By STEVE WILLIAMS

The Cardinal Amateur, played at The Cardinal CC in Greensboro, always attracts world-class fields, but often a local player takes center stage. Chris Mundorf won in 2000 and Steve Jones took the title in 1999. Both are Greensboro residents.

While several players with local ties played well this year, it was an Australian who took the top prize. Nathan Kent, 20, posted a four-under-par 206 (70-68-68) to win by a shot over Wake Forest sophomore Bill Haas (68-68-71) and South African Garth Mulroy (73-65-69).

Seven-time Cardinal club champion Gregg Cox (69-70-69) and University of North Carolina sophomore Dustin Bray of Asheboro (65-76-67) shared fourth place at 208.

Playing in one USGA national championship is quite an honor, but Greg Earnhardt of Greensboro has taken it one step further.

Earnhardt, who plays out of Greensboro National, qualified for the U.S. Public Links Championship in San Antonio in July and made it to the match play portion before losing in the first round.

He followed that up by qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Aug. 7 at Cincinnati. His 137 total was a shot off the low qualifying round at the sectional event.

The U.S. Amateur was scheduled Aug. 20-26 at East Lake GC in Atlanta.

The U.S. Senior Amateur will also have some Triad flavor. Robert Kulp of Winston-Salem, medalist in qualifying Aug. 15 at the Country Club of Petersburg, made the field, as did Gerry Ferguson of Lexington, second in qualifying at Raleigh Country Club Aug. 13.

The U.S. Senior Am is set for Sept. 8-13 at Norwood Hills in St. Louis.

The U.S. Senior Women’s Am, scheduled Sept. 8-13 at Allegheny CC in Sewickley, PA. will have one Triad player. Mary Hill of Winston-Salem qualified Aug. 8 at Sumter, S.C.

In last month’s issue, we told the story of three young professionals who are gaining experience on the NGA/Hooters Tour.

Brian Sharp of Winston-Salem has since had a tie for sixth at San Antonio and a tie for 20th at New Orleans. He’s moved up to 21st on the money list with $27,764.

Elliot Gealy, whose home course is Salisbury CC, has also collected a couple more NGA paychecks and is currently 25th on the money list with $25,601.

Ryan Gioffre hasn’t played on the Tour in recent weeks and is now 57th on the cash count with $10,489.

Another area player who has been taking his basic training on the NGA Tour is Nick Biesecker of Lexington. An 18th-place finish at Inverrary, Fla. Aug. 19 was his third top-25 in a four-week stretch. He finished 16th at San Antonio July 22 and 25th at New Orleans the next week. After a slow start this year, he’s up to $9,224 on the money list.

The NGA Tour ends Sept. 30, just in time for many of the players to take their shot at PGA Tour Qualifying School in October.

Beth Bauer, who left Duke University after two years to pursue a professional career, has earned her spot on he LPGA Tour next season.

She was the leading money winner on the 2001 SBC/Futures Tour, earning a record $76,467. The top three on the Futures list bypass the LPGA Qualifying Tournament and have full status for the following year.

Danville Golf Club played host to the 44th Virginia State Golf Association Women’s Senior championships in August and several area players picked up hardware.

Dot Bolling of Salem won the main prize when she defeated Chris Epperly of Newport News on 19th hole of the championship match.

Ridgeway’s Fran Hensley, the 1999 champ, made a run at the title before falling in the semifinals.

Other area players who fared well included Adrienne Sheets of Ringgold (runner-up in the first flight), Irma Smart of Martinsville (runner-up in first flight consolation) and Elizabeth Marshall of Danville (third flight champion).

Captain’s choice golf tournaments and fund-raising go hand-in-hand. Worthy organizations always benefit and participants have a fun time playing in a competition where they know every shot is not going to count.

There’s a captain’s choice event going on somewhere every week.

The one set for Sept. 15 at Reynolds Park Golf Course has a vital cause.

Winston-Salem resident and avid golfer Russell Parnell, 33, is in need of a liver transplant and a search for donor is under way. Parnell has billiary cancer and needs the transplant from a living donor as soon as possible.

Parnell’s family and friends have joined with the National Foundation for Transplants to raise money. NFT assists patients and their families in raising funds for transplant related costs not covered by insurance.

The entry fee for the event at Reynolds Park is $55. It covers golf and dinner following golf. Tee time is 1:30 p.m. and although doctors advise Parnell not to play golf, he plans to be at the tournament. But that’s only if his operation at Duke University Medical Center is still on hold.

Call Kevin Weaver at 336-489-3863 for more information on the tournament. Information on the NFT can be found at www.transplants.org