Thaxton Repeats in Mid-Am Spartanburg, SC - Mark Thaxton overcame a five stroke deficit to capture his second consecutive SCGA Mid-Amateur Championship. Thaxton, of Simpsonville, began the final round five strokes back of Bert Atkinson of Charleston, who held the first and second round leads.
Atkinson faltered on the front side as a host of the players tied at 145 as the day began, moved up on the lead. Bogeys on 5, 7,8,and 9 gave Atkinson a four over par 40 on the front nine and left him even par for the tournament as he began the final nine. Thaxton posted a one over par 37 on the front and was within two strokes of the lead.
Geno Berchiatti (Simpsonville) and Kevin Walsh (Columbia) had nines of 36 (even par) to make the turn only one stroke back of the leaders . 1998 Champion Kevin King of Hilton Head, who was playing in the pairing with Thaxton, made the turn at one under par 35 and moved into a share of the lead with Atkinson. Thaxton made three birdies on the back nine (10, 15, and 17) and only one bogey to finish at 71 and 216.
Meanwhile, Atkinson was trying to make something happen on the short par 5 thirteenth and found the water . A bogey there and no birdies gave him a 77 for the round. Berchiatti made birdies on two of the last three holes to finish in a tie for second with Atkinson and Kevin Walsh who fired a final round of 72. All three players finished one stroke back at 217.
The Championship was held over the 6685 yard, par 72 Tom Jackson designed Carolina Country Club Course. The Championship was the final points event for the season for Player of the Year and the last chance for players to earn Palmetto Cup Points.
The Palmetto Cup matches the top amateurs against the top professionals in South Carolina at the end of October in a Ryder Cup style match. The 2000 matches will be held at Spring Valley Country Club in Columbia at the end of this month.

Final Results

Mark Thaxton (Simpsonville)	74	71	71	216
Kevin Walsh (Columbia)	72	73	72	217
Bert Atkinson (Charleston)	68	72	77	217
Geno Berchiatti (Simpsonville)	74	71	72	217
Kevin King (Hilton Head)	75	70	73	218
Taylor Hough (Spartanburg)	73	72	73	218
Eddie Hargett (Columbia)	73	74	75	222
Randy Childers, Jr. (Inman)	70	75	77	222
Daran Womack (Aiken)	77	71	75	223
Joe Hendrick (Chesterfield)	77	73	74	224
Bobby Newman (Roebuck)	69	76	79	224
Brian Kennedy (Woodruff)	76	74	75	225
Bill Smunk (Kingstree)	72	76	77	225
Thomas Kennaday (Columbia)	74	74	77	225
Gary Moore (Anderson)	73	74	78	225
Michael Gravley (Simpsonville)	72	75	78	225
Gus Sylvan (Columbia)	73	77	76	226
Steve Calicutt (Spartanburg)	76	74	76	226
Casey Smith (Abbeville)	75	73	78	226
Todd Hendley (Greenville)	74	79	75	228
Sammy Truett (Surfside Beach)	74	76	78	228
Jimmy Hamilton (Aiken)	75	75	78	228
Jonathon Mullane (Mt. Pleasant)	79	76	74	229
Terry Willis (Taylors)	73	78	79	230
Bob Varn (Orangeburg)	73	77	80	230
Timothy Pope (Spartanburg)	72	79	80	231
Jacob Smith (Abbeville)	76	76	79	231
Eddie Mirmow (Lexington)	74	76	81	231
John Black (Greer)	82	73	77	232
Teddie McCraw (Spartanburg)	80	75	77	232
Tim Teaster (Columbia)	75	74	83	232
Matt Harbin (Aiken)	73	78	82	233
Frank Williams (Greenwood)	74	76	83	233
Paul Griz (Hilton Head)	78	80	75	233
Rick Fricke (Simpsonville)	77	74	83	234
Michael Wiland (Aiken)	74	78	83	235
Norman Page (Woodruff)	70	85	80	235
Jim Burgess (Kingstree)	76	81	78	235
Lance Jones (North Augusta)	76	76	84	236
Bobby Gause (Lexington)	74	79	83	236
Ellison McCoy (Greenville)	80	77	79	236
Morris Pickens (Columbia)	71	84	82	237
Todd Webber (Moore)	74	80	83	237
Clint Douglas (Greenwood)	76	79	82	237
Keith Hess (Summerville)	80	77	80	237
Joe Padgette (N.Charleston)	78	80	79	237
Mark Willis (Darlington)	81	74	83	238
Tim Crowe (Anderson)	80	75	83	238
Scott Morris (Rock Hill)	74	79	86	239
Wayne Howle (Darlington)	78	78	83	239
Jerry Brandt (Spartanburg)	83	74	85	242
Ed Galbavy (Mt. Pleasant)	78	79	85	242
Brian C. Lott (Charleston)	74	81	88	243
Eddie Williamson (Hilton Head)	82	74	87	243
Ricky Thompkins (Simpsonville)	79	80	84	243
Mitch Jolley (Spartanburg)	81	76	87	244