3 Tied for Lead at NC Am

CAROLINAS GOLF ASSOCIATION

For release upon receipt

Event: 56th North Carolina Amateur Championship
Host Site: Governors Club, Chapel Hill, N.C.

Playing Dates: June 16-19, 2016

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56th North Carolina Amateur Championship
Three Tied for Lead After Day 1

CHAPEL HILL, North Carolina (June, 16, 2016) -- First round results from 56th North Carolina Amateur hosted by Governors Club in Chapel Hill on Thursday, June 16, 2016 (7005, par 36-36--72, Course/Slope Rating: 74.5/142).

On this hot and humid day in mid-June,145 players teed it up looking to capture the 56th North Carolina Amateur Championship. With temperatures reaching nearly 100 degrees, players had to battle the weather almost as much as the course.

With the completion of round one, 3 men stand atop the leaderboard tied at 4-under 68. Thomas Eldridge of Raleigh had a difficult start to the championship but caught fire on his second nine to finish tied for the lead. Eldridge started his day on the 10th tee and was even par after 8 holes before "shanking" his approach shot on 18 leading to double bogey. Heading into his second nine, Eldridge said "I was just trying to hit solid shots." He hit plenty of "solid shots" making 4 birdies and chipping in for eagle. Eldridge will look to carry the momentum from the end of his round into the second round. Justin Tereshko of Jamestown was runner-up in the event last year and looks to capture the title this time around. After his round he felt his "ball striking was good, and had a lot of looks for birdie." This was evident by his scorecard that included 5 birdies and an eagle. Tereshko did say he needs to drive the ball better and that on two separate occasions, trees saved him from going out of bounds. Regardless, Tereshko looks to be in great shape moving forward in the championship. Bryce Hendrix of Greenville was firing on all cylinders for most of the day. His round included 7 birdies with three of them coming on par-5s. Hendrix just finished his freshman year at UNC-Greensboro and looks to continue his strong play throughout the next couple days. .

Uly Grisette of Winston-Salem is tied with 4 other players who are only one shot back of the leaders. Grisette came out firing, shooting 6-under 30 on his opening nine holes that included 2 eagles and 2 birdies. In his own words, Grisette said "I got hot" but struggled on the back nine, shooting 3-over to finish at 3-under for the day. He was able to finish his round in style by birding the 18th. Grisette has been competing in the NC Amateur for many years and says "its great to come out here and compete against the young kids and see how far they are hitting it." Grisette won the championship in 1985 when he was 18 years old while competing in his first NC Amateur. Now 31 years later, he looks to continue his strong play and capture another.

Defending champion, Carter Jenkins is not in the field this week as he has turned professional and is currently playing on the Mackenzie Tour, formerly PGA Tour Canada.

The championship format is 72 holes of stroke play. After 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 60 scorers and ties. A tie for the overall championship is decided by an on-course playoff. Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has reached his 13th birthday by June 16, 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 7.4.

Related: Tee times & Pairings | Hole-by-hole scoring | Championship History | Photos

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, @cgagolf1909. Continue to visit the CGA website throughout this championship and all year long for complete championship coverage including scores, interviews, photos, and recaps.

56th North Carolina Amateur
Governors Club
Chapel Hill, N.C.
June 16, 2016
 
First Round Results

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 our website.

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