104th Carolinas Amateur Preview

Eric Bae of Pinehurst, N.C. looks to capture his fifth CGA title at this year's Carolinas Amateur, which will be held from July 12-15, 2018 at Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst, N.C.

By: Brittany Stewart/CGA Communications Intern

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (July 7, 2018) -- The Carolinas Golf Association will conduct the 104th Carolinas Amateur at Country Club of North Carolina (Dogwood) in Pinehurst, N.C. from July 12-15, 2018. 

Related: Championship Web Site | Full Field of Players | Starting Times | Scoring | History
 

Players to watch:

• Eric Bae of Pinehurst, N.C., who is currently ranked No. 7 among amateur golfers in the Carolinas, returns to this year's field in hopes of capturing his fifth CGA title. At last year's event, he finished tied for eighth at four-under-par. Bae had an outstanding 2017 season and won the Carolinas Young Amateur and the North Carolina Amateur Match Play. The rising junior at Wake Forest University, competed at the 2018 North and South Amateur earlier this year, advancing to the Round of 32.

• Caleb Proveaux of Lexington, S.C., who is currently ranked No. 4 among amateur golfers in the Carolinas, pursues his second CGA title at this year's event. He won his first CGA title in 2016 at the Jimmy Creed Boys' Invitational. The rising junior at the University of South Carolina had a hot start to his 2018 season with four top-six finishes, including a sixth place finish at the Carolinian Amateur and a fifth place finish at the Southeastern Amateur.

• Ryan Marter of Columbia, S.C. is currently ranked No. 9 among amateur golfers in the Carolinas. He captured his first CGA title last year at the 2017 Carolinas Four-Ball Championship with partner Jack Parrot. He finished just off the top of the leader board at the 2017 Carolinas Amateur Championship, finishing in third with a nine-under-par overall score. Marter is a rising sophomore at Wofford College and recorded a 76.72 stroke average during his freshman season.

• Ashton Poole Jr. of Charlotte, N.C., who is currently ranked No. 12 among amateur golfers in the Carolinas, seeks his first CGA title at this year's event. The rising junior at the University of Virginia already captured a title this earlier this year, winning the the 2018 Dogwood Invitational in Atlanta, Georgia and carding a 266 through four rounds.

• James Lightsey Jr. of Fort Mill, S.C. is currently ranked No. 13 among amateur golfers in the Carolinas and is looking to capture his first CGA title. He has totaled five top-10 finishes in the last two seasons, including reaching the semifinals at the 2018 South Carolina Amateur Match Play and tying for sixth at last year's Carolinas Amateur.

• Kevin O'Connell of Cary, N.C. is currently ranked No. 14 among amateur golfers in the Carolinas. He is looking to capture his second title of the year and first CGA title in over a decade. In June, he won the the 2018 Monroe Invitational after carding a two-over-par overall score at the tournament.

• Christian Salzer of Sumter, S.C. is currently ranked No. 22 among amateur golfers in the Carolinas. In 2017, he tallied two top-25 finishes, including a T22 finish at the Carolinas Young Amateur. He also reached the Round of 16 SCGA Amateur Championship. Salzer won his second CGA title earlier this year at the South Carolina Amateur Match Play, defeating the No. 2 seed Logan Sowell in the final match.

• Sherrill Britt of West End, N.C., who is currently ranked No. 15 among amateur golfers in the Carolinas, will join this year's field. Britt is a past CGA champion and won the Carolinas Mid-Amateur in 2015. In 2017, he finished the runner-up at the North Carolina Four-Ball with partner Samuel Ring, and finished tied for the runner-up position at the 2018 Carolinas Mid-Amateur earlier this year.

• 2001 champion and two-time CGA champion John Pitt of Raleigh, N.C. looks to earn his second CGA title of the year at this year's event. Pitt won the 87th Carolinas Amateur in 2001 when the event was played in match-play format. 17 years later, he earned his second CGA title at the 2018 Carolinas Mid-Amateur and carded a five-under-par overall score. Pitt is currently ranked No. 21 among amateur golfers in the Carolinas.

• The most decorated golfer in CGA history with 34 CGA titles, Paul Simson of Raleigh, N.C., will return to this year's field. Simson earned the title at the Carolinas Amateur in 1995 and 2001 and is currently ranked No. 1 among senior amateur golfers in the Carolinas. Earlier this year, he won the 2018 Durham Senior Amateur as well as the Carolinas Super Senior. In 2017, Simson was the runner-up at the USGA U.S. Senior Amateur and the North South Senior. Simson won the Carolinas Super Senior and North Carolina Senior Amateur earlier this year.

• Peter Fountain of Raleigh, N.C., who is currently ranked No. 2 among junior boys golfers in the Carolinas, will join this year's field in pursuit of his first CGA title. An impressive start to 2018, Fountain finished in the top spot at the NCHSAA 4A East Regional and the runner-up at the NCHSAA 4A Boys' State Championship. In 2017, he qualified for the Junior Amateur, where he finished T17.

The Dogwood course has been considered one of the finest course in America since its opening in 1963. It was designed by Ellis Maples and Willard Byrd and was renovated by Arthur Hills from 1999-2002. It was completely renovated by Kris Spence in 2016. It is now a unique combination of gleaming sand, gently rolling hills and clear water. The Dogwood course has also been the venue for many championship events, including seven North Carolina Amateurs, six Southern Amateurs, the 1980 U.S. Amateur and the 2010 U.S. Girls' Junior Championship.
 

Past champions in the field (2):

Paul Simson, Raleigh, N.C., 1991, 2005
John Pitt, Wilmington, N.C., 2001
 

The championship format is 72 holes of stroke play. After 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 60 scorers and ties. A tie for the overall championship is decided by an on-course playoff.

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has reached his 13th birthday by July 12, 2018, maintains a residence in North Carolina or South Carolina, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has an active GHIN USGA Handicap Index at a CGA member club that does not exceed 10.4.

Scoring will be provided by the CGA throughout the championship, offering 9 and 18-hole updates. Live updates will also be available on the CGA’s official Twitter account, @cgagolf1909. Continue to visit the CGA website throughout this championship and all year long for complete championship coverage including scores, interviews, photos, and recaps.

Schedule of rounds:
Thursday, July 12, 2018

Round 1 -- 18 holes stroke play

Tee times at 7:30 a.m./12:30 p.m. off #1 and #10 tees

Lunch available for players from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Friday, July 13, 2018

Round 2 -- 18 holes stroke play

Tee times at 7:30 a.m./12:30 p.m. off #1 and #10 tees

Cut to low 60 scores and ties. Field re-paired according to score

Lunch available for players from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Saturday, July 14, 2018

Round 3 -- Tee times begin at 7:30 .m. off #1 and #10 tees

Field re-paired according to score

Lunch available for players from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Sunday, July 15, 2018

Final Round -- Tee times begin at 7:30 a.m. off #1 and #10 tees

Awards ceremony immediately following play.