McIntyre leads Triad Am by one

Greer Smith, The High Point Enterprise, N.C.
·4 min read

Jul. 25—HIGH POINT — Matthew McIntyre didn't let a mid-round double-bogey spoil his back nine during the first round of the Triad Amateur on Saturday.

Garner resident McIntyre immediately rebounded from the calamity at No. 9 with a birdie on No. 10. That set the spark for a 33 coming in, a 4-under-par 68 overall and a one-stroke lead going into today's final 18 holes at High Point Country Club's Willow Creek course.

"The birdie on No. 10 was the key," McIntyre said. "It settled me down. The double bogey crushed me but the birdie on 10 got me back in the game."

McIntyre ran off three straight birdies on 5-7. He slipped back to 1-under after hitting a shot into the water hazard on No. 9. On the back nine, he birdied 13, 15 and 17 in addition to 10 and bogeyed 14.

It was his first round at Willow Creek. He chose to play in this tournament to prepare for U.S. Mid-Amateur qualifying the course is hosting next month.

"I hit it solid, kept it in play most of the round," McIntyre said. "I had a lot of opportunities. I didn't have to scramble a lot ... I'm happy, really pleased with it, especially for the first round here, I work all week so I couldn't come for a practice round. I'm going to play the Mid-Amateur qualifier so I thought this would be a good time to see the course."

Willow Creek regular Crutis Bortherton, the son of HPCC's director of golf Jum Brotherton, stands second at 3-under after closing with birdies on 17 and 18, the latter from about 40 feet.

Brotherton also made birdies on hole Nos. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 10 and bogeys on 3, 4, 12 and 16. He said the birdie on 1 was from 25 feet and the one on 5 was from 30 feet.

"I got off to a weird start, 1-over through 4," the younger Brotherton said. "But then I made some putts and settled in. the back nine I had some looks. I had a 3-putt from 50 feet on 12 that was annoying. I left it way short and then birdieing 17 and 18 was great."

Brotherton switched putters just before the round.

"I'm a tinkerer," Brotherton said. "I'm always changing. I've been experimenting with different necks, where the shaft connects to the head. The one I used yesterday just felt better."

The shot that helped save his round was a wayward drive left on 15 that stayed inbounds by what he said was little more than an inch.

"I got extremely lucky," Brotherton said. "This was one of those days where you go with the good breaks and roll with them."

Britt Sherrill of West End is third at 70. Harrison Frye and former Bud Kivette winner Chris Cassetta of High Point tied at 71 along with Mark Absher of Winston-Salem.

David Lelille of High Point, Ryan Sharpe and Chris Castelli of Greensboro and Justin Morgan of Garner all managed even-par 72 to tie for seventh.

Jeremy Ray, this year's Kivett winner, and Thomas Bonney of Greensboro are next at 1-over 73 with Nick Rubino.

Connor Sock, the 2020 Kivett winner, carded 2-over 74.

Scores of other area players includes Paul Slomkowski of Colfax at 76, Grady Newton of Wallburg at 76, Ivan Jones of High Point at 79, Matt Cromer of High Point at 80, Luke Michael of Trinity at 82 and Thomasville residents Tyler Partee and Brooks Brock at 83.

Steve Sharpe fired 4-under 68 and took a two-shot lead in the Senior Division.

Curtis Ingram of Winston-Salem and Dan Hendrickson of Charlotte are tied for second at 70, with former High Point resident Ernie Newton fourth at par 72.

Moore Councill of High Point is tied for fifth at 76 with Glenn Collins of Greensboro and Gary Pugh of Asheboro.

Scores of other local players include Chip Stroup of High Point at 77, former Bud Kivett winner Marc Cox at 78, Mike Bivins of High Point at 79 and Ron Sock of High Point at 89.

gsmith@hpenews.com — 336-888-3519 — @HPEgreer