Tom Gillis, the 20-year overnight success story on the eGolf Professional Tour, has increased his bankroll dramatically over the past couple of weeks.

A 40-year-old from Oxford, Mich., Gillis has made three starts on the eGolf Tour and won twice. During that stretch he's raised his bank account from a self-proclaimed $7,000 to $87,000 and he's hoping to add another $30 thousand this week in the eGolf event being played at Seven Lakes Country Club and Little River Golf Resort.

The way Gillis is scoring these days, no one is going to be surprised if he pulls off his own version of a three-peat.

Gillis broke through in his second eGolf Tour appearance at Mid Pines and Pine Needles two weeks ago, shooting five under par for 54 holes and then winning a four-man playoff to pocket $30,000.

His latest heroics came in Pooley, Ga., where he shot a blistering 63-64--127 to win the rain-shortened event held at Savannah Quarters Country Club and pocket another $50,000.

The Bushnell Championship, a 54-hole tournament with a total purse of $220,000, is being staged at Little River and Seven Lakes today through Friday with good weather forecast. The public is invited with no admission charged.

The field will be divided at the two courses on Wednesday and Thursday, then cut to the top 70 and ties with the final round being played at Little River, the widely acclaimed Dan Maples design located just outside Carthage on U.S. 15-501.

The delightful and challenging Seven Lakes layout, which is probably one of the most under-rated courses in Moore County, is the only course to be designed by the late Peter Tufts.

Also expected to be in the field are Andy Bare, a Pinehurst native now residing in Jacksonville, Fla., and David Sanchez, a former N.C. State standout who makes his home in Pinehurst.

With rain making the Savannah Quarters course unplayable for the latter part of Wednesday, all day Thursday and part of Friday, Gillis was forced to play his final 14 holes on Saturday.

"My only concern was getting the rhythm back," he said. "But then I got it."

He certainly did that. Playing the back nine first, he made birdies on 17 and 18, then posted five birdies and four pars on the final nine.

The result was a seven-stroke win over runner-up Matt Hendrix of Aiken, S.C. who shot 66-68--134.

Gillis is enjoying his sudden stardom. "You see these young players come out and they really have no idea what they're in for," he told eGolf Tour publicist Stewart Moore. "I just laugh, because there are so many great players in the world. I think my experience of having been around plays a big part (in winning). They're probably wondering what a 40-year-old guy is doing out here."

Despite his recent success, Gillis isn't getting cocky. "The game is very humbling," he said. It gets everybody. Even Tiger has been humbled at times."

The eGolf Tour, formerly known as the Tarheel Tour, is making its first appearances in the Pinehurst area this season. The season-ending Tour championship, scheduled for Mid Pines and Pine Needles, will be held Oct. 14-16.