UNC Greensboro, Hendrix run away from Irish Creek field

Published 11:16 pm Sunday, April 7, 2019

Staff report

KANNAPOLIS — UNC Greensboro turned a one-shot lead into an easy, eight-stroke victory in the Irish Creek Intercollegiate golf tournament here Sunday at The Club at Irish Creek.

Led by senior Bryce Hendrix’ round of 9-under par 62, the Spartans shot 277 for the second straight round, and despite Ohio State’s 275 on Sunday, UNCG won the 54-hole tournament with a total of 834 — eight shots better than the Buckeyes (842).

Kansas fired a 274 yesterday to jump up to third place at 843. Florida State, the first-round leader, finished fourth at 846. Davidson rounded out the top five teams with an 848.

Hendrix had a spectacular card in the final round — nine birdies and nine pars. During one point on the back nine, Hendrix collected six straight birdies, en route to his 62. He shot 66 and 65 on Saturday, adding up to a 20-under par total score of 193. Hendrix won medalist by 11 strokes over Florida State’s John Pak (204).

Hendrix got help from teammate Nick Lyerly, a sophomore from Salisbury and East Rowan High School, who tied for 22nd with a steady tournament performance of an even-par 213 (71-71-71). Individually, Lyerly climbed to as high as eighth place on Saturday.

Grant Powell (215), Zack Swanson (217) and Jonathan Brightwell (219) rounded out the UNCG victory.

James Madison’s Walker Cress, of Concord and who calls The Club at Irish Creek his home course, leaped into the top five individuals on Sunday by firing a 4-under par 67. Cress totaled 208 for the tournament, tying Ohio State’s Will Grimmer and Caleb Ramirez for fourth place. Davidson’s Jack Lang finished third at 207, behind Hendrix and Pak.

Michael Childress, a Richmond freshman from Salisbury and Cannon School, tied for 68th place at 222 (73-75-74). Childress played in a group with Lyerly and Cress on Saturday.

NOTES: Hendrix’ scores of 62 (18 holes) and 193 (54 holes) were UNC Greensboro school records. Hendrix birdied the par-3 No. 18, for the record,  ending the back nine with a 29. … The event was hosted by UNC Charlotte.

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TEAM SCORES

UNC Greensboro     280-277-277 — 834

Ohio State                 279-288-275 — 842

Kansas                       284-285-274 — 843

Florida State             276-282-288 — 846

Davidson                   279-284-285 — 848

West Virginia           282-286-281 — 849

East Carolina           284-277-289  — 850

James Madison       285-286-280 — 851

High Point                284-288-281 — 853

Charlotte                   281-290-282 — 853

Dartmouth                293-287-283 — 863

VCU                            285-287-291 — 863

Kennesaw St.            297-295-281 — 873

Richmond                 288-293-292 — 873

Marshall                     291-311-289 — 891

Appalachian St.       307-294-296 — 897

TOP 12 INDIVIDUALS

Bryce Hendrix, UNCG        66-65-62 — 193

John Pak, Florida St.          68-68-68 — 204

Jack Lang, Davidson           72-66-69 — 207

Will Grimmer, Ohio St.       68-73-67 — 208

Walker Cress, JMU              71-70-67 — 208

Caleb Ramirez, Ohio St.      70-69-69 — 208

M. Sharpstene, W.Va.          69-71-69 — 209

Charlie Hiller, Kansas          70-72-67 — 209

Will Voetsch, Ohio St.          73-68-68 — 209

D. Wetterich, Ohio St.          69-72-69 — 210

Jamie Li, Florida St.              68-70-72 — 210

John Gough, Charlotte        69-72-69 — 210

Alex Ross, Davidson             71-72-67 — 210