James Mason, Warren Jurkowitz Monday Qualify for Champions Tour Event

Mason gets into playoff in first Champions Tour event of 2011

Sunday, June 12, 2011

Conover, N.C. - Mark Wiebe parred the third playoff hole and won the Greater Hickory Classic at Rock Barn on Sunday when James Mason missed a four-foot par putt after making a run at his birdie putt. In his post round interview Mason said "I got a little bit too aggressive with that putter because I figured he was going to make his, and I felt if I could ram that one in, then I'll go home the other way. But I didn't hit a good second putt and he got the win."

For the 60-year-old Mason, it was heartbreak finish to what was nearly a career-changing week. Mason, whose last win came in 2002, was playing in his first Champions Tour event of the year. He had lost his playing privileges and was 0 for 5 in qualifiers until he shot 62 on Monday, including an ace, to get into the field.

Warren Jurkowitz of Aventura, Florida earned 1 of the other 4 spots when he shot 66 on Monday. Jurkowitz has won six times on the MLGT, including 5 Fuzion MLGT Senior Division events since September 2010.