19 year-old Mark McMillen fired a 5-under par 67 to claim the championship with a 10-under par total. His neighbor and friend Derek Wallace, who attends UNC-Wilmington finished in second along with David Watkins of Hamlet.

McMillen used six birdies against one bogey.

"Derek is two years older than me," said McMillen. "We grew up playing together which made us very competitive."

McMillen fought a shoulder injury last summer which kept him out of competition for 1 ½ months.

"I knew I was close to playing well coming into this tournament," said the rising sophomore at NC State University. "My short game really came around this week which made the difference."

The champion had not played Old Chatham Golf Club prior to this week’s practice round.

Smithfield, NC has a modest population of 12,544.

"Smithfield is not known much except the home of Neal Lancaster (PGA Tour Player) and Ava Gardner (movie star)," said McMillen. "So it is nice to add a little something to that."

The North Carolina Amateur Championship is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association. For more information on the North Carolina Amateur and the Carolinas Golf Association click below.

WEST END, NC (6/8/09) -- The 142 golfers who qualified to play in the 49th North Carolina Amateur Championship June 11-14 are in for a rare treat.

That's because the venue for the 72-hole Carolinas Golf Association event is Old Chatham Golf Club, a private Durham-area course that was created to provide members and their guests with quality golf in a secluded setting. This not an example of the modern-day country club -- there are no houses lining the fairways, no swimming pool, no tennis courts, no Saturday night wedding receptions. It's all about golf, and even so, it's said the club is the most expensive to join in the Triangle area.

The 7,203-yard, par-72 course, set in 400 rolling acres of protected woodlands, was created by noted architect Rees Jones and opened in 2001. Firm and fast fairways, tough bermuda grass rough and quick, subtle greens will provide a significant challenge for the N.C. Amateur golfers, all of whom have handicaps indexes of 5.4 or better.

Among the challengers is 19-year-old Jack Fields of Southern Pines, the 2008 champion who is just completing his freshman year as a member of the University of North Carolina golf team. Fields charged to victory from seven strokes behind a year ago at Raleigh Country Club by shooting a course-record 63 in the final round.

The only other former champion in the field is Dirk Fennie of Greensboro, who won the 1999 title at Tanglewood in Clemmons.

Other possible contenders include those who led the six regional qualifying events held throughout the state during the month of May -- Cameron Bell and Scott Hellmuth of Charlotte, who shot 2-under-par 69s to pace 13 qualifiers from a field of 68 at Warrior GC in China Grove on May 14; Ryan Sullivan of Winston-Salem whose 3-under-par 69 was best among the 25 qualifiers from a field of 90 at Forest Oaks CC in Greensboro on May 20; Chase Wilson of Hickory, who shot a 4-under 68 to pace the 12 successful qualifiers in the field of 44 at Silver Creek Plantation in Morganton of May 22; Alan Thompson of Raleigh and Brad Dilen of Cary, who each fired 2-under 70s to share medalist honors and lead 14 qualifiers from a field of 68 at River Landing in Wallace on May 27; Tony Zimmerman of State Road, who shot a 5-under 67 to pace the 16 successful qualifiers from a field of 67 players at Legacy Links in Aberdeen on May 28; and John Deluise of Raleigh and Daniel Castleberry of Clayton who had 6-under 66s to lead 24 qualifiers from the field of 78 players at Wilson CC on May 29.

The N.C. Amateur field, which consists of male North Carolina residents who are members in good standing of a club that is a member club of the CGA and who have a handicap index of 5.4 or less, will be cut to the low 60 scorers and ties after 36 holes.

ADDITIONAL MEDIA INFORMATION

49th North Carolina Amateur Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association Old Chatham Golf Club 1480 O'Kelly Chapel Road Durham, NC 27713 910-361-1400

2008 CHAMPION

Jack Fields, Southern Pines, NC

DATES

June 11-14, 2009

FORMAT

The championship is conducted at 72 holes of stroke play. After

36 holes, the field is cut to the low 60 scorers and ties. An on-course playoff is used to break a tie for the overall championship.

ELIGIBILITY

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer over age 12 who 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 a current USGA handicap index at a CGA member club. The maximum allowable handicap index is 5.4.

SCHEDULE OF ROUNDS

Wednesday, June 10. Practice rounds.

Thursday, June 11, First round. 18 holes of stroke play.

Friday, June 12, Second round. 18 holes of stroke play. Field cut to low 60 scorers and those tied for 60th place.

Saturday, June 13, Third round. 18 holes of stroke play.

Sunday, June 14, Final round. 18 holes of stroke play.

PRIZES

Merchandise prizes are awarded to the top 30 finishers at the championship and to the medalist at each qualifying site. The champion receives a trophy, merchandise from the host club and possession of the Billy Joe Patton Trophy for the ensuing year.

FAVORITES

Jack Fields, Southern Pines (2008 champion)

PAST CHAMPIONS

Date Winner Score Site

1961 Pat Foy Brady, Reidsville 279 Wilson Country Club

1962 Ken Folkes, Concord 272 Tanglewood GC

1963 Dave Smith Jr., Gastonia 290* Pinehurst Country Club #2 Course

1964 Billy Joe Patton, Morganton 288* Gaston Country Club

1965 Dave Smith Jr., Gastonia 295 Country Club of North Carolina

1966 Bill Harvey, Greensboro 284 Country Club of Salisbury

1967 Sonny Grant, Greensboro 296 Country Club of North Carolina

1968 Dale Morey, High Point 288 Brook Valley Country Club

1969 Dale Morey, High Point 285 Catawba Country Club

1970 Joe Inman Jr., Greensboro 284 Alamance Country Club

1971 Lex Alexander, Charlotte 293* Willow Creek Country Club

1972 Steve Forrest, Mt. Airy 296 Forest Oaks Country Club

1973 David Canipe, Fayetteville 280 Country Club of North Carolina

1974 David Canipe, Fayetteville 290 Country Club of North Carolina

1975 Lee Keesler, Charlotte 294* Bermuda Run Country Club, Advance

1976 Scott Hoch, Raleigh 287* Tanglewood Golf Club, Clemmons

1977 Vance Heafner, Cary 278 Pinehurst Country Club #2 Course

1978 Clarence Rose, Goldsboro 290 Country Club Of North Carolina

1979 Scott Hoch, Raleigh 289 Country Club Of North Carolina

1980 Todd Smith, Charlotte 292 Bermuda Run Country Club, Advance

1981 Ray Freeman, Greensboro 283 Greensboro Country Club Farm Course

1982 Mike West, Burlington 281 The Cardinal Golf Club

1983 Nolan Mills, Charlotte 278 Wilson Country Club, Wilson

1984 Greg Parker, Old Fort 285 Wilson Country Club, Wilson

1985 Uly Grisette, Advance 287* Mimosa Hills Country Club, Morganton

1986 Jeff Lankford, Mocksville 281* Cedar Rock Country Club, Lenoir

1987 John Hughes, Greensboro 280 Sedgefield Country Club

1988 Michael Bradley, Durham 279 Forest Oaks Country Club

1989 Mike Goodes, Reidsville 288* The Pearl East & West

1990 Tee Burton, Shelby 278* Country Club of Salisbury

1991 Paul Simson, Raleigh 272 Alamance Country Club

1992 Arlis Pike, Kernersville 280 Hope Valley Country Club

1993 Steve Jones, Greensboro 283 Landfall Club Dye Course

1994 Kevin Kemp, Greensboro 276 Highland Country Club

1995 Bill Boles, Wilson 282 Providence Country Club

1996 Paul Simson, Raleigh 275* Mimosa Hills Golf & Country Club

1997 Steve Wright, Laurinburg 279 Old North State Club

1998 Jason Martin, Lenoir 280 Porters Neck Golf & Country Club

1999 Dirk Fennie, Greensboro 277 Tanglewood (Championship)

2000 Paul Simson, Raleigh 283 River Run Golf &Country Club

2001 Chad Wilfong, Thomasville 280 High Point Country Club (Willow Creek)

2002 Derek Brown, Walnut Cove 273 Forsyth Country Club

2003 William McGirt, Fairmont 281 Myers Park Country Club

2004 Paul Simson, Raleigh 279 Croasdaile Country Club

2005 Jerry Richardson, Jr. Burlington 281 CC of Asheville

2006 Mike Goodes, Reidsville 278 Forest Creek (South), Pinehurst

2007 Jerry Richardson, Jr. Burlington 272* Starmount Forest, Greensboro

2008 Jack Fields, Southern Pines 283 Raleigh Country Club

* - won in playoff

OLD CHATHAM GOLF CLUB INFORMATION

HEAD PROFESSIONAL: John Marino

COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Brian Powell

TYPE COURSE: Private

OPENED: 2001

ARCHITECT: Rees Jones

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The rolling course is set in 400 acres of protected woodlands - a sanctuary free of real estate development. Native forest of pines and oaks separate the firm and dry fairways that are both fast and tight and reward good shots. The gnarly Bermuda grass rough challenges an errantly struck golf shot, as do the 65 bunkers that guard fairways and greens. The bent grass putting surfaces are true and absent of grain, and the subtlety of the greens tests even the most skilled golfers.

YARDAGE & PAR: 7,210 yards, par 36-36--72 COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 75.2/140 FAIRWAYS & TEES: Bermuda grass

GREENS: Bent grass

CGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT OLD CHATHAM: This is the club's first CGA Championship.

DIRECTIONS:

FROM CHAPEL HILL

On I-40 East, take Exit 274 (NC-751) toward Jordan Lake.

Continue on NC-751 toward Jordan Lake for 2.9 miles.

Turn Left onto O'Kelly Chapel Road.

After 1.5 miles, turn right into Old Chatham, just before the pond. You will see wrought iron recessed gates.

To enter, press the call button next to the keypad.

FROM RALEIGH

I-40 West to exit 283 A, I-540 W to 55

After exiting, bear left onto I-540 W

Stay on I-540 W to exit 66B, 55 W/Durham Bear right onto 55 W Take 1st left, (2/10 mile) onto O'Kelly Chapel Road.

After 2.5 miles, turn left into the Club entrance.

You will see wrought iron, recessed gates. To enter, press the call button next to the keypad.

FROM NORTH RALEIGH

I-540W to exit 66B, 55W/Durham

Bear right onto 55 W

Take 1st left, (2/10 mile) onto O'Kelly Chapel Road.

After 2.5 miles, turn left into the Club entrance.

You will see wrought iron, recessed gates. To enter, press the call button next to the keypad.

Map to Old Chatham GC