Chad Wilfong of Charlotte, N.C. has captured the 41st Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship after a 3-under-par, 69 finish in the final round. Wilfong was in the final pairing with first round leader Josh Branyon of Honea Path, S.C., who was just four strokes off the lead coming into the final round.
After a 6-under-par, 66 in the second round, Wilfong gave himself a cushion entering the final round. However, after playing with Branyon all three days he knew catching up by four strokes was do-able for him. The reigning North Carolina Mid-Amateur Champion set a goal of 4-under on the day so that could retain the lead and keep some distance between him and Branyon.
“He kept the pressure on me the whole time. Every time I made a birdie, he matched it,” remarked Wilfong. “I played with him the first day and he birdied the first four holes and made it look easy, so I knew he had it in him this week. Everything he hit was right at his target and his distances were good so I didn’t think he would be hitting any bad shots today.”
While Branyon finished the day with an exceptional 4-under-par, 68 round, his valiant effort fell short to Wilfong’s dialed in ball-striking.
“I didn’t hit it particularly solid on the first six holes. It was solid enough, but nothing spectacular. Then all of the sudden it just started to feel good again,” said Wilfong. “It felt like I could hit it exactly where I wanted to off the tee, which is a big relief knowing that you aren’t going to get into too much trouble there. My iron shots got more crisp as the round went on. It made me feel more confident and 11-under was enough for me to take it.”
Branyon claimed runner-up at 8-under-par, 208 total and Wilfong captured the title at 11-under-par, 205 overall.
“It always feels good to win,” said Wilfong. “I won the North Carolina Amateur in my younger days and I won the North Carolina Mid-Amateur, but this is my first Carolinas win so this is really nice.” Wilfong is now a three-time CGA champion after winning the 2001 North Carolina Amateur Championship and 2020 North Carolina Mid-Amateur Championship titles as well.
Zach Schwab of Columbia, S.C. captured solo third at 7-under-par, 209 total. Fourth position was claimed by Jason Garrett of Stem, N.C. at 6-under-par, 210 overall. Jeff Boyan of Winston-Salem, N.C. shot the low round of the weekend at 7-under-par, 65 in the final round to rise from tied for 22 to tied for fifth. Boyan is tied with Weston Bell of Piedmont, S.C. at 5-under-par, 211 total.
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ABOUT THE
Carolinas Mid-Amateur
The Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship format is
54 holes of
stroke play. After 36 holes, the field is cut to the low
60 scores and
ties. Entry is open to any male golfer who has
reached his 30th
birthday, is a legal resident of North or South
Carolina, is a
member in good standing of a club which is a
member of the
Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has a current
USGA Handicap
Index® at a member club that does not exceed 7.4.
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