June 16, 2008

CHAPEL HILL, N.C. - Jack Fields, from Southern Pines, N.C., came from seven shots back to capture the championship at the 48th Annual North Carolina Amateur. Fields, who will be a freshman on Carolina's golf team this fall, fired an eight-under-par 63 on Sunday to surge ahead and give his father, who was serving as his caddy, one of the greatest Father's Day gifts ever.

Fields' spectacular round featured a double eagle, an eagle and five birdies with just a couple of bogeys. After two birdies early in the round, Fields, a standout at Pinecrest High School, eagled the par-5 eighth hole, leaving a 3-wood second shot from 255 yards three feet from the pin. At the par-5 12th hole, Fields once again ripped his 3-wood from 266 yards away and the ball went into the hole.

Fields, who posted a one-under 283 total, was the only player who finished under-par on the par-71, 6,852-yard layout at Raleigh Country Club. Fields finished one stroke ahead of Zack Byrd, who just completed his senior year at Coastal Carolina. Tar Heel Reed Darsie, who just concluded his senior season, finished in third place with a 285 total after carding an even par 71 on Sunday. Another Tar Heel, rising sophomore Henry Zaytoun III finished in fourth place with a 286 total while Dan Hendrickson placed 5th at 287. Kevin O'Connell, a rising sophomore for the Tar Heels, placed sixth at 288 after being the leader going into the last two rounds.

Other Carolina players in the field were Robert Riesen, a rising senior who tied for 10th place with a 291 total; Philip Chauncey a rising junior, who tied for 56th at 306; and Barden Berry, who just completed his senior year and missed the cut.