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Watson Wins Tarheel Tour's Verdict Ridge Open in Playoff

DENVER, N.C. -   By Craig Distl - Derek Watson of Sumter, S.C., beat Davidson's Tim Straub on the second hole of a sudden death playoff Thursday to win the $5,000 first-place check in the Tarheel Tour's Verdict Ridge Open at Verdict Ridge Country Club.


Watson earned seven points to finish the three-day event with 30 points. The tourney used the Stableford Scoring System in which players receive five points for eagle, two points for birdie, none for par, minus one for bogey and minus three for double bogey or higher.

"I hit the ball close all week and I made the putts I needed to," said Watson, who recently moved from Manning, S.C., to Sumter. "I've finished second four times on this tour. It's a good feeling to break through."
Watson's win overshadowed the final-round performance of Straub, a former Wake Forest standout and current golf coach at Davidson College. Straub earned 15 of his 30 points in the final round with six birdies and an eagle en route to the $3,000 second-place check.
Charlotte's David Siegel picked up 12 points to finish alone in third at 29 points and earn $2,000, while Len Calvert of Easley, S.C. and Chris Wisler of Dover, Del., tied for fourth at 27 points and won $1,475 apiece.

Tarheel Professional Tour Final Results
Verdict Ridge Country Club
6,992 yards, Par 72
*Stableford Scoring System
Derek Watson, Sumter, SC, $5,000 12-11-7--30 pts.*
Tim Straub, Davidson, $3,000 5-10-15--30 pts.
David Siegel, Charlotte, $2,000 6-11-12--29 pts.
Len Calvert, Easley, SC, $1,475 12-7-8--27 pts.
Chris Wisler, Dover, Del., $1,475 9-7-11--27 pts.
Matt Kilgo, Charlotte, $1,250 15-10-1--26 pts.
Jason Martin, Durham, $1,150 7-12-5--24 pts.
Scott Parel, Augusta, Ga., $1,150 2-15-7--24 pts.
Brett Boner, Charlotte, $1,150 6-10-8--24 pts.
Gary Christian, Birmingham, Ala., $1,050 7-7-9--23 pts.
Rob Bradley, Raleigh, $1,025 6-5-11--22 pts.
Ben Case, Charlotte, $900 6-9-6--21 pts.
Karl Mitchell, Greensboro, $900 11-4-6--21 pts.
Josh Wilson, Monroe, $900 7-7-7--21 pts.
Fredrik Ohlsson, Sweden, $750 5-5-9--19 pts.
Shawn Walsh, Ontario, Can., $675 2-7-9--18 pts.
Stephen Woodard, Charlotte, $600 6-8-3--17 pts.
Kyle Bradley, N. Augusta, SC, $600 7-3-7--17 pts.
Ian Steele, Birmingham, Ala., $600 9-8-0--17 pts.
Matt Cannon, Huntersville, $525 11-(-1)-6--16 pts.
Stefaan Van den Heever, S. Africa, $525 5-6-6--16 pts.
Chris Hockaday, Mt. Airy, $525 4-6-6--16 pts.
Stewart Moore, Charlotte, $462.50 3-7-4--14 pts.
Simon McGreal, Greensboro, $462.50 10-3-1--14 pts.
Kirk Straughen, Harrisonburg, Va., $425 0-9-4--13 pts.
Josh Dickinson, Matthews, $85 0-9-3--12 pts.
Kevin O'Connell, Greenboro, $85 8-4-0--12 pts.
Ben Friedell, Charlotte, $85 5-6-1--12 pts.
Tommy Gainey, Bishopville, SC, $85 0-9-2--11 pts.
Bryan Kelly, Spartanburg, SC, $85 2-7-0--9 pts.
* -- won in two-hole playoff