Full Field of 156 Ready to Tackle Cabarrus

Concord, NC- A full field of 156 competitors is scheduled to compete in the Tarheel Tour’s Cabarrus Classic at Cabarrus Country Club in Concord, NC just up the road from the tour’s headquarters in Charlotte. Among the competitors is last year’s Cabarrus Classic Champion Will McGirt. The Boiling Springs, SC resident had three top six finishes in his first five events but recorded his first and only win of a stellar season when he defeated Australian Rohan Allwood on the first hole of a sudden death playoff. McGirt continued his outstanding play at Cabarrus two months later by finishing tied for second in the Tarheel Tour’s Southern Open. Also looking to continue his hot play is the most recent winner on the Tarheel Tour, Andy Bare. The former UNC-Greensboro standout recorded his first victory of the 2008 season last week in a sudden death playoff with Florence, SC native Gregg Jones. Bare moved up to sixth on the current money list after his five-footer for birdie on the first extra hole found the bottom of the cup earning him the $17,500 first place check.

Also in the field are all of the top six players on the 2008 money list, including all four winners in 2008. Although he has yet to win on the Tarheel Tour in 2008, Aiken, SC native Kevin Kisner has recorded top-4 finishes in both of his starts this season, including a tie for 2nd in the TPGG Classic at Oldfield Country Club. Kisner and 2008 Rivertowne Open Champion David Robinson are both in the field this week after each decided to take the last few weeks off.

The 7,116-yard par 72 George Cobb layout is one of the most popular venues on the Tarheel Tour each season. The signature hole at Cabarrus is the 156-yard par three 15th. Despite being the shortest hole at Cabarrus, the 15th plays over a large pond to a very shallow back to front sloping green which bunkers beyond the green to penalize the extra safe shot. The 15th at Cabarrus resembles the 12th hole at Augusta National more than any hole on the Tarheel Tour. Along with the annual Cabarrus Classic in the spring, the Tarheel Tour also returns each summer for the Southern Open, which typically has the largest field each season.

The Cabarrus Classic is a 54-hole event with a cut after 36 holes to the low 35% and ties. The players surviving the cut will compete for the estimated $127,500 purse with the winner’s share $20,000. The first round of the Cabarrus Classic will begin at 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 30. As always, the tournament is open to the public and free of charge. The Tarheel Tour hosts 20 tournaments throughout the year from Hilton Head, SC to Charlottesville, VA and all areas in between. For more information please visit www.tarheeltour.com.