Men's Golf Southern Conference

UNCG alum earns first professional win

SRING LAKE, NC - Former UNC Greensboro men's golfer Jason Martin earned his first professional win Thursday at the Tarheel Tour's Anderson Creek Open at the par-72 7,179 yard layout at Anderson Creek Golf Club.

Martin, a native of Lenoir, NC, shot a final-round 71 to finish at six-under 210 (67-72-71) and take home the $9,000 first-place check. After four second-place finishes on the Tarheel Tour over the last two years, Martin was pleased to taste victory.

"I know I'm good enough, I just had to prove it to myself again," said Martin, the 1998 North Carolina Amateur champion. "Hopefully this will be my breakthrough and I can keep going from here."

Martin, who was named All-Southern Conference in 1999, overcame tough course conditions on a day when only eight golfers broke par. He passed second-round leader Kevin Taylor of Mocksville on the 16th hole and held off a charge from two former North Carolina State standouts, Garth Mulroy of Raleigh and Fernando Mechereffe of Charlotte.

"I played pretty solid and had a really good save for par on No. 17," Martin said. "I hit my irons well and putted well this week. I don't think I three-putted once."

For Martin, who plays out of Treyburn Country Club in Durham, it was his first win since picking up a pair of victories during the 1998-99 season at the Yale Intercollegiate and the Liberty Fall Classic.
"I'd like to thank the staff and the members at Treyburn for all their help the last two years," said Martin. "I hope we come back here to Anderson Creek next year. I like the big greens and all the undulation. The golf course sets up really good for me."

Next up for the Tarheel Tour is the Charlotte National Open, July 6-8 at Charlotte National Golf Club in Indian Trail, NC.