GRANITEVILLE --- Doug Weiss won't have to make that 21-hour drive from his home in Alpharetta, Ga., to play in the this weekend's Regions Cup season finale in Evans.

Weiss, a former Augustan who enjoys competitive golf so much that he's played in seven of nine tournaments this season, will take a well-deserved weekend off.

The 40-year-old Augusta State alum edged current Jaguar Carter Newman by a shot to win the Orville White Cup and clinch player of the year honors on Sunday.

Weiss, the first-round leader by a shot over Newman, never trailed in the final round, shooting 3-under-par 68 at Midland Valley Country Club to finish at 7-under 135. Newman had his second consecutive 68.

The Regions Cup regular-season finale is scheduled for this weekend at Jones Creek, and Weiss leads Yong Lee and Jamie Felder by an insurmountable 142 points.

It was the first player of the year title for Weiss, who has played a limited schedule before this year because of various commitments.

"I wanted to play a full schedule this year," Weiss said. "It feels good -- very good. I had two wins last year and two this year, so I'm pretty happy."

Thanks to four birdies in a row in the middle of his round (Nos. 9-12), Weiss led Newman by two going to the final hole. Weiss made bogey, and Newman had par.

Lad Wright, the senior division winner, also bogeyed his final hole and won by two shots.

Wright, 51, joined Frank Perry, Bob Varn and Lance Jones as the only players to win in both the regular and senior divisions. Wright's lone regular-division victory came in the 2001 Orville White Cup, when he shot 67-72.

This time, Wright shot 70-70 to finish at 4-under 140. He beat new senior-division points leader Kenny Larry, who had 69.

As Wright did in his other win, he bought drinks for the house in celebration.

On Sunday, Wright was paired with first-round leader Gerard Maxfield, who opened with 69.

Maxfield, 73, was bidding to become the oldest senior-division winner.

Before wining the event in 2001, Wright's claim to fame had been losing a sudden-death playoff to 14-year-old Charles Howell in the 1994 Golf Capital Invitational.

"Before the round, I figured I was going to get beat by the youngest and oldest winners (in Regions Cup history)," Wright said.

It didn't happen, as Wright had eagles on two par-5s (Nos. 2 and 16) and Maxfield shot 79.

"I played pretty solid today, plus I had two eagles," Wright said. "I've played plenty of bad golf and sometimes played good golf over the years. Everybody's going to have their day. I'm just another dog having his day."

Reach David Westin at (706) 724-0851 or david.westin@augustachronicle.com.