Nick Mathews of Mebane birdied six of his first 11 holes in Momday’s afternoon round of the Chapel Hill NCAA men’s regional and was only two strokes off the lead when play was suspended by darkness at Finley Golf Club.
Playing as an individual, the N.C. State junior opened with 3-under-par 67 in the morning and was in fourth place at 8-under overall and 5-under through 15 holes in the afternoon. Due to a forecast of poor weather for Tuesday and Wednesday, tournament officials opted to try to play 36 holes on the first day of the 54-hole tournament.
Mathews (pictured) would advance to the NCAA Championship later this month in Carlsbad, California, if he can post the best score among individuals and players from teams that don’t finish in the top 5 and advance.
Austin Greaser of UNC, in a tie for second at 9-under, completed 36 holes with rounds of 66 and 65. The Tar Heels were in third place at 13-under, eight shots behind East Tennessee State.
Clemson, which had a few holes left to play in the second round, was five strokes on top of UNC. Calahan Keever of Clemson, who did finish, was the leader after 65 in each of his two rounds.
At the Austin Regional at the University of Texas Golf Club, Michael Brennan of Wake Forest and Kelvin Hernandez of UNC Greensboro were part of a six-player tie for the individual lead at 4-under 67. UNCG was in eighth place at 4-over 288. Wake was tied for ninth at 289. Georgia held the fifth qualifying spot at 284.
