Maxfield Claims Second Seniors

Myrtle Beach: Gerard Maxfield held on to his thirty-six hole lead to claim his second South Carolina Golf Association Seniors Championship. The 65-year-old posted an even par 214 total for the 54 hole title played August 18-20, 2000 at the Legends Resort on both the Heathland and Parkland courses.

Maxfield managed 34 on the front and of the par 71 Heathland Course. With only nines holes left, he enjoyed a three stroke lead. But Maxfield was fighting his driver and hooked it off the 10th tee into a fairway bunker. His only option was to pitch out and settle for bogey. His lead was down to two.

Maxfield, the 1998 Champion, said he was not nervous. He threw out five pars in a row and waited for the field to attack. But that didn't happen. The challengers, Woody Greene and Eugene Hunt both three putted the par 3, 12th and gave Maxfield back his three stroke lead.

Championships are played to identify the best, to test them and to make them reach deep. It is for that reason that championships are played on great courses. When the field does not challenge, the course will. Maxfield was still fighting "pull hooks" when he stood on the 16th tee. Water lines the left side. He hit the shot he was dreading. He made double bogey on the hole and his lead was reduced to one.

Although Maxfield opened the door, no one would walk through. The challengers lost steam themselves and fell back. In the end, Hunt and Greene joined first round leader R.F. Taylor and defending champion Dick Horne at 216, two strokes back.