Chapel Hill, NC – Saturday is called “moving day” during golf tournaments because it is the day where competitors try to set themselves up for the final push on Sunday. Only four players in the NC Amateur field would shoot under par Saturday to better their standing in the 56th North Carolina Amateur hosted by Governors Club in Chapel Hill. One such player, 17-year-old Nicholas Lyerly of Salisbury, made six birdies to move his way up the leaderboard.
Lyerly’s impressive four-under front nine was punctuated with a birdie on the par-3 ninth (pictured). His favorite club after Saturday’s round could be the 8-iron. Using that club from 160-yards on No. 9 and on the 170-yard downhill par-3 14th led to birdies.
Starting his round Saturday tied for ninth, Lyerly’s four-under 68 vaulted him into first place at 7-under 209 for the championship. The 2015 NC Junior Player of the Year, Lyerly has verbally committed to play golf at UNC-Greensboro starting in the fall of 2017.
Paired with Lyerly for Sunday’s final round will be 36-hole leader Thomas Eldridge of Raleigh and Caleb Keck of Reidsville. Eldridge, 20, a rising junior at UNC-Wilmington, had a two-stroke edge on the field to begin his round. He quickly built on it, hitting a 105-yard gap wedge to four feet on his opening hole for birdie and making another birdie on the par-5 third hole to reach nine-under-par overall. Unfortunately for Eldridge, a chunked tee shot on his next tee shot landed in a pond, leading to double bogey. When he tee shot on the par-4 sixth hole found the left woods, Eldridge removed loose impediments from around his ball. In a great example of integrity, he called a one-stroke penalty on himself when his ball moved as a result. His two-over 74 on Saturday places him two strokes behind Lyerly. “I am going to try to make as many birdies as I can tomorrow,” said Eldridge when asked about his approach for the final round.
Keck will also face a two-stroke deficit when he begins play Sunday. Like Lyerly, Keck has posted three rounds under par at Governors Club. “My approach shots have been the strength of my game,” said the 22-year-old Keck. “I played them where I wanted them.” Keck won a tournament when he played collegiately at Appalachian State University. He is looking forward to the opportunity to chase down a state championship. “To have not been in this position before in the state amateur, I am going to be excited… and nervous.”
Saturday’s lead momentarily belonged to Justin Tereshko, 26, of Jamestown. Three birdies in his first seven holes catapulted last year’s runner-up into first at 7-under. Three double bogeys on the inward nine erased his hard work, finishing with a 74. Tereshko, the golf coach at Guilford College located in Greensboro, N.C. sits at 2-under 214, five back of the lead.
Kevin O’Connell of Raleigh also got out to a quick start on Saturday, converting birdies on his first three holes. Posting three-under 33 on his front nine put the 27-year-old O’Connell at 5-under overall. However, an inward 41 took O’Connell out of contention for the lead. A third round 74 dropped him back to even par 216 and T-14.
The top amateur golfers in North Carolina will compete for the state title Sunday at Governors Club. Tee times begin at 8am from both the 1st and 10th tees, with the leaders beginning at 9:40. 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.
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.
56th North Carolina Amateur Championship
Governors Club, Chapel Hill, NC
Third Round Results
June 18, 2016
| Place | Competitor | Score | ||
| 1 | Nicholas Lyerly, Salisbury, N.C. | Â 70-71-68–209Â (-7) | ||
| T2 | Thomas Eldridge, Raleigh, N.C. | Â 68-69-74–211Â (-5) | ||
| T2 | Caleb Keck, Reidsville, N.C. | Â 69-71-71–211Â (-5) | ||
| T4 | Joseph Cansler, Clemmons, N.C. | Â 73-67-72–212Â (-4) | ||
| T4 | Stephen Franken, Raleigh, N.C. | Â 71-68-73–212Â (-4) | ||
| 6 | Patrick Cover, Huntersville, N.C. | Â 73-67-73–213Â (-3) | ||
| T7 | Blake Taylor, Atkinson, N.C. | Â 69-75-70–214Â (-2) | ||
| T7 | Akshay Bhatia, Wake Forest, N.C. | Â 70-72-72–214Â (-2) | ||
| T7 | Justin Tereshko, Jamestown, N.C. | Â 68-72-74–214Â (-2) | ||
| T10 | Thomas Lilly, Newton, N.C. | Â 73-71-71–215Â (-1) | ||
| T10 | Scott Harvey, Kernersville , N.C. | Â 73-68-74–215Â (-1) | ||
| T10 | Victor Wiggins, Gastonia, N.C. | Â 71-70-74–215Â (-1) | ||
| T10 | Anthony Baker, Walkertown, N.C. | Â 72-68-75–215Â (-1) | ||
| T14 | Tim Conover, Holly Springs, N.C. | Â 69-70-77–216Â (Even) | ||
| T14 | Wesley Conover, Holly Springs, N.C. | Â 72-72-72–216Â (Even) | ||
| T14 | Kevin O’Connell, Raleigh, N.C. | Â 73-69-74–216Â (Even) | ||
| 17 | Matthew Crenshaw, Burlington, N.C. | Â 72-72-73–217Â (+1) | ||
| 18 | Drew Johnson, Oak Ridge, N.C. | Â 69-75-74–218Â (+2) | ||
| 19 | Alex Smalley, Wake Forest, N.C. | Â 71-75-73–219Â (+3) | ||
| T20 | Bryce Hendrix, Greenville, N.C. | Â 68-75-77–220Â (+4) | ||
| T20 | Matt Elliott, Wilkesboro, N.C. | Â 72-70-78–220Â (+4) | ||
| T22 | Eric Bae, Pinehurst, N.C. | Â 71-76-74–221Â (+5) | ||
| T22 | Philip Oweida, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 73-70-78–221Â (+5) | ||
| T22 | David Gies II, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 72-75-74–221Â (+5) | ||
| T22 | Daniel Neveu, Pinehurst, N.C. | Â 71-78-72–221Â (+5) | ||
| T22 | Matthew Latham, Wrightsville Beach, N.C. | Â 70-72-79–221Â (+5) | ||
| T27 | Uly Grisette, Winston Salem, N.C. | Â 69-74-79–222Â (+6) | ||
| T27 | Rob Beasley, Kernersville, N.C. | Â 70-74-78–222Â (+6) | ||
| T27 | David Germann, Clayton, N.C. | Â 78-71-73–222Â (+6) | ||
| T27 | Zack Swanson, Waxhaw, N.C. | Â 77-70-75–222Â (+6) | ||
| T31 | Joe Jaspers, Huntersville, N.C. | Â 73-74-76–223Â (+7) | ||
| T31 | Eric Edwards, Salisbury, N.C. | Â 75-74-74–223Â (+7) | ||
| T31 | Brandon Reece, Rolesville, N.C. | Â 75-72-76–223Â (+7) | ||
| T31 | Nicholas Adams, Goldsboro, N.C. | Â 70-75-78–223Â (+7) | ||
| T31 | Andy Crain, Raleigh, N.C. | Â 79-72-72–223Â (+7) | ||
| T31 | Brandon Mader, Greenville, N.C. | Â 74-68-81–223Â (+7) | ||
| T37 | Patrick Stephenson, Four Oaks, N.C. | Â 74-74-76–224Â (+8) | ||
| T37 | Timothy Driver, Holly Springs, N.C. | Â 72-72-80–224Â (+8) | ||
| T37 | David Sargent, Cornelius, N.C. | Â 74-73-77–224Â (+8) | ||
| T37 | Candler Rice, Asheville, N.C. | Â 71-74-79–224Â (+8) | ||
| 41 | David Donovan IV, Hampstead, N.C. | Â 75-76-74–225Â (+9) | ||
| T42 | Harrison Rhoades, Raleigh, N.C. | Â 76-72-78–226Â (+10) | ||
| T42 | Nick Stafford, Belmont, N.C. | Â 74-74-78–226Â (+10) | ||
| T42 | Parks Price, Calabash , N.C. | Â 76-73-77–226Â (+10) | ||
| T42 | Brett McLamb, Coats, N.C. | Â 73-74-79–226Â (+10) | ||
| 46 | Chandler Metz, Wilkesboro, N.C. | Â 75-75-77–227Â (+11) | ||
| 47 | Joshua Stockwell, West End, N.C. | Â 75-76-77–228Â (+12) | ||
| T48 | Jacob Kennedy, Mt. Ulla, N.C. | Â 76-72-81–229Â (+13) | ||
| T48 | Michael Hocker II, Durham, N.C. | Â 71-79-79–229Â (+13) | ||
| T50 | Noah Edmondson, Davidson, N.C. | Â 81-70-79–230Â (+14) | ||
| T50 | Hunter McCombs, Morganton, N.C. | Â 75-76-79–230Â (+14) | ||
| T50 | Tim Bunten, Concord, N.C. | Â 71-80-79–230Â (+14) | ||
| 53 | Jarett Stowe, Matthews, N.C. | Â 75-75-82–232Â (+16) | ||
| T54 | Walker Cress, Concord, N.C. | Â 72-79-82–233Â (+17) | ||
| T54 | Quade Lukes, Chapel Hill, N.C. | Â 77-73-83–233Â (+17) | ||
| 56 | Davis Richards, China Grove, N.C. | Â 74-77-83–234Â (+18) | ||
| 57 | Jubal Early, Jr., Charlotte, N.C. | Â 72-78-86–236Â (+20) | ||
| 58 | Reid Clark, Raleigh, N.C. | Â 77-74-86–237Â (+21) | ||
| 59 | Kaleb Lester, Mebane, N.C. | Â 74-77-91–242Â (+26) | ||
| 60 | Paul Fitzgerald, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 73-75-96–244Â (+28) | ||
| Failed to Qualify for Final Two Rounds | ||||
| T61 | Joey Funderburg, Wilmington, N.C. | Â 77-75Â (+8) | ||
| T61 | Scott Park, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 79-73Â (+8) | ||
| T61 | Sherrill Britt, West End, N.C. | Â 78-74Â (+8) | ||
| T61 | Greg Earnhardt, Greensboro, N.C. | Â 76-76Â (+8) | ||
| T61 | Dustin Moore, Greensboro, N.C. | Â 77-75Â (+8) | ||
| T61 | David Kostyal II, Wilmington, N.C. | Â 75-77Â (+8) | ||
| T61 | Chris Blum, Raleigh, N.C. | Â 77-75Â (+8) | ||
| T61 | Jeff Allen, Jacksonville, N.C. | Â 77-75Â (+8) | ||
| T61 | Zach McKelvey, Rutherfordton, N.C. | Â 76-76Â (+8) | ||
| T70 | Hardin Councill, High Point, N.C. | Â 76-77Â (+9) | ||
| T70 | Ryan Nagy, Raleigh, N.C. | Â 76-77Â (+9) | ||
| T70 | Kell Graham, Matthews, N.C. | Â 75-78Â (+9) | ||
| T73 | Riley Davis, Kinston, N.C. | Â 78-76Â (+10) | ||
| T73 | Evan Pappas, Asheville, N.C. | Â 74-80Â (+10) | ||
| T73 | Walter Brinker, Sanford, N.C. | Â 76-78Â (+10) | ||
| T73 | Zach Joines, Wilkesboro, N.C. | Â 81-73Â (+10) | ||
| T77 | Zachary Martin, Pinehurst, N.C. | Â 80-75Â (+11) | ||
| T77 | Logan Shuping, Salisbury, N.C. | Â 78-77Â (+11) | ||
| T77 | Nolan Mills IV, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 79-76Â (+11) | ||
| T77 | Josh Nichols, Kernersville, N.C. | Â 77-78Â (+11) | ||
| T77 | John McFadyen, Fayetteville, N.C. | Â 78-77Â (+11) | ||
| T77 | Preston Ball, Raleigh, N.C. | Â 79-76Â (+11) | ||
| T83 | Mason Elmore, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 77-79Â (+12) | ||
| T83 | Kevin Duerr, Wake Forest, N.C. | Â 81-75Â (+12) | ||
| T83 | Garrett Smith, Hillsborough, N.C. | Â 72-84Â (+12) | ||
| T83 | Davis Bateman, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 75-81Â (+12) | ||
| T83 | Jackson Bailey, Matthews, N.C. | Â 76-80Â (+12) | ||
| T83 | Trey Burton, Hickory, N.C. | Â 79-77Â (+12) | ||
| T83 | Reilly Erhardt, Greensboro, N.C. | Â 76-80Â (+12) | ||
| T83 | Joey Davis, Cornelius, N.C. | Â 79-77Â (+12) | ||
| T91 | Scott McClellan, Cary, N.C. | Â 80-77Â (+13) | ||
| T91 | David Fowler, Winston-Salem, N.C. | Â 75-82Â (+13) | ||
| T91 | Matthew Spak, Cary, N.C. | Â 78-79Â (+13) | ||
| T91 | Josh Bagwell, Marion, N.C. | Â 79-78Â (+13) | ||
| T91 | Brooks Curtis, Elizabeth City, N.C. | Â 73-84Â (+13) | ||
| T91 | Jack Massei, Cary, N.C. | Â 79-78Â (+13) | ||
| T91 | Ashley Fuquay, Greensboro, N.C. | Â 77-80Â (+13) | ||
| T91 | Jake Golliday, Pinehurst, N.C. | Â 81-76Â (+13) | ||
| T99 | Mark McMillen Jr, Smithfield, N.C. | Â 79-79Â (+14) | ||
| T99 | Ben Buben, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 76-82Â (+14) | ||
| T99 | Thomas Redding, Hudson, N.C. | Â 79-79Â (+14) | ||
| T99 | William Carter, Laurinburg, N.C. | Â 82-76Â (+14) | ||
| T99 | Drew Martin, Pinehurst, N.C. | Â 78-80Â (+14) | ||
| T104 | Jeremy Ray, Pfafftown, N.C. | Â 80-79Â (+15) | ||
| T104 | Gray Townsend, Winston Salem, N.C. | Â 73-86Â (+15) | ||
| T104 | Mitch Robinette, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 78-81Â (+15) | ||
| T104 | Brantley Phillips, Greensboro, N.C. | Â 78-81Â (+15) | ||
| T108 | Matthew Spruill, Elizabeth City, N.C. | Â 84-76Â (+16) | ||
| T108 | Josh Bryan, Chapel Hill, N.C. | Â 84-76Â (+16) | ||
| T108 | Keenan Denny, King, N.C. | Â 82-78Â (+16) | ||
| T108 | Will Stewart, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 79-81Â (+16) | ||
| T108 | Andrew Furr, Clayton, N.C. | Â 81-79Â (+16) | ||
| T108 | Cole Jordan, Winterville, N.C. | Â 81-79Â (+16) | ||
| T114 | Kenny Flynn, Winston Salem, N.C. | Â 77-84Â (+17) | ||
| T114 | Chris Jones, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 81-80Â (+17) | ||
| T114 | Stuart Fuller, Winston-Salem, N.C. | Â 80-81Â (+17) | ||
| T114 | Wade Boteler, Mebane , N.C. | Â 79-82Â (+17) | ||
| T114 | Charles Spry, Winston salem, N.C. | Â 79-82Â (+17) | ||
| T114 | Jd Mcneill, Raleigh, N.C. | Â 82-79Â (+17) | ||
| T120 | Steven Brame, Henderson, N.C. | Â 80-82Â (+18) | ||
| T120 | Joe Brooks, Franklin , N.C. | Â 75-87Â (+18) | ||
| T120 | Rex Willoughby, Chapel Hill, N.C. | Â 83-79Â (+18) | ||
| T120 | Dallas Page, Staley, N.C. | Â 85-77Â (+18) | ||
| T120 | Andrew Morgan, China Grove, N.C. | Â 78-84Â (+18) | ||
| T125 | Ty Palmer, Kernersville, N.C. | Â 80-83Â (+19) | ||
| T125 | Sean O’Connor, Indian Trail, N.C. | Â 79-84Â (+19) | ||
| T125 | Grant Smith, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 86-77Â (+19) | ||
| T125 | Jake Scruggs, Shelby, N.C. | Â 80-83Â (+19) | ||
| T125 | Cory Segall, Charlotte, N.C. | Â 82-81Â (+19) | ||
| T130 | Tanner Gross, Archdale, N.C. | Â 79-85Â (+20) | ||
| T130 | Jon Henry, Cornelius, N.C. | Â 80-84Â (+20) | ||
| T130 | Johannes Fontes-Zitzer, Lillington, N.C. | Â 81-83Â (+20) | ||
| T133 | Austin Inman, Wilmington, N.C. | Â 78-87Â (+21) | ||
| T133 | Jay Jay Howard, Concord, N.C. | Â 82-83Â (+21) | ||
| T135 | Davis Kiger, Harrisburg, N.C. | Â 84-82Â (+22) | ||
| T135 | John Freeman, Asheville, N.C. | Â 84-82Â (+22) | ||
| T137 | David Yang, Cornelius, N.C. | Â 83-84Â (+23) | ||
| T137 | Jay Roberts III, Davidson, N.C. | Â 84-83Â (+23) | ||
| T139 | Robert McPartland, Cary, N.C. | Â 88-80Â (+24) | ||
| T139 | Regan Erhardt, Greensboro, N.C. | Â 81-87Â (+24) | ||
| 141 | Justin Lewis, High Point, N.C. | Â 86-84Â (+26) | ||
| 142 | Pete Luster, Chapel Hill, N.C. | Â 87-85Â (+28) | ||
| 143 | A.T. Cashwell, Concord, N.C. | Â 86-89Â (+31) | ||
| 144 | Kyle Austin, Mebane, N.C. | Â 87-91Â (+34) | ||
| 145 | Thomas Messenheimer, Morganton, N.C. | Â 80-WDÂ (WD) |
Championship Schedule
Thursday, June 16Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Round 1 – 18 holes of stroke play.
Friday, June 17Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Round 2 – 18 holes of stroke play. Cut to low 60 scores and ties. Field re-paired according to score.
Saturday, June 18Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Round 3 – 18 holes of stroke play.
Sunday, June 19Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Round 4 – 18 holes of stroke play. Awards ceremony immediately following play.