Guilford (5-3) had dealt the first-place Cizzlers its lone loss in a 9-4 setback two weeks earlier.

Any thoughts of payback quickly vanished on Saturday, however, as the Patriots rolled to an 11-0 victory over Chatham County.

It was a contest the Cizzlers are best to just forget as not much went right the entire day.

The Patriots took a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Michael Thompson launched fastball from CC starter Jonathan Sessoms deep over the fence in left field and Guilford, six-time league champion in the past eight years, never looked back.

Sessoms was tagged with the loss despite giving up just two runs and two hits in just over three innings of work.

Cizzler pitchers, four in all, issued 11 walks on the afternoon, which led to the locals downfall.

Leading 2-0, Sessoms walked the bases full of Patriots in the third before Jordy Hadley came in and put out the fire by recording a fly out to Evan Johnson in left field.

Chatham County promptly put runners on first and second when Chris Hart walked and Keith Frazier singled. Cizzler coach Ronnie Manness attempted to get the runners in scoring position, but Spencer Moody failed on consecutive bunt attempts.

The greatest players from around the globe competing for the most treasured trophy in the sport.

For a golf course to even have the Open is rare, but for a course to have it two times in the span of six years in almost unheard of.

Next year, Pinehurst Country Club’s Number 2 course will again be the stage for golf’s biggest event.

Only this time, the planners at No. 2 have the experience of already setting up and showcasing a US Open.

This experience has led to a few changes to the course that may have an impact on just who adds their name to the list of past winners.

Course superintendent Paul Jett faced numerous challenges when preparing for next year’s Open.

Jett graduated from Clemson University in 1986 with a B.S. degree in Turfgrass management.

One of the first changes made was the lengthening of five holes.

Not so much just to add yardage to the course, but to bring back some of the nuances that were originally intended by course designer Donald Ross when the course opened nearly 100 years ago.

"We feel the holes that we lengthened will play very similar to the way they did 1999," said Jett. "By lengthening 2, 4, 11, 14, we have brought fairway bunkers back into play the way Ross had intended. In 99, these bunkers really weren’t an issue, because the players were flying the ball past them off the tee.

"Equipment has something to do with it, but next year the bunkers will be a factor because we have them in landing areas for tee shots."

These bunkers will also be different structurally as well.

BENNETT – The Wayne Phillips League featured a pair of exciting games on Saturday in locals semi-pro baseball action.

In the opener, Mike McIntyre stroked a two-run double in the bottom of the seventh to lift undefeated Red to a thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind win over Gold.

McIntyre’s double plated Chris Williams, who had earlier walked, and Neil Kivett, who had been hit by a pitch, with the winning runs.

Gold (1-3) had built a 3-0 lead entering the fifth when Red (4-0) plated a single run before tacking on another in the sixth to pull within 3-2.

Chris Williams led Red with a 2-for-2 outing at the plate while Steve Wright chipped in a hit for the victors.

Leading Gold offensively was Adam Brady and Kyle Scott, both of whom had a pair of hits.

Joe Seawell (3-0) hurled the final three innings in relief for Red to pick up the win while Derrick Scott was saddled with the loss for Gold after working the final three frames and giving up four runs.

more- See Thursday, June 17 paper: Vol 84, No. 29