Myrtle Beach, SC - John Pitt of Wilmington, NC came from behind on the last nine holes to defeat Danny Gurley of Chapel Hill, NC, 2 and 1 to win the 87^th Carolinas Amateur Championship at the Dunes Golf and Beach Club.

Pitt, a 23 year old Vanderbilt graduate, won five consecutive holes on the closing nine holes to take the title in the scheduled 36-hole match.

"You could feel the momentum change on the eleventh hole," said Pitt referring to Gurley's three-putt loss. "I was not even watching Danny putt as I was getting ready for the next hole and someone told me he missed it."

Pitt then proceeded to also win holes 30^th - 33^rd (12^th -15^th) to take a lead he would never lose.

Gurley, owner of several medical supply retail stores agreed.

"All the momentum changed on the 11^th ", said the 40 year old Gurley. "You could actually feel it shift."

Pitt, who will turn pro in August, took a while to establish a lead.

"I won the first hole of the day and that was the last time I led until our 31^st hole," said Pitt. "However I was not too concerned about being behind as I felt I had an advantage with the fatigue factor by being younger."

In the morning segment of the match, both players swapped wins on a few holes early to stay even. Gurley birdied 8 and 9 to take a 2-up lead. The match stayed at 2-up for most of the second nine until Pitt got back to within one with a birdie on 15. Gurley countered on 18 with a 30-foot birdie to go back to 2-up at the 18-hole break. 

After the lunch break, Gurley won the 22^nd (4^th) with a par and Pitt gained one back by winning the 25^th (7^th) hole also with a par.

On the closing nine holes, Gurley's 2-up lead quickly vanished with Pitt winning five holes in a row beginning on the 29^th (11^th) to go 3-up.

Pitt's bogey-birdie-par-par-par run on holes 11-15 was enough to take a three-up lead with three holes to go.

Gurley fought back with a conceded 6-foot birdie on the 34^th (16^th) after Pitt holed out for bogey.

Pitt secured the win on the 35^th (17^th) hole with a stellar up-and-down for par from 60 yards.

"This means a lot to me," said Pitt. "Just look at those names on the trophy …it will be quite an honor to have my name on that trophy too."

John Pitt, Wilmington, NC def. Danny Gurley, Chapel Hill, NC, 2 and 1

Gurley df. Bradley, 2&1

Pitt df. Harwell, 20 Holes

John Pitt, Wilmington, NC df. David Strawn, Charlotte, NC, 5&4

Steve Harwell, Mooresville, NC df. Michael Shamp, Charlotte, NC, 3&2

Kyle Bradley, Charleston, SC df. Brian Duncan, Greenville, SC, 20 Holes

Danny Gurley, Chapel Hill, NC df. Keith Harris, Concord, NC, 3&2

Pitt df. Taylor, 2&1

Strawn df. Turner, 4&3

Harwell df. Goldstein, 3&2

Shamp df. Channell, 7&5

Bradley df. Kilgo, 3&2

Duncan df. Yates, 5&4

Harris df. Fennie, 2&1

Gurley df. Poole, 19 Holes

Skip Taylor, Flat Rock, NC df. Jonathan Hill, Kernersville, NC 22 Holes

John Pitt, Wilmington, NC df. Chuck Floyd, Fort Mill, SC 4&2

Emmett Turner, Greenwood, SC df. Gregg Jones Jr., Florence, SC 5&3

David Strawn, Charlotte, NC df. Mark Wagner, Statesville, NC 2&1

Steve Harwell, Mooresville, NC df. Charles Chapman, Mt. Croghan, SC 2 up

Josh Goldstein, Wilmington, NC df. Jason Martin, Lenoir, NC 2&1

Dean Channell, Cary, NC df. Derek Brown, Walnut Cove, NC 19 Holes

Michael Shamp, Charlotte, NC df. Cliff Earle, Clemmons, NC 4&3

Matt Kilgo, Matthews, NC df. Lee Cline, Hickory, NC 1 up

Kyle Bradley, Charleston, SC df. Tripp James, Spartanburg, SC 3&2

Alex Yates, Winston-Salem, NC df. Robert Dargan, Columbia, SC 3&2

Brian Duncan, Greenville, SC df. Craig Sparks, Spruce Pine, NC 2&1

Dirk Fennie, Greensboro, NC df. Matthew Hendrix, Aiken, SC 19 Holes

Keith Harris, Concord, NC df. David Eaker, Forest City, NC 5&3

Danny Gurley, Chapel Hill, NC df. Todd Fields, Langley, SC 2&1

Stephen Poole Jr., Spartanburg, SC df. Mitch Adams, Cary, NC 2&1

Jonathan Hill, Kernersville, NC 65-72--137

Lee Cline, Hickory, NC 69-69--138

Steve Harwell, Mooresville, NC 72-68--140

Matthew Hendrix, Aiken, SC 72-68--140

Dean Channell, Cary, NC 71-70--141

Danny Gurley, Chapel Hill, NC 71-70--141

Gregg Jones, Jr., Florence, SC 69-73--142

Alex Yates, Winston-Salem, NC 69-73--142

Mitch Adams, Cary, NC 73-70--143

Brian Duncan, Greenville, SC 72-71--143

Cliff Earle, Clemmons, NC 70-73--143

David Strawn, Charlotte, NC 68-75--143

David Eaker, Forest City, NC 71-73--144

Chuck Floyd, Fort Mill, SC 68-76--144

Josh Goldstein, Wilmington, NC 71-73--144

Tripp James, Spartanburg, SC 74-70--144

Kyle Bradley, Charleston, SC 72-73--145

Keith Harris, Concord, NC 74-71--145

Jason Martin, Lenoir, NC 73-72--145

John Pitt, Wilmington, NC 73-72--145

Stephen Poole, Jr., Spartanburg, SC 71-74--145

Michael Shamp, Charlotte, NC 66-79--145

Craig Sparks, Spruce Pine, NC 72-73--145

Emmett Turner, Greenwood, SC 74-72--146

Mark Wagner, Statesville, NC 73-73--146

*Robert Dargan, Columbia, SC 79-68--147

*Dirk Fennie, Greensboro, NC 72-75--147

*Todd Fields, Langley, SC 71-76--147

*Matt Kilgo, Matthews, NC 72-75--147

*Skip Taylor, Flat Rock, NC 74-73--147

*Derek Brown, Walnut Cove, NC 77-70--147

*Charles Chapman, Mt. Croghan, SC 72-75--147

Courtney Faircloth, New Bern, NC 72-75--147

Clay Kilgore, Nebo, NC 72-75--147

Paul Smith, Mooresville, NC 76-71--147

Buck Williams, Raleigh, NC 76-71--147

Bubba Aughtry, Charlotte, NC 75-72--147

John Eades, Charlotte, NC 76-71--147

Thomas Cameron, Clover, SC 72-76--148

John Hancock, Jamestown, NC 75-73--148

Jay McAllister, Spartanburg, SC 74-74--148

John Rountree, Greensboro, NC 74-74--148

Lance Waggener, Statesville, NC 75-73--148

Van Burgess, Boiling Springs, SC 78-71--149

Will Cannon, Valdese, NC 75-74--149

Gregg Cox, Greensboro, NC 75-74--149

Ben Grandy, Leesville, SC 74-75--149

Brad Krapfel, Columbia, SC 75-74--149

Adam McLaughlin, Raleigh, NC 72-77--149

Brad Ricker, Easley, SC 75-74--149

Sam Smith, Fayetteville, NC 75-74--149

Paul Spadafora, Charlotte, NC 74-75--149

Josh Wilson, Monroe, NC 72-77--149

John Asay, Jr., Camden, SC 77-73--150

Scott Feaster, Columbia, SC 73-77--150

Eddie Hargett, Blythewood, SC 75-75--150

Brian Joyce, Wilson, NC 76-74--150

Rion Moore, Pawleys Island, SC 74-76--150

Brian Reep, Morganton, NC 75-75--150

Mark Weston, Charlotte, NC 73-77--150

Robert Dean, Boone, NC 79-72--151

Dick Hogan, Burlington, NC 76-75--151

Chris Holland, Fayetteville, NC 75-76--151

Brent Parrish, Clinton, NC 73-78--151

Daniel Sloan, Greenville, SC 80-71--151

Kenneth Wiland, Sr., Aiken, SC 80-71--151

Garland Yates, Asheboro, NC 78-73--151

Joey Cagle, Clayton, NC 76-76--152

Preston Edmondson, Morrisville, NC 75-77--152

Rhett Graham, Myrtle Beach, SC 77-75--152

Mackey Miles, Conway, SC 80-72--152

Mark Miller, Morganton, NC 79-73--152

Walker Taylor IV, Wilmington, NC 76-76--152

Don Teague, Shelby, NC 70-82--152

Bob Varn, Orangeburg, SC 74-78--152

Rand Williams, Raleigh, NC 78-74--152

Daran Womack, Aiken, SC 73-79--152

Lennie Barton, Raleigh, NC 76-77--153

Tucker Ervin, Mt. Pleasant, SC 72-81--153

Daniel Felder, Orangeburg, SC 75-78--153

Lawrence Hicks, Greensboro, NC 76-77--153

Sam McCrorey, Rock Hill, SC 79-74--153

Jesse Smith, Walterboro, SC 77-76--153

Jake Thompson, Greenville, SC 82-71--153

Scott Azzarelli, Fayetteville, NC 79-75--154

John Carter III, Thomasville, NC 74-80--154

Chris Dalrymple, Pinehurst, NC 78-76--154

E John Poindexter, Raleigh, NC 73-81--154

Matt Thompson, Greensboro, NC 79-75--154

Max Weinstein, Fayetteville, NC 80-74--154

Parker King, Kenly, NC 77-78--155

Ken Leopard, Spartanburg, SC 76-79--155

T.D. Luten, Raleigh, NC 82-73--155

Dean Parziale, Pinehurst, NC 79-76--155

David Sligh, North Augusta, SC 80-75--155

Jody Todd, Charlotte, NC 81-74--155

Ryan Watford, Florence, SC 78-77--155

Bruce Seiffert, Florence, SC 78-78--156

Emerson Dyer, Conway, SC 76-81--157

Mike Emory, Lake Wylie, SC 79-78--157

Donald Littlejohn, Charlotte, NC 80-77--157

Lee Neisler, Cramerton, NC 76-81--157

Furman Taylor, Myrtle Beach, SC 75-82--157

Britt Baker, Holly Springs, NC 79-79--158

David Baker, Huntersville, NC 80-78--158

Brad Buxton, Greensboro, NC 78-80--158

Trey Holroyd, Apex, NC 81-77--158

Greg Powell, Whiteville, NC 78-80--158

Daniel Barden, Columbia, SC 79-80--159

Steven Lubbers, Raleigh, NC 80-80--160

Todd Chadwick, Clemmons, NC 81-79--160

John Dufner, Morrisville, NC 78-82--160

Kevin McCallister, Greensboro, NC 80-80--160

Eric Spicer, Kings Mountain, NC 77-83--160

Larry Vallar, Raleigh, NC 84-76--160

David Kinsey, Charlotte, NC 80-81--161

Travis Lethco, Winston-Salem, NC 79-82--161

Scott McRainey, Gastonia, NC 82-79--161

Jeff Etheridge, Pinehurst, NC 79-84--163

Craig Willis, Blythewood, SC 85-78--163

Nathan Zimmerman, Charlotte, NC 80-83--163

Ryan Blaylock, Greensboro, NC 78-86--164

Cliff Seastrunk, Raleigh, NC 84-80--164

Mark Ballew, Charlotte, NC 84-84--168

Chris Taylor, Charlotte, NC 86-82--168

Bobby Peterson, Newton Grove, NC 81-DNS--DNS

Jerry Baker, Valdese, NC 83-WD--WD

Chad Cipriano, Charlotte, NC 86-WD--WD

Matt Drye, Concord, NC 83-WD--WD

Cole Whitt, Henderson, NC 79-WD--WD

John Zoppi, Pinebluff, NC 87-WD--WD

*won match play spot in play-off