Tuesday’s golf update: UNCW duo in NCAA regional, Jim Grainger and Ashley Sloup

FRANKLIN, TN (UNCW) — Patrick Cover played an even-par round of 72 but dropped into a tie for 11th overall after two rounds at the NCAA Franklin Regional on Tuesday at the Vanderbilt Legends Club. Teammate Thomas Eldridge finished three over for the round and is tied for 40th.

Cover remains in position to advance to the NCAA Championships later this month in Oregon. The sophomore was two over through the first five holes of the round and was able to recover and post two birdies over the next 13 holes.

Eldridge, meanwhile, opened his second round with his second eagle of the regional, but a double-bogey on the sixth hole moved him from even par to two-over. He bogeyed two more holes before posting his lone birdie on the 16th hole.

Cover ranks third in the regional, scoring on par 3’s at 2.75. Eldridge is tied for the lead with two eagles.

Doug Ghim of Texas and James Madison’s Ryan Cole are tied for the regional lead, both at

11-under.

Eldridge begins his third round of the regional at 9:31 a.m. while Cover tees off at 10:04 a.m. CST.

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WILMINGTON, NC (CGA)– Second round results from the 31st North Carolina Senior Amateur Championship hosted by Porters Neck Country Club in Wilmington on Tuesday, May 17, 2016. (6565 yards, par 36-36–72, Course/Slope Rating: 71.7/125).

First round leader Jim Grainger, 59, of Charlotte, NC followed his opening round 66 with an even par round of 72 to take a four shot lead into the final round. Grainger carded two birdies and two bogeys on the day. “They say ignorance is bliss,” said Grainger. “Yesterday I didn’t know where I stood with the field, today was stressful knowing where I stood.” This is a familiar position for Grainger, who has finished runner-up four straight years in the championship. “I did not think I would be in this position,” on his chance to win for a fifth year in a row. “This was going to have to run out at some point, but I’m excited to have the opportunity.”

Four strokes behind Grainger is fellow Charlotte native Robby Kirby, who shot 70 to put his two-day total at 142.  Kirby was in the same position last year five strokes behind Grainger, “I just have to play better, have to make some putts.” Kirby said on his chance to win in 2016.

Three players sit tied for third five strokes back, Harrison Rutter of Winston-Salem, NC, Ed Byman of Raleigh, NC and Doug Owens of Albemarle, NC.

Seven time and defending champion Paul Simson, 65, of Raleigh, NC carded a one-under par 71 and is tied for 6^th six shots back.

61 players made the 36 hole cut at 10-over-par 154. Final round tee times will begin from the 1st and 10th tees at 8:00am with the leaders starting at 9:40am.

The North Carolina Senior Amateur Championship is 54 holes of stroke play. After 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 60 scores and ties. Entry is open to any male golfer who has reached his 55th birthday by May 16, 2016, is a legal resident of North Carolina, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has a current USGA Handicap Index® at a member club that does not exceed 10.4.

Scoring will be provided by the CGA throughout the championship, offering 9 and 18-hole updates. Live updates will also be available on the CGA’s official Twitter, @cgagolf1909. Continue to visit the CGA website throughout this championship and all year long for complete championship coverage including scores, interviews, photos, and recaps.

31st North Carolina Senior Amateur
Porters Neck Country Club
Wilmington, North Carolina
May 17, 2016

Second Round Results

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PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC (CGA) — Second round results of the 90th Carolinas Women’s Amateur Championship at The Reserve Club in Pawleys Island, S.C. on May 17 (6,064 yards, Par 36-36–72, Course Rating: 74.9/131).

Two days of steady play from Southport, N.C. native Ashley Sloup put her atop the leaderboard at the 90th edition of the longest running women’s amateur golf championship in the Carolinas.

In the final round of last year’s championship held at Treyburn Country Club, Sloup found herself in the final grouping. She would card a 79 and finish T-5. “I was pretty nervous last year,” said 20-year-old Sloup. “It was a good learning experience. I feel a lot more confident this year after that.”

As a sophomore this past season at Winthrop University, her team won three tournaments and Sloup won one individually. “I feel from freshman to sophomore year I have learned a lot and have matured a lot in my game.”

Rounds of 75-74 give Sloup a one shot lead. Looking ahead to Wednesday’s final round, the wise beyond her year’s Sloup quotes Ben Hogan when summarizing her golf philosophy. “Golf can be such a frustrating game,” said Sloup. “When you hit a bad shot or have a bad hole, it’s hard to stay mentally strong, but it’s such a long game. You just have to stay confident and positive the whole day.”

The round of the day was posted by Carley Cox of China Grove, N.C. Cox, a rising sophomore at James Madison University, made four birdies to play her way into Wednesday’s final pairing. Her second round 72 was a seven shot improvement on her opening 79. She will begin Wednesday trailing Sloup by two.

The top three competitors heading into Wednesday are each chasing their first CGA championship. Bailey Cocca, the 2014 runner-up, is one shot back of Sloup. With rounds of 76-74, the recent graduate of Coastal Carolina has a simple strategy. “I just play the course, beat the course,” said Cocca, a two-time NYS Junior Girls’ champion before moving to South Carolina. “If I do my job then that’s all I can do.”

First round leader Lea Venable had a frustrating second round.
She is four shots back heading into Wednesday’s final 18 holes.

First round leader Lea Venable of Simpsonville, S.C. carded an eight-over-par, 80, on Tuesday which places her four shots off the lead. Venable contributes her inflated score today to poor ball striking and her inability to feel comfortable with the flat stick. “I never felt comfortable over a putt and as a result, I three putted three times.”

Venable’s round was also lacking in birdies today, as she finished the day with zero red numbers on her card. “You have to make birdies to get your round going especially on a tough golf course.” Although her round was rocky and not ideally what she had hoped for, the CGA veteran says that she prefers entering the final round a couple shots off of the lead.

“I would prefer to chase the leader rather than hold a lead. I can sleep chasing [the leader] but I can’t sleep with the lead.” As for tomorrow, Venable’s game plan is simple, “Play solid and play aggressive.”

Tuesday’s play was suspended for 90 minutes at 1:25pm for lightning. Defending champion Katie Kirk of Greenville, N.C. is in 27th place at 163. Wednesday’s final round will begin with a 9:00am shotgun start.
Scoring will be provided by the CGA throughout the championship, offering 9 and 18-hole updates. Live updates will also be available on the CGA’s official Twitter, @cgagolf1909. Continue to visit the CGA website throughout this championship and all year long for complete championship coverage including scores, interviews, photos, and recaps.

The championship is conducted at 54 holes of stroke play (no cut). All players, regardless of Handicap Index, have the option to play in the Championship Division or the Carolinas Division. The Overall Champion will be determined from the contestants playing in the Championship Division. Entry is open to any female amateur golfer who has reached her 13th birthday by May 16, 2016, is a legal resident of North Carolina or South Carolina, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has an active GHIN USGA Handicap Index at a CGA member club that does not exceed 40.4.

90th Carolinas Women’s Amateur Championship
The Reserve Club | Pawleys Island, S.C.
May 17, 2016
Second Round Results
Par 36-36–72

Championship Division
1 Ashley Sloup, Southport, N.C. – 75-74–149
2 Bailey Cocca, Myrtle Beach, S.C. – 76-74–150
3 Carley Cox, China Grove, N.C. – 79-72–151
T4 Lea Venable, Simpsonville, S.C. – 73-80–153
T4 Maddisen Cox, Easley, S.C. – 75-78–153
6 Juliana Sebastian, Columbia, S.C. – 77-77–154
T7 Kate Collom, Charlotte, N.C. – 76-79–155
T7 Mary-Katelyn Holanek, Cary, N.C. – 80-75–155
T9 Abbey Hartsell, Hickory, North Caro – 79-78–157
T9 Annie Collom, Charlotte, N.C. – 81-76–157
T9 Julie Streng, Greensboro, N.C. – 80-77–157
T9 Reona Hirai, Summerville, S.C. – 77-80–157