GA 82-83--165 +23 T68 Dave Baker (a) Conyers, GA 85-80--165 +23 72 Randy Charles (a) Marietta, GA 82-84--166 +24 T73 Neil Monroe (a) Sharpsburg, GA 81-87--168 +26 T73 Jeff Davis Clarkesville, GA 85-83--168 +26 T75 Altai Negaty-Hindi (a) Peachtree City, GA 83-86--169 +27 T75 Michael Low (a) Atlanta, GA 84-85--169 +27 T75 Mitch Seabaugh (a) Newnan, GA 86-83--169 +27 78 Steven Barfoot Elberton, GA 86-84--170 +28 79 Bradley Virgil (a) Marietta, GA 88-83--171 +29 80 Barry Campbell (a) Woodstock, GA 84-88--172 +30 T81 Jeff Williams (a) Atlanta, GA 86-92--178 +36 T81 William Check (a) Savannah, GA 90-88--178 +36 83 Billy Deal (a) Dalton, GA 91-89--180 +38 84 Jimmy Epps (a) Douglasville, GA 100-85--185 +43 85 Olen Arnold (a) Lilburn, GA 108-95--203 +61 DID NOT FINISH WD Chris Hall (a) Mableton, GA +11 WD Rodger Hogan Gainesville, GA +11 WD James Kiely (a) Milton, GA WD Tommy Moon Conyers, GA WD King Simmons Mableton, GA WD Brian Puterbaugh Johns Creek, GA NC Roger Keller Alpharetta, GA +8