WINSTON-SALEM, NC – Steven Brame of Henderson left Forsyth Country Club on Sunday , June 16, 2013 (6731 yards, par 36-35—71, 72.8/136) with the Billy Joe Patton trophy for winning the North Carolina Amateur, a 30-year-old who shot a 3 under 69 to win his first major Carolinas Golf Association title.
Brame, the third-round leader after shooting a 66 on Saturday, began Sunday's round with a one shot lead but never flinched. His 273 total was 11 under and it was two better than Bailey Patrick, a rising junior at North Carolina, who shot a 64 and Trevor Cone, a rising junior at Virginia Tech, who shot a 67.
Brame came to the 18th hole with a one-shot lead on Patrick and Cone, who were already in the clubhouse at 10 under. Brame hit a good drive, but then slightly pulled his approach and it left him with a difficult chip to a tucked pin. The good thing for Brame was he was on the up sloop and drew a good lie in the rough. His chip was nearly perfect hitting it to about three feet where he made the putt to win.
"That up and down on the last hole was the most nerve wracking I've ever had and that three-footer was tough," said Brame, whose father, Craig, was caddying for him. "I figured I had the lead by one shot on 18 and I just wanted to play for par and see what happens and I pulled it off."
Out of high school Brame decided to work for his dad in the family copier business for a few years. At age 23 he felt that his golf game was good enough and was ready for college. He attended and played at Cape Fear Community College in Wilmington, NC finishing his career as the number one ranked JUCO player in the country and 1st Team All-American. That fine play led to a scholarship at Lynn University in Boca Raton, FL where he graduated in 2010 in three semesters.
