Columbus’ Wright Waddell earns top seed at Georgia Senior Match Play Championship

COLUMBUS, Ga. --- Wright Waddell of Columbus finished stroke play qualifying at 4-under-par 138 (70-68) to earn the top seed at the Georgia Senior Match Play Championship. The sixth edition of this event is taking place at Green Island Country Club, April 11-14.

Waddell will face Mark Benefield of Peachtree Corners in his opening match at 8 a.m. Thursday. A playoff was needed for the final two spots; Benefield and Jorge Cora of Atlanta made par on the first playoff hole (No. 1) to qualify.

In the Super Senior division (65-over), Frank Costanzo of Savannah earned medalist honors with his 5-over-par 147 in stroke play qualifying. He will take on Arch Arnold of Columbus at 8 a.m.

Other key matchups include a battle of former Senior Match Play Champions, Jeff Belk and Chris Hall, both of Marietta. Belk is the defending champion and Hall is a two-time past champion.

Entries were open to male amateur golfers. The Senior division was open to those age 55 and older as of April 11, and the Super Senior division was open to those age 65 and older as of April 11.

Founded in 1916, the Georgia State Golf Association (GSGA) received its official charter on June 24, 1924. Since that date, the GSGA has grown to one of the largest state amateur golf associations in the country, with nearly 340 member clubs and 73,000 individual members.

With a mission to promote and preserve amateur golf in the state of Georgia, GSGA offers a computerized handicapping service, course rating and measuring, and annually conducts a full schedule of statewide competitions for men and women of all age groups.

Other services include statewide junior golf and Adaptive Golf programs, award-winning Golf Georgia magazine, membership recognition and rewards programs, management of the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame and a charitable foundation administering two college scholarship programs.

This story was originally published April 12, 2017 at 6:23 PM with the headline "Columbus’ Wright Waddell earns top seed at Georgia Senior Match Play Championship."