Amateur David Kocher wins North Carolina Open
David Kocher with NC Open trophy
(Carolinas PGA Photo)
KANNAPOLIS, NC (June 9, 2016) -- David Kocher, an
amateur golfer from Charlotte, NC won the 52nd
SignArt North Carolina Open held at The Club at Irish
Creek in Kannapolis, NC.
Kocher, who is entering his junior year of
school at the University of Maryland, started the
second
round of competition with a commanding five-stroke
lead after 67-64=131 (-11) on the par-71 layout. He
birdied the first two holes but took a tough double-
bogey on the par-3 third hole after pulling a shot out
of
bounds. Two holes later, Jerry Haas, PGA Men’s Golf
Coach at Wake Forest University, closed the gap to
two
strokes with an eagle on the drivable par-4 fifth hole
and a birdie on the par-5 sixth. However, that was as
close as it got. Kocher was able to string enough solid
holes together to eventually regain the original five-
stroke. A final round of 34-36=70 (-1) gave him a
total
of 201 (-12).
Haas and amateur Tyler Lucas of Rock Hill, SC
finished tied for second at 206 (-7). Haas earned the
low PGA Professional honors.
Of the 168 competitors who represented the top-
playing PGA Professionals and amateurs in North and
South Carolina, 64 players survived the 36-hole cut at
+5. The amateur field played extremely well with 37
of
them making it to the final round.
View results for North Carolina Open
ABOUT THE North Carolina Open
The North Carolina Open is open to both
amateurs and PGA professionals. It is
organized
by the Carolinas section of the PGA of
America. 54-hole stroke play. The field is
reduced to the low 60 contestants (or 1/3 of
the field if 140 or less) and ties after 36
holes.
Interesting Fact: Both
state
opens
run by the
Carolinas section, the North Carolina Open
and
the South Carolina Open, are the only ones in
the United States that prohibit non-PGA
professionals from competing. It has been
played annually since 1965 at a variety of
courses around the state.
View Complete Tournament Information