Massei Masters 48th NC Jr. Boys' Champ

Massei Masters 48^th N.C. Junior Boys' Championship
 

SALISBURY, N.C. – Semifinal and final match play results from the 48^th North Carolina Junior Boys' Championship hosted by The Country Club of Salisbury on Friday, June 26, 2015 (6613 yards, Par 35-36—71, Rating: 72.0/130).

Match Play Bracket

Photo Gallery

With a water-soaked towel draped around his neck to help cool him down, 15-year-old Jack Massei of Cary reflected on the 137 holes he played over five days (including practice round) at The Country Club of Salisbury to become the state's junior golf champion.    

In his quarterfinal match Thursday, Massei trailed with three holes to play. He would mount a comeback, winning the next two holes then sealing the match on the 18th hole. In his semifinal and final matches Friday, no such dramatics were needed as Massei never trailed.

The rising sophomore at Green Hope High School defeated Trey Burton of Hickory 3 & 2 in the morning semifinal match. Facing Jonathan Brightwell of Mint Hill in the finals, Massei also won 3 & 2 before a celebratory water dousing by his hometown friends .

“It doesn’t even feel real hardly,” Massei said after the trophy presentation. “I didn’t have big expectations [entering the championship]. I just started to get into a groove and stayed there and just rolled with it.”

Semi-finals:
Jonathan Brightwell, Mint Hill vs. Jack Brea, Charlotte

16-year-old Jack Brea began the match with three consecutive birdies, claiming an early three up lead. With nine holes to play, Brightwell trailed by four holes. He would win four of the next five to even the match. The players matched each other with pars coming, sending the match to extra holes. A birdie by Brightwell on the first extra hole punched his ticket to the finals.

"I tried to stay as calm as possible because if I got mad or upset I would fall more and more behind. My caddie here helped too. I played better on the back. Luckily, I was able to pull it out," said Brightwell of his come-from-behind victory.

Jack Massei, Cary vs. Trey Burton, Hickory

Massei birdied holes 3 and 5 to take a two up lead. A bogey by Burton on the 187 yard par-3 9th extended Massei's lead to three holes. Massei faltered on 11, making bogey but got it back with a birdie on the par-5 15th before closing the match on the 16th hole.

"My ball striking was really good," said Massei, whose father, Matt, is the general manager at Prestonwood Country Club. "I didn't make as many putts as I wish, but I made enough to win."

Finals:
Jonathan Brightwell, Mint Hill vs. Jack Massei, Cary

In the championship match Massei birdied the first and fifth holes to claim a two up advantage. Brightwell was able to cut the lead to one at the turn with a birdie on the difficult par-3 ninth. An errant tee shot by Brightwell on the 10th allowed Massei to win the hole with a par. On the 11th, Massei made what he described as the crucial putt in the match, a five-foot slider for birdie to extend his lead to three holes.

Dormie with four holes to play, Massei still didn’t feel safe with the match status, knowing Brightwell's ability to quickly erase deficits. “He was four down in his morning match and came back, so I wasn’t comfortable [with the lead],” said Massei.

A bogey from behind trees on par-5 15th cut Massei's lead back to three holes. Both players reached the green in regulation on the par-4 16th. Brightwell conceded a short par putt to Massei before facing an eight foot putt for birdie. Massei watched as the potential match-extending putt missed, then was greeted with congratulations from his friends and family.

48th North Carolina Junior Boys' Championship
Country Club of Salisbury
Match Play Semifinal and Final Rounds | June 26, 2015

Semifinal
(Qualifying score), Name, City, State, (Graduation Year)
(70) Jonathan Brightwell, Mint Hill, N.C. (2016) def. (73) Jack Brea, Charlotte, N.C. (2017),19 holes
(68) Jack Massei, Cary, N.C. (2018) def. (70) Trey Burton, Hickory, N.C. (2015), 3 and 2

Final
(Qualifying score), Name, City, State, (Graduation Year)
(68) Jack Massei, Cary, N.C. (2018) def. (70) Jonathan Brightwell, Mint Hill, N.C. (2016), 3 & 2

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer ages 12-18 as of June 26, 2015, who has not started college, 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 a current USGA Handicap Index® at a CGA member club that does not exceed 18.3.

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.

Now in its 106th year, 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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