Down to 16 at NC Jr Boys' Championship

Match Play Rounds of 64 & 32 Results

WILSON, N.C. (June 22, 2016) -- Match play rounds of 64 and 32 results of the 49^th North Carolina Junior Boys' Championship hosted by Wilson Country Club in Wilson, NC on Wednesday, June 22nd (6774 yards, Par 36-36—72, Rating: 73.0/135).

Related: Photos | Interviews | Scoring & Matches | Championship History

 

After navigating Tuesday's stroke play qualifying round, 64 junior golfers competed Wednesday against each other and 95-degree temperatures. Match play winners complete two rounds per day for three straight days before a champion is crowned. "The format is the hardest tournament to win in North Carolina for junior boys," says Jason Cox, CGA Director of Junior Golf.

Prior experience in this championship seemed to play a factor Wednesday, as most of the remaining 16 players qualified for match play at last year's championship held at the Country Club of Salisbury. By virtue of being defending champion, Jack Massei of Cary holds the No. 1 match play seed and used it to advance thru to the Round of 16. "I was most nervous of the first match, being defending champion," said Massei. "I like the competition of match play, one-on-one. The plan now is to make a bunch of putts."

Last year's runner-up, Jonathan Brightwell of Mint Hill, held a three hole advantage thru 10 holes in his Round of 32 match against Lansdon Robbins of Davidson. Robbins was able to overcome that deficit and win in 19 holes.

Playing his eight straight day of golf, which included capturing the North Carolina Amateur Championship, Nicholas Lyerly of Salisbury continued his golf marathon on Wednesday. Despite not having trailed in a match, Lyerly knows he needs to continue his focus. "I have to play hard every match," he said after wins of 6 & 5 and 3 & 1. "I think [after winning the NC Amateur] everyone will want to be the one to beat me." Lyerly was last year's stroke play medalist and reached the quarterfinals.

 

Joey Funderburg of Wilmington knew he had a tough day ahead of him when he arrived at Wilson Country Club. The No. 31 seed faced the No. 34 seed Quinn Riley of Raleigh to begin the day. Both players shot 74 in stroke play to qualify for match play. There was little separation throughout the morning match. “It was a grind. I was two-up at one point going into the back nine but he brought it to extra holes,” Funderburg said.

 

After sharing pars on their 19^th hole, Riley hit his tee shot on their 20^th, the par-3 11^th, to 15 feet. Funderburg followed but was unable to get inside of his opponent. The recent high school graduate sent his lengthy downhill slider tacking towards the hole. "At first glance I never thought about making it," Funderburg explained. Imagine his surprise when the putt hit the bottom of the cup. “I hit it a little firm but it held its line and dropped in.” Riley was unable to respond and Funderburg moved to the Round of 32.

 

Waiting for Funderburg was medalist Tripp Summerlin of Summerville who advanced after a 4 & 2 victory in the morning. Funderburg once again found himself in a tight match. “It was close all day, the lead was bouncing around,” Funderburg said. Funderburg took a one-up lead on No. 15 after getting up and down from the outside the cart path. The medalist tied up the match with a birdie on No. 16. Both players hit nearly identical shots into the par-3 17^th but it was Funderburg who snuck in his birdie putt lead to take a lead to the 18^th. The Wilmington native ended up in the greenside bunker, leaving the door open for the Appalachian State commit. Summerlin found the green and just missed his birdie putt. Like it did all day, Funderburg’s putter came through in the clutch and he made a 10 foot par putt to knock out the medalist one-up.

Michael Childress of Salisbury, who came up short in Tuesday’s medalist playoff, made quick work of both of his opponents Wednesday. “I basically went with the same game plan as yesterday. I feel like I have been giving myself chances for a while and things are finally starting to click,” Childress explained. The rising junior won his morning match 7&6 then kept things rolling with a 6 & 4 win in the round of 32. “I just kept the same mindset and played the course.”    

With the rounds of 64 and 32 complete, the match play portion of the championship continues Thursday with the Round of 16 and quarterfinals. The semifinal and final rounds are scheduled to be played Friday, with the championship match contested Friday afternoon.

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer ages 12-18 as of June 24, 2016, who has not started college, 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 that does not exceed 18.3.

Scoring will be provided by the CGA throughout the championship, offering 9 and 18-hole updates. Live updates will also be available on the CGA’s official Twitter accounts, @cgagolf1909 and @CarolinasJunior. Continue to visit the CGA website throughout this championship and all year long for complete championship coverage including scores, interviews, photos, and recaps.

 

49th North Carolina Junior Boys' Championship
Wilson Country Club
June 22, 2016
 

(Round of 64)

Jack Massei, Cary, N.C.  (1) def. Kell Graham, Matthews, N.C.  (64), 4 and 3

Britt Stroud, Raleigh, N.C.  (33) def. Madison Duffie, Gastonia, N.C.  (32), 2 and 1

Tim Bunten, Concord, N.C.  (16) def. Rob Salisbury, Winston-Salem, N.C.  (49), 6 and 4

Andrew Wilmoth, Raleigh, N.C.  (48) def. Blake Mcshea, Zebulon, N.C.  (17), 2 and 1

Matthew Sharpstene, Asheville, N.C.  (8) def. Candler Matthews, Wilson, N.C.  (57), 4 and 2

Kenan Poole II, Raleigh, N.C.  (40) def. Carter Cook, Cornelius, N.C.  (25), 2 and 1

Fulton Smith, Pinehurst, N.C.  (56) def. Bradley Calloway, Asheboro, N.C.  (9), 5 and 4

Ben Woodruff, Huntersville, N.C.  (41) def. Jake Rutter, Winston Salem, N.C.  (24), 3 and 2

Avery Price, Gastonia , N.C.  (4) def. Dawson Daniels, Greensboro, N.C.  (61), 1 up

Carson Ownbey, Candler, N.C.  (29) def. Dustin Blank, Elon, N.C.  (36), 1 up

Ben Buben, Charlotte, N.C.  (13) def. Tyler Withers, Kings Mountain, N.C.  (52), 5 and 4

Nicholas Lyerly, Salisbury, N.C.  (45) def. Brandon Einstein, Clemmons, N.C.  (20), 6 and 5

Alex Goff, Kings Mountain, N.C.  (5) def. Patrick Schweitz, Clayton, N.C.  (60), 4 and 2

Austin Bonfiglio, Holly Springs, N.C.  (28) def. Stephen Abrams, Wilson, N.C.  (37), 4 and 3

Lansdon Robbins, Davidson, N.C.  (12) def. Jackson Tyler, Wilmington, N.C.  (53), 4 and 3

Jonathan Brightwell, Mint Hill, N.C.  (44) def. Jacob Lowe, Angier, N.C.  (21), 7 and 5

Tripp Summerlin, Summerfield, N.C.  (2) def. William Crook, Sherrills Ford, N.C.  (63), 4 and 2

Joey Funderburg, Wilmington, N.C.  (31) def. Quinn Riley, Raleigh, N.C.  (34), 20 holes

Dalton Mauldin, Sanford, N.C.  (15) def. Evan Rhodes, Hickory, N.C.  (50), 7 and 6

Ike Joy, Denver, N.C.  (18) def. Jake Herring, Wilson, N.C.  (47), 4 and 3

Grant Smith, Charlotte, N.C.  (7) def. Addison Manring, Stoneville, N.C.  (58), 1 up

Nicholas Page, Dunn, N.C.  (39) def. Chandler Metz, Wilkesboro, N.C.  (26), 20 holes

Grant Powell, Colfax, N.C.  (10) def. Stuart Fuller, Winston-Salem, N.C.  (55), 5 and 3

Zack Swanson, Waxhaw, N.C.  (42) def. Justin Emmons, Asheboro, N.C.  (23), 19 holes

Michael Childress, Salisbury, N.C.  (3) def. Ethan Lukes, Chapel Hill, N.C.  (62), 7 and 6

Grayson Wotnosky, Wake Forest, N.C.  (35) def. Will Tamplin, Asheville, N.C.  (30), 1 up

Alex Huml, Cary, N.C.  (51) def. Attie Giles, Pinehurst, N.C.  (14), 2 and 1

Ben Ferris, Charlotte, N.C.  (19) def. Spencer Oxendine, Fayetteville, N.C.  (46), 2 and 1

Zach Caudill, Wilkesboro, N.C.  (6) def. A J Beechler, Pinehurst, N.C.  (59), 2 up

Jack Marcotte, Apex, N.C.  (38) def. Michael Coe, Morrisville, N.C.  (27), 5 and 3

Christian Park, Charlotte, N.C.  (11) def. Allen Smith III, Durham, N.C.  (54), 1 up

Rhodes Karriker, Matthews, N.C.  (43) def. Stephen Carroll, Concord, N.C.  (22), 1 up

(Round of 32)

Jack Massei, Cary, N.C.  (1) def. Britt Stroud, Raleigh, N.C.  (33), 2 and 1

Tim Bunten, Concord, N.C.  (16) def. Andrew Wilmoth, Raleigh, N.C.  (48), 2 and 1

Matthew Sharpstene, Asheville, N.C.  (8) def. Kenan Poole II, Raleigh, N.C.  (40), 3 and 2

Ben Woodruff, Huntersville, N.C.  (41) def. Fulton Smith, Pinehurst, N.C.  (56), 3 and 2

Avery Price, Gastonia , N.C.  (4) def. Carson Ownbey, Candler, N.C.  (29), 2 and 1

Nicholas Lyerly, Salisbury, N.C.  (45) def. Ben Buben, Charlotte, N.C.  (13), 3 and 1

Alex Goff, Kings Mountain, N.C.  (5) def. Austin Bonfiglio, Holly Springs, N.C.  (28), 2 up

Lansdon Robbins, Davidson, N.C.  (12) def. Jonathan Brightwell, Mint Hill, N.C.  (44), 19 holes

Joey Funderburg, Wilmington, N.C.  (31) def. Tripp Summerlin, Summerfield, N.C.  (2), 1 up

Dalton Mauldin, Sanford, N.C.  (15) def. Ike Joy, Denver, N.C.  (18), 3 and 2

Grant Smith, Charlotte, N.C.  (7) def. Nicholas Page, Dunn, N.C.  (39), 1 up

Grant Powell, Colfax, N.C.  (10) def. Zack Swanson, Waxhaw, N.C.  (42), 4 and 3

Michael Childress, Salisbury, N.C.  (3) def. Grayson Wotnosky, Wake Forest, N.C.  (35), 6 and 4

Alex Huml, Cary, N.C.  (51) def. Ben Ferris, Charlotte, N.C.  (19), 19 holes

Zach Caudill, Wilkesboro, N.C.  (6) def. Jack Marcotte, Apex, N.C.  (38), 2 up

Rhodes Karriker, Matthews, N.C.  (43) def. Christian Park, Charlotte, N.C.  (11), 3 and 2

 

 

 

NC Junior Boys' Match Play -- (Round of 16)

Matches Starting on Tee: 1

Time

Seed

Player A

Seed

Player B

8:00 am

1

(DC) Jack Massei, Cary, N.C.  (2018)

vs.

16

(72) Tim Bunten, Concord, N.C.  (2017)

8:08 am

8

(71) Matthew Sharpstene, Asheville, N.C. (2017)

vs.

41

(75) Ben Woodruff, Huntersville, N.C.  (2018)

8:16 am

4

(69) Avery Price, Gastonia , N.C.  (2017)

vs.

45

(75) Nicholas Lyerly, Salisbury, N.C.  (2017)

8:24 am

5

(70) Alex Goff, Kings Mountain, N.C.  (2018)

vs.

12

(72) Lansdon Robbins, Davidson, N.C.  (2018)

8:32 am

31

(74) Joey Funderburg, Wilmington, N.C.  (2016)

vs.

15

(72) Dalton Mauldin, Sanford, N.C.  (2017)

8:40 am

7

(71) Grant Smith, Charlotte, N.C.  (2019)

vs.

10

(71) Grant Powell, Colfax, N.C.  (2016)

8:48 am

3

(67) Michael Childress, Salisbury, N.C.  (2018)

vs.

51

(75) Alex Huml, Cary, N.C.  (2019)

8:56 am

6

(70) Zach Caudill, Wilkesboro, N.C.  (2017)

vs.

43

(75) Rhodes Karriker, Matthews, N.C.  (2017)

 

 

CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE
Thursday, June 23
8:00 a.m. – 8:49 a.m. Round 3 matches
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Quarterfinal matches

Friday, June 24
8:00 a.m. – 8:10 a.m. Semifinal matches
12:30 p.m. Championship match
*Schedule subject to change.
 

 

About Wilson Country Club

Wilson Country Club was opened in May 1915 on the site that is currently known as Willow Springs Country Club. The club grew at a rapid rate following WWII and the size of the membership eventually grew too large for its initial home. Unable to expand the   facilities, the club moved across town to its current site in 1973. Mr. William Byrd designed the new layout that we are so proud of today. Mr. Byrd designed and remodeled over 100 golf courses during his career which panned nearly five decades. His Wilson Country Club design still receives rave reviews for its beauty and overall playability. We have hosted eight Carolinas Golf Association majors: 2010 NC Men’s Amateur, 2009 NCWGA Ladies’ State Amateur, several US Open qualifiers, Web.Com Tour qualifiers, our annual Two Ball Invitational and The Buddy, our annual Pro-Am Invitational.

 

Wilson Country Club underwent a renovation in 2005 to modernize the course and improve the putting surfaces. The renowned architect Mr. John Lafoy was chosen to do the renovation and work began in May, 2005. John Lafoy has redesigned over 100 golf courses throughout the country and has redesigned many classic layouts, including those of architects A.W. Tillinghast, Alistair Mackenzie, Seth Raynor, Charles Blair MacDonald and numerous Donald Ross designs. The redesign of Wilson Country Club has certainly made it one of the finest golf courses in North Carolina.

 

About the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)

The CGA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization that was founded in 1909 to promote and to protect the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support and benefits to golf clubs and golfers. The CGA is the second largest golf association in the country with over 700 member clubs represented by nearly 150,000 individuals.

The CGA annually conducts 43 championships and five team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. It also runs over 140 One-Day (net and gross) events and qualifying for USGA national championships. The CGA serves golf in the Carolinas with numerous programs such as: the USGA Handicap System; tournament management software and support; course measuring and course/slope ratings; agronomy consultation; answers about the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, and Handicapping; Carolinas Golf Magazine; Interclub series; Tarheel Youth Golf Association; Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame; expense assistance for USGA Junior and Girls' Junior qualifiers from the Carolinas; and the Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF). The CGF has distributed more than $1,500,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives including junior and women's programs.

 

For more information about the CGA, visit our website.

 

 

##30##