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Earnhardt Earns Back-to-Back Titles
Greg Earnhardt of Greensboro made history in his hometown [Enlarge]
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GREENSBORO, N.C. (September 25, 2016) -- Final results of the 23rd North Carolina Mid-Amateur Championship at Starmount Forest Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. on Sunday, September 25, 2016. (Par 35-36--71, 6647 yards, Course Rating 72.2, 139).
Related: Hole-by-hole Scoring | History | Photos
Greg Earnhardt passes Starmount Forest Country Club on his weekday commute. On the eve of the 23rd North Carolina Mid-Amateur Championship final round, that became the motivation to win for the Greensboro resident. "If you win, every morning's drive will bring back good memories. If you lose, you're going to hate it."
Beginning Sunday with a four stroke lead over Steven Brame of Henderson, Earnhardt was battling memories of past leads gone wrong. "I've choked away so many tournaments when leading," said the 47-year-old Earnhardt. "I've always come from behind."
On Saturday night, Earnhardt talked with 7-time CGA champ Scott Harvey and longtime friend Billy Hooper. "Billy's been giving me encouragement. With my back bothering me, I wasn't even going to play [this championship]. He told me to play."
If Earnhardt was nervous, it did not show early. He birdied two of the first three holes at Starmount Forest Country Club, making the turn in one-under 34 and held a five shot lead over Brame. Brame was able to apply pressure on the inward nine, making consecutive birdies on holes 13 and 14 that cut Earnhardt's lead to two. On the short par-4 15th, each player hit his approach to within three feet. Brame putted first, and missed. Earnhardt did also. "I thought if I made that birdie putt on 15 and he missed his, things might have swung my way," said Brame, 33. "But I missed there, then again on 16 and he hit a great chip on 18 to clinch it."
Earnhardt's final round of even-par 71 was enough to claim a two stroke win. With the victory Earnhardt set two CGA records. His 54-hole total of 203 is a N.C. Mid-Amateur Championship scoring record (204 shot by Uly Grisette, III in 2008 & 2010). Earnhardt also becomes the first back-to-back winner in the championship's 23-year history. "It was a little shaky, but I got it done," said Earnhardt, exhaling a large sigh of relief, then making the short drive home.
The top 30 finishers are exempt into next year's championship. The North Carolina Mid-Amateur championship is 54-hole of stroke play. Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has reached his 30th birthday by September 23, 2016, is a legal resident of North 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 5.4.
The CGA would like to thank the members and staff of Starmount Forest Country Club for their hospitality hosting this championship, especially Assistant Golf Professionals Savio Nazareth and Kevin Fuller, Greens Superintendent Brent Gentel, and Head Golf Professional Bill Hall.
23rd North Carolina Mid-Amateur Championship
Starmount Forest Country Club, Greensboro, NC
Final Results
| Place | Competitor | Score | ||
| 1 | Greg Earnhardt, Greensboro, N.C. | 68-64-71--203 (-10) | ||
| 2 | Steven Brame, Henderson, N.C. | 69-67-69--205 (-8) | ||
| T3 | Noi Chay, Apex, N.C. | 67-70-71--208 (-5) | ||
| T3 | Paul Tucker, Waxhaw, N.C. | 70-69-69--208 (-5) | ||
| T5 | Dustin Moore, Greensboro, N.C. | 68-70-72--210 (-3) | ||
| T5 | Brandon Reece, Rolesville, N.C. | 70-70-70--210 (-3) | ||
| T5 | Justin Pennell, Lenoir, N.C. | 71-69-70--210 (-3) | ||
| T8 | Uly Grisette III, Winston Salem, N.C. | 69-71-73--213 (Even) | ||
| T8 | Matt Kilgo, Charlotte, N.C. | 72-70-71--213 (Even) | ||
| T8 | Gary Pugh, Asheboro, N.C. | 69-74-70--213 (Even) | ||
| T8 | Will Morgan, West End, N.C. | 70-71-72--213 (Even) | ||
| T12 | Joe Jaspers, Huntersville, N.C. | 73-70-71--214 (+1) | ||
| T12 | Ryan Sharpe, Greensboro, N.C. | 74-70-70--214 (+1) | ||
| T14 | Chris Holland, Fayetteville, N.C. | 73-72-70--215 (+2) | ||
| T14 | Todd Grear, Mooresville, N.C. | 70-71-74--215 (+2) | ||
| T14 | Kevin Kemp, Greensboro, N.C. | 73-74-68--215 (+2) | ||
| T17 | Sherrill Britt, West End, N.C. | 67-74-75--216 (+3) | ||
| T17 | Nicholas Brown, Lenoir, N.C. | 70-72-74--216 (+3) | ||
| T17 | Daniel Neveu, Pinehurst, N.C. | 70-72-74--216 (+3) | ||
| T17 | Brady R Eckard, Conover, N.C. | 69-74-73--216 (+3) | ||
| T17 | Steven Kidd, Liberty, N.C. | 74-72-70--216 (+3) | ||
| T17 | Anthony Baker, Walkertown, N.C. | 72-71-73--216 (+3) | ||
| T23 | Jeremy Ray, Pfafftown, N.C. | 71-70-76--217 (+4) | ||
| T23 | Chris Buffaloe, Raleigh, N.C. | 71-74-72--217 (+4) | ||
| T23 | Patrick Waters, Rutherfordton, N.C. | 71-73-73--217 (+4) | ||
| T23 | Brad Mundy, Hickory, N.C. | 72-71-74--217 (+4) | ||
| T23 | Patrick Brady, Reidsville, N.C. | 70-73-74--217 (+4) | ||
| T28 | Jason Smith, Raleigh, N.C. | 73-73-72--218 (+5) | ||
| T28 | Chad Wilfong, Charlotte, N.C. | 72-71-75--218 (+5) | ||
| T30 | Jim Murray, Taylorsville, N.C. | 73-71-75--219 (+6) | ||
| T30 | John Pitt, Raleigh, N.C. | 74-77-68--219 (+6) | ||
| T30 | Jacob Lowder, Greensboro, N.C. | 73-74-72--219 (+6) | ||
| T30 | Brooks Roberts, Greensboro, N.C. | 72-67-80--219 (+6) | ||
| T30 | Jonathan McDonald, Belmont, N.C. | 71-75-73--219 (+6) | ||
| T35 | Lionel Sutton, La Grange, N.C. | 74-74-72--220 (+7) | ||
| T35 | Chad Frye, Davidson, N.C. | 76-68-76--220 (+7) | ||
| T35 | Jonathan Jackson, Chapel Hill, N.C. | 74-73-73--220 (+7) | ||
| T35 | Korky Kemp, Greensboro, N.C. | 72-69-79--220 (+7) | ||
| T35 | Shane Thompson, Canton, N.C. | 75-69-76--220 (+7) | ||
| T40 | James Bohn III, Cary, N.C. | 72-71-78--221 (+8) | ||
| T40 | Rob Hukill III, Raleigh, N.C. | 69-75-77--221 (+8) | ||
| T42 | Steve Sharpe, Greensboro, N.C. | 73-77-73--223 (+10) | ||
| T42 | Scott Patnode, Belmont, N.C. | 74-73-76--223 (+10) | ||
| T42 | Parks Price, Calabash , N.C. | 74-74-75--223 (+10) | ||
| T45 | Paul Clark, Charlotte, N.C. | 78-72-74--224 (+11) | ||
| T45 | Pat Thompson, Asheville, N.C. | 72-75-77--224 (+11) | ||
| T47 | Mark Absher, Winston Salem, N.C. | 78-71-76--225 (+12) | ||
| T47 | Brad Dawson, Mebane, N.C. | 74-75-76--225 (+12) | ||
| T47 | Chris Blum, Raleigh, N.C. | 77-69-79--225 (+12) | ||
| T50 | Blair Bowland, Burlington, N.C. | 71-77-78--226 (+13) | ||
| T50 | Tommy Miller, Boone, N.C. | 73-74-79--226 (+13) | ||
| T50 | Thomas Chambers, Waxhaw, N.C. | 73-77-76--226 (+13) | ||
| T50 | Jd Mann, Clayton, N.C. | 74-72-80--226 (+13) | ||
| 54 | Bubba Aughtry, Concord, N.C. | 73-74-80--227 (+14) | ||
| T55 | Rick Riddle, Charlotte, N.C. | 76-75-77--228 (+15) | ||
| T55 | Dale Ring, Carthage, N.C. | 72-78-78--228 (+15) | ||
| T55 | Mike Olson, Wake Forest, N.C. | 75-75-78--228 (+15) | ||
| 58 | Brad Coleman, Jamestown, N.C. | 75-71-83--229 (+16) | ||
| 59 | Dwayne Simpson, Charlotte, N.C. | 73-78-80--231 (+18) | ||
| 60 | Andy Routh, Randleman, N.C. | 73-76-83--232 (+19) | ||
| T61 | Elton Trent, Reidsville, N.C. | 80-71-WD--WD (WD) | ||
| T61 | Michael Swiger, Raleigh, N.C. | 74-72-WD--WD (WD) | ||
| Failed to Qualify for Final Round | ||||
| T63 | Ken Bass, Pinehurst, N.C. | 74-78 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Kevin Atamian, Raleigh, N.C. | 75-77 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Eric Ardery, Durham, N.C. | 74-78 (+10) | ||
| T63 | John Marshall, Kinston, N.C. | 76-76 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Ashley Fuquay, Greensboro, N.C. | 71-81 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Brant Stovall, Asheboro, N.C. | 74-78 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Philip Geiger, Davidson, N.C. | 73-79 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Stephen Goodridge, Winston-Salem, N.C. | 75-77 (+10) | ||
| T71 | Aaron York, Durham, N.C. | 76-77 (+11) | ||
| T71 | David Eaker, Forest City, N.C. | 78-75 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Eddie Connelly III, Jacksonville, N.C. | 79-74 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Daniel Welborn, Charlotte, N.C. | 80-73 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Todd Chadwick, Raleigh, N.C. | 74-79 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Kevin Whitaker, West End, N.C. | 71-82 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Billy Andrews, Advance, N.C. | 81-72 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Jason Fulp, Germanton, N.C. | 75-78 (+11) | ||
| T79 | Brandon Miller, Winston-Salem, N.C. | 79-75 (+12) | ||
| T79 | Terrain Gill, Charlotte, N.C. | 76-78 (+12) | ||
| T79 | Jay McGhee, Greensboro, N.C. | 78-76 (+12) | ||
| T79 | John Berger, Charlotte, N.C. | 79-75 (+12) | ||
| T79 | Reid Clark, Raleigh, N.C. | 79-75 (+12) | ||
| T79 | Dean Norman Jr., Greensboro, N.C. | 78-76 (+12) | ||
| T85 | Joe Decosta, Asheville, N.C. | 79-76 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Tony Herring, Raleigh, N.C. | 73-82 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Jonathan Callahan, Denver, N.C. | 76-79 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Mark Nieters, Clemmons, N.C. | 76-79 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Daniel Hendrickson, Charlotte, N.C. | 81-74 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Eric Sayer, Cary, N.C. | 79-76 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Curtis Jones Jr., Jacksonville, N.C. | 76-79 (+13) | ||
| T92 | Chris Cassetta, Winston-Salem, N.C. | 78-78 (+14) | ||
| T92 | John Nieters, Clemmons, N.C. | 79-77 (+14) | ||
| T92 | Paul Slomkowski, Colfax, N.C. | 80-76 (+14) | ||
| T95 | Scott Park, Charlotte, N.C. | 75-82 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Jordan Ford, Cary, N.C. | 74-83 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Richard Taylor, Charlotte, N.C. | 81-76 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Ed Byman, Raleigh, N.C. | 77-80 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Park Williams, Kernersville, N.C. | 77-80 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Bob Gardner, Kernersville, N.C. | 75-82 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Matthew Pecarovich, Charlotte, N.C. | 77-80 (+15) | ||
| T102 | Seth Hall, Greensboro, N.C. | 78-80 (+16) | ||
| T102 | Bill Rocchi, Pinehurst, N.C. | 83-75 (+16) | ||
| T102 | Thomas Lee Jr, Four Oaks, N.C. | 79-79 (+16) | ||
| T105 | Shane Benfield, Salisbury, N.C. | 79-81 (+18) | ||
| T105 | Brad Clark, Chapel Hill, N.C. | 80-80 (+18) | ||
| T105 | Matt Cromer, High Point, N.C. | 82-78 (+18) | ||
| T108 | Kenny Flynn, Winston Salem, N.C. | 83-78 (+19) | ||
| T108 | Kevin Coggins, Apex, N.C. | 81-80 (+19) | ||
| T108 | Steven Dougherty, Pinehurst, N.C. | 83-78 (+19) | ||
| T108 | Tad Galloway, Cary, N.C. | 82-79 (+19) | ||
| T112 | Mike Crawford, Summerfield, N.C. | 82-80 (+20) | ||
| T112 | Michael Rhodes, Sanford, N.C. | 80-82 (+20) | ||
| 114 | Michael Wilson, Fuquay varina, N.C. | 81-82 (+21) | ||
| 115 | Todd Adams, Lewisville, N.C. | 86-80 (+24) | ||
| T116 | Brian Westveer, Charlotte, N.C. | 77-WD (WD) | ||
| T116 | Rick Marion, Mt Airy, N.C. | 77-WD (WD) | ||
| T116 | Mark Buckler, Southern Shores, N.C. | 83-WD (WD) | ||
| T116 | Brian Hewat, Charlotte , N.C. | 81-WD (WD) | ||
| T116 | John Cornett, Boone, N.C. | 75-WD (WD) | ||
| T121 | John Fritz, Mint Hill, N.C. | WD (WD) | ||
| T121 | Tyler Payne, Mt. Airy, N.C. | WD (WD) |
About the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)
The CGA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization that was founded in 1909 to promote and to protect the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support and benefits to golf clubs and golfers. The CGA is the second largest golf association in the country with over 700 member clubs represented by nearly 150,000 individuals.
The CGA annually conducts 43 championships and five team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. It also runs over 140 One-Day (net and gross) events and qualifying for USGA national championships. The CGA serves golf in the Carolinas with numerous programs such as: the USGA Handicap System; tournament management software and support; course measuring and course/slope ratings; agronomy consultation; answers about the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, and Handicapping; Carolinas Golf Magazine; Interclub series; Tarheel Youth Golf Association; Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame; expense assistance for USGA Junior and Girls' Junior qualifiers from the Carolinas; and the Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF). The CGF has distributed more than $1,500,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives including junior and women's programs.
For more information about the CGA, visit www.carolinasgolf.org.
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