Event: 17th North Carolina Men’s Amateur Match Play Championship
Host Site: Woodlake Resort and Country Club
Playing Dates: August 5-8, 2026
Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

Related: Championship Bracket | Photos

by Vileska Gepli

VASS, N.C. (August 10, 2026) – After four days of match-play competition, Michael Childress of Salisbury, N.C., claimed the 17th North Carolina Men’s Amateur Match Play Championship at Woodlake Resort and Country Club with a dramatic 2-up victory over Alex Bock of Morganton, N.C.

Childress, a 2023 graduate of the University of Richmond, secured the championship with a clutch birdie on the 18th hole to earn his first CGA championship victory.

The championship began Wednesday with a pod match-play format, with the 64-player field divided into 16 pods of four players. Each competitor played three matches within their respective pod, facing each of their three pod-mates once. Only the player with the best record in each pod advanced to the 16-player, single-elimination bracket.

Following three rounds of pod play on Wednesday and Thursday, the field was narrowed to 16 players for the single-elimination portion of the championship. Friday featured the Round of 16 and quarterfinal matches, with Drew O’Neal of Wilson, N.C., Childress, Hank Johnson of Newland, N.C., and Bock advancing to the semifinals.

Saturday morning’s semifinal matches set the stage for the championship match between Childress and Bock. Childress faced a difficult comeback against O’Neal, trailing by two holes through nine before battling back to earn the victory. In the other semifinal, Bock defeated Johnson, 1 up, on the 18th hole to secure his spot in the final.

In the championship match, Childress established an early lead, going 4 up through 10 holes. Bock fought his way back, winning holes down the stretch to cut the deficit to just 1 up heading into the 18th hole.

With the championship on the line, Childress delivered when it mattered most, making birdie on the 18th hole to close out the 2-up victory and claim his first CGA championship.

The Carolinas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to the staff and membership of Woodlake Resort and Country Club for helping make the 17th North Carolina Men’s Amateur Match Play Championship a success. Special thanks to General Manager Jeff Crabbe, Head Golf Professional Josh Bloom and Superintendent Chris Dwiggins, as well as the entire grounds and maintenance crew, grille staff and members of Woodlake Resort and Country Club for their hospitality and support throughout the championship.