Tarheel Tour Returns to Action at Firethorne  

Marvin, NC- The Charlotte, NC based Tarheel Tour returns this week for its first action in the month of August with the Firethorne Open at Firethorne Country Club in nearby Marvin, NC. This is the sixth consecutive year that Firethorne Country Club has hosted a Tarheel Tour event; with Scott Brown winning there most recently at the 2007 season concluding Match Play Championship.

This year the field of 144 competitors will include 2006 Raintree Classic Champion Stephen Poole, and Eatonton, SC native Blake Adams. Poole, a former standout at Clemson University and a member of the 2003 National Championship team there, earned medalist honors at the Monday Qualifier for the PGA Tour’s Wyndham Championship in Greensboro, NC, and parlayed his good play into a tie for 36th place and a check of $25,143. Poole closed with a 5-under-par 65 at Sedgefield Country Club to move up 18 spots on Sunday. On the Tarheel Tour in 2008, Poole has recorded six top-twelve finishes including a tie for 12th in the most recent Tarheel Tour event at Lake Hickory Country Club.

Joining Poole as one of the favorites this week is Nationwide Tour player Blake Adams. The former Georgia Southern standout has four top-ten finishes in nine starts on the Tarheel Tour in 2008. More impressively, as a non-exempt player, Adams has earned seven starts on the Nationwide Tour, where he has made five cuts, recorded four top twenty finishes, and earned just over $56,000 in official earnings. Adams had three consecutive top twenty finishes concluding with a tie for 12th in the Wichita Open two weeks ago.

Other players looking to vie for the title at Firethorne include 2004 Firethorne Open champion Matt Cannon, Walnut Creek Classic Champion Jonathan Moore, two-time winner in 2008 Andy Bare, and Scotland native Joel Hendry. Hendry has recorded two second place finishes in his last three starts, and has three runner-up finishes to his credit in 2008. He will headline a long list of players looking for their first career win on the Tarheel Tour this week at Firethorne.

The Tarheel Tour’s Firethorne Open will host the 144 player field to a 54-hole stroke play event with a cut to the low 35% and ties after 36-holes. Those players fortunate enough to make the cut will compete on Friday for a piece of the estimated $118,000 purse and a winner’s share of $18,500. In addition, Tarheel Tour members will also be looking for a top ten finish where they will earn a share of the 3,750 points awarded for the EGOLF Season ending point race. A $50,000 bonus pool will be awarded to the top ten Tarheel Tour members following the season ending Tour Championship, with a winner’s share of $20,000. For more information about EGOLF and the season ending points race please visit www.egolf.com and www.tarheeltour.com. A link to EGOLF point race information can be found in the lower left hand corner of the Tournament homepage for each of the last six events.

The first round of the Firethorne Open will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, August 20th on the first and tenth tees. In accordance with all Tarheel Tour events, admission is free and open to the public.