2007 Senior Championship

Spencer Sappington Wins Georgia Senior Championship by Three
Sappington becomes first four-time champion in tournament history

RICHMOND HILL, Ga. – Spencer Sappington of Milton carded a 3-over-par 75 and finished at 1-over 217 for the tournament to maintain his lead and win the 2007 Georgia Senior Championship at by three strokes over Don Marsh of Alpharetta and defending champion Larry Clark of Cartersville at The Ford Plantation. The 21st annual event took place August 22-24.

Statesboro's Boyd Johnson placed fourth at 221, while Phil Pavoni of Macon and Ron Hunter of Jasper tied for fifth at 6-over 222. Atlanta's Don Russell, who shared the first-round lead with Sappington, finished in sole possession of seventh place at 223. Four players – Wally Adams Jr. of Vidalia, Curt Knorr of Dunwoody, Jim Thomas of Alpharetta and Savannah's Bubba Victor – all tied for eighth with a score of 224.

Sappington becomes the first four-time winner in the history of the event and has won four of the last five Senior Championships after winning three-straight titles from 2003-05. In December 2005, Sappington underwent major back surgery. After being forced to take some time off from golf to recover, Sappington played in the 2006 Senior Championship last August but missed the 36-hole cut.

"This (win) is really special," he said. "Over the last two years I've had my lowest point in golf – missing the cut last year – and my highest point in golf – winning today. "

"It's a different perspective when you're healthy, you think you can win, and you win, as opposed to when you've had some problems and you don't know if you can ever come back and win again. It makes this even more special."

Sappington learned that he had a four-stroke lead at the 18th tee and played the final hole conservatively, carding a bogey with his only three-putt of the entire 54-hole tournament.

"The key to this tournament for me was putting, which is generally not the best part of my game. I haven't been putting well the last four-five months, but I did this week and it made the difference."

Sappington held a four-stroke lead over Marsh, Knorr and Alpharetta's Ken Benson going into the final round. Marsh's deficit was cut to three when Sappington bogeyed the fourth hole, but it never got any closer during the remainder of the round. Sappington's victory seemed imminent at the 510-yard 16th, when he sunk a three-foot birdie putt and Marsh settled for par.

"Don (Marsh) hit the ball so well today, he scared the heck out of me," Sappington said of his good friend. "He was hitting it so solidly, but I putted well and he didn't, and that's what made the difference."

Benson struggled with bogey-bogey-double on his first three holes, and fell back in the pack. Knorr also fell out of title contention early with bogeys on two of his first three holes, but hung around to finish among the top 10.

Clark began the day nine strokes back of Sappington, but shot a 3-under 69 to vault up the standings. Pavoni carded a 69 as well, tying the low score of the tournament.

Play was suspended for over three hours – from 11:20 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. – due to lightning in the area. A significant amount of rain also fell during that time, with over an inch recorded on some parts of the golf course.

Senior Championship entries were open to male amateur golfers at least 55 years old as of August 22, 2007, who belong to a GSGA Member Club and are residents of Georgia. The field of 144 was determined by the lowest USGA Handicap Indexes.

After the second round, the field was cut to the low 70 players and ties. The cutline fell at 15-over-par 159 with 77 players advancing to the final round.