CCNC Amateur Patrick Stephenson
(East Carolina Athletics Photo)
PINEHURST, NC (December 21, 2017) - With the round of the day East Carolina sophomore Patrick Stephenson rallied from three back to win the storm shortened Country Club of North Carolina Amateur by a stroke. Stephenson rode a closing 3-under 69 to a 4-over finish.
After weather cancelled Wednesday's second round Stephenson came flying out of the gates with four birdies in the first six holes. Stephenson did mix in a bogey and after the opening stretch he was 4-under for the tournament. However, the day would not be without its drama as Stephenson gave shots back on the 8th and 11th holes with bogeys to fall back to 2-under. With the leaderboard tightly packed Stephenson tapped into his clutch gene birdieing the final two holes to hoist the trophy.
First round leader Walker Cress, a junior at James Madison, struggled early before trying to rally late. Cress, after an opening 4-under 68, bogeyed three-times in the first 14 holes to drop to 1-under and despite a late run that included 16th and 18th hole birdies Cress came up one shot short. Cress had to settle for a 3-under second place finish after he signed for a 1-over 73 on Thursday.
Following a first round even-par 72 Brandon Einstein, who took third with a 2-under tally, reached 4-under with four birdies in the opening 12 holes before slipping up late with two bogeys late in the round. Einstein shot a 2-under 70 Thursday.
UNCG's Joshua Stockwell took fourth at even-par while Elon's Jake Leaviitt and UNCG's Joseph Cansler shared fifth at 1-over.
DAY TWO RECAP
The second round of the CNCC Amateur being played on the Dogwood Course at the Country Club of North Carolina was cancelled meaning the event has been shortened to 36-holes. Tee times on Thursday will begin at 9:30 a.m. with groups going off the front and backside.
When play resumes James Madison sophomore Walker Cress will continue to lead the way by three-strokes.
ROUND ONE RECAP
On a day where just four players broke par it was Walker Cress leading the way following a 4-under 68. Cress will carry a three-stroke lead into the second round at the Country Club of North Carolina Amateur being played on the clubs Dogwood Course.
A sophomore at James Madison, Cress bogeyed No. 1 before playing flawless golf the rest of the way. His first birdie of the round fell on the par-3 3rd and then after a string of pars he reached the red for good with a 9th hole birdie. The solid play continued with second nine birdies on Nos. 14, 16 and 18.
Three players at 1-under are tied for second place. The group includes Patrick Stephenson (East Carolina), William Harwood (Elon) and Spencer Oxendine (NC State commit). Six others turned in even-par tallies and are tied for fifth.
ABOUT THE
Mid Pines Invitational
Formerly known as the CCNC Amateur but moved to
Mid Pines in
2022. 54-hole stroke play event with a cut after 36
holes to
the low 40 players and ties.
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