McBride third as Myrtle Beach event reduced to 36 holes

Paul McBride (fourth from the right) with the Wake Forest team

Paul McBride missed out on the chance to fight for his first individual victory for Wake Forest when the General Hackler Championship was reduced to 36 holes because of inclement weather at Myrtle Beach.

The 21-year-old international from The Island, a semi-finalist in last year's British Amateur and a bronze medalist with Ireland in the Eisenhower Trophy, finished third on seven-under-par at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club as Wake Forest took the team honours by 10 strokes from Kent State.

“We knew going into yesterday’s first round that there was a possibility of a 36-hole event,” said head coach Jerry Haas after Wake Forest's 10-shot team win over Kent State.

“The team came out ready to play. They had great preparation as many of them spent their spring break in Winston just practising. This core group of juniors and sophomores have brought us close to 10 team and individual victories over the past two seasons. 

"The quality of play, leadership and team unity are things I really cherish. I feel like if we had to have played today we still would have brought the title home.”

McBride opened with a 67 to take the lead, then added a 70 on Saturday afternoon to finish two strokes behind Wake Forest team-mate Will Zalatoris, who shot rounds of 68 and 67 to win by one shot from Kent State's Ian Holt on nine-under par.

The Deacs will return to action at the Valspar Collegiate Invitational in Palm City, Florida, from March 19-21