Vienna’s Pat Tallent brought solid stuff to the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship final, but it wasn’t enough against the most accomplished senior amateur in the world this season. With his 2 and 1 victory, Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C. added the U.S. Senior Amateur to his impressive list of victories this year, which include the British Senior Amateur and the Canadian Senior Am championships.
While Tallent, 57, played the first 17 holes at Lake Nona (Fla.) in even par, the long-hitting Simson, 59, was just a bit better, making a 20-foot birdie putt from the fringe on the opening hole. From there he never trailed.
Simson took the lead for good at No. 5, driving the green on the 329-yard hole, then two-putting for birdie from 18 feet. He increased his lead to 4 up as he won No. 7 with a birdie, and No. 8 with a par, and No. 9 with a birdie, his fourth of the front nine.
Needing birdies on the back nine, Tallent got one at No. 13 with a 6-foot putt. At dormie on No. 16, Tallent stayed alive as Simson made his long bogey, but it was over a hole later as both players settled for par.
Tallent, a former standout basketball player at George Washington University, was bidding to become the first medalist (140) since 1987 to win the championship. His consolation is exemption into the 2011 U.S. Senior Amateur and U.S. Amateur championships.
With his victory, Simson receives a 10-year exemption into the Senior Am.
