Sun
Recent News

Woodruff Widens his N.C. Amateur Lead

 

RALEIGH, N.C. (June 19, 2021) -- Third round results of the 61st North Carolina Amateur Championship at Lonnie Poole Golf Course at North Carolina State University in Raleigh, N.C. on June 19, 2021. The field is competing at 7,228 yards (par 36-36--72).

 

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


Moving day did not disappoint at Lonnie Poole Golf Course at N.C. State University today. The leaderboard displayed an 8-under-par, 64, four eagles and numerous position changes, with one clear exception. Ben Woodruff of Huntersville, N.C. maintained his position atop the leaderboard and widened his lead to an impressive four-strokes entering the final round. 


Woodruff came into the third round with a one-stroke lead at 5-under-par, 139 total. The pressure of leading the field on moving day did not faze him and instead fueled his fire.


“I completely embraced the opportunity to be the one with the target on my back, but I didn’t think too much about it. I just went out there and handled my business,” said the Charlotte University rising senior. “I hit good shots, executed my game plan and stayed committed to absolutely every shot that I had.”


That commitment led to a 1-under-par, 35 front nine and the solo lead after making the turn. While several players tried to make a run for the lead while he played the back nine, his consecutive birdies on Nos. 11, 12 and 13 cemented his position ahead of the rest of the pack. His game plan for tomorrow is simple, “I’m going to go out there, keep my foot on the gas and see how low I can go.”

 

There is a three-way-tie for second position at 5-under-par, 211 overall. The round 1 leader Spencer Oxendine of Fayetteville, N.C., Cyrus Stewart of Raleigh, N.C. and Nicholas Mathews of Mebane, N.C. have risen to second position by way of very different paths over the last three rounds.


Oxendine led the field with a 3-under-par, 69 after the first round, but a 6-over-par, 78 in the second round set him back to tied for 30th by Friday evening. He spent hours putting in work on his swing after the round to get it back to where he’d like it. That preparation instilled confidence in him to fire off the lowest round he has ever carded on this course, a striking 8-under-par, 64.


“I told my roommate last night that I couldn’t believe that I shot 78 and that I was going to go low today,” said the rising N.C. State University junior. “He was giving me a hard time saying, ‘no you’re not,’ but I just felt really confident in what I did after the round and it showed today.”

 

Six birdies peppered throughout his round and an eagle on No. 12 catapulted him up the leaderboard by 28 positions to secure his seat in second entering the final round. “I am a big believer in momentum. If you keep the ball rolling and you’re doing the right thing, you can play with that confidence,” said Oxendine. “I’m excited that I shot 64 today, but I want to get this trophy, so I am going to be very focused on what I need to do tomorrow.”


Nicholas Mathews, who is teammates with Oxendine on the N.C. State University men’s golf team, attributed his position to consistency and simply solid golf. “The front nine consisted of a lot of really good par saves, just solid golf. Then I got to the back nine and eagled No. 11 which was a nice pick up. I chipped in from greenside, about 15 yards or so. Then I birdied the next (No. 12), because it was drivable today. There was a lot of solid golf today.”


Mathews is the only other player, along with Woodruff, to card under-par rounds every day of the championship thus far. He is planning to stick with his smart golf game plan in the hopes of dropping a few more putts in the final round.


Cyrus Stewart began the 61st North Carolina Amateur with a 2-over-par, 74 to tie for 37th position after the first round. However, that did not last long as he fired off a 4-under-par, 68 yesterday and an impressive 3-under-par, 69 in the third round today to climb his way to the top. The 2020 Carolinas Mid-Amateur champion carded six birdies on the day and will look to do the same tomorrow for a shot at his second CGA championship title.



The 2016 North Carolina Amateur champion Nick Lyerly of Salisbury, N.C. holds solo fifth position at 4-under-par, 212 total after an impressive 2-under-par, 70 in the third round today.



The final round will begin tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. off of Nos. 1 and 10. Stay tuned to our Instagram, Twitter and Facebook for live coverage of the final round of the 61st North Carolina Amateur Championship. 

 

61st North Carolina Amateur Championship

Lonnie Poole Golf Course at North Carolina State University, Raleigh, N.C.

Third Round Results

 

Pos. Player City, State To Par R1 R2 R3 Total
1 Ben Woodruff Huntersville, NC -9 71 68 68 207
T2 Spencer Oxendine Fayetteville, NC -5 69 78 64 211
T2 Cyrus Stewart Raleigh, NC -5 74 68 69 211
T2 Nicholas Mathews Mebane, NC -5 71 70 70 211
5 Nick Lyerly Salisbury, NC -4 73 69 70 212
T6 Nic Brown Wendell, NC -3 74 72 67 213
T6 Kurtis Grant Southern Pines, NC -3 71 70 72 213
T8 Tim Bunten Concord, NC -2 74 73 67 214
T8 David Sargent Cornelius, NC -2 72 68 74 214
10 Columb Knight Raleigh, NC -1 70 73 72 215
T11 Davis Womble Winston-Salem, NC E 78 68 70 216
T11 Andy Knox Apex, NC E 75 70 71 216
T11 Jake Scruggs Shelby, NC E 73 71 72 216
T14 Maddox Whittington Lenoir, NC +1 74 72 71 217
T14 Mark Olbrych Raleigh, NC +1 75 70 72 217
T14 Stephen Carroll Concord, NC +1 73 71 73 217
T17 Carter Busse Davidson, NC +2 74 73 71 218
T17 Garrett Risner Holly Springs, NC +2 73 75 70 218
T17 David Gies Pineville, NC +2 73 73 72 218
T17 Stuart Fuller Winston-Salem, NC +2 73 75 70 218
T17 Bryson Boyette Wilson, NC +2 72 75 71 218
T17 Clayson Good Durham, NC +2 70 76 72 218
T17 AJ Shaffer Horse Shoe, NC +2 72 70 76 218
T24 Justin Morgan Denver, NC +3 71 75 73 219
T24 Colin Browning Charlotte, NC +3 71 74 74 219
T24 Kevin O'Connell Apex, NC +3 72 69 78 219
T24 Noah Connor Reidsville, NC +3 75 66 78 219
T28 Connor Armistead Charlotte, NC +4 75 72 73 220
T28 Caleb Keck Concord, NC +4 72 74 74 220
T28 Caden Baker Mebane, NC +4 76 71 73 220
T28 Symon Balbin Pinehurst, NC +4 75 71 74 220
T28 Collin Adams Charlotte, NC +4 72 73 75 220
T28 Addison Beam Cherryville, NC +4 78 71 71 220
T28 Daniel Bowden Wilmington, NC +4 78 71 71 220
T28 Jake Herring Wilson, NC +4 71 79 70 220
T36 Noah Bumgarner Lenoir, NC +5 75 72 74 221
T36 Graham Chase Charlotte, NC +5 73 75 73 221
T36 Randall Hudson New Bern, NC +5 74 70 77 221
T36 Keenan Royalty Raleigh, NC +5 73 76 72 221
T36 Ryan Blair Charlotte, NC +5 76 74 71 221
T36 Patrick Stephenson Four Oaks, NC +5 71 78 72 221
T36 Tyler Jones Jacksonville, NC +5 73 77 71 221
T43 Joe Jaspers Huntersville, NC +6 71 76 75 222
T43 Jake Conklin Cary, NC +6 74 73 75 222
T43 JD McNeill Raleigh, NC +6 74 74 74 222
T43 Matthew Younts Greensboro, NC +6 74 72 76 222
T43 August Lascola Durham, NC +6 76 73 73 222
T43 Chad Wilfong Charlotte, NC +6 74 74 74 222
T43 Jason Gabriel Claremont, NC +6 73 76 73 222
T43 Kenan Poole Raleigh, NC +6 74 68 80 222
T51 Connor Jones Raleigh, NC +7 73 75 75 223
T51 Nolan Mills IV Charlotte, NC +7 73 77 73 223
T53 Grayson Wotnosky Wake Forest, NC +8 71 76 77 224
T53 Grady Newton Wallburg, NC +8 73 76 75 224
T55 Jack Heath Charlotte, NC +9 74 70 81 225
T55 Thomas Bonney Greensboro, NC +9 75 75 75 225
T55 Joe Brooks Franklin, NC +9 75 75 75 225
T58 Anthony Conn Raleigh, NC +11 73 75 79 227
T58 A.J. Beechler Pinehurst, NC +11 75 75 77 227
T60 Jake Clodfelter Trinity, NC +14 77 69 84 230
T60 Harcourt Settle Raleigh, NC +14 76 71 83 230
62 Spencer Roberts Cary, NC +18 75 75 84 234
               
The following players did not make the cut
               
CUT Grady Anderson Greenville, NC +7 73 78   -
CUT Holt Allison Conover, NC +7 75 76   -
CUT Timothy Driver Holly Springs, NC +7 70 81   -
CUT Brandon Reece Rolesville, NC +7 75 76   -
CUT Addison Lambeth Browns Summit, NC +8 79 73   -
CUT Austin Bonfiglio Holly Springs, NC +8 79 73   -
CUT Connor Brown Cherryville, NC +8 73 79   -
CUT Jerell Fields Pineville, NC +8 81 71   -
CUT Walker Taylor Wilmington, NC +8 74 78   -
CUT Ben Morehead Charlotte, NC +8 77 75   -
CUT Christopher Sperrazza Raleigh, NC +8 74 78   -
CUT Cole Sutherland Charlotte, NC +8 80 72   -
CUT Evan Boyer Morrisville, NC +8 76 76   -
CUT Blake Brantley Winston-Salem, NC +9 79 74   -
CUT Ryan Nagy Raleigh, NC +9 78 75   -
CUT Steven Brame Henderson, NC +9 77 76   -
CUT Andrew Ward Charlotte, NC +9 76 77   -
CUT Carter Rains Greenville, NC +9 77 76   -
CUT Will Tharin Rocky Mount, NC +9 76 77   -
CUT Chad Fultz Charlotte, NC, NC +10 78 76   -
CUT Jake Clayton Burlington, NC +10 84 70   -
CUT Jerry Richardson Cary, NC +10 76 78   -
CUT Justin Guilford Davidson, NC +10 75 79   -
CUT Pearse Lucas Charlotte, NC +10 75 79   -
CUT Ryan O'Neil Waxhaw, NC +10 81 73   -
CUT Zac Lewis Winnabow, NC +10 75 79   -
CUT Alex Campbell Charlotte, NC +10 79 75   -
CUT Andrew Gates Greensboro, NC +10 81 73   -
CUT Carter Boulia Cary, NC +10 79 75   -
CUT Daniel Neveu Pinehurst, NC +10 76 78   -
CUT Davis Spradling Clayton, NC +10 77 77   -
CUT Lexton Ford Lenoir, NC +10 78 76   -
CUT Zach Swink Whitsett, NC +10 81 73   -
CUT Jackson Brimfield Chapel Hill, NC +11 76 79   -
CUT Mitchell Tanis Pineville, NC +11 76 79   -
CUT Michael Childress Salisbury, NC +11 79 76   -
CUT Bruce Bevins Matthews, NC +12 77 79   -
CUT Calvin Hawkins Lexington, NC +12 77 79   -
CUT Brad Clark Durham, NC +12 77 79   -
CUT Charlie Fetter Charlotte, NC +12 75 81   -
CUT Christopher Blum Raleigh, NC +12 78 78   -
CUT Keith Early Charlotte, NC +12 80 76   -
CUT Matias La Grutta Cary, NC +12 76 80   -
CUT Josh Lendach Raleigh, NC +13 78 79   -
CUT Landon Hawley Charlotte, NC +13 79 78   -
CUT Attie Giles Pinehurst, NC +13 75 82   -
CUT Brady Eckard Conover, NC +13 81 76   -
CUT Evan Mendyk Summerfield, NC +13 80 77   -
CUT Jim Aughtry Concord, NC +13 76 81   -
CUT Jay Roberts Concord, NC +14 73 85   -
CUT Jordan Smith Summerfield, NC +14 83 75   -
CUT Stephen Helton Clayton, NC +14 81 77   -
CUT Casey Osiecki New Bern, NC +15 81 78   -
CUT Dustin Moore Burlington, NC +15 82 77   -
CUT Bob McGee Cary, NC +16 81 79   -
CUT Jack Anderson Charlotte, NC +16 80 80   -
CUT William Buchanan Greensboro, NC +16 77 83   -
CUT William Locey Charlotte, NC +16 76 84   -
CUT Dexter Rice Charlotte, NC +17 86 75   -
CUT Tommy Lamb Cary, NC +17 78 83   -
CUT Chad Parris Charlotte, NC +18 82 80   -
CUT Luke Nelson Raleigh, NC +18 80 82   -
CUT Avery Papalia Kernersville, NC +18 82 80   -
CUT Daniel Jackson Indian Trail, NC +18 84 78   -
CUT Gary Pugh Asheboro, NC +18 80 82   -
CUT Matthew Spak Cary, NC +19 79 84   -
CUT Adam Kersey Hickory, NC +19 81 82   -
CUT Cole Howard Benson, NC +20 84 80   -
CUT Justin Nagy Holly Springs, NC +20 83 81   -
CUT Chris Bitzenhofer Mount Olive, NC +21 85 80   -
CUT Austin Alexander Rutherfordton, NC +22 86 80   -
CUT Andrew Haarlow Greensboro, NC +24 83 85   -
CUT Bobby Scarboro Rolesville, NC +24 81 87   -
CUT Sam Terry Thomasville, NC +24 85 83   -
CUT Eli Kinlaw Mount Holly, NC +28 86 86   -
WD Chase Clayton Locust, NC - WD WD   -
WD Zach Roberts Holly Springs, NC - WD WD   -
WD Wade Boteler Burlington, NC - 75 WD   75


 

Schedule of Final Round:

 

Sunday, June 20

Final Round - 18 Holes of Individual Stroke Play


 

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.

 

##30##

 


Other News

News Archives

 
Carolinas Golf Association
140 Ridge Road, Southern Pines, NC 28387
910-673-1000 | admin@carolinasgolf.org
Monday-Friday: 8:30-5:00

Web Design by BlueTone Media