Sam Wimbrow has won the first ever Carolinian Amateur
(Photo Courtesy of Carolinas Golf Association)
BUIES CREEK, NC (May 22, 2016) - On Thursday, Sam
Wimbrow of Concord, N.C. played in a U.S. Open Local
Qualifier at River Landing. Friday through Sunday, he
competed in the Carolinian Amateur at Keith Hills Golf
Club. On Monday he will play in a North Carolina
Amateur qualifier at The Club at Irish Creek. After five
rounds in five days, he is excited to scratch one
tournament day off his calendar: a Carolinas Amateur
qualifier in late June. By virtue of his two shot victory at
the Inaugural Carolinian Amateur, Wimbrow is exempt
into the Carolinas Amateur to be held at the Country
Club of Charleston on July 14-17.
Wimbrow, 20, entered Sunday's final round tied for
the lead with 18-year-old Zakariya Butt of Summerville,
S.C. On Saturday, Butt had carded the low round of the
tournament, 67, to climb the leaderboard. Early in
Sunday's round it looked like Butt would cruise to
victory. Three-under-par through seven holes, he held a
four shot lead over Wimbrow.
Despite trailing, Wimbrow knew he still had a
chance to win, "I tried to stay patient," he said. "I knew
that birdies were out there." Wimbrow's patience paid
off. He began a barrage of three consecutive birdies by
holing a 30-foot putt on the par-4 ninth. Wimbrow
followed that with drilling a 145-yard pitching wedge for
a tap-in on No. 10. He completed the run by draining a
downhill 10-footer on No. 11 to pull even within one of
Butt. "I went into hyper drive," Wimbrow said describing
that stretch of holes. "I didn't expect those birdies so
soon, and so many."
Wimbrow's performance may have flustered Butt,
who was able to save par on the tenth after hitting his
drive into the trees. On Nos. 12 and 14, however, Butt
could not save par and Wimbrow was able to claim the
lead. Coming down the final four holes, Wimbrow made
up and down par saves on Nos. 15, 17, and 18.
Meanwhile, Butt missed birdie tries on holes 15 and 17,
and bogeyed the downhill par-4 16th.
Holding a two shot edge on the 495-yard par-5 final
hole, Wimbrow pushed his tee shot right of the fairway.
Stuck behind a tree, he bent his 7-iron while pitching
back into the fairway. Trying to hit a smooth 6-iron with
his third shot, Wimbrow found the left greenside
bunker. "I had a downhill lie, short-sided," Wimbrow
recalled. "I played my bunker shot perfectly, it rolled
next to the hole for a tap-in. It was pretty sweet."
Trying for a tying eagle on 18, Butt missed the
green with his second shot. Making par, he finished in
solo second at 2-over 212. Wimbrow's one-under 69
Sunday tied for the day's best round. Playing on a par-
70 layout, he finished at even-par overall (71-70-69--
-210).
View results for Carolinian Amateur
ABOUT THE
Carolinian Amateur
The tournament format is 54-holes of stroke play for
male amateur golfers ages 16 and older who have a
USGA handicap index of 9.9 or lower at a CGA
member
club. The field will be reduced to the low 70 and ties
after 36-holes. The champion will receive an
exemption
into the Carolinas Amateur.
View Complete Tournament Information