Men's Golf Tops NC State in I-40 Cup

Tar Heels Ryan Burnett, George McNeely, Kenan Poole and Ryan Smith won their individual matches and the University of North Carolina won an alternate shot point to defeat NC State, 6 matches to 4, in the I-40 Cup, a collegiate men's golf match play event held Friday at the Carolina Country Club.

Burnett defeated Carter Graf 3&2, McNeely beat Thomas Deal 6&4, Poole edged Nick Matthews 2 up and Smith defeated Spencer Oxendine, 5&4.

The Wolfpack won three matches. Ben Shipp defeated UNC's Peter Fountain 2&1, Max Steinlechner beat Austin Greaser 2&1 and Easton Paxton edged Austin Hitt 1 up.

A pair of matches were halved, which earned each team half a point per match. Carolina's Dougie Ergood drew with Christian Salzer and Ryan Gerard finished all square with Ethan Choi.

"Today was a lot of fun and we are thankful to NC State, as well as the Carolina Country Club for hosting us," says UNC head coach Andrew DiBitetto. "Ted Kiegel, his staff and the membership were excited to host this inaugural match and we appreciated everyone who came out to support the Tar Heels and Wolfpack. Today's format was different than we are used to playing in collegiate golf, but one that will help both teams as we prepare for the ACC Championship and National Championship formats that both include match play."

Burnett birdied four of the first six holes and went 2 up with an eagle 3 on the par-5, 506-yard 12th hole. He won his match with a par on 16.

McNeely won holes 8, 9, 10, 12, 13 and 14 and made birdies on 8, 10, 12 and 14 to win 6&4.

Poole and Matthews were all square through eight holes before the Tar Heel won the next two holes. He parred 16 and 17 to win his match 2 up.

Smith won four of the first seven holes as well as the 12th and 13th holes, then parred the 14th to take his match, 5&4.

Ergood earned half a point when he and Salzer both made birdies on the par-5 18th hole. Gerard earned his half point for Carolina by pulling even with a par on the 17th hole.

Carolina returns to action April 16-17 in Phoenix in the Arizona State Thunderbird Collegiate.

Scoreboard Slider

University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Ryan Burnett

Peter Fountain

Austin Greaser

George McNeely

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