N.C. Match Play Preview

Harrison Rhoades will look to grab his second CGA title of the summer at the N.C. Match Play at Gaston CC.

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (July 27, 2018) -- The Carolinas Golf Association will conduct the 9th North Carolina Match Play Championship at Gaston Country Club in Gastonia, N.C. from August 1-5. 

 

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

Players to watch:

• Harrison Rhoades of Raleigh, N.C. is the eighth ranked golfer in North Carolina and has already grabbed a CGA victory this summer at the N.C. Amateur. Rhoades set the record for largest winning margin and tied the record for fewest strokes in his win back in June. Rhoades is a rising senior at N.C. State and was just named an All-American Scholar by the GCAA.

• Jonathan Brightwell of Mint Hill, N.C. is the 11th ranked golfer in North Carolina and a rising junior at UNC Greensboro. Brightwell captured a win at the Rice Planters Amateur back in June and will look to capture his first CGA title at Gaston CC.

• Nick Lyerly of Salisbury, N.C. is the 22nd ranked golfer in North Carolina. Lyerly is coming off of a win at the Eastern Amateur earlier in July and will play in the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach later in August. Lyerly finished in the quarterfinals at last year's championship and is a rising sophomore at UNC Greensboro.

• Grant Powell of Colfax, N.C. is the 23rd ranked golfer in North Carolina and will hope to grab his second CGA title at Gaston CC. The rising junior at UNC Greensboro last won a CGA event in 2016 at the N.C. Junior Boys' Championship.

• Brandon Einstein of Clemmons, N.C. is the 24th ranked mens' golfer in North Carolina and the second ranked junior boys' golfer. Einstein has had a strong summer campaign so far before he leaves for High Point University in the fall. He won the N.C. Junior Boys' Championship in June and finished tied for fourth at the Carolinas Amateur, and second at the N.C. Amateur. Einstein will also be competing in the U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach.

• Nolan Mills IV of Charlotte, N.C. is the 29th ranked golfer in North Carolina and a rising senior at N.C. State. Mills finished tied for fourth at the Carolinas Amateur earlier in July and will look to capture his second CGA title, and first since since the 2014 Dogwood State Junior Boys'.

• Blake McShea of Zebulon, N.C. is the 30th ranked golfer in North Carolina. McShea is a rising junior at UNC Wilmington. McShea earned First Team All-CAA honors in the 2017-2018 college season and will hope to improve on a round of 16 finish in last year's tournament.

• Will Stewart of Charlotte, N.C. is the 33rd ranked golfer in North Carolina. Stewart is a rising senior at William and Mary and is coming off of a top-10 finish at the CPGA N.C. Open and a top-25 finish at the N.C. Amateur in June. Stewart made it to the quarterfinals of last year's championship.

• Scott Lincicome of Pinehurst, N.C. is the 34th ranked golfer in North Carolina. The 46-year-old has had a strong summer, finishing tied for fifth at the N.C. Amateur and tied for 13th at the Carolinas Amateur.
   

Gaston Country Club boasts an Ellis Maples 18-hole golf course originally opened for play in 1958. By utilizing the natural lay of the land, the routing of the golf course is very golfer friendly. The golf course underwent a restoration in 2003 & 2004 by architect Kris Spence and is ranked in North Carolina’s Top 100 Golf Courses. This will be the first time Gaston CC has hosted the North Carolina Match Play Championship, but it has hosted numerous CGA events in the past including the Carolinas Amateur, the North Carolina Amateur, and several junior championships.


The North Carolina Match Play Championship is conducted as 36 holes of stroke play to determine 32 qualifiers for match play.

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has reached his 13th birthday by August 1, 2018, 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 10.4. Entries are subject to rejection at any time, including during the event, by the CGA or the host club. The reason for rejection may include unbecoming conduct or cell phone use during a stipulated round. All players must conform to the “USGA Rules of Amateur Status” as specified in “The Rules of Golf”. College Student Eligibility: A college student is considered a resident of their parent(s)/guardian(s) “Legal Residency Criteria” as stated in the CGA Tournament Manual unless said student (a) has no dependency on his/her parents; and (b) lives full time in North Carolina. For complete residency and eligibility requirements, refer to the CGA Tournament Manual.

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.

Schedule of rounds:
Wednesday, August 1

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 1: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.

Thursday, August 2

Stroke Play Qualifying Round 2: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m. and 12:45 p.m.

Friday, August 3

Round of 32: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m.

Round of 16: Tee times begin at 12:45 p.m.

Saturday, August 4

Quarterfinals: Tee times begin at 8:00 a.m.

Semifinals: Tee times begin at 12:45 p.m.

Sunday, August 5

Championship: 8:00 a.m.
 

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.