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Earnhardt Races to N.C. Mid-Am Lead
A second round 64 propelled defending champion Greg Earnhardt of Greensboro to top of leaderboard
GREENSBORO, N.C. (September 24, 2016) -- Second round results of the 23rd North Carolina Mid-Amateur Championship at Starmount Forest Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. on Saturday, September 24, 2016. (Par 35-36--71, 6647 yards, Course Rating 72.2, 139).
Related: Tee Times & Pairings | Hole-by-hole Scoring | Championship History | Photo Gallery
Posting the low round of the tournament, defending champion Greg Earnhardt of Greensboro put himself in great shape for a repeat victory. His seven-under-par 64 provides a four stroke cushion heading into Sunday's final round.
In last year's championship, Earnhardt erased a three stroke deficit to claim the P.J. Boatwright trophy, his first CGA title. "The tournaments that I've won, I've always come from behind," said Earnhardt, who works as an insurance agent. "This is going to be a new experience. I'm not a great frontrunner." His two-day total of 132 is ten-under-par on the par-71 layout at Starmount Forest Country Club.
If Earnhardt continues to hit his irons like he did Saturday, a back-to-back title run should be achievable. Of the eight birdies in his second round, many were tap-ins as a result of accurate approach shots. "I had a bunch of really good numbers into the holes today," said the 47-year-old Earnhardt. "I was able to be aggressive."
Trailing Earnhardt by four strokes is 2013 North Carolina Amateur champion, Steven Brame of Henderson. Brame backed his opening 69 with a four-under 67. "I just kept the ball in the fairway, hit a few more greens, and made a few more putts," said Brame, a Xerox salesperson. Brame explained his putting success was achieved by leaving the ball below the hole, "If you are above the hole, you are playing for par." On Saturday the 33-year-old Brame played the three par-5s at Starmount Forest in four-under. His round was highlighted by a 20-foot eagle putt on the par-5 14th.
Playing in the final pairing with Earnhardt and Brame is first round co-leader Noi Chay of Apex. At five-under 137, the 43-year-old Chay will begin Sunday trailing Earnhardt by five strokes.
Through 36-holes, 14 players are below par. The cut to the low 60 and ties fell at nine-over 151. 62 players will compete in Sunday's final round beginning at 8:00am from both the 1st and 10th tees with the leaders teeing off at 9:40am.
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.
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.
23rd North Carolina Mid-Amateur Championship
Starmount Forest Country Club, Greensboro, NC
Second Round Results
| Place | Competitor | Score | ||
| 1 | Greg Earnhardt, Greensboro, N.C. | 68-64--132 (-10) | ||
| 2 | Steven Brame, Henderson, N.C. | 69-67--136 (-6) | ||
| 3 | Noi Chay, Apex, N.C. | 67-70--137 (-5) | ||
| 4 | Dustin Moore, Greensboro, N.C. | 68-70--138 (-4) | ||
| T5 | Paul Tucker, Waxhaw, N.C. | 70-69--139 (-3) | ||
| T5 | Brooks Roberts, Greensboro, N.C. | 72-67--139 (-3) | ||
| T7 | Uly Grisette III, Winston Salem, N.C. | 69-71--140 (-2) | ||
| T7 | Brandon Reece, Rolesville, N.C. | 70-70--140 (-2) | ||
| T7 | Justin Pennell, Lenoir, N.C. | 71-69--140 (-2) | ||
| T10 | Jeremy Ray, Pfafftown, N.C. | 71-70--141 (-1) | ||
| T10 | Sherrill Britt, West End, N.C. | 67-74--141 (-1) | ||
| T10 | Korky Kemp, Greensboro, N.C. | 72-69--141 (-1) | ||
| T10 | Todd Grear, Mooresville, N.C. | 70-71--141 (-1) | ||
| T10 | Will Morgan, West End, N.C. | 70-71--141 (-1) | ||
| T15 | Matt Kilgo, Charlotte, N.C. | 72-70--142 (Even) | ||
| T15 | Nicholas Brown, Lenoir, N.C. | 70-72--142 (Even) | ||
| T15 | Daniel Neveu, Pinehurst, N.C. | 70-72--142 (Even) | ||
| T18 | Joe Jaspers, Huntersville, N.C. | 73-70--143 (+1) | ||
| T18 | Gary Pugh, Asheboro, N.C. | 69-74--143 (+1) | ||
| T18 | James Bohn III, Cary, N.C. | 72-71--143 (+1) | ||
| T18 | Brady R Eckard, Conover, N.C. | 69-74--143 (+1) | ||
| T18 | Brad Mundy, Hickory, N.C. | 72-71--143 (+1) | ||
| T18 | Patrick Brady, Reidsville, N.C. | 70-73--143 (+1) | ||
| T18 | Chad Wilfong, Charlotte, N.C. | 72-71--143 (+1) | ||
| T18 | Anthony Baker, Walkertown, N.C. | 72-71--143 (+1) | ||
| T26 | Jim Murray, Taylorsville, N.C. | 73-71--144 (+2) | ||
| T26 | Patrick Waters, Rutherfordton, N.C. | 71-73--144 (+2) | ||
| T26 | Chad Frye, Davidson, N.C. | 76-68--144 (+2) | ||
| T26 | Rob Hukill III, Raleigh, N.C. | 69-75--144 (+2) | ||
| T26 | Shane Thompson, Canton, N.C. | 75-69--144 (+2) | ||
| T26 | Ryan Sharpe, Greensboro, N.C. | 74-70--144 (+2) | ||
| T32 | Chris Buffaloe, Raleigh, N.C. | 71-74--145 (+3) | ||
| T32 | Chris Holland, Fayetteville, N.C. | 73-72--145 (+3) | ||
| T34 | Jason Smith, Raleigh, N.C. | 73-73--146 (+4) | ||
| T34 | Michael Swiger, Raleigh, N.C. | 74-72--146 (+4) | ||
| T34 | Chris Blum, Raleigh, N.C. | 77-69--146 (+4) | ||
| T34 | Steven Kidd, Liberty, N.C. | 74-72--146 (+4) | ||
| T34 | Jd Mann, Clayton, N.C. | 74-72--146 (+4) | ||
| T34 | Brad Coleman, Jamestown, N.C. | 75-71--146 (+4) | ||
| T34 | Jonathan McDonald, Belmont, N.C. | 71-75--146 (+4) | ||
| T41 | Scott Patnode, Belmont, N.C. | 74-73--147 (+5) | ||
| T41 | Pat Thompson, Asheville, N.C. | 72-75--147 (+5) | ||
| T41 | Bubba Aughtry, Concord, N.C. | 73-74--147 (+5) | ||
| T41 | Jonathan Jackson, Chapel Hill, N.C. | 74-73--147 (+5) | ||
| T41 | Jacob Lowder, Greensboro, N.C. | 73-74--147 (+5) | ||
| T41 | Tommy Miller, Boone, N.C. | 73-74--147 (+5) | ||
| T41 | Kevin Kemp, Greensboro, N.C. | 73-74--147 (+5) | ||
| T48 | Lionel Sutton, La Grange, N.C. | 74-74--148 (+6) | ||
| T48 | Blair Bowland, Burlington, N.C. | 71-77--148 (+6) | ||
| T48 | Parks Price, Calabash , N.C. | 74-74--148 (+6) | ||
| T51 | Mark Absher, Winston Salem, N.C. | 78-71--149 (+7) | ||
| T51 | Brad Dawson, Mebane, N.C. | 74-75--149 (+7) | ||
| T51 | Andy Routh, Randleman, N.C. | 73-76--149 (+7) | ||
| T54 | Steve Sharpe, Greensboro, N.C. | 73-77--150 (+8) | ||
| T54 | Paul Clark, Charlotte, N.C. | 78-72--150 (+8) | ||
| T54 | Dale Ring, Carthage, N.C. | 72-78--150 (+8) | ||
| T54 | Mike Olson, Wake Forest, N.C. | 75-75--150 (+8) | ||
| T54 | Thomas Chambers, Waxhaw, N.C. | 73-77--150 (+8) | ||
| T59 | Rick Riddle, Charlotte, N.C. | 76-75--151 (+9) | ||
| T59 | Elton Trent, Reidsville, N.C. | 80-71--151 (+9) | ||
| T59 | John Pitt, Raleigh, N.C. | 74-77--151 (+9) | ||
| T59 | Dwayne Simpson, Charlotte, N.C. | 73-78--151 (+9) | ||
| Failed to Qualify | ||||
| T63 | Ken Bass, Pinehurst, N.C. | 74-78--152 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Kevin Atamian, Raleigh, N.C. | 75-77--152 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Eric Ardery, Durham, N.C. | 74-78--152 (+10) | ||
| T63 | John Marshall, Kinston, N.C. | 76-76--152 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Ashley Fuquay, Greensboro, N.C. | 71-81--152 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Brant Stovall, Asheboro, N.C. | 74-78--152 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Philip Geiger, Davidson, N.C. | 73-79--152 (+10) | ||
| T63 | Stephen Goodridge, Winston-Salem, N.C. | 75-77--152 (+10) | ||
| T71 | Aaron York, Durham, N.C. | 76-77--153 (+11) | ||
| T71 | David Eaker, Forest City, N.C. | 78-75--153 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Eddie Connelly III, Jacksonville, N.C. | 79-74--153 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Daniel Welborn, Charlotte, N.C. | 80-73--153 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Todd Chadwick, Raleigh, N.C. | 74-79--153 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Kevin Whitaker, West End, N.C. | 71-82--153 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Billy Andrews, Advance, N.C. | 81-72--153 (+11) | ||
| T71 | Jason Fulp, Germanton, N.C. | 75-78--153 (+11) | ||
| T79 | Brandon Miller, Winston-Salem, N.C. | 79-75--154 (+12) | ||
| T79 | Terrain Gill, Charlotte, N.C. | 76-78--154 (+12) | ||
| T79 | Jay McGhee, Greensboro, N.C. | 78-76--154 (+12) | ||
| T79 | John Berger, Charlotte, N.C. | 79-75--154 (+12) | ||
| T79 | Reid Clark, Raleigh, N.C. | 79-75--154 (+12) | ||
| T79 | Dean Norman Jr., Greensboro, N.C. | 78-76--154 (+12) | ||
| T85 | Joe Decosta, Asheville, N.C. | 79-76--155 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Tony Herring, Raleigh, N.C. | 73-82--155 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Jonathan Callahan, Denver, N.C. | 76-79--155 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Mark Nieters, Clemmons, N.C. | 76-79--155 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Daniel Hendrickson, Charlotte, N.C. | 81-74--155 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Eric Sayer, Cary, N.C. | 79-76--155 (+13) | ||
| T85 | Curtis Jones Jr., Jacksonville, N.C. | 76-79--155 (+13) | ||
| T92 | Chris Cassetta, Winston-Salem, N.C. | 78-78--156 (+14) | ||
| T92 | John Nieters, Clemmons, N.C. | 79-77--156 (+14) | ||
| T92 | Paul Slomkowski, Colfax, N.C. | 80-76--156 (+14) | ||
| T95 | Scott Park, Charlotte, N.C. | 75-82--157 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Jordan Ford, Cary, N.C. | 74-83--157 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Richard Taylor, Charlotte, N.C. | 81-76--157 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Ed Byman, Raleigh, N.C. | 77-80--157 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Park Williams, Kernersville, N.C. | 77-80--157 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Bob Gardner, Kernersville, N.C. | 75-82--157 (+15) | ||
| T95 | Matthew Pecarovich, Charlotte, N.C. | 77-80--157 (+15) | ||
| T102 | Seth Hall, Greensboro, N.C. | 78-80--158 (+16) | ||
| T102 | Bill Rocchi, Pinehurst, N.C. | 83-75--158 (+16) | ||
| T102 | Thomas Lee Jr, Four Oaks, N.C. | 79-79--158 (+16) | ||
| T105 | Shane Benfield, Salisbury, N.C. | 79-81--160 (+18) | ||
| T105 | Brad Clark, Chapel Hill, N.C. | 80-80--160 (+18) | ||
| T105 | Matt Cromer, High Point, N.C. | 82-78--160 (+18) | ||
| T108 | Kenny Flynn, Winston Salem, N.C. | 83-78--161 (+19) | ||
| T108 | Kevin Coggins, Apex, N.C. | 81-80--161 (+19) | ||
| T108 | Steven Dougherty, Pinehurst, N.C. | 83-78--161 (+19) | ||
| T108 | Tad Galloway, Cary, N.C. | 82-79--161 (+19) | ||
| T112 | Mike Crawford, Summerfield, N.C. | 82-80--162 (+20) | ||
| T112 | Michael Rhodes, Sanford, N.C. | 80-82--162 (+20) | ||
| 114 | Michael Wilson, Fuquay varina, N.C. | 81-82--163 (+21) | ||
| 115 | Todd Adams, Lewisville, N.C. | 86-80--166 (+24) | ||
| T116 | Brian Westveer, Charlotte, N.C. | 77-WD--WD (WD) | ||
| T116 | Rick Marion, Mt Airy, N.C. | 77-WD--WD (WD) | ||
| T116 | Mark Buckler, Southern Shores, N.C. | 83-WD--WD (WD) | ||
| T116 | Brian Hewat, Charlotte , N.C. | 81-WD--WD (WD) | ||
| T116 | John Cornett, Boone, N.C. | 75-WD--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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