Amateur David Kocher wins North Carolina Open
6/9/2016 | by
see also: View results for North Carolina Open, Starmount Forest Country Club
For the second straight year an amateur wins the North Carolina Open, this year it is Maryland's David Kocher
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.
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 ...
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