Event #3 Results

SHARBER AND AUTRY PREVAIL IN HARD FOUGHT FINAL ROUND PLAY

VILLAGE OF PINEHURST, NORTH CAROLINA

The Winternational Junior Series played its third event of its thirteenth season at Pinehurst this weekend.  Cold and blustery weather led to difficult conditions as series members tackled the Donald Ross duo of the famed No. 2 course and the classic No. 3 course.  Saturday’s first round was contested on Ross’ masterpiece No. 2, with firm frost conditions adding to the challenge of the course in the morning, and a steady breeze complicating shot selection in the afternoon.  Sunday’s final round on No. 3 found conditions more conducive to scoring, but still difficult due to low morning temperatures.

In the Junior/Senior age division, Taylor Sharber, of Florence, SC outlasted a strong final round effort by Hunter Howell, a past series All-American from Raeford, NC, for the win.  Sharber finished with a final 36-hole total of 154, which was highlighted by an impressive first round 76 on the No. 2 course.  Sharber began the final round with a six shot advantage over his nearest challenger.  Howell would quickly overcome six shots, as he caught Sharber in only eight holes of final round play.  Following a pair of birdies on the par 5 13th hole, Sharber would lose the lead to the hard charging Howell on the par 3 14th hole.  The two would battle back and forth until a late bogey in the round would cost Howell the title.  Sharber regained the lead and held on for the final result.  In third place, from Siler City, NC, was Stephen Wood, and in fourth was Kyle Ham of LaGrange, NC.

In the Freshman/Sophomore age division, Series newcomer Kevin Autry, of Fayetteville, NC prevailed with a strong 77-75-152 two round total.  Autry started the final round two shots clear of Justin Evans.  Evans, a sophomore from Springlake, NC, struggled in his first nine holes as he went head-to-head with Autry.  Evans would turn it around on the back nine, after falling behind by as much as eight strokes.  With three holes to play, Evans clawed back to within two shots.  Autry, not to be outdone, birdied the next two holes to pull away from Evans and equal the final four-stroke advantage.  In third place, was Drew Thompson of Charlotte, NC, and in fourth was Bert Subin, of Pinehurst, NC.

FULL LEADERBOARD

BOYS- Final Round Summary
Course No. 2, 6741 yards, Par 72
Course No. 3, 5682 yards, Par 70
BOYS-Final Round Summary

Pos
1. Kevin Autry (Fayetteville, NC)  77-75--152
2. Taylor Sharber (Florence, SC) 76-78--154
3. Hunter Howell (Raeford, NC) 82-73--155
4. Justin Evans (Springlake, NC) 79-77--156
5. Drew Thompson (Charlotte, NC) 81-81--162
     Kyle Ham (LaGrange, NC) 82-80--162
     Stephen Wood (Siler City, NC) 83-79--162
8. Bert Subin (Pinehurst, NC) 81-82--163
9. Dana Spitz (Chapel Hill, NC) 82-84--166
10. Garrett Withiam (Greenwich, CT) 89-85--174
11. Miller Watson (Charlotte, NC) 93-84--177
12. Joseph Nichols (Laurinburg, NC) 88-90--178
       Douglass Johnson (Pinehurst, NC) 95-83--178
14. Andrew McCracken (Virginia Beach, VA) 103-82--185
15. Charlie Gormly (Greenwich, CT) 101-95--196

PHOTO GALLERY

Kevin Autry

Taylor Sharber