SNOW HILL — Brice Ballin completed an impressive comeback Tuesday to win the Conference Carolinas Championship. The individual championship is the second in Mount Olive men’s golf program history. Ballin also was named to the All-Tournament Team.
Cade Hancock of Elizabethtown (75-78-73=226) had his best round of the tournament, shooting 73 Tuesday, including four birdies, to take 14th in the event played at Cutter Creek Golf Club.
The Trojans finished third after falling to fifth earlier in the final round to hold a 306-296-290=892 championship card.
King University won the tournament with a 23-over 887 followed by Barton at 890 and Mount Olive at 892 in the nine-team tournament.
Ballin (74-70-67=211) had a stellar final round at four-under after the front nine. After a par to start No. 10, Ballin bogied 11 and rebounded with an eagle on No. 12. He ended the back nine with two more birdies to finish five-under on the day. Barton’s Bryson Boyette, with a final round 69, finished second at two-under 214 and was the only other player under par.
Ballin had to wait for three schools to complete the final round before claiming individual medalist honors and the school’s second individual championship. The last individual champion for UMO was John Thatch in 2016.
“I’m very happy with my performance this weekend,” Ballin said. “I’m very thankful for all of my teammates and coaches that were there to support me! It was great to end the season on a high note and get the win.”
Chandler Perry (77-73-75=225) dropped outside of the top-10, as he shot three-over on the final day and finished tied for 12th. Ruben Van Der Berg (80-75-75=230) was the final Trojan inside the Top-25 at tied for 23rd, jumping up two spots from Monday and rounded out the Trojan Card.
Arthur Heinbach (82-80-75=237) was the final Trojan at tied for 35th, also shooting his best round of the championship and jumping up two spots in the final round.
“I’m really proud of Brice and what he was able to accomplish this week. This is something that he has talked about and wanted, so to cap off his career with an individual conference championship is really amazing,” Mount Olive coach Chip Spiron said. “He will graduate in a few weeks as the best player to play in the University of Mount Olive golf program, since it became a four-year institution. I could not be prouder.”
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