Congratulations to Jonathan McCurry for winning the 33rd Brick Capital Classic at Sanford Golf Course this weekend. McCurry won the tournament in dramatic fashion when he held off his future UNC-Pembroke teammate, Carson Lanier, on the final hole to win the first Brick Capital of his career.
Below is the story from Tuesday’s paper that explains just a little of what happened in Sunday’s final round.
Here’s the story:
SANFORD — Jonathan McCurry held off his future UNC-Pembroke teammate Carson Lanier on the final hole to win the 33rd Annual Brick Capital Classic golf tournament on Sunday at the Sanford Municipal Golf Course.
McCurry (67-71), who finished with a total score of 138 to win his first career Brick Capital Classic, and Lanier (67-72), who finished with a total of 139, were tied for the lead headed into the 18th hole.
McCurry two-putted the par-5 final hole for par, while Lanier chipped the ball about three feet away from the pin but missed the final putt to lose the tournament by a stroke.
“I’m still kind of in shock,” said McCurry, a former Southern Lee standout. “I got hot on the back nine again and that really helped things as far as my round is concerned. Overall, I thought I played an up and down round. It still feels good to win, though.”
Lanier, who won the tournament in 2007 and was a runner-up in 2008 was proud to see his future teammate at Pembroke win his first Brick Capital Classic.
“I told him before that if there was anyone I wanted to see win it, other than me, it was him,” said Lanier. “He’s been playing in the Brick Capital for a while and he finally pulled it out. He birdied three holes in a row (14, 15 and 16) and he definitely deserves it. I’m happy for him”
Although he felt proud of his victory, McCurry still felt bad about what happened on the final hole to Lanier, calling it a “bittersweet moment.”
“That’s not the way you want to win,” said McCurry. “It was tough to watch that happen to a very good friend and a future teammate at UNC-Pembroke. It was kind of a bittersweet moment to see that happen.”
Lanier, who came into the tournament concerned about his putting, knew that as soon as he saw the ball bounce off of the putter-head and he saw the ball go to the right of the hole that he had missed it.
“It was just a routine putt that I could probably make 20 out of 20 times with my eyes closed,” said Lanier. “As soon as I hit it, it kind of squibbed right on me sort of like a horseshoe and it just didn’t go in. It just didn’t go in.”
As soon as he heard the crowd cheer in disbelief that Lanier missed that final putt, that’s when it finally hit him that the tournament was over.
“When I heard the crowd that’s when I thought to myself, ‘Wow. Did I just miss that?’ And I did,” said Lanier. “It was a tough way to go out.”
Lanier and Shane Parker finished tied for second as each scored a 139. Micah
Lawrence, a Lee County golfer, tied with Jonathan Blackard for third with a 140.Lawrence finished the tournament with a 71 while Blackard fired a 72 in the final round.
McCurry and Lanier entered the final round tied for the lead with a 4-under 67.
Through the first eight holes on the final round, however, Matt Rhodes held a two-shot lead. Rhodes double-bogeyed the ninth hole to surrender the lead back to Lanier.
Lanier, McCurry, Blackard, Lawrence and Parker were all tied for the lead with a 3-under through 15 holes. Lawrence and McCurry each made birdie on the 15th hole to get back into contention.
With the five-way tie for the lead after 15 holes, the pressure started building for McCurry. Luckily for him, he was able to keep cool and come through in the clutch.
“It all pretty much came down to the final three holes,” said McCurry. “That kind of pressure can kill you and ruin your game. I just continued to play my game and not worry about the pressure.”
On 16, Lanier and McCurry birdied to take the outright lead with one another. Lanier bogeyed 17 after hitting his first shot to the left of his tee. His second shot landed in the ditch and somehow he managed to two-putt the ball in for the bogey.
Craig Sturdivant won the first flight by finishing the tournament with a 142. He was the recipient of the Bobby Powell Medalist Award for the low round on Sunday.
Kyle Wicker (152), Tom Aguilar (157), Lacy Tripp (161), Mitch Darroch (169) and Steve Garcia (177) all won their respective flights. Dean Hundley, who finished with a 145 for the tournament, won the senior flight.
