Mollica Advances to Final Four of North-South Amateur

July 6, 2007

Pinehurst, NC-Clemson rising junior Phillip Mollica advanced to the semifinals of the 107th annual North-South Amateur in Pinehurst, NC on Friday. The native of Anderson, SC defeated Scott Barton of Dallas, TX in 19 holes to advance. He will play Aaron Pike of Brisbane, Australia on Saturday morning. The winner will advance to the 36-hole championship on Sunday. All matches are being played on the famed Pinehurst #2 course.

Mollica qualified as the #16 seed after shooting a 140 in the stroke play qualifier earlier in the week. He then defeated #49 Jesse Speirs of Banger, ME 2-up in the first round on Wednesday. Mollica won two matches on Thursday, defeating #17 Steve Ziegler of Broomfield, CO and # 64 Adnrew Dibitetto by identical 4 and 3 scores. Dibitetto had earlier defeated Brady Schnell, the defending champion, in the opening round.

Mollica was one of two Clemson players in the event this year. Ben Martin also qualified for the match play portion after firing a 143 in the stroke play qualifier. But, the rising sophomore from Greenwood, SC lost in the first round of match play to Ryan Brehm of Mt. Pleasant, MI.

Mollica won the North-South qualifying last year with a 131 score for the 36 holes played on Pineshurst #2 and #4. However, he lost in the second round of the match play portion of the event.

Mollica Match Play Results at North-South Amateur July 4, 2007 def. #49 Jesse Spiers (Bangor, ME) 2-up July 5, 2007 def. #17 Steve Ziegler (Broomfield, CO), 4 & 3 July 5, 2007 def. #64 Andrew Dibitetto (Rochester, NY), 4 & 3 July 6, 2006 def. Scott Barton (Dallas, TX), 19 holes