Championship Trophy Case

Steve Scoville
2009 Southern Seniors Champion

Steve Scoville and Leroy Thompson, Championship Match

The 2009 Annual Championship saw repeat winners in both Seniors and Grand Seniors Divisions. Steve Scoville of Binghamton NY is the Southern Seniors 2009 Champion and George Skelton of Bristol VA is the Grand Seniors Champion.

After winning his first three matches Scoville faced Leroy Thompson of Newport News VA on the 6,657-yard par-70 Seaside Course. Teeing off in a steady drizzle, Scoville won the first two holes. He was 3-up through 15 when Thompson won 16 and 17 to extend the match. On the 410 yard 18th, the longest par-4 on the course, both recorded pars and Scoville finished 1-up.

The Championship Flight played at scratch over the Seaside, Plantation and Retreat Courses of the Sea Island Golf Club with 32 senior golfers participating in the event.

The win puts Scoville’s name on the Championship Trophy for the second time following his 2006 victory. Since becoming a Southern Seniors member in 2006 he has played in six tournaments.

George Skelton
2009 Grand Seniors Champion

George Skelton successfully defended his title at the 2009 Annual Grand Seniors Match Play Championship and is only the second Champion in Grand Seniors history to record back-to-back wins.

After winning his first two matches Skelton faced Norton Montague of Shoal Creek AL on the 6,326-yard par-72 Plantation Course, a Rees Jones design. Teeing off in a steady drizzle, Skelton’s short game was tested on the 1st and 2nd holes when he saved par from greenside bunkers. In addition to the challenge of cold wet playing conditions, Skelton was coming back from quadruple bypass surgery just six months earlier.

The win puts Skelton’s name on the Grand Seniors Championship Trophy for the third time following his 2006 and 2008 victories. He is the second three-time Champion following George Gilbert of Dataw Island, SC who won in 1997-1998-1999.

The Championship Flight played at scratch over the Seaside, Plantation and Retreat Courses of the Sea Island Golf Club. Thirty-nine Grand Seniors, age 70 or better participated in the event.

Annual Champions

1930
1931
1932
1933
1934
1935
1936
1937
1938
1939
1941
1947
1948
1949
1950
1951
1952
1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
1969
1970
1971
1972

A. Paul Bagby
Howard G. Phillips
Charles H. Jennings
Charles H. Jennings
Francis C. Robertson
Francis C,. Robertson
Bryson W. Biggs
Bryson W. Biggs
Robert Lowry
James T. Kilpatrick.
Bryson W. Biggs
W. Latimer Brown
Richard S. Tufts
Arthur F. Lynch
Ben F. Kraffert, Jr.
Ben F. Kraffert, Jr.
Ben F. Kraffert, Jr.
Frank B. Edwards
John W. Roberts
J. Walcott Brown
John W. Roberts
J. Walcott Brown
J. Walcott Brown
Quentin G. McCombs
William S. Terrell
Dorsey Nevergall
Dorsey Nevergall
James Edwards
John S. Connnolly
Nolan S. Hatcher
Nolan S. Hatcher
Curtis Person
Curtis Person
Norton Harris
Elliott B. Smith
Norton Harris
Norton Harris

Williamsburg, KY
Pinehurst, NC
Miami Beach, FL
Miami Beach, FL
Pinehurst, NC
Pinehurst, NC
Raleigh, NC
Raleigh, NC
Shamokin, PA
Greensboro, NC
Raleigh, NC
Charlotte, NC
Pinehurst, NC
Scarsdale, NY
Titusville, PA
Titusville, PA
Titusville, PA
Spartanburg, SC
Columbus, OH
North Palm Beach, FL
Columbus, OH
North Palm Beach, FL
North Palm Beach, FL
Burlington, NC
Charlotte, NC
Pompano Beach, FL
Pompano Beach, FL
Kingsport, TN
Arlington, VA
Florence, AL
Florence, AL
Memphis, TN
Memphis, TN
Key West, FL
Greenville, TN
Key West, FL
Key West, FL

1973
1974
1975
1976
1977
1978
1979
1980
1981
1982
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
2093
2094
2095
2096
2097
2098
2099
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

B. C. McCall
George W. Pottle
Neil Croonquist
Dale Morey
John P. Morrell
Harry Lee Welch
W. Brown McDonald
Dale Morey
W. Brown McDonald
John P. Morrell
John P. Morrell
John P. Morrell
John P. Morrell
Tom Green
Edward A. Ingle
Roger T. McManus
Richard E. Goerlich, Jr.
Richard E. Goerlich, Jr.
Richard E. Goerlich, Jr.
Richard E. Goerlich, Jr.
Jay Baumgardner
George Gilbert
Tom Raney
Raymond "Bubba" Nelson
Tom Metzgar
Dave Daniels
Ben Cornett
Cliff Perry
Bill Lee
Bill Lee
Gordon Huey
Tom Metzgar
C. W. Mayes
Steve Scoville
Joe Tippett
Dwight Duke
Steve Scoville

Chattanooga, TN
Southern Pines, NC
Edina, MN
High Point, NC
Clover, SC
Salisbury, NC
Warner Robins, GA
High Point, NC
Warner Robins, GA
Clover, SC
Clover, SC
Clover, SC
Clover, SC
Kerrville, TX
Chattanooga, TN
Mt. Pleasant, SC
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Tampa, FL
Bristol, TN
Dataw Island, DC
Little Rock, AR
Houston, TX
Haines City, FL
Richmond, VA
Dunwoody, GA
Winston-Salem, NC
Charlotte, NC
Charlotte, NC
Virginia Beach, VA
Haines City, FL
Andersonville, YN
Binghamton, NY
San Antonio, TX
Duluth, GA
Binghamton, NY

Grand Seniors Champions

1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
2001

Clifford M. Kirkland, Jr.
Jay Bleakley
Clifford M. Kirkland
Jack Rathbone
George Gilbert
George Gilbert
George Gilbert
Marion Hatcher
Ed Ingle

Atlanta, GA
Hilton Head Island, SC
Atlanta, GA
Baton Rouge, LA
Dataw Island, SC
Dataw Island, SC
Dataw Island, SC
Orlando, FL
Chattanooga, TN

2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009

Frank Quinby
Dick Flynn
John Sterchi
Ed Ingle
George Skelton
Jerry Dempsey
George Skelton
George Skelton

St. Simons Island, GA
Naples, FL
Knoxville, TN
Chattanooga, TN
Bristol, VA
Greenville, SC
Bristol, VA
Bristol, VA

Five-Time Winner John Morrell (L), Champion in 1977, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985.

Thruston Pettus, runner-up (left) and Curtis Person, 1967 Champion