93rd Carolinas Amateur Championship

July 11-15, 2007

Long Cove Club, Hilton Head Island, SC

Open: April 9      Close: June 11

 Championship Information

 

Qualifying Information

 

(L-R) Patrick Rada of Anderson, SC with his father, Ken, and brother, Travis

2007 Carolinas Amateur Champion

Championship & Course Facts

Course Opened: 1981

Architect: Pete Dye

Yardage: 7026 yards, par 36-35--71

Course Rating (Gold tees): 74.8/142

Most Titles: 3 by F.M. Laxton (1921-23), Billy Joe Patton (1947, 58, 61), Bill Harvey (1964, 65, 73)

Notable Past Champions: Harvie Ward (1949, 50), P.J. Boatwright (1951), Chip Beck (1976, 77), Paul Simson (1991, 2005), Charles Warren (1995), Jonathan Byrd (1999)

- 1st CGA championship hosted by Long Cove Club

-championship has been contested at match play since its inception in 1909.

Long Cove Club Accolades:

GOLFWEEK:
No. 8 Best Residential Golf Courses
No. 35 Top 100 Modern Courses
 
GOLF DIGEST:
No. 71 Best Course in the Nation
 
GOLF MAGAZINE:
No. 23 Courses Built in the last 45 Years
No. 68 Top 100 Courses in the Nation
 
GOLF AND TRAVEL MAGAZINE:
No. 2 Top 40 Real Estate Courses

Long Cove Club Web Site

PATRICK RADA WINS 93RD CAROLINAS AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

Hilton Head Island, SC (7/15/07) - Patrick Rada of Anderson, SC fought off fellow University of South Carolina teammate Warren Thomas of Columbia, SC to win the 93rd Amateur Championship at Long Cove Club. The 19-year-old Rada won by a 6 and 4 margin.

Rada, whose older brother Travis caddied, fell to an early three-down deficit after nine holes, but turned the match around quickly by winning six holes on the second nine holes. Rada went into the lunch break with a three-up lead.

Rada maintained his lead with consistent pars on the final 14 holes to win the match.

This win was rather emotional for Patrick, his father Ken, and brother/caddie Travis in that Patrick’s mother died a year ago.

“This is a great tribute to Janet,” professed a proud father Ken.  “It is tough with her not being here, but we all know how proud she would be.”

Champion Patrick echoed the sentiment.

"Winning this event with my family here means so much to me", said the appreciative Rada. "I could not have done it without them."

Thomas was crowned the CGA South Carolina Amateur champion a few weeks ago, and defeated Rada in the semifinals to take that title. Rada turned the tables in this event by defeating Thomas in the finals.

Over 400 golfers attempted to qualify for the Carolinas Amateur with 154 advancing to the championship proper.

The Carolinas Amateur is the oldest Carolinas Golf Association event and began in 1910. Former champions include Harvie Ward, Chip Beck, Billy Joe Patton, Charles Warren and Jonathan Byrd.

Finals

Rada def. Thomas, 6 & 4 (36 hole match)

93rd AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP OF THE CAROLINAS GOLF ASSOCIATION TO BE CONTESTED AT LONG COVE CLUB ON HILTON HEAD ISLAND

WEST END, NC (6/29/07) — When the Carolinas Golf Association conducts its 93rd Amateur Championship at Long Cove Club July 11-15, it will mark the first time that the match play competition has been played on the highly regarded Pete Dye-designed course in Hilton Head Island, SC.

A private club that opened in 1981, Long Cove's 7,026-yard, par-72 course has received international acclaim over the years. Golfweek magazine has ranked it No. 35 in the U.S. among its Top 100 Modern Courses and No. 8 among its Best Residential Courses; Golf Digest puts it No. 71 among its 100 Best Courses in America; and Golf Magazine rates it No. 23 among the Courses Built in the Last 45 Years and No. 68 among its Top 100 Courses in the Nation.

Scott McClellan of Cary, NC, a 47-year-old sales representative, is expected back in defense of the title he won last year at Kiawah Island Resort's Turtle Point course. Also entered is Raleigh insuranceman Paul Simson, who won the title in 2005 at Greenville (S.C.) Country Club's Chanticleer course and in 1991 at Pinewild CC in Pinehurst.

The field of exempt players and those who survived 18-hole sectional qualifying at NorthStone Club in Huntersville, NC, The Carolina CC in Spartanburg, SC, The Windermere Club in Blythewood, SC and Walnut Creek CC in Goldsboro, NC will compete in a 36-hole qualifying event July 11-12.

After the second round, the low 31 qualifiers will join the top-seeded McClellan in the match play competition. The eventual survivors will engage in a scheduled 36-hole championship match on Sunday, July 15.

The CGA received 384 applications for its premier championship, which was first played at Sans Souci CC (now Greenville CC) in Greenville, SC in 1910. The winner of the inaugural championship, Berrien Brooks of Columbia, defeated F.M. Lexton of Charlotte 2&1 in the title match.

For more information about the 93rd Amateur Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association and many other Carolinas Golf Association events, visit the Championship Home Page online at www.carolinasgolf.org.

 

Scott McClellan Wins 92nd Carolinas Amateur

Kiawah Island, SC - 46 year-old Scott McClellan of Cary, NC outlasted opponent Whit Massey of Mount Pleasant, SC to capture the Carolinas Amateur Championship at Kiawah Island's Turtle Point course.

McClellan, national sales rep for Premier Warehousing Services, parred his first extra playoff hole to win his first CGA championship.

In the 36 hole match, Whit Massey, who works at nearby Osprey Point, started fast with birdies on the first two holes of the match.  He parred his ninth hole of the day to take his largest lead, two up.

McClellan fought back on the second nine holes to get the match to even after the first 18 holes.

In the second round, Massey once again gained a two-up lead in the middle of the third nine but failed to maintain his edge. His lead dwindled but he held a one-up lead on the final hole only to pull his tee shot into the water hazard. McClellan won the hole sending the match into extra holes.

McClellan parred the first playoff hole to win his first Carolinas Amateur.

"This is unbelievable," said the elated McClellan. "What do you think the odds of me winning this championship were?"

"I was exhausted after the first round this morning," said a relieved McClellan.  "I was hoping I would not fizzle out"

Defending champion Paul Simson of Raleigh, NC lost in his quarterfinal match.

With his title, McClellan joins notable former champions, Billy Joe Patton, Harvie Ward and Chip Beck.

The Carolinas Amateur Championship is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association.

Scott McClellan, Cary, NC defeated Whit Massey, Mount Pleasant, SC, 37 holes.