Former UNCG standout Andy Bare captures first Tarheel Tour win

CHINA GROVE, NC – Former UNC Greensboro star Andy Bare pared the first hole of sudden death to capture the Tarheel Tour’s Warrior Classic at Warrior Golf Club on Friday.

Bare, a 2004 UNCG graduate and two-time SoCon all-conference selection, began the day tied for the lead with Doug Fiese of Smyrna, GA, and spent most of the round trading shots with the former Georgia State player. Fiese would arrive at the arduous par-3 16th tied for the lead before a double bogey ended his chances at victory. That left Bare and Sal Spallone, who was in the group in front of Bare, to determine the winner.

Spallone played steady all day and made five birdies against no bogies to card a round of 66 and sit in the clubhouse, wondering what his fate might be. Bare birdied the docile par-5 17th and came to the tricky par-4 18th tied for the lead. He would give himself a good look at birdie, but a two-putt par would be the end result and both players would head back to the 18th for the playoff.

Spallone, who played collegiate golf at TCU and currently lives in Vero Beach, FL, hit his tee shot left and out of bounds on the first playoff hole. When Bare stood over his tee shot, he was still unaware as to whether or not Spallone was out of bounds.

Nevertheless, Bare stuck with his aggressive game plan and launched a driver straight down the middle. A simple two-putt par was all he needed to solidify his victory and his name on the $12,000 first place check.

The Tarheel Tour heads up I-85 next week to Lexington, NC for the Sapona Classic at Sapona Country Club.

- UNCG -