History to Unfold at 87th SCGA Amateur Championship
PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
July 26, 2018
Beaufort, SC - Youth vs experience has been the mantra of recent memory for the annual battle of the South Carolina Golf Association’s Amateur Championship. However, it’s more, much more. This championship is about highlighting South Carolina’s top players. Perhaps it’s a youngster taking the early lead after a stellar opening round, or a veteran-competitor withstanding the grueling four-day competition. Whichever way it unfolds, a champion will be crowned and will join others in history like Bill Haas, Lucas Glover, Mark Anderson and DJ Trahan.
The 87th SCGA Amateur Championship is set to begin Thursday, August 2nd and the competition is sure to be intense. The scene will play out over one of the best kept secrets in the lowcountry - Dataw Island Club. The Club’s Cotton Dike Course will provide just the test for a steady, consistent and well executed game plan in which the field will most certainly deliver some excitement.
Teeing it up and having experience in the winner’s circle will be reigning champion, Gregg Jones. Jones, a former Clemson Men’s golfer and All-American, captured the championship on his home course at Florence Country Club last year. Jones’ experience on tight fairways should be an edge for him as Dataw Island’s Cotton Dike course requires strategy and accuracy off the tee. With experience earlier this year in the winner’s circle at Dataw, Daniel Azallion, a Hilton Head native and 2018 SCGA Junior Champion will have the knowledge needed to make a surge to the top of the leaderboard. Azallion fired an opening round seven under, 65 to set the stage for his victory and will use his experience and knowledge of the course to his advantage. Joining reining Amateur and Junior champion will be the 2018 Senior Champion, Rich Weston. Weston, who just months before winning the Senior Championship was awarded his amateur status, is one to watch. With experience not only in elite tournaments, but also on the Tour, look for Weston to be lurking around the top of the leaderboard early. A premier pairing during the first and second round of the championship will be Jones, Azallion and Weston where youth and experience will collide.
While course knowledge is crucial, experience in the Amateur Championship is just as important. Not only is the reigning Amateur Champion competing, but two others join the field of competition as well. Lee Palms (2008 Champion) and Austin Reeves (2011 Champion) will bring the upstate contingency to the lowcountry.
Other notables include: 2017 Senior Champion at Dataw Island Club Geno Berchiatti, Florida State University Men’s golfer Jake Carter, Gamecocks Men’s golfer Caleb Proveaux, and SCGA Qualifier Medalists Gene Zeigler (Florence), Seth Robertson (Inman), Andrew Orishack (Hilton Head) and Cal Brock (Greenwood).
Play begins for the 87th SCGA Amateur Championship at Dataw Island Club on August 2nd with tee times starting at 7:30am of 1 and 10 tee.
For pairings, live scoring and championship results - 87th SCGA Amateur Championship
