Eric Bae Battles Medalist to Win NC Match Play

Eric Bae of Pinehurst

DURHAM, N.C. (August 6, 2017) -- Match play final results from the 8^th North Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship at Treyburn Country Club in Durham, N.C. on Sunday, August 6th (7,049 yards, par 36-36--72).

Related: Championship Website | Match Play Bracket | History | Photos
 

Early in the final match, No. 3 seed Eric Bae lipped out three birdie putts against No. 1 seed Bryce Hendrix of Raleigh. "After the first few holes, even though I didn't have any putts drop, I knew I was going to continue to hit good shots and have more opportunities," said Bae, a 19-year-old Pinehurst resident.

Hendrix, a 20-year-old rising junior at UNC-Greensboro, had been dominating all week. Shooting 7-under-par over 36 holes to earn stroke play medalist honors, he continued to cruise in match play, only once tested all 18 holes.

The two Division I golfers found their putting strokes, with Bae converting birdie on No. 5 and Hendrix following suit on the 6th. Bae answered with a birdie on the 8th and the two golfers matched birdies on the par-5 9th to give Bae a 1 up lead heading to the back nine.

After Hendrix birdied the par-5 11th to square the match, Bae made birdie from the fringe on the par-4 12th to reclaim his lead and a 30-foot birdie on the par-3 13th to extend it to 2 up. The 12th was the only green Bae missed in regulation Sunday morning. On the par-4 14th, shortened to 275 yards for the final match, Bae choked-down on his driver, ripping his tee shot within 6 feet of the hole. "I wanted to play smart the whole week. I'm usually pretty aggressive," said the rising sophomore at Wake Forest University. "This week I did a good job of deciding when to hold back or when to attack the holes." That decision to attack paid off on No. 14, with Bae holing the eagle putt to claim a 3 up lead with four holes to play. "I just kind of lagged it up there and it went in."

Hendrix birdied his third par-5 of the round, the 15th, to cut the deficit to two holes. The comeback would stop there, as a three putt bogey on the 16th secured the match for Bae, 3 & 2. "I didn't play bad, just didn't make as many putts as I needed," said Hendrix. "Eric played great, he deserves it." Both players hit some incredible shots in the final match, played at a brisk pace, with 16 holes completed in 2 hours, 10 minutes.

The win is Bae's third CGA title, his first since 2015. "I haven't won anything in three years," said Bae, while holding the Paul Simson Trophy. "It feels good to be back in the winner's circle, especially going into the U.S. Amateur."  Bae used the North Carolina Amateur Match Play as a tune-up for the U.S. Amateur, which is being held at Riviera Country Club in Pacific Palisades, California on August 14-20. The championship formats are similar; a match play bracket preceded by two rounds of stroke-play qualifying.

If this week is any indication, Bae will be taking good vibes to California.

The Carolinas Golf Association wishes to thank the members and staff of Treyburn Country Club for their hospitality and help conducting the championship. In particular, the CGA thanks Director of Golf Tag Wylie and Course Superintendent Mark Snell for their efforts.

Entry in the North Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship is open to any male amateur golfer who has reached his 13th birthday by the start of the championship, 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 and has an active GHIN® USGA Handicap Index® at a CGA member club that does not exceed 7.4.

 

8th North Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship
Treyburn Country Club | Durham, N.C.

Final

Player	City, State		Player	City, State	Result
Eric Bae	Pinehurst, NC	def.	Bryce Hendrix	Raleigh, NC	3 & 2

 

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 48 championships and five team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. It also runs over 150 One-Day (net and gross) events as well as 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 nearly $2,000,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives including junior and women's programs.    

For more information about the CGA, visit our website.

 

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