Pirates Enjoy Successful Summer On The Links

GREENVILLE, N.C. --- Members of the East Carolina men's golf team enjoyed a tremendous amount of success on the amateur circuit over the summer, recording nine top-10 finishes in a variety of tournaments across the region.

"Every summer we challenge our players to play a great amateur schedule to continue their improvement while they do not have to worry about class or tests, and this summer has been a great summer of competition for our guys," ECU head coach Andrew Sapp said. "We have a lot of players who have shown improvement over the summer and have built some momentum going into the fall."

Senior Patrick Stephenson posted the lone victory among ECU golfers, tying for medalist honors at the U.S. Amateur qualifying tournament at James River Country Club in Newport News, Va. His other top-10 finish came at the North Carolina Open at Trump National Golf Club in Charlotte, coming in eighth-place at 2-under-par 214.

Fellow senior Blake Taylor posted the highest finish of any amateur in the field, tying for second with a 54-hole total of 6-under-par 210, one stroke out of first.

Prior to participating in the North Carolina Open, Taylor teamed up with fellow senior Logan Shuping to compete at the USGA Four-Ball Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, located along the Oregon coast. The duo was 1-up through 13 holes, but their opponent won the next three holes and then halved 17 and the Pirates' tandem finished as runner-up.

Taylor earned runner-up honors again at the North Carolina Amateur Championship at the Gaston Country Club in Gastonia. Over a period of 72 holes, he fired a 2-under-par 278. After opening with a 5-over-par on the first 36 holes, he carded a 7-under 133 on the final two days.

Taylor and sophomore A.J. Beechler each advanced through two rounds of stroke play into match play at the 119^th North and South Amateur at Pinehurst No. 2 with Beechler narrowly missing a trip the quarterfinals and Taylor falling to eventual champion Cooper Dossey of Baylor in the semis, 2 and 1.

Junior Stephen Carrol was the top amateur at the BB&T Carolinas Open at Greensboro Country Club, tying for second at 10-under-par, one shot behind the winner. He also earned an 11^th-place finish at the North Carolina Amateur.

Junior Tim Bunten and sophomore Jack Massei both finished in the top-10 at the Carolinian Amateur Championship at Keith Hills Golf Club in Bueis Creek. Bunten fired a 2-under 214 to place sixth, while Massei tied for ninth at 1-over-par 217.

Incoming freshman Chris Sperrazza earned a pair of top 10 finishes during the summer of 2019, placing third at the Dogwood State Junior Boys' Championship at River Run Country Club in Davidson and 10^th at the Carolinas Junior Boys' Championship at River Landing Country club in Wallace.

"With five tournaments in a span of less than two months this fall, it is always important to come into school ready to go with confidence and momentum," Sapp explained. "It is exciting to see these guys coming into Greenville after some great summer golf."

ECU will open its 2019-20 campaign Sept. 1 at the Island Resort College at Sage Run Gold Club in Escanaba, Mich.

Players Mentioned

A.J. Beechler

Tim Bunten

Jack Massei

Logan Shuping

Chris Sperrazza

Patrick Stephenson

Blake Taylor

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