ROCK HILL, SC—Winthrop golfer Christian Sease was crowned the 102^nd champion of the 2016 Men's Carolinas Amateur Championship on Sunday after waiting out a six-hour weather delay and a four-hole playoff at the Country Club of Charleston.
 
His victory, which came 11 hours after beginning the final round on his home course, gives the Winthrop men's and women's golf programs a rare double victory following Ashley Sloup's championship at the women's Carolinas Amateur back in May.  The fact that Sease and Sloup have been dating for two years makes the feat even more unique.
 
"I'm grateful to be able to have my name on a trophy with some of the best golfers in the Carolinas," said Sease, who will return to Winthrop for one more season while pursuing a MBA degree.  "I can't even begin to describe the emotions I have felt the past few days, and to be able to win it at my home club in front of a home crowd is something that I will cherish for the rest of my life."
 
The 22-year-old, who lives in Mount Pleasant, S.C. out dueled 2012 Carolinas Am champion Carson Young from Pendleton, SC.  Sease entered the final round of the 72-hole event on the 6,776-yard layout with a one-shot lead over Austin Zoller and a two-shot advantage on Young, but was overtaken by Young after two holes.  The match went back and forth the remainder of the day until Sease was able to force a playoff on the 18^th hole when Young bogeyed. Both players finished regulation play tied at 8-under par 272. 

In the sudden death playoff Sease and Young played 1, 18, 1 and 18 again with Sease finally winning with a bogey to Young's double bogey as darkness enveloped the course at 8:40 p.m.
The win earned Sease a 10-year exemption into all Carolinas Golf Association events for which he is eligible.

"It feels really special that Ashley and I both are the Carolinas Amateur champions.  We have talked about this after she won about how awesome it would be if we both were to win, and I was just happy that I was able to get the victory," said Sease.
 
"It feels awesome to now be the second Winthrop golfer to capture the Carolinas Men Amateur Championship along with coach Pendley.  I talked with him on the phone afterwards and he joked that on the first day back at school he and I are going to play 18 holes to determine who the real champ is."
 
"I am proud of Christian.  He has worked extremely hard and has really developed into a solid player," said Pendley. "I am very excited for him to have his work rewarded and him see the fruits of his labor.  It was a great win for him in a big event against so many great players from North and South Carolina."