Blaum Claims Inaugural Pete Dye Classic

Radford, VA- 2005 ACC Individual Champion Ryan Blaum made par at the 495 yard-par-four 18th hole at the Pete Dye River Course of Virginia Tech to hold off Scotland’s Joel Hendry to win the Tarheel Tour’s Inaugural Pete Dye Classic.

Blaum, who finished 15th this year in the PGA Tour’s Puerto Rico Open, managed to hit fairway after fairway and green after green on the most difficult course set-up for any single round this year on the Tarheel Tour. On a day where the remaining field of 49 players averaged 74.97 strokes, Blaum fired a bogey-free 2-under-par 70 which included nine consecutive pars to close out the tournament. Blaum and Hendry played fantastic golf on the brutally difficult back nine at the River Course. Each player parred the first eight holes on the back nine and went to the tee on the 495 yard par-4 18th tied at 8-under. Blaum hit his drive 298 yards down the middle of the narrow fairway, but Hendry pulled his drive just left where it bounded up into the thick rough. From there Hendry was unable to hit the green and could only manage a bogey-five. Blaum had 208 yards to the back pin but under clubbed purposely with a 6-iron to insure he wouldn’t hit it past the flag. His shot came straight down the flag stick about 35 short of the hole. Two putts later the Duke University graduate had the victory secured as well as the first place check worth $16,000.

“When I saw the course set-up today I thought even par today may be good enough. It wouldn’t have been, but I was able to make two birdies on the front and manage to par the rest to finish at 8 (under). I love playing this tour because this tour has great competition. There are great players like Joel Hendry, for instance, and we play on great courses like this one. It just gets my adrenaline going. I love it.” said Blaum.

The former Duke All-American is now two-for-two on the Tarheel Tour after winning in his only start last year at the Salisbury Classic in October. Blaum’s ability to successfully qualify for PGA and Nationwide Tour events has limited his time on the Tarheel Tour, but he plans to compete at the Southern Open, which happens to be the next event on the Tarheel Tour July 10-12.

For Hendry, his outstanding season continues with his second runner-up finish of the year and a check for $8,200. He also was co-runner-up at The Manor Classic in Farmville, VA. Frisco, TX resident Wes Stonestreet shot a final round 2-under-par 70 to finish at 4-under-par and in third place alone. Stonestreet’s round of 70 matched the low round of the day with Blaum and William McGirt. Tarheel Tour leading money winner David Robinson and North Augusta native Kyle Bradley each finished at 3-under-par to share fourth place.

Bradley followed up his course record tying 66 with an impressive 1-under-par 71 for his best finish of the season.

The Tarheel Tour would like to thank The River Course’s Head Professional John Norton, Golf Course Superintendent Mark Cote, and Director of Golf Operations Jay Hardwick and their staffs for helping prepare a great golf course and a great tournament for the Tarheel Tour’s inaugural visit toVirginia Tech. The next event on the Tarheel Tour is the Southern Open at Cabarrus Country Club in Concord, NC beginning on July 10. The expected field of 162 players will create the largest field of the season on the Tarheel Tour in what is typically one of the best events of the year.

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