...Carolina Golf News Line | ![]() |
Sudden Death Triumph Gives Gilley 20 Career Victories
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INDIAN TRAIL, N.C. -- Veteran mini-tour golfer Steve Gilley of Newnan, Ga., shot a final-round 70 and birdied the second hole of a sudden death playoff to win the Tarheel Tour's rain-shortened Charlotte National Open at Charlotte National Golf Club. It was Gilley's 20th professional victory, but did not come easily. His 70 was just enough to forge a tie atop the leaderboard with Charlotte's Fernando Mechereffe at eight-under 136. Mechereffe fired a 67, the best score of the final round, and was the leader in the clubhouse until Gilley finished in the final threesome. Gilley and Mechereffe were among 30 golfers who completed their rounds Friday after heavy rains suspended play on Thursday. Gilley had a chance to end the playoff on the par-4 10th hole, but missed a six-foot birdie putt. He hit his approach shot to about seven feet on the par-4 11th, and this time sank the putt to take home $9,000. "I felt like if I kept hitting it in there, I was going to make one eventually," said Gilley, who played collegiately at VCU. "I putted so well all week, I felt pretty comfortable. I just played a little too much break on the first playoff hole." |
Sudden Death Triumph Gives Gilley 20 Career Victories
Mechereffe, who began his college career at nearby Wingate University before transferring to N.C. State, earned his largest check of the year by taking home $5,000 for second place.
Another former N.C. State standout, Jason Moon of Wake Forest, shot a final-round 70 to tie for third at 138 with Australian James Nitties. Both earned $2,750.
Greer's Jay Haas Jr., son of the PGA Tour star, also shot 70 in the final round and was part of a four-way tie for fifth place at 139. Haas won $1,637.50, as did Atlanta's Jay Mundy, Brian Quackenbush of Chesterfield, Va., and Jason Martin of Lenoir.
Australian Nick Flanagan, the 2003 U.S. Am champ who qualified for next week's British Open, tuned up for St. Andrews by shooting 70-70--140 and tying for ninth with Justin Walters of Raleigh. They won $1,225 apiece.
Next up for the Tarheel Tour is Skybrook Invitational, July 20-22 at Skybrook Golf Club in Huntersville, N.C.
The tour takes a break next week for the inaugural Southern Open at Cabarrus Country Club and Kannapolis Country Club.
Tarheel Professional Tour
Charlotte National Open
Final Results**
Charlotte National Golf Club
Par 72 -- 7,252 Yards
Steve Gilley, Newnan, Ga., $9,000 66-70--136*
Fernando Mechereffe, Charlotte, $5,000 69-67--136
James Nitties, Australia, $2,750 67-71--138
Jason Moon, Wake Forest, $2,750 68-70--138
Jay Haas Jr., Greer, S.C., $1,637.50 69-70--139
Jay Mundy, Atlanta, $1,637.50 69-70--139
Brian Quackenbush, Fairfax, Va., $1,637.50 68-71--139
Jason Martin, Lenoir, $1,637.50 67-72--139
Justin Walters, Raleigh, $1,225 72-68--140
Nick Flanangan, Australia, $1,225 70-70--140
Stewart Moore, Charlotte, $1,040 73-68--141
David Sanchez, Pinehurst, $1,040 69-72--141
Brian Shelton, Virginia Beach, Va., $1,040 69-72--141
Korky Kemp, Greensboro, $1,040 68-73--141
Matt Cannon, Huntersville, $1,040 66-75--141
William McGirt, Taylors, S.C., $765 72-70--142
Tom Schaff, Savannah, Ga., $765 70-72--142
David Seawell, Columbia, S.C., $765 70-72--142
Ryan Zylstra, Richmond, Va., $765 70-72--142
Kyle Bradley, N. Augusta, S.C., $765 69-73--142
Steven Jenkins, Chesterfield, Va., $625 73-70--143
Frank Adams III, Laurinburg, $625 73-70--143
Matt Mankin, Roanoke, Va., $625 71-73--143
Len Calvert, Easley, S.C., $625 71-72--143
Rob Butler, Camden, S.C., $625 71-72--143
Josh Wilson, Monroe, N.C., $310 77-67--144
Wesley Byers, Aiken, S.C., $310 75-69--144
Jonathan Hill, Greenville, N.C., $310 72-72--144
Luis Rivera, Jacksonville, Fla., $310 72-72--144
Aaron Black, Aiken, S.C., $310 71-73--144
Bryant MacKellar, Fairhope, Ala., $310 71-73--144
John Heffernan, Waxhaw, $310 71-73--144
Chris Tucker, Fort Mill, S.C., $310 69-75--144
G.W. Cable, Fairfax, Va., $310 69-75--144
David Siegel, Charlotte, $310 68-76--144
* -- won on second playoff hole
** -- shortened to 36 holes because of weather
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