Carolinas Amateur
Wachesaw Plantation Club, Pawleys Island, SC
July 12-16, 2000
Murrells Inlet, SC--Final results of the 86th Amateur Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association hosted by Wachesaw Plantation Club in Murrells Inlet, SC on Sunday, July 16, 2000.
Finals
Matt McWilliams, Southern Pines, NC df. Josh Goldstein, Wilmington, NC 5 and 4
McWilliams Completes Run Through Carolinas Amateur
Murrells Inlet, SC--Matt McWilliams, medalist and #1 match play seed from Southern Pines, NC won the 86th Amateur Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association by defeating Josh Goldstein of Wilmington, NC by a 5 and 4 margin
. The event hosted by Wachesaw Plantation Club in Murrells Inlet, South Carolina, was the sixth CGA major to be held at Wachesaw.McWilliams, 21, and a rising senior at Middle Tennessee State University, has dominated this championship from the beginning. He was medalist in stroke play qualifying by three-strokes. He fired a two round total of eight-under par, 136
. In the match play portion of this championship, his closest match was a first round 2 and 1 victory over Robert Godfrey of Central, SC.In the first round of the 36-hole final match, McWilliams and Goldstein were all square through the first three holes. Then on the short par 5, 4th hole, Goldstein pulled his second shot into a water hazard left of the green. He would go on to make a bogey while McWilliams hit his second shot into a greenside bunker. He blasted out to 25 feet and two putted from there to take a 1 up lead. McWilliams would win the 455 yard par 4, 6th hole by virtue of another bogey by Goldstein.
On the par 3, 7th hole, McWilliams pulled his tee shot into the water hazard and then conceded the hole to Goldstein when he hit his tee shot to within five feet. "I played aggressive and had the pulls all morning. " says McWilliams. "I knew how to fix it and didn't really worry about it. I remembered my dad's famous line--its a club face error".
McWilliams fixed his swing and then made birdie on the par 5, 8th hole and take a 2 up lead. The players halved the 9th and 10th holes. But on the 345 yard, par 4, 11th hole, Goldstein sank a 20 foot birdie putt to cut McWilliams lead to 1 up. "I got down early and sneaked back a little bit." Goldstein said. "Matt played well. I gave away some holes and Matt did too. I had a chance to get back into contention."
But that was as close as the match would get, McWilliams would go on to win the 13th, 14th, and 16th holes to take a 4 up advantage into the afternoon match.
After a 45-minute break, the afternoon match started with Goldstein winning the 19th and 20th holes to cut McWilliams lead in half to 2 up. McWilliams incurred a penalty stroke on the 20th hole putting green because he failed to mark his ball before lifting it. "I went totally brain dead." says McWilliams. "I felt nauseous. I thought that I had put my ball mark down, but I went to swat a fly away and then just picked the ball up. I lost the hole for a non-golf related error. I just tried to forget about it."
The players then halved the 21st hole with each making par. But on the par 5, 22nd hole, McWilliams hit the green in two and sank a 15 foot eagle putt to win the hole to take a 3 up lead. "The eagle on #4 was the turning point. I felt the momentum come back to me." McWilliams said.
Hole #23 was halved with pars. On the 24th hole, Goldstein hit his tee shot out of bounds and then conceded a long birdie putt to McWilliams to give him a 4 up advantage.
Goldstein bounced back by winning the 25th hole of the match with a birdie to cut his deficit to 3 down. But McWilliams used his length to his advantage on the 26th hole by hitting the 535 yard, par 5 in two with an iron from 240 yards and two putting for birdie to extend the lead back to 4 up. The 27th hole was halved with pars.
The match was then suspended for an hour and forty-eight minutes at 2:06pm due to heavy thunderstorms in the area.
When the match resumed, the players halved the 28th and 29th holes. On the par 5, 30th hole, McWilliams was just right of the green and got up and down for a birdie to give him a commanding 5 up lead. But on the par 3, 31st hole, Goldstein sank a 12 foot birdie putt to cut the lead back to 4 holes. The match was then decided on the short, 324 yard, Par 4, 32nd hole. McWilliams hit his approach shot to 15 feet while Goldstein left his approach shot 10 yards short of the green. Goldstein was unable to save his par and extend the match. He conceded McWilliams's three foot par putt to seal a 5 and 4 victory.
"I almost didn't come down here this week." stated McWilliams. "My dad gave me an ultimatum to come down here and play. I was in Pinehurst at 5:00pm on Tuesday night, then I took my dad's credit card and headed down here. I told him I was going to play well." He played well indeed. McWilliams only trailed for two holes during the entire championship. He was one down to David Strawn of Charlotte, NC in his second round match before bouncing back, taking the lead in that match, and never trailing again for the rest of the championship.
This championship is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association.
www.thecga.org
Final Results of the 86th Amateur Championship
Stroke Play Qualifying Results
Matt McWilliams, Southern Pines, NC 69-67--136
Matthew Hendrix, Aiken, SC 69-69--138
Ben Duncan, Greenville, SC 71-68--139
Press McPhaul, Raleigh, NC 68-71--139
Mitch Adams, Cary, NC 69-71--140
Dean Channell, Cary, NC 71-70--141
Steve Harwell, Mooresville, NC 71-70--141
Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC 71-70--141
Jay McAllister, Spartanburg, SC 72-70--142
Lennie Barton, Raleigh, NC 70-72--142
Keith Harris, Concord, NC 70-72--142
Jason Martin, Lenoir, NC 71-71--142
Buck Williams, Raleigh, NC 73-70--143
Alex Yates, Winston-Salem, NC 74-70--144
Brad Martin, Spartanburg, SC 73-71--144
Matt Kilgo, Matthews, NC 74-70--144
Josh Goldstein, Wilmington, NC 74-70--144
Matthew Kohut, Aberdeen, NC 71-73--144
Brad Ricker, Easley, SC 69-75--144
Steve Seward, Sumter, SC 71-73--144
Steve Slayden, Charlotte, NC 75-69--144
David Strawn, Charlotte, NC 74-70--144
Donald Littlejohn, Charlotte, NC 70-75--145
David Sligh, North Augusta, SC 70-75--145
David Eaker, Forest City, NC 73-72--145
Karl Mitchell, Rockwell, NC 74-71--145
Bob Varn, Orangeburg, SC 74-71--145
Emerson Dyer, Conway, SC 76-69--145
Preston Edmondson, Morrisville, NC 75-70--145
Trey Holroyd, Apex, NC 75-70--145
*Scott Feaster, Columbia, SC 76-70--146
*Robert Godfrey, Central, SC 72-74--146
*won playoff for match play
Failed to Qualify
Jim Hillard, Greenville, NC 75-71--146
Dale Mercer, Charleston, SC 71-75--146
Ned Murchison, Wilmington, NC 71-76--147
Mark Weston, Charlotte, NC 74-73--147
Dean Preston, Charlotte, NC 75-72--147
Matt Stewart, Greensboro, NC 75-72--147
Dirk Fennie, Greensboro, NC 73-74--147
Mark Kinlaw, Lumberton, NC 72-75--147
Kelly Miller, Southern Pines, NC 75-72--147
Kyle Tucker, Raleigh, NC 77-70--147
Cameron Lee, Wilmington, NC 74-74--148
Jacob Blankenship, Hillsborough, NC 75-73--148
Michael Shamp, Charlotte, NC 75-73--148
Max Weinstein, Fayetteville, NC 76-72--148
Rob Simmons, Walterboro, SC 77-71--148
Chris Cassetta, Kernersville, NC 78-70--148
John Dufner, Holly Springs, NC 71-77--148
John Harris III, Charlotte, NC 76-72--148
Walker Taylor IV, Wilmington, NC 76-72--148
Wes Stamey, Chapel Hill, NC 72-77--149
Kyle Bradley, North Augusta, SC 73-76--149
Brian Parker, Matthews, NC 75-74--149
Nathan Peterson, Florence, SC 75-74--149
Ron Moore, Pinehurst, NC 76-73--149
Jason Liner, Raleigh, NC 77-72--149
Ron Carpenter, Durham, NC 75-74--149
Frank Ford III, Charleston, SC 74-75--149
Keith Waters, Raleigh, NC 74-75--149
Rhett Graham, Myrtle Beach, SC 74-76--150
Larry Griffin, Jr., Cornelius, NC 74-76--150
Matt Robinson, Rock Hill, SC 74-76--150
Craig Brock, Stedman, NC 75-75--150
Josh Menold, Buies Creek, NC 76-74--150
Brad Buxton, Greensboro, NC 74-76--150
Bern Gregory, Wilkesboro, NC 77-73--150
Gregg Jones, Florence, SC 77-73--150
Matt Dura, Sumter, SC 73-78--151
Clay Kilgore, Nebo, NC 75-76--151
Jason Goble, Murrelles Inlet, SC 76-75--151
Tripp James, Spartanburg, SC 75-76--151
Adrian Marbry, Albemarle, NC 77-74--151
Gary Mason, Apex, NC 78-73--151
Bill Thaxton, Monroe, NC 73-78--151
Josh Wilson, Monroe, NC 75-76--151
Kenny Flynn, Clemmons, NC 74-78--152
Chad Swaringen, Norwood, NC 77-75--152
Randy McDowell, Greensboro, NC 78-74--152
Bob McCormick, Charlotte, NC 79-73--152
Eric Ardery, Durham, NC 76-76--152
Bill Duncan, Greenville, SC 71-81--152
Jeff Etheridge, Pinehurst, NC 80-72--152
Ken Leopard, Spartanburg, SC 75-77--152
John Rudolph, Charlotte, NC 77-76--153
John McAllister, Spartanburg, SC 78-75--153
Parshant Dhiman, Charlotte, NC 79-74--153
John Gaddy, Raleigh, NC 78-75--153
Pete Kelly, Charlotte, NC 81-72--153
Skip Taylor, Asheville, NC 76-77--153
Richard Woeckener, Bakersville, NC 77-76--153
Mike Tiddy, Charlotte, NC 79-75--154
Brandon Hiott, Walterboro, SC 82-72--154
Cordes Ford, Charleston, SC 73-81--154
Steve Jones, Oak Ridge, NC 77-77--154
Cole Whitt, Henderson, NC 71-84--155
Shane Benfield, Salisbury, NC 78-77--155
Michael Wiland, Aiken, SC 79-76--155
Terry Heath, Chapel Hill, NC 80-75--155
Jordan Holley, Greensboro, NC 80-75--155
Bubba Aughtry, Charlotte, NC 76-79--155
Rion Moore, Jr., Orangeburg, SC 75-80--155
Michael Sims, Campobello, SC 77-78--155
Don White, Jr., Greenville, NC 79-76--155
Brian Harris, Newton, NC 75-81--156
David Brown, Clemmons, NC 80-76--156
Will Cannon, Valdese, NC 80-76--156
Marc Bianchi, Bluffton, SC 83-73--156
Ryan Willingham, Raleigh, NC 74-82--156
Michael Wilson, Seabrook Island, SC 75-81--156
Mark Powers, Fayetteville, NC 77-80--157
Mike Richardson, Charlotte, NC 77-80--157
Thomas Kasler, Effingham, SC 79-78--157
Bill Cooper, Apex, NC 78-79--157
David Hinkamp, Fayetteville, NC 79-78--157
Garland Yates, Asheboro, NC 74-83--157
Craig Morrow, Blythewood, SC 81-78--159
John Riddle, Morganton, NC 80-80--160
Steve Wilson, Wilmington, NC 81-79--160
Sam Smith, Fayetteville, NC 79-82--161
Aaron Patel, Charlotte, NC 81-81--162
Bryan Kelley, Jr., Spartanburg, SC 85-77--162
Brian Gornto, Surfside Beach, SC 79-84--163
Cliff Smith, Chapel Hill, NC 80-83--163
Greg Moore, Candler, NC 83-81--164
Jared Grantham, Goldsboro, NC 82-83--165
Bill Hathaway, Taylors, SC 87-79--166
Daniel Hatalsky, Fairview, NC 79-90--169
Bobby Hathaway, Columbia, SC 93-94--187
Darin Little, Charlotte, NC 79---DNS
Lex Alexander, Durham, NC ---DNS
Wesley Horne, Wadesboro, NC ---DNS
David Gaines, Arden, NC 81---WD
Wesley Taft, Charlotte, NC 84---WD
Chris Lankford, Shelby, NC 90---WD
Derek Cobb, Burlington, NC ---WD
Brian Duncan, Greenville, SC ---WD
Omnia Fowler, Advance, NC ---WD
Roman Hytry, Moorisville, NC ---WD
T.D. Luten, Raleigh, NC ---WD
Bobby Peterson, Newton Grove, NC ---WD
Cliff Seastrunk, Raleigh, NC ---WD
Wes Stamey, Chapel Hill, NC ---WD
Elton Trent III, Reidsville, NC ---WD
Sammy Truett, Surfside Beach, SC ---WD
Steve Wright, Laurinburg, NC ---WD
First Round Match Play
Matt McWilliams, Southern Pines, NC df. Robert Godfrey, Central, SC 2 & 1
David Strawn, Charlotte, NC df. Matt Kohut, Aberdeen, NC 2 & 1
Bob Varn, Orangeburg, SC df. Steve Harwell, Mooresville, NC 1 up
Press Edmondson, Morrisville, NC df. Lennie Barton, Raleigh, NC 2 up
Ben Duncan, Greenville, SC df. Emerson Dyer, Conway, SC 4 and 3
Buck Williams, Raleigh, NC df. Brad Martin, Spartanburg, SC 2 and 1
Mitch Adams, Cary, NC df. David Sligh, N. Augusta, SC 3 and 2
Jay McAllister, Spartanburg, SC df. Alex Yates, Winston-Salem, NC 2 and 1
Matt Hendrix, Aiken, SC df. Scott Feaster, Columbia, SC 3 and 2
Josh Goldstein, Wilmington, NC df. Brad Ricker, Easley, SC 6 and 5
Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC df. Don Littlejohn, Charlotte, NC 7 and 5
Jason Martin, Lenoir, NC df. Trey Holroyd, Apex, NC 5 and 4
Press McPhaul, Raleigh, NC df. David Eaker, Forest City, NC 2 up
Steve Seward, Sumter, SC df. Steve Slayden, Charlotte, NC 1 up
Dean Channell, Cary, NC df. Karl Mitchell, Rockwell, NC 3 and 2
Keith Harris, Concord, NC df. Matt Kilgo, Matthews, NC 2 and 1
Second Round Match Play
McWilliams df. Strawn 3 and 2
Edmondson df. Varn 4 and 3
Williams df. Duncan 1 up
Adams df. McAllister 3 and 2
Goldstein df. Feaster 2 up
Martin df. Simson 3 and 2
McPhaul df. Seward 2 up
Channell df. Harris 1 up
Quarterfinals
Matt McWilliams, Southern Pines, NC df. Preston Edmondson, Morrisville, NC 4 and 3
Mitch Adams, Cary, NC df. Buck Williams, Raleigh, NC 19 holes
Josh Goldstein, Wilmington, NC df. Jason Martin, Lenoir, NC 2 and 1
Dean Channell, Cary, NC df. Press McPhaul, Raleigh, NC 2 and 1
Semifinals
McWilliams df. Adams 5 and 4
Goldstein df. Channell 3 and 2
Finals
Matt McWilliams, Southern Pines, NC df. Josh Goldstein, Wilmington, NC 5 and 4
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