Carolinas Young Amateur: Hirai and Bae Win Convincingly

PINEHURST, NC (December 29, 2017) - Reona Hirai of Summerville, S.C. and Eric Bae of Pinehurst, N.C. captured their division titles in the 9th Carolinas Young Amateur Championship in impressive style.

Hirai, a junior at Furman University, shot a second round of five under par 67 and finished nine shots ahead of the nearest competitors with a two day total of seven under par 137. Even more impressive is the fact that Hirai played 36 holes in tough cold conditions bogey free. 2014 Carolinas Young Amateur Champion Kelli Murphy of Elgin, S.C. and Jodee Tindal of Rock Hill, S.C. finished tied for second at two over par 146.

Bae, a sophomore at Wake Forest, won his fourth CGA championship winning the men's division with a two day total of two under par 142. Jonathan Brightwell, a freshman at UNC-Greensboro and from Mint Hill, N.C. shot the low round of the day and tournament with a four under par 68 and finished in second place with a total of one over par 145. Tim Bunten of Concord, N.C. shot a total of two over par 146 and finished alone in third place.

The Carolinas Amateur was conducted on the Magnolia course at Pinewild Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C. and is open to any male or female amateur golfer ages 18 to 25 as of December 29, 2017, who has finished high school, is a legal resident of North Carolina or South Carolina, and has a current USGA Handicap Index® at a CGA member club.