...Carolina Golf News Line

Biershenk Torches the Back Nine to Win at Kannapolis

KANNAPOLIS, N.C. -- Former Nationwide Tour player Tommy Biershenk of Boiling Springs, S.C., lit up the back nine Thursday to win the $9,000 first-place check in the Tarheel Tour's Kannapolis Classic. Biershenk, who played collegiately at Clemson, was nowhere near the lead after playing the front nine one over par and making bogey on the 11th hole. But from that point, the layout at Kannapolis Country Club was no match for the 32-year-old. He eagled the par-5 12th hole, then reeled off five straight birdies to shoot 67 for a 12-under total of 204 and a one-shot victory. Biershenk was seven under over those six holes, and lipped out a putt for another birdie on the final hole. "I was thinking that if I could continue to make birdies, I could get awfully close to winning this tournament," said Biershenk, a member of the Nationwide Tour from 1999-2003. "I was trying to birdie every hole coming in."

As it turned out, Biershenk didn't need that final birdie. Fellow Upstate golfer Nathan Bertsch of Sunset, S.C., was already in the clubhouse at 205, while Blake Adams of Eatonton, Ga., playing in the last group, also finished at 205 after he was unable to convert a long birdie putt on the final hole.
The victory was Biershenk's first in several years, and a welcomed relief for a golfer who has struggled with his game after falling off the Nationwide Tour at the end of 2003.
"It's certainly exciting to come as far back as I have and get a win," he said. "I've been in a slump the last couple of years, but I have been getting my confidence back the last few weeks and my swing is getting better."
Bertsch, who shot 65, and Adams, who shot 69, tied for second at 205 and earned $4,000 each. Bertsch moved up from a tie for 14th by shooting the low round of the day.
Another low round was turned in by former UNC Charlotte golfer Stewart Moore of Charlotte. Moore posted a six-under 66 to move into a tie for fourth at 206 with Matt Cannon, who shot 69. They earned $2,250 apiece.
Sixth place, at 208, was shared by Charles Frost of St. Simons Island, Ga., and Ryan Gioffre of Greensboro. They earned $1,625 each.
The tour returns to action next week with the Stonebridge Open, Aug. 30 through Sept. 1 at Stonebridge Golf Club in Monroe, N.C. The tournament will be scored using the modified Stableford scoring system.
Tarheel Professional Tour
Kannapolis Classic
Final Results
Kannapolis Country Club
Par 72 -- 6,847 Yards
Tommy Biershenk, Boiling Springs, S.C., $9,000 68-69-67--204
Nathan Bertsch, Sunset, S.C., $4,000 67-73-65--205
Blake Adams, Eatonton, Ga., $4,000 68-68-69--205
Stewart Moore, Charlotte, $2,250 68-72-66--206
Matt Cannon, Huntersville, $2,250 69-68-69--206
Charles Frost, St. Simons Island, Ga., $1,625 68-69-71--208
Ryan Gioffre, Greensboro, $1,625 69-66-73--208
Jay McLuen, Mt. Pleasant, S.C., $1,225 74-67-68--209
Chris Mundorf, Greensboro, $1,225 71-68-70--209
Nick Flanagan, Australia, $1,225 69-68-72--209
Aaron Black, Aiken, S.C., $1,225 67-67-75--209
Korky Kemp, Greensboro, $1,100 69-72-69--210
Derek Watson, Murrells Inlet, S.C., $864.85 72-69-70--211
Rich Hanna, Stanardsville, Va., $864.85 68-72-71--211
Karl Mitchell, Rockwell, $864.85 68-71-72--211
Luis Rivera, Jacksonville, Fla., $864.85 72-68-71--211
Luke Stephen, Marietta, Ga., $864.85 70-70-71--211
Jason Martin, Lenoir, $864.85 71-68-72--211
Ben Case, Charlotte, $864.85 71-68-72--211
Justin Walters, Raleigh, $700 67-71-74--212
Ty Cole, Powder Springs, Ga., $643.75 69-73-71--213
Greg Jones, Florence, S.C., $643.75 69-72-72--213
David Siegel, Charlotte, $643.75 71-71-71--213
John McAllister, Spartanburg, S.C., $643.75 70-70-73--213
Kyle Bradley, N. Augusta, S.C., $586.66 69-73-72--214
Daniel Sloan, Spartanburg, S.C., $586.66 66-74-74--214
Len Calvert, Easley, S.C., $586.66 69-71-74--214
Bryant MacKellar, Fairhope, Ala., $533.33 69-73-73--215
G.W. Cable, Fairfax, Va., $533.33 71-70-74--215
Andy Bare, Burlington, Vt., $533.33 75-66-74--215
Brent Delahoussaye, Greenville, S.C., $350 70-72-74--216
David Robinson, Sandersville, Ga., $350 68-72-76--216
Corey Brigham, Rumson, N.J., $150 71-70-76--217
Anthony Corsuti, Middleburg, Fla., $150 69-70-78--217