117 players start the 2009 season at the Legacy Golf Links in Pinehurst, NC!

GOLF TOURS "KICK-OFF" 2009 SEASON
Aberdeen, NC - (January 31, 2009)  The Egolf Amateur Golf Tour and Harris Teeter Senior Amateur Golf Tour got off to a running start here Saturday at The Legacy Golf Links with a joint event that drew 117 participants on a rather cold and windy day.  Included in that number were 32 Championship Flight players - the largest Championship Flight in the 14-year history of the Tour.

Unlike normal Tour events, which are comprised strictly of either Harris Teeter Senior Tour players or Egolf Amateur Tour members, this one had contestants from both Tours entered and competing against each other.  To level the playing field, the Seniors played from one tee-box shorter than their "flatbelly" counterparts.  As has been the case historically in this event in past years, the competition was tight, with the older guys winning 2 of the 4 flights, and the "youngsters" taking the other 2.

Charlotte's Joe Jaspers, representing the Egolf Tour, started out with a double bogey on his first hole, then proceeded to reel off 15 pars and 2 birdies to finish with an even par 72 and grab the top spot in the Championship Flight.  He was joined by Mark Cobb of Hope Mills as the other Egolf Tour winner, as he took the B Flight title over Asheboro's Joe Prairie in an on-course playoff after both shot regulation 79s.

Pinehurst's Ed Reese got the "old-guys" first victory.  By applying some local knowledge (Reese is a member at The Legacy) he took first place in the A Flight with an impressive 74, edging Cecil Lockley of Creedmoor and Pinehurst's William Hiner by 2 shots each.  The Harris Teeter Seniors grabbed their final victory of the day as Jamestown's Gary Chapman beat The Egolf Tour's Mike Germain of Raleigh, 84 to 86 for the C Flight crown.

The top five finishers in each flight shared part of the $2,200.00 gift certificate prize pool, in addition to free rounds of golf and Tour shirts that were awarded for various skills competitions held during play.  Trophies were presented to all four flight winners as well.
"Our Tours are open to amateur players of any skill level", stated Tour Director Bruce Hallenbeck.  "The minimum requirement for the Senior Tour is 50 years-of-age.  To receive information on how to play in a Tour event, interested players can reach me by calling 336-495-6556, or by emailing to behgolf@aol.com".