"59 Watch" at N.C. Open as Justin Tereshko catches fire
Justin Tereshko
KANNAPOLIS, N.C. — In a tournament dotted with amateur talent amongst a field of professionals, Justin Tereshko, head men's golf coach at Guilford College in Greensboro, N.C., flirted with 59 en route to a four-shot lead through 36 holes of the North Carolina Open.
Playing The Club at Irish Creek, Tereshko, who played collegiately at Transylvania University, posted 10-under par 61 to head to the final round with a nice four-stroke cushion.
Tereshko's front nine consisted of seven birdies and made way for a spectacular and rare 28 on the par-35. He birdied 10 to get to eight-under but mellowed out with five straight pars from 11 to 15. Birdies at 16 and 17 brought him close to the 60 mark, but a hole-in-one is what he needed on the par-three 18th to post the elusive 59.
Eight of the top-11 players after 36 holes are amateurs, including Wake Forest junior Davis Womble, who is tied for third at seven under. Also tied for third, five shots behind Tereshko, are William & Mary junior Davis Morrison and College of Charleston sophomore William Rainey.
First round leader, professional Rick Morton of Jacksonville, N.C., is alone in second place after a one-under 70 on day two. Morton was five strokes ahead of the current leader Tereshko entering Wednesday's second round.
Last year, UNC-Greensboro junior Jake McGlone came close to winning but fell in a playoff to pro Nathan Stamey. In this year's event, McGlone has carded rounds of 69 and 72 and sits in a tie for 18th place.
View results for North Carolina Open
ABOUT THE North Carolina Open
The North Carolina Open is open to both
amateurs and PGA professionals. It is
organized
by the Carolinas section of the PGA of
America. 54-hole stroke play. The field is
reduced to the low 60 contestants (or 1/3 of
the field if 140 or less) and ties after 36
holes.
Interesting Fact: Both
state
opens
run by the
Carolinas section, the North Carolina Open
and
the South Carolina Open, are the only ones in
the United States that prohibit non-PGA
professionals from competing. It has been
played annually since 1965 at a variety of
courses around the state.
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