Catalioto Off to Hot Start at Northstone

Huntersville, NC- Ramsey, NJ native and former Clemson golfer Martin Catalioto fired a 7-under-par 65 in the first round to take a one-shot lead in the Tarheel Tour’s Northstone Open at Northstone Country Club. Catalioto, playing in the first Tarheel Tour event of his career, picked up three birdies against no bogeys on the outward nine, but then bogeyed the difficult 461-yard par-4 11th to fall back to 2-under. Catalioto then caught fire with an eagle at the par-5 12th followed by a birdie at the short par-3 13th. He also made birdie at the second par five on the back nine, the 15th, before closing out his round of 65 with a birdie on the dangerous 437-yard par-4 18th.

One shot off the lead is Bluffton, SC resident Cory Kaufman who fired a 6-under-par 66 highlighted by a front nine 6-under-par 30. Kaufman reached 8-under for the day after making birdie at the 13th, before dropping shots at the 14th and 15th holes. Kaufman’s best finish this season is a tie for fourth at the Rivertowne Open where he earned $5,100 in one of the best fields in developmental golf history. He is also currently 16th on the money list with just over $10,000 in earnings.

Chapel Hill, NC native Jonathan Jackson is alone in 3rd place after posting a 5-under-par 67. Jackson’s played an error free round with three birdies and an eagle helping him to his opening 67.

The afternoon wave had a bit more of a struggle with the steady morning breeze increasing and the sloping P.B. Dye greens becoming firmer and faster. Nonetheless, three of the Tarheel Tour’s most accomplished players were able to shoot 4-under-par 68 amid the tougher afternoon conditions. Rivertowne Open champion David Robinson, Sapona Open Champion Andy Bare, and 2007 Cabarrus Classic Champion William McGirt all stayed close to the leader with solid rounds of 68. McGirt, a former Wofford standout, has yet to finish out of the top ten this season and is currently 6th on the money list. The trio of stars was part of a large group of players at 4-under-par. Also in the group of players sitting three shots behind Catalioto are Matt Crenshaw, Matthew Cram-Smith, Matthew McQuillan and Cabarrus Classic runner-up Matt Mincer, all of whom played in the morning wave .

The second round of the Northstone Open begins at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday May 8th. The event is open to the public and free of charge. Please come out and support the future stars of the PGA Tour at Northstone Country Club.

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