Ben Schlottman pulls away to win CCNC Amateur by four

PINEHURST, N.C. (Dec. 19, 2014) — Ben Schlottman, a freshman at Auburn University, took command of the lead at the Country Club of North Carolina Amateur on Friday, posting his second straight round of two-under par 70 at the 7,068-yard course to pull away from his teammate and win the event by four. At four-under par 212, Schlottman, from Advance, N.C., never had the lead until the final round when he overtook second-round leader Josh Fickes of Clemson, as well as his teammate Will Long, a sophomore from Gastonia, N.C. Long took solo second place at even-par 216, shooting 71-71-74 in the 54-hole event. Long held a slim one-shot first round lead after Wednesday, and trailed Fickes by a shot entering the final day, but posted a two-over 74 to remain in second place. Fickes fell apart in the closing round, shooting 79 and dropping into fifth place, eight shots behind Schlottman. Tying for third place were Michael McGowan of the University of North Carolina and Ryan Cole of James Madison University. McGowan shot the second lowest round of the last day, a 71, to boost himself into the top-three.