Two-time defending North Carolina Mid-Amateur winner Greg Earnhardt
(Carolinas Golf Association Photo)
GREENSBORO, NC (September 25, 2016) -- Greg
Earnhardt drives past Starmount Forest Country Club
on his weekday commute. On the eve of the 23rd
North Carolina Mid-Amateur Championship final
round, that became the motivation to win for the
Greensboro resident. "If you win, every morning's
drive will bring back good memories. If you lose,
you're going to hate it."
Beginning Sunday with a four-stroke lead over
Steven Brame of Henderson, Earnhardt was battling
memories of past leads gone wrong. "I've choked
away so many tournaments when leading," said the
47-year-old Earnhardt. "I've always come from
behind."
On Saturday night, Earnhardt talked with seven-
time Carolinas Golf Association champ Scott Harvey
and longtime friend Billy Hooper. "Billy's been giving
me encouragement. With my back bothering me, I
wasn't even going to play [this championship]. He
told me to play."
If Earnhardt was nervous, it did not show early.
He birdied two of the first three holes at Starmount
Forest Country Club, making the turn in 1-under 34
and held a five shot lead over Brame.
Brame was able to apply pressure on the inward
nine, making consecutive birdies on holes 13 and 14
that cut Earnhardt's lead to two. On the short par-4
15th, each player hit his approach to within three
feet. Brame putted first, and missed. Earnhardt did
also. "I thought if I made that birdie putt on 15 and
he missed his, things might have swung my way,"
said the 33-year-old Brame. "But I missed there,
then again on 16 and he hit a great chip on 18 to
clinch it."
Earnhardt's final round of even-par 71 was
enough to claim a two-stroke win. With the victory
Earnhardt set two Carolinas Golf Association records.
His 54-hole total of 203 is a North Carolina Mid-
Amateur Championship scoring record (204 shot by
Uly Grisette, III in 2008 and 2010). Earnhardt also
becomes the first back-to-back winner in the
championship's 23-year history. "It was a little
shaky, but I got it done," said Earnhardt, exhaling a
large sigh of relief, then making the short drive
home.
The top 30 finishers are exempt into next year's
championship.
View results for North Carolina Mid-Amateur
ABOUT THE
North Carolina Mid-Amateur
North Carolina Mid-Amateur Championship is open
to
any male amateur golfer who has reached his 30th
birthday, 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 5.4.
Sectional qualifying is required in the weeks before
the championship unless exemption criteria is met.
54-hole stroke play event with a cut to the low 60
and ties after 36 holes.
View Complete Tournament Information