Simson eliminated from Senior Am

Raleigh golfer falls to Indiana man during match-play competition

Raleigh's Paul Simson's run at the USGA Senior Amateur came to an end Tuesday in Fort Worth, Texas.

Simson, stroke-play medalist for the event and reigning British Senior Open Amateur champion, lost to Randy Nichols, a member of the Indiana Golf Hall of Fame, 2 and 1.

In other results, past U.S. Mid-Amateur champion George Zahringer and 1995 U.S. Amateur runner-up George "Buddy" Marucci each posted two victories to reach the quarterfinals.

Also advancing on the 6,679-yard, par-71 course at Shady Oaks Country Club, was local favorite John Grace, of Fort Worth, who won 4 and 3 in the second round over Bruce Meyer in the morning, and defeated Paul Murphy by the same margin in the afternoon.

The former Shady Oaks men's club champion estimated that he has played this course more than 500 times.

All eight quarterfinalists receive exemptions into next year's USGA Senior Amateur Championship, to be played at The Beverly Country Club in Chicago.

USGA SENIOR WOMEN'S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP: Three past champions, including four-time winner Carol Semple Thompson and current Mid-Amateur champion Joan Higgins, advanced to the quarterfinals.

Semple Thompson, due to be inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame on Nov. 10, rekindled memories with her 7 and 5 victory over Susan Dekalb in the round of 16.

Semple Thompson, who won the tournament each year from 1999-2002, will face 2004 champion Carolyn Creekmore in the quarterfinals this morning. The semifinals will be held this afternoon and the finals are scheduled for Thursday morning.

Creekmore, who was a medalist in the 36-hole qualifying, continued her strong play with a 2 and 1 victory over Jackie Little after overcoming an early two-hole deficit.

Higgins, who won the USGA Mid-Amateur on Sept. 11, kept alive the chance for an unprecedented sweep of the events in the same calendar year with a 4 and 3 victory over Anne Carr.

Maggie Weder of Greenville lost 2 and 1 to Toni Wiesner of Fort Worth.

PAYNE STEWART AWARD: Davis Love III keeps his trophies from the PGA Championship and The Players Championship separate from his 16 other victories on the PGA Tour. But he's about to add another one to the elite collection.

Love was honored Tuesday with the Payne Stewart Award, given to a PGA Tour player who reflects Stewart's respect for tradition, charity and presentation through dress and conduct.

The award has been presented each year at the Tour Championship since 2000, a year after Stewart perished in a plane crash on his way to the PGA Tour's season finale.

"Payne was a great competitor and a great friend of mine, and to have my name on the trophy is going to be quite an honor," Love said.

He recalled the last time they played together, in the opening session of the 1999 Ryder Cup at Brookline.

"Before we went out there, he goes, 'I want something a little more out of you than I've been seeing in the past,"' Love said.

On the 17th hole, Love hit a poor shot into a bunker.

"We were walking up to the green and I said, 'Payne, you get it on the green and I'll make it,"' Love said. "He hit it out and I had about a 15-footer. He came over and I said, 'I've got it.' "

Love holed the putt, and he said Stewart ran over and jabbed him repeatedly in the chest saying, "That's what I'm talking about."

"He challenged me, he inspired me and pushed me," Love said.

Love is a lock to be the U.S. Ryder Cup captain one of these years. But it doesn't sound like 2010 will be it.

"I would consider myself too young and too interested in still playing," said the 44-year-old Love.

Azinger said he has not thought about being captain again, even if he is asked. The heavy favorite would be Corey Pavin, because Fred Couples will be the Presidents Cup captain next year and most other candidates are on the Champions Tour or too young.