McConnell clubs partner with top organizations for high-caliber events

Nearly three-dozen events played at McConnell Golf clubs this year highlight partnerships with prestigious organizations including the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), American Junior Golf Association (AJGA), and the state golf associations from North and South Carolina and Tennessee.

“We value our relationships with these organizations and it is rewarding to see the best professionals and amateurs play our courses on a yearly basis,” said McConnell Golf VP of Golf Operations Brian Kittler. “Not only do we as a company enjoy hosting these events, but we also receive great support from our memberships.”

ACC Women's Championship

In April, Sedgefield CC played host to the 31st annual ACC Women’s Golf Championship for the ninth time in the past 11 years. Wake Forest senior sensation Jennifer Kupcho, the world’s top-ranked amateur player, made her first appearance since she earned her place in golf history by winning the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur.

Highlighted by the top two individual finishers, the Wake Forest Demon Deacons won the 2019 title in dominant fashion — and Kupcho wasn’t even part of the duo.

Wake Forest sophomore Emilia Migliaccio put together an outstanding performance to claim the individual title at 11-under-par 205 — the best individual score at Sedgefield and one stroke shy of the individual record for an ACC Championship set by Duke’s Brittany Lang in 2004.

Teammate Siyun Liu finished right behind her with a score of 9-under-par 207, highlighted by seven birdies in the third round.

Kupcho carded a 3-over-par 219 in what will be her final ACC Championship before heading to the LPGA Tour. Her Demon Deacons finished the championship with a team score of 850, 14 under par, to capture the championship by eight strokes. Wake Forest won its sixth ACC Championship in program history and first since 2010.

“An incredible week,” Migliaccio said. “Of course, I’m happy about winning the title,but I am even happier that we were able to win as a team and I can share this moment with my teammates.

Kim Lewellen became the first head coach to win the conference championship in her first season since the Deacs’ Mary Beth McGirr accomplished the feat in 1985. “The ACC is the best conference in the country, so we knew it was going to be tough, ”Lewellen said. “This is what you practice for all season long, for postseason play and winning championships.”

ACC Men's Championship

That same April weekend, Old North State Club played host to the 66th annual ACC Men’s Golf Championship for the 22nd time in the last 25 years.

Luke Schniederjans and Noah Norton each fired 4-under-par 68s in Sunday’s final round as No. 8 Georgia Tech defended its conference tournament title in record fashion. Tech captured its 18th all-time conference crown in men’s golf and 10th in the last 14 years. Tech broke its own tournament scoring record by posting a37-under-par total of 827, eclipsing the 33-under-par 831 by the 2011 Jackets’ team.

When the Yellow Jackets won their first ACC Championship in 1985, Wake Forest had already won 18. Tech pulled even with the Demon Deacons this year with 18 championships and won for the 13th time under head coach Bruce Heppler.

Twelve of Georgia Tech’s 17 ACC men’s golf championships have been won at the Old North State Club.

Georgia Tech finished 15 strokes clear of second-place Virginia, while Wake Forest finished third. Florida State sophomore John Pak captured medalist honors at 13-under-par 203, clinching his one-shot victory over Georgia Tech’s Andy Ogletree.

Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship

In early April, Charlotte’s Stephen Woodard captured the 39th Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship hosted by McConnell Golf’s The Reserve Golf Club in Pawleys Island, SC. This year’s Mid-Amateur Championship was shortened to 36 holes due to inclement weather. Nevertheless,The Reserve was in ideal shape and provided a stiff challenge for the 142-player field.

Woodard started the final round one shot off the lead after an opening round three-under par 69, and kick-started his final round with an opening nine two-under 34.

The first-time Carolinas Golf Association champion was thrilled about his victory. “I grew up in Charlotte and have been playing in CGA events since I was 11 years old,” Woodard said. “This one means a lotto put my name on this trophy with a lot of great names."

McConnell Golf High School Invitational

On April 30, some of the best junior golfers in the state of North Carolina descended upon Treyburn Country Club, as it hosted the 13th Annual McConnell Golf High School Invitational. Designed to include top teams from both public and private schools, the field included eight McConnell Golf members and five McConnell Golf scholars.

With a team total of 300 (+12), Raleigh’s Broughton High School won its first team championship over one of the strongest tourney fields in recent years, defeating Myers Park by two shots and RJ Reynolds by three. The O’Neal School’s Fulton Smith and Jackson Van Paris fired rounds of 3-under-par 69 to earn co-medalist honors at Treyburn.

A few weeks later at the State Championships, Myers Park, O’Neal School and St. David’s School took home state titles. Including three Raleigh CC members — Davis Adams, Wells Armes and Parker Smith — this year was St. David’s third state title in four years. The young men represented the Triangle in individual state championships as well. Broughton’s Peter Fountain won the 4A title, Clayton’s Brady Hooks took 3A, St. David’s Michael LaSasso won NCIS 3A, and O’Neal’s Fulton Smith won NCIS 2A.

Smith has signed to play golf for Wake Forest next year, while Van Paris will take his talents to Vanderbilt. Fountain heads to UNC in 2020.

Kittler and Carolinas Golf Association Director of Junior Golf Jason Cox founded the contest in 2007. “It has been great to work on this event for 13 years and I believe it has had a positive impact on high school golf in North Carolina,” says Kittler.

Rex Hospital Open

Former Arkansas Razorback Sebastian Cappelen turned professional in June of 2014. He Monday qualified into the Air Capital Classic and went on to capture a one-shot victory in his Web.com Tour debut.

In the long five years since, however, a second professional victory has eluded him.

So, when Cappelen opened his final round at the REX Hospital Open at The Country Club at Wakefield Plantation with two consecutive bogeys, it appeared his follow-up win would elude the Dane once more. But slowly, the pendulum swung back in Cappelen’s favor.

An eagle on No. 4 jump-started his round, followed by a birdie on No. 5. Cappelen played his final 16 holes in 9 under par for a three-shot win over former McConnell Golf Scholar Grayson Murray and Zack Sucher - and his ever-important second Web.com Tour title.

Murray, a Raleigh native, played Friday’s second round with Chris Baker, who narrowly missed a birdie putt on the finishing hole for a 59. Baker settled for a course-record 60.

So, Murray knew what was possible. In Sunday’s final round, he fired a 10-under-par 61 to get in at an 18-under 266. “I gave it my all today,” he said.