BY HOWARD WARD

Golf Writer

It wasn't a T-shirt, but Todd Camplin brought home a special gift for his son, Daniel, and daughter, Vivian - the trophy from the Carolinas PGA Professional Champion-ship held at Grandfather Golf and Country Club last week.

Camplin, the 37-year-old head professional at Pinehurst Country Club's No. 7 Course, shot 2-under-par 71-72-71-214, posting the only sub-par total in the event and winning by three strokes over second-place Nate Olivo, of The Cliffs at Glassy.

Olivo, who left Pinehurst as an assistant earlier this year, finished strong with a 69 in the third round for a 217 total.

Camplin's final round was highlighted by two birdies and 15 pars against a lone bogey.

"I thought a 68 was going to do it today," Camplin, who trailed Mike Cato, of Winterville, by two strokes entering the final round. But Cato soared to a 79, taking himself out of contention.

"When I birdied 11 to go 2-under, I thought maybe if I could get one more I'd be all right."

But the struggles of the other players near the lead enabled the steady Camplin to move ahead and stay there. His only hiccup came when he made bogey on the par-4 18th after a swing that he said he never fully committed to.

"I really wanted a bogey-free round," he said, "but my approach shot on 18 was the worst swing I made all day."

The win was worth $9,000 to Camplin, but the other benefits were just as rewarding, In addition to the crystal trophy and the check, he earned 250 points toward Player of the Year and a chance to play in either the 2011 Wells Fargo Championship in Charlotte or the Wyndham Championship in Greensboro.

"I'm kind of in awe right now," he said to tournament officials. "I geared up for this tournament and I kept reminding myself that I'm every bit as good as anyone out there this week. Now I have a chance to play in other big events. It's unbelievable."

Gus Ulrich, who heads the Pinewild Golf School, tied for 20th with 225, as did Ron Hall, of Carolina Lakes Golf Club in Sanford. Rob Pilewski, head professional at the Pinehurst No. 6 Course, tied for 23rd with 226. Kelly Mitchum, a lead instructor with the Pinehurst Resort Golf Acad-emy, tied for 31st with 228. Don Sweeting, of Pinehurst Resort, tied for 43rd with 233.

Both Camplin and Olivo were among the 12 players in the event who qualified to play in the 44th PGA Professional National Championship next June on the East and West courses of Hershey Country Club in Hershey, Pa.

Curt Sanders, a professional out of Eagle Point Golf Club in Wilmington, won the Bob Boyd Player of the Year Award for the third consecutive time.

Winternationals: The Winternational Junior Series at Pinehurst, a series of nine golf competitions for high school boys and girls, will kick off its 17th consecutive season at Pinehurst Country Club Nov. 13.

This series annually draws teenagers from more than 40 states and five foreign countries to Pinehurst for the nine 36-hole tournaments which are held from November through March.

Each season members of the Winternationals compete over six of the resorts famed golf courses including Donald Ross' masterpiece, Pinehurst No. 2. More than 1,900 young men and women have been introduced to Pinehurst through this series since 1993.

Some of the past participants of the Winternationals are now on the PGA Tour and the LPGA Tour while others have continued their golfing careers on college golf teams.

Some local residents and others from North Carolina who have distinguished themselves as Winternational All-Americans are: Michael McGowan, Southern Pines; David Chung, Fayetteville; Josie Shinn, Pinehurst; Blair Miller, Southern Pines; Joe Poole, Raeford; Hunter Howell, Raeford; Joshua Martin, Pinehurst; Beau Cutts, Henderson; Lee Bedford, Cary; and Corrine Carr, Pinehurst.

All high school-age boys and girls are eligible to apply for membership. Applications may be obtained and filed from the website www.juniorgolfpinehurst.com. If there are any additional questions or comments please contact Peter deYoung, Series Founder and Chairman, either through the website or at (847) 204-9888.

Tin Whistles: The team of Ken Hepner, Jerry Lefton, Joe Mills and John Reglar posted 131 to win the Tin Whistles' 3 Red, 2 White, 1 Yellow event held on Pinehurst Country Club's No. 5 Course.

Dick Bock, Jim Peterson, Harold Roberson and Robert Springer took second in a card playoff after tying at 133 with Lou Hutchinson, Mike Sanders, Jack Wells and Malcolm Ware.

Senior Am Tour: Alan Dirk, of Sanford, continued his dominance of the Senior Amateur Golf Tour, shooting 75 to win the Championship Flight on the event held on Carolina Trace Country Club's Lake Course.

Egolf Am Tour: Bryan Sepich, of Winston-Salem, shot 73 to win the Championship Flight of the Egolf Amateur Tour event held at Carolina Trace but 10 strokes over second-place Dan Anthony, of Thomasville.