Eric Williams lines up a putt on the No. 1 green at Goldsboro Golf Course on Sunday afternoon. Williams birdied the hole and eventually won the 2024 Wayne County Amateur Golf Open Division championship. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
Nearly 150 golfers competed in the 2024 Wayne County Amateur Golf tournament during the weekend. From left are Wayne County Golf Association President Jeremy Joyner, Super Senior Division winner Chris Morrissey, Open Division winner Eric Williams, Senior Division winner Stan Adams, Masters Division winner John Zambelli and WCGA Vice President Parker King. (Rudy Coggins|mountolivetribune.com)
GOLDSBORO — A late hiccup on his home course didn’t cause Eric Williams to lose any sleep Saturday evening.
He woke up Sunday ready to work.
On the outside looking during the last two Wayne County Amateur Golf tournaments, Williams finally earned a long-awaited reward — the WCAG Open Division title.
Williams logged an impressive, final-round 6-under 66 on the Goldsboro Golf Course links. He finished the three-day event with a 206 — which tied the lowest 54-hole score in tournament history set by Jonathan Burke and matched by Dane Jones.
“I wasn’t aware of that until Burke told me when we got done,” Williams said. “That means a lot because I’ve got a lot of respect for both of those guys. I love with playing with both of them. They’re both studs and to be in the same room with them is great.”
Williams held a one-stroke advantage over Burke after opening-round play contested Friday at rain-soaked and puddle-filled Lane Tree Golf Club.
That one-shot advantage disappeared Saturday at Walnut Creek Country Club. Back-to-back bogeys on the final two holes dropped Williams one stroke behind Burke.
“I tried not to worry about those two last two holes, just tried to keep plodding along like I’ve been playing the whole time,” Williams.
Williams birdied the first hole at GCC.
Burke salvaged a par after his tee shot sailed into the trees.
Even with 17 holes to play, Williams’ energy level picked up.
“That got me going,” Williams grinned.
Indeed.
Those late miscues at Walnut Creek turned into a distant memory. Williams made the turn at 3-under and collected three additional birdies on the back nine.
Burke fired a 70 and ended up with a three-day total of 209. Mitchell Williams logged a 3-under 69 and placed third overall at 214. Jeremy Joyner claimed fourth at 217, which included a final-round 73.
“I just tried to keep everything in the fairway because the rough out here is pretty brutal right now,” Williams said. “Luckily, I had the putter rolling today. [The win] feels awesome, amazing … great for sure.”
Williams’ feat capped a record-setting day.
John Zambelli emerged victorious in a sudden-death playoff to claim the Masters Division title. He birdied No. 18, while Roland Gurley and Bill Holliday each parred the hole.
Not only did Zambelli collect his 10th WCAG title, he joined elite company. The 76-year-old and good friend Howard Tyndall have each won a championship in three divisions – Senior, Super Senior and Masters.
“This is going to be my last one,” Zambelli said. “I’m hanging up my boots. I’ve got 10 [championships]. I enjoy the competition. I might come back … depends on my health.”
Chris Morrissey defeated Tim Rose in a sudden-death playoff for the Super Seniors crystal trophy. Morrisey entered the final day with a one-stroke lead over Rose, who forced the extra hole with a 3-over-par 75.
Morrissey picked up his second WCAG title.
Stan Adams repeated as the Senior Division champion. He turned in a 2-over 74, which allowed him to leap-frog over second-day leader James Griffin.
Adams’ scorecards reflected just three birdies in 54 holes.
“I putted well, just couldn’t get anything close to the hole,” Adams said. “I had a lot of long-range putts. I tried to keep it in the fairway, hit the greens and do better than I did [Saturday] at Walnut Creek.
“I did a little better today.”
Victor Kokiko shook off consecutive bogeys on Nos. 17 and 18 to finish with a final-day 71 — his first-ever “red” number in WCAG Open Division play. Jonathan Whaley also turned in a 71.
You may reach sports writer Rudy Coggins at prepswriter2@gmail.com or call 919-709-9257.
