| ...Carolina Golf News Line | |
BURKHART
A ROOKIE NO MORE!
CONCORD,
N.C. – A little over one month ago,
recent USC-Aiken graduate Dane Burkhart decided to begin his pro career on the
Tarheel Tour at the Treyburn Open in Durham, NC. Burkhart caught fire that week
and went on to claim his first pro title in his first pro event. Not too bad for
a kid from Aiken, SC who a few weeks prior had been cramming for finals.
Unfortunately for the rest of the players on the Tarheel Tour, Burkhart more
than backed up his rookie win with an impressive performance this week at the
Rocky River Classic.
The former Pacer opened this week’s event with a nine under par round of 63,
good enough for a two shot lead heading into Thursday’s final round. With the
event being shortened to 36 holes due to Tuesday’s heavy rain, players kept
the same pairings for two days and in turn there was no “leader group” for
Burkhart to know how he stood.
“I got an update here and there on the back nine from tournament officials,
but the only thing I felt was that I had to be better than ten under,” said
the former NCAA Division II “All American”.
As fate would have it, Burkhart’s hunch was right and he found himself on the
tee of the par-5 18th needing birdie to win.
“I wound up hitting driver and a 5 wood to 20 feet and then two putted from
there for birdie and the win.”
I really got lucky this week with my pairing of Jason Martin and Jonathan
Hill. We just had a good time and fed off of each other for two days.”
Burkhart says he hopes this win might get him some exemptions into Nationwide
Tour events in the coming months.
“You look at what Kyle Reifers did, going from winning out here to winning on
the Nationwide Tour, and it really makes you want to play at a higher level
because you just never know when you’ll get hot.”
In the meantime, Burkhart plans to play the Tarheel Tour in preparation for PGA
Tour Q-School this fall, an event in which, should he keep playing like this,
will surely vault him to golf’s grandest stage.
William McGirt, Jonathan Jenkins, and Gregg Jones all finished at ten under 134,
one shot behind Burkhart. Bogies at 14 and 17 kept Jenkins from claiming his
first Tarheel Tour title, while Jones fell short with a bogey at the short par-3
15th. McGirt, a former North Carolina Amateur Champion, played the
game of consistency this week with rounds of 67-67 over the Dan Maples designed
layout.
Fifth place went to Charlottesville, VA native Tim Pemberton who carded rounds
of 68-67. 2006 Rock Hill Open Champion Alex Hamilton claimed solo sixth with
rounds of 67-69.
The tour would like to thank Head Golf Course Superintendent Mason Ivey and his
team for their incredible work this week in trying conditions. The golf course
was in fantastic shape for all players after the heavy rains on Tuesday. The
tour also thanks Head Golf Professional Floyd Gragg and his staff for their work
this week.
The Tarheel Tour stays in Cabarrus County next week for the 2nd
annual Southern Open at Cabarrus and Kannapolis Country Clubs.
For more information, visit www.tarheeltour.com.
Tarheel
Professional Tour
Rocky
River Classic
Final
Round Results
Rocky
River Golf Club
Par 72 – 6,970 yards
Dane
Burkhart, Aiken, SC
$11,000
63-70=133
William
McGirt, Taylors, SC
$4,683.33
67-67=134
Jonathan
Jenkins, Jonesboro, GA
$4,683.33
65-69=134
Gregg Jones,
Florence, SC
$4,683.33
65-69=134
Tim
Pemberton, Charlottesville, VA
$2,800
68-67=135
Alex
Hamilton, Aiken, SC
$2,500
67-69=136
Derek Brown,
Walnut Cove, NC
$1,975
67-70=137
Matt Cannon,
Huntersville, NC
$1,975
69-68=137
Jason
Martin, Lenoir, NC
$1,975
66-71=137
Daniel
Sloan, Greenville, SC
$1,975
65-72=137
Scott
Volpitto, Jupiter, FL
$1,410
70-68=138
David
Siegel, Matthews, NC
$1,410
68-70=138
Scott
Feaster, Columbia, SC
$1,410
68-70=138
Jay McLuen,
Charleston, SC
$1,410
68-70=138
Tim
Cantwell, Palm Beach Gardens, FL
$1,410
67-71=138
Andy Crain,
Goldsboro, NC
$1,045.83
65-74=139
Garth Mulroy,
South Africa
$1,045.83
69-70=139
John
McAllister, Spartanburg, SC
$1,045.83
70-69=139
David
Robinson, Sandersville, GA
$1,045.83
69-70=139
David
Sanchez, Pinehurst, NC
$1,045.83
69-70=139
Jeff Curl,
Jupiter, FL
$1,045.83
69-70=139
Chris
Mundorf, Greensboro, NC
$800
70-70=140
Sal Spallone,
Vero Beach, FL
$800
68-72=140
Matt
Bettencourt, Greenville, SC
$800
67-73=140
Shaun
Norris, South Africa
$800
70-70=140
Mike
Lawrence, Easley, SC
$800
71-69=140
D.J. Fiese,
Smyrna, GA
$675
70-71=141
Stephen
Poole Jr., Spartanburg, SC
$607.50
67-75=142
David
Seawell, Columbia, SC
$607.50
72-70=142
John Tillery,
Madison, GA
$607.50
71-71=142
Kevin
Taylor, Mocksville, NC
$607.50
69-73=142
Braxton
Wynns, Clayton, NC
$607.50
71-71=142
Kevin
Shields, Bethel Park, PA
$607.50
69-73=142
Jonathan
Hill, Greenville, NC
$607.50
70-72=142
Mark Long,
Charlotte, NC
$607.50
71-71=142