GREENSBORO, NC – Championship match results from the 3^rd North Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association hosted by Forest Oaks Country Club in Greensboro, NC on Sunday, August 5, 2012 (7099 yards, par 36-36—72, 74.9/142).

Reigning North Carolina Amateur champion Matthew Crenshaw of Burlington edged number one ranked Carolinian Scott Harvey of Greensboro, 1 up, to win the North Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship title. The win marks Crenshaw’s fourth CGA title this year (Carolinas Club Championship, Carolinas Four-Ball, and North Carolina Amateur).

Two of the most recognized names in North Carolina amateur golf, Crenshaw – a 30-year-old car salesman and Harvey – a 34-year-old property manager, battled each other throughout the round. Neither player could gain more than 1 up advantage at any given time.

Harvey was in control for most of the first 11 holes. He had a 1 up lead for 10 of the 11 holes. A birdie by Crenshaw on the third hole was the only time he was able to square the match thru the first 11 holes.

An errant tee shot by Harvey on the 12^th hole was lost in the thick fescue grass that led to a double bogey which allowed Crenshaw to square the match.

On the par 3 13^th hole, Harvey three-putted to give Crenshaw a 1 up advantage.

Harvey then bounced back with a birdie in the 14^th hole to square the match.

Holes 15 and 16 were halved with pars and birdies respectively.

The turning point in the match came on the 225-yard par 3 17^th hole. Harvey misjudged the wind and pulled his tee shot into the thick fescue rough back left of the green. Crenshaw hit his tee shot to 25 feet on the putting green. Harvey’s chip shot went long over the green into the primary rough. He was then able to get up and down for a bogey four. Crenshaw then two putted to win the hole and took a 1 up lead to the final hole.

On the 530-yard par 5 18^th hole, both players’ second shots were short of the green. Harvey’s eagle chip shot was unsuccessful and he was conceded his birdie by Crenshaw. Crenshaw then knew all he had to do was get up-and-down to win the championship. His eagle chip stopped a foot from the hole. Harvey conceded the putt to seal the win for Crenshaw.

“This is really unreal right now,” Crenshaw said. “You want to play and beat the best and Scott is as good as it gets. I just feel fortunate to win.”

The championship match was the first time Crenshaw had to play the 18^th hole during the match play portion of the tournament. On the other hand, Harvey played the 18^th hole in four of his five matches.

“I knew it was going to be tough match all the way around today,” Harvey noted. “My putter really let me down this week.”

Crenshaw also matches the feat set last year by Harold Varner of Gastonia by winning both the North Carolina Amateur (stroke play) and North Carolina Amateur Match Play Championships in the same year.

For more information on the North Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship including hole-by-hole match play scoring please visit: http://www.carolinasgolf.org/tourn/2012/home/ncmatch/index.html

Complete history of the North Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship may be found at this link: http://www.carolinasgolf.org/yearbook/11YB_NC_AmateurMP.pdf

This championship is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association which in its 103^rd year of serving amateur golf in the Carolinas.

Championship Match Final Results

Matthew Crenshaw, Burlington, NC def. Scott Harvey, Greensboro, NC, 1 up

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