Here's how Stuart Cramer golf phenom Rich Wills claimed NCHSAA 3A state gold

Gaston County’s top amateur golfer has added an NCHSAA state title to his growing trophy collection.

Stuart Cramer’s Rich Wills claimed the NCHSAA 3A individual state championship Tuesday at Longleaf Golf & Family Club in Southern Pines. Wills finished 8-under 136 (67-69) after 36 holes, two shots better than Terry Sanford’s Thomas Horne.

Wills began Day 2 of the 3A state tournament in second place, a shot behind Terry Sanford’s Ethan Paschal after shooting a 5-under 67. The Clemson golf signee birdied six holes in Round 1, bogeying only the 17th hole.

He’d begin Round 2 earning par on the first four holes before bogeying the fifth. Wills didn’t remain above par long, finishing the front nine with birdies on three of its last four holes, including the par-3 sixth.

On the back nine, Wills birdied the 12th and 16th holes, bogeying only the 18th.

The 3A individual title comes on the heels of Wills claiming the past two Gaston County Amateur tournaments.

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Wills led Stuart Cramer to a third-place result at the 3A state tournament, the Storm finishing with a two-day total of 601. Teammates Aiden Vargosko (153; 33rd), Luke Mingus (155; tied-37th), Drew Mercer (158; 44th) and Luke Crotts (159; 49th) contributed to the effort.

Kings Mountain placed fifth with a team total of 621. It was led by senior Will Spicer, who capped his career by shooting 2-under 142 for the tournament, good for sixth place. Also contributing were Thomas Spicer (155; tied-37th), Caleb Marr (158; 44th), Baylor Benton (166, tied-72nd), Josh Gillespie (173; tied-78th).

North Lincoln shot a team total of 638, good for ninth. Contributors to the effort included Conley Killian (152; 28th), Garrett Davis (156; tied-39th) Cooper Klein (164; tied-68th), Harrison Sigmon (166; tied-72nd) and Hudson Reeves (184; 89th).

East Lincoln freshman Warren Stiglitz finished 10th individually after shooting a 1-under 143. Crest’s Reed Burton was 26th after finishing with a 7-over 151.

Class 2A

Lincoln Charter’s Jonathon Jones tied for seventh at the 2A state tournament, shooting a 2-over 146 at Monroe’s Stonebridge Golf Club.

Class 1A

Cherryville’s Blake Tedder was the tri-county’s top finisher at the 1A state tournament, shooting a 27-hole result of 115 at 7 Lakes Golf Club in Seven Lakes. He helped the Ironmen place fifth as a team, Tedder along with Tyler Stroupe (126; tied-33rd), Colton Robinson (130; 43rd), Peyton Huffman (132; tied-45th) and Michael Griffin (148; tied-76th) combined to shoot 503.

Mountain Island Charter earned the area’s top team finish, its combined tally of 492 good for third. Kola Abudu was the Raptors’ low scorer, tying for 12th after a 27-hole result of 117. Brody Belcher (120; 16th), Owen Umscheid (126; tied-33rd), Jack Berger (134; tied-51st) and Noah Broome (139; tied-60th) also contributed in the effort.

Piedmont Community Charter’s Jackson Roper participated as an individual, finishing tied for 18th with a two-day total of 121.

This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: Here's how Stuart Cramer golf phenom Rich Wills claimed NCHSAA 3A state gold