...Carolina Golf News Line

Cannon Blisters the Back Nine to Post Fifth Tarheel Tour Win of Season

HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- Thanks to an incredible back nine, Matt Cannon has plenty of money for diapers. Cannon, who's expecting his first child this week, played the final nine holes in seven under par Wednesday to capture the $5,000 winner's check in the Tarheel Tour's NorthStone Open at NorthStone Country Club.
The Huntersville resident entered the final round tied for fourth place, three shots out of first. He played the front nine in one under and was considerably out of the lead before catching fire coming in. He shot 29 on the back with six birdies, an eagle, one par and one bogey. He capped the round by chipping in for birdie on the 18th hole. By then, he had overtaken the field with a 64 for a 16-under total of 200 on his home course.
"I just went nuts on the back nine," said Cannon, who has five Tarheel Tour wins this season. "All of a sudden I got my confidence. It was weird. I would never think about chipping it in from 30 feet on that last hole, but my confidence was so high."
For the second time in three weeks, Lenoir's Jason Martin finished second to Cannon. Martin, a former UNCG standout, fired a final-round 69 to post a 203 total and earn $3,000. Interestingly, Martin was the only player in the field to shoot in the 60s all three days.
Third place went to tour rookie Fernando Mechereffe of Brazil. Mechereffe, who began his college career in the Charlotte area at Wingate before transferrring to N.C. State, shot 71 on Wednesday to earn $2,000 with a 204 total. Another rookie, Braxton Wynns of Buies Creek, fired 66 and took forth at 206. Wynns, who played at Campbell, picked up $1,500.
The next stop on tour is the Stonebridge Classic, Sept. 7-9 at Stonebridge Golf Club in Monroe, N.C.
Tarheel Professional Tour
Final Results
NorthStone Open
NorthStone Country Club
Par 72 -- 6,900 Yards
Matt Cannon, Huntersville, $5,000 66-70-64--200
Jason Martin, Lenoir, $3,000 68-66-69--203
Fernando Mechereffe, Brazil, $2,000 66-67-71--206
Braxton Wynns, Buies Creek, $1,500 73-67-66--206
Kyle Bradley, N. Augusta, SC, $1,250 66-68-73--207
David Seawell, Columbia, SC, $1,250 68-68-71--207
Patrick Mitchell, Beaufort, SC, $1,075 67-71-71--209
Michael Shamp, Charlotte, $1,075 71-69-69--209
Matt Davidson, Greenville, SC, $908.33 71-68-71--210
Chip Spratlin, Jonesborough, Tenn., $908.33 71-69-70--210
Ty Cole, Gadsden, Ala., $908.33 68-72-70--210
Ben Case, Charlotte, $725 69-71-71--211
David Sanchez, Pinehurst, $725 72-69-70--211
David Siegel, Charlotte, $725 71-69-71--211
Matt Johnson, Fairfax, Va., $612.50 71-69-72--212
John McAllister, Spartanburg, $612.50 68-71-73--212
Buck Williams, Raleigh, $550 68-70-75--213
Steve Basson, South Africa, $525 71-69-74--214
Jeremy Revis, Taylors, SC, $475 72-69-74--215
Frank Adams III, Laurinburg, $475 70-71-74--215
Adam Gary, Franklin, Tenn., $475 73-69-73--215
Ben Friedell, Charlotte, $425 70-72-76--218