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Birdie Binge Gives MacKellar Top Honors in Warrior Golf Classic

CHINA GROVE, N.C. -- Entering the final round of the Warrior Golf Classic tied for fifth, former Auburn All-American Bryant MacKellar set his sights on making birdies and blocking out the competition. His plan worked to perfection as he reeled off 10 birdies Friday en route to a 64 that earned him the Tarheel Tour's $9,000 first-place check.
MacKellar, who finished at 15-under 198, wasn't bothered with the windy conditions that derailed many in the field. Instead, he recorded five birdies on the front nine and five as part of an impressive 31 on the back nine that gave him a two-shot win over Matt Hendrix of Aiken, S.C., and David Sanchez of Pinehurst.

"There's a lot of birdies on this golf course if you can stay under control, manage your shots and make the putts," said MacKeller, the 1997 Southeastern Conference champion. "It was pretty basic golf today. The greens were perfect. They are in PGA Tour condition. If you get the putts started where you want them to, they go in."
Hendrix, a former Clemson standout, started the day tied with MacKellar. But despite a five-under 66, he wound up tied for second at 200 with Sanchez, an N.C. State alum who shot 69. They won $4,000 apiece.
Tour rookie Mark Long of Huntersville, who left UNC Pembroke after his freshman season, fired 69 to move from eighth place into a tie for fourth with Garth Mulroy at 205. Each earned $2,250.
There was a three-way tie for sixth place at 206 between Justin Walters of Raleigh, Iain Steel of Pelham, Ala., and Mocksville's Kevin Taylor. All three picked up $1,516.66.
The Tarheel Tour moved to Treyburn Country Club in Durham next week for the inaugural Treyburn Open, which will be held May 10-12.
Tarheel Professional Tour
Warrior Golf Classic
Final Results
Par 71 -- 6,609 Yards
Bryant MacKellar, Fairhope, AL, $9,000 66-68-64--198
Matt Hendrix, Aiken, SC, $4,000 64-70-66--200
David Sanchez, Pinehurst, $4,000 65-66-69--200
Mark Long, Huntersville, $2,250 69-67-69--205
Garth Mulroy, Raleigh, $2,250 67-67-71--205
Justin Walters, Raleigh, $1,516.66 65-72-69--206
Iain Steel, Pelham, AL, $1,516.66 67-69-70--206
Kevin Taylor, Mocksville, $1,516.66 67-66-73--206
Phillip Gasnier, P. Beach Gardens, FL, $1,175 70-67-70--207
Michael Muehr, Washington, DC, $1,175 68-68-71--207
Billy Judah, Chesapeake, VA, $1,175 70-66-71--207
Nathan Bertsch, Sunset, SC, $1,175 65-67-75--207
Michael Valicenti, Elmira, NY, $975 69-72-67--208
Karl Mitchell, Rockwell, $975 71-68-69--208
Camilo Benedetti, Orlando, $975 69-69-70--208
Tony Bostic, Vienna, VA, $975 69-67-72--208
Jason Martin, Lenoir, $850 65-68-76--209
Rob Johnson, Orlando, $800 70-66-74--210
Justin Hicks, Royal Palm Beach, FL, $700 72-69-70--211
John McAllister, Spartanburg, $700 68-70-73--211
Derek Watson, Murrells Inlet, SC, $700 70-69-72--211
Frank Adams III, Laurinburg, $700 69-69-73--211
Jeff Curl, Ellington, CT, $700 69-69-73--211
Len Calvert, Easley, SC, $612.50 72-69-71--212
Rich Mudd, Kiawah, SC, $612.50 73-64-75--212
Jason Lagergren, Winter Springs, FL, $537.50 71-70-72--213
Stewart Moore, Charlotte, $537.50 66-74-73--213
Andy Bare, Pinehurst, $537.50 70-69-74--213
Fernando Mechereffe, Charlotte, $537.50 69-70-74--213
Robbie Craft, Vinton, VA, $537.50 69-69-75--213
Aaron Black, Aiken, SC, $537.50 67-70-76--213
Bill Faith, Milledgeville, GA, $500 72-69-73--214
Wesley Horne, Wadesboro, $166.66 72-69-75--216
Matt Cannon, Huntersville, $166.66 71-69-76--216
Josh Truman, Tallahassee, FL, $166.66 71-69-78--218