- CCNC / Patrick Stephenson photo

The left-handed East Carolina fifth-year senior from Four Oaks, N.C. became the first two-timewinner in the event’s nine-year history. His tournament record is remarkably consistent with wins in2020 and 2017; T-3 in 2018; T5 in 2019 and T10 in 2016. In those five appearances, he has postedonly one over-par round (first round in 2015).

“My short game kind of helped me through, I putted really well,” Stephenson said. “I didn’t hit itas well as I’d like to but I kind of kept it in front of me. I didn’t have any huge misses, didn’t reallymake any big mistakes. I just played really consistent, and made a lot of pars. On cold, windydays like these that’s kind of what it takes.”

Finishing in a tie for second at 215 were Grant Haefner of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (WayneState), who shot a 1-under 71 in the final round, and West Virginia’s Kurtis Grant of Herndon,Va., who posted an even-par 72. Stephenson posted three birdies against three bogeys in Friday’s round. His birdie at the par-512th hole brought him to 3 under for the event and provided enough cushion for the win despitehis bogey on hole 16.

“I played here a ton ever since I was a little kid,” Stephenson said. “It’s just one of those coursesthat always looks good to me. The greens are always lightning-fast this time of year, which kindof suits my putting because that’s kind of what I prefer.”

The best round of the day and the tournament was a 4-under 68 posted by Alex Heffner ofHarrisburg, N.C. (Davidson) as he posted six birdies against two bogeys to finish at even-par216 in fourth place.

Stephenson’s college teammate A.J. Beechler of Pinehurst, N.C., who finished T3 in 2019,Ryan Marter of Columbia, S.C. (Wofford) and first-round leader Sihan Sandhu, 15, of Ashburn,Va., tied for fifth at 1-over-par 217.