Stephenson reclaims the CCNC Amateur trophy

December 18, 2020 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

- CCNC / Patrick Stephenson photo

Patrick Stephenson of East Carolina University became the first two-time champion, winning by one at the CC of North Carolina

Patrick Stephenson earned the champion’s trophy for the secondtime as he fired a 72 to win the 2020 CCNC Amateur by a stroke at 2-under-par 214. The left-handed East Carolina fifth-year senior from Four Oaks, N.C. became the first two-timewinner in the event’s nine-year history. His tournament record is remarkably consistent with wins in2020 and 2017; T-3 in 2018; T5 in 2019 and T10 in 2016. In those five appearances, he has postedonly one over-par round (first round in 2015). “My short game kind of helped me through, I putted really well,” Stephenson said. “I didn’t hit itas well as I’d like to but I kind of kept it in front of me. I didn’t have any huge misses, didn’t reallymake any big mistakes. I just played really consistent, and made a lot of pars. On cold, windydays like these that’s kind of what it takes.” Finishing in a tie for second at 215 were Grant Haefner of Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (WayneState), who shot a 1-under 71 in the final round, and West Virginia’s Kurtis Grant of Herndon,Va., who posted an even-par 72. Stephenson posted three birdies against three bogeys in Friday’s round. His birdie at the par-512th hole brought him to 3 under for the event and provided enough cushion for the win despitehis bogey on hole 16. “I played here a ton ever since I was a little kid,” Stephenson said. “It’s just one of those coursesthat always looks good to me. The greens are always lightning-fast this time of year, which kindof suits my putting because that’s kind of what I prefer.” The best round of the day and the tournament was a 4-under 68 posted by Alex Heffner ofHarrisburg, N.C. (Davidson) as he posted six birdies against two bogeys to finish at even-par216 in fourth place. Stephenson’s college teammate A.J. Beechler of Pinehurst, N.C., who finished T3 in 2019,Ryan Marter of Columbia, S.C. (Wofford) and first-round leader Sihan Sandhu, 15, of Ashburn,Va., tied for fifth at 1-over-par 217.

Results: Mid Pines Invitational

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Patrick Stephenson	Columbia, SC	300	72-70-72=214
T2	Kurtis Grant	Herndon, VA	200	72-71-72=215
T2	Grant Haefner	Bloomfield Hills, MI	200	75-69-71=215
4	Alex Heffner	Harrisburg, NC	100	74-74-68=216
T5	A.J. Beechler	Pinehurst, NC	100	71-73-73=217

View full results for Mid Pines Invitational

About the Mid Pines Invitational

Stephenson reclaims the CCNC Amateur trophy

Formerly known as the CCNC Amateur but moved to Mid Pines in 2022. 54-hole stroke play event with a cut after 36 holes to the low 40 players and ties.