Sep 26, 2024
2024 Universal Retirement Senior North American Championship Results
Tournament Champions
View Tournament Results
The Universal Retirement Senior North American Championship was held from September 24th-25th in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina directly after the North American Championship. The tournament was a 36-hole championship, with one round being contested on the Grande Dunes Resort Course and one round at the Jack Nicklaus designed Long Bay Golf Club. With many chapters having senior divisions and others having a senior net option, the entry fee included entrance into both a senior division and a senior net contest, with a total of $80/per player being distributed to the prize pool.
The festivities began on Monday with registration at the Long Bay Golf Club in Longs, SC. A special thanks to our sponsors who were on hand to distribute the $225 worth of SWAG to each of our players: Universal Retirement, 2UNDR, and USGlove.
In Division 1, Doug Cristina (Birmingham) got off to a hot start to take a one-shot lead over Sean Boyle (Myrtle Beach) with a 1-under par 71. Several players were lurking just a few strokes back for the final round at Grande Dunes Resort Club, where anything can happen. Sunday would turn to be a battle between Chris Collins (Myrtle Beach) and Park Williams (Carolina Triad). The two competitors know each other well, but on this day Chris Collins would get the best of Williams with a 1-under 71 to earn a one-shot victory at +3.
Results
- 1. Chris Collins (Myrtle Beach) +3
- 2. Park Williams (Carolina Triad) +4
- 3. Donald Bradham (Houston) +5
- 4. Doug Cristina (Birmingham) +6
- 5. Tracy McArtor (Iowa Tri-State) +8
In Division 2, Paul Hess (Central Pennsylvania) would jump out to an early lead with an impressive even-par 72 at Grande Dunes Resort Course. He would sleep on a 3-shot lead, chased closely by 2023 North American Champion Darin Mongler (St. Louis), Jimmy Popp (Charlotte), and Brett Coddington (Myrtle Beach). Long Bay is a completely different test of golf as it winds through trees with a tricky layout. Coddington plugged his way along efficiently on Day 2, shooting a final round 77 to earn a 2 shot victory over Paul Hess and Darin Mongler. Dave Baca (Maryland) shot the low round of the day with a 75 in the final round to finish T-5.
Results
- 1. Brett Coddington (Myrtle Beach) +8
- T-2. Paul Hess (Central Pennsylvania) +10
- T-2. Darin Mongler (St. Louis) +10
- 4. Jimmy Popp (Charlotte) +12
- T-5. Dave Baca (Maryland) +14
- T-5. Ronnie Averett (Birmingham) +14
- T-7. Richard Norman (Myrtle Beach) +15
- T-7. Mike Vawter (Maryland) +15
- T-9. Greg Otto (Denver) +17
- T-9. Bill Stuart (St. Louis) + 17
- T-9. Parviz Soulati (Cincinnati/Dayton) +17
In Division 3, William Buie (Upstate South Carolina) jumped out to an early lead with a solid round of 80 and was chased closely by Jeff Pauley (Upstate South Carolina) with an 81. The final round would belong to Rick Knepp (Central Pennsylvania), who shot the day’s best 79 to earn a one shot victory over Steve Winnick (Central Pennsylvania). The two battled back and forth all day, but Knepp was able to sink one more putt when it mattered the most and claim the title.
Results
- 1. Rick Knepp (Central Pennsylvania) +19
- 2. Steve Winnick (Central Pennsylvania) +20
- 3. Twig Wood (Mid Missouri) +22
- T-4. Andy Maestas (Atlanta) +23
- T-4. Dan India (Chicago) +23
- T-4. Jeff Pauley (Upstate South Carolina) +23
- T-4. Mark Gonzales (Houston) +23
- T-8. Andre Banks (Charlotte) +24
- T-8. Gary Barrow (Kentucky) +24
- T-8. Tim Robinson (Virginia Capital) +24
In Division 4, Mark Elmore (Kentucky) got off to a hot start with an impressive round of 82 to set the early pace at Grande Dunes Golf Club. He would sleep on the lead, chased closely by James Sims (Maryland – 83) and William Favinger (Central Pennsylvania – 84). Defending Division 5 North American Champion Monty Berry (Atlanta) was lurking at 85 and the GlobalGolf.com Senior National Player of the Year contenders Dave Funkhouser (Myrtle Beach) and Dolly Buenaventura (St. Louis) were staying within shouting distance at 87. Sunday would belong to Mark Elmore, as the lead he established during Round 1 would prove too much to handle, firing a final round 91 to earn a 2-shot victory over James Sims (Maryland).
Results
- 1. Mark Elmore (Kentucky) +29
- 2. James Sims (Maryland) +31
- 3. Dolly Buenaventura (St. Louis) +32
- T-4. Emmett Smith (Virginia Capital) +33
- T-4. Monty Berry (Atlanta) +33
- T-6. Ray Breazeale (Myrtle Beach) +34
- T-6. Jeff Stephens (Kansas City) +34
- T-6. Thomas Gibson (Charlotte) +34
- T-9. Jeff Rader (Kansas City) +35
- T-9. Alan Parker (Kansas City) +35
- T-9. Robert Gibson (Upstate South Carolina) +35
- T-9. William Favinger (Central Pennsylvania) +35
In Division 5, Ben Walden (Utah) set the pace in Round 1 at the difficult Long Bay Golf Club with an impressive 90 to open up a 4-shot lead over Jim Nichols (St. Louis) and Paul Taylor (New Jersey/Philadelphia). Scores would remain low in Round 2 at the gettable Grande Dunes Golf Club, and Walden would take advantage of the great scoring conditions. Jim Nicholswould put on the pressure, shooting the low round of the day with an 85, but an 86 by Ben Walden would put the event out of reach, earning him a 3-shot victory.
Results
1. Ben Walden (Utah) +32
2. Jim Nichols (St. Louis) +35
3. Matt Walden (Utah) +41
4. Paul Taylor (New Jersey/Philadelphia) +43
T-5. Chuck Aiello (Metro New York) +47
T-5. Tim Kunkel (Upstate South Carolina) +47
T-5. Danny Sullivan (Upstate South Carolina) +47
T-5. Les Bullock (Virginia Capital) +47
9. Jim Pritchett (Virginia Capital) + 48
10. Tommy Weatherby (Southern California) +49
For the first time, senior net was included in the entry fee, so all 240 players competed in a senior net division where players got 90% of their validated APT index. 1 in 4 players paid, which means the top 60 and ties earned payouts in the senior net competition. The competition came down to the last hole for James Sims (Maryland) at Long Bay and for Ben Walden (Utah) at Grande Dunes. After the dust settled, Ben Walden (Utah) won the Senior Net title at the Universal Retirement Senior North American Championship
Results (Net Scores)
- 1. Ben Walden (Utah) -6
- 2. James Sims (Maryland) -5
- T-3. Roger Morito (Canada) – 4
- T-3. Mark Gonzales (Houston) -4
- 5. Matt Walden (Utah) -3
- 6. Dolly Buenaventura (St. Louis) -2
- T-7. Rick Knepp (Central Pennsylvania) -1
- T-7. Jeff Pauley (Upstate South Carolina) -1
- T-7. Jim Nichols (St. Louis) -1
- T-10. Chris Collins (Myrtle Beach) E
- T-10. Doug Cristina (Birmingham) E
- T-10. Donald Bradham (Houston) E
- T-10. Andre Banks (Charlotte) E
- T-10. Mike Vawter (Maryland) E
- T-15. Park Williams (Carolina Triad) +1
- T-15. Dave Davidson (Southern California) +1
- T-15. Mark Albedyll (Seattle) +1
- T-15. Dan India (Chicago) +1
- T-19. George Steinmetz (New Jersey/Philadelphia) +2
- T-19. Ian Thomas (Virginia Capital) +2
- T-19. Gary Barrow (Kentucky) +2
- T-19. Linda Wallace (Arkansas) +2
- T-19. Steve Winnick (Central Pennsylvania) +2
- T-19. Richard Norman (Myrtle Beach) +2
- T-19. Brett Coddington (Myrtle Beach) +2
A special note from our friends at Universal Retirement:The **Universal Retirement** team would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to all the players who competed in this week’s National Championship events in the beautiful Myrtle Beach. A special shoutout to all the Champions—congratulations on your fantastic performances!
As a proud major sponsor of the Amateur Players Tour, Universal Retirement is excited for the 2025 season and eager to continue our support of this great community.
Take advantage of our expertise! Use the links below to schedule your complimentary one-on-one appointment with **Lance** or **Kreg** and explore all the options available to plan for a successful retirement.
