WEST END, NC (4/15/08) -- Walter Todd of Laurens, SC, who led wire-to-wire in 2007 at Providence Country Club in Charlotte, will be back in his home state to defend his title in the 28th Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship, April 18-20.

The 54-hole event conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association will be played at Greenville Country Club's Robert Trent Jones-designed Chanticleer course in Greenville, SC, April 18-20. Chanticleer, which has been rated by Golf Digest as one of America's Top 100 Courses since 1979, is a demanding par-72 that will play 6,722 yards for this championship. It was remodeled by Trent Jones' son Rees in 2001.

Todd, 47, shot 68-67-72--207 at Providence CC to win by a stroke over Steve Liebler of Irmo, SC, who was also the runner-up in 2005. Liebler returns this year, along with 15 of the next 16 finishers from the 2007 championship.

There are a bevy of former champions entered in the 2008 Carolinas Mid-Am, including John Finster of Wake Forest, NC, who won the title in 2005 and tied for fifth last year; Rick Cloninger of Fort Mill, SC, who won in 2003; Keith Harris of Southern Pines, NC, who prevailed in 2000 and 2002; Wynn Solle of Pinehurst, NC, the 2001 victor; and senior-aged Paul Simson of Raleigh, whose victories came in 1990, 1991, 1994 and 1997.

The 2008 champion could emerge from the ranks of the 313 golfers who participated in the four 18-hole qualifying events held during late March and early April. The leaders of those qualifiers were: Mark Slawter of Wake Forest, NC, Carmen Serbio III of Fayetteville, NC, Calvin Wood of Wilmington, NC, and Jeff Jamieson of Chapel Hill, NC, who posted par-matching 72s to lead a 90-player field at Pinewild CC's Holly course in Pinehurst; Jason West of Blacksburg, SC; whose 70 was beset among 84 players at Cherokee National GC in Gaffney, SC; Jeffrey Stephens of Simpsonville, SC; whose 70 led the way among 50 players at the Country Club of Orangeburg, SC; and Daniel Neveu of Pinehurst and David Brown of Conover, NC, who posted 70s to lead the 89 players at Meadowlands GC in Winston-Salem, NC.

ADDITIONAL MEDIA INFORMATION

28th Mid-Amateur Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association Greenville Country Club (Chanticleer Course)

502 Garden Trail, Greenville, SC 29605

864-672-1700

2007 CHAMPION: Walter Todd, Laurens, SC, 207 at Providence CC in Charlotte

DATES: April 18-20, 2008

FORMAT: The championship is contested at 54 holes of stroke play. After 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 60 scorers and those tied for 60th place.

ELIGIBILITY: Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has reached his 30th birthday by the first day of the championship, is a legal resident of one of the Carolinas, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has a current USGA handicap index at a CGA member club. The maximum allowable handicap index is 5.4.

SCHEDULE OF ROUNDS:

Thursday, April 17, Practice Rounds.

Friday, April 18, First round. 18 holes of stroke play.

Saturday, April 19, Second round. 18 holes of stroke play. Field cut to low 60 scorers and those tied for 60th place.

Sunday, April 20, Final round. 18 holes of four-ball stroke play.

PRIZES: Prizes are awarded in merchandise to the top 30 finishers. The champion receives a trophy, merchandise and possession of The Darby Moore Trophy for the ensuing year.

FAVORITES

Walter Todd, Laurens, SC (2007 champion) Steve Liebler, Irmo, SC (2005, 2007 runnerup) John Finster, Wake Forest, NC (2005 champion) Rick Cloninger, Fort Mill, SC (2003 champion) Keith Harris, Southern Pines, NC (2000, 2002 champion) Wynn Solle, Pinehurst, NC (2001 champion) Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC (1990, 1991, 1994, 1997 champion)

PAST CHAMPIONS

Year Winner, Score, Site

2007 Walter Todd, Laurens, SC, , 207 at Providence CC

2006 Mike Goodes, Reidsville, NC, 212 at Musgrove Mill GC

2005 John Finster, Wake Forest, NC, 199 at Mimosa Hills Golf & CC

2004 Mike Goodes, Reidsville, NC, 206 at Chechessee Creek Club

2003 Rick Cloninger, Fort Mill, SC, 211 at Highland CC

2002 Keith Harris, Concord, NC, 207 at Alamance CC

2001 Wynn Solle, Pinehurst, NC, 142 at Palmetto GC*# 2000 Keith Harris, Concord, NC, 212 at Bermuda Run G&CC

1999 Steve Slayden, Charlotte, NC, 212 at Secession GC

1998 Mike Goodes, Reidsville, NC, 204 at The Carolina CC

1997 Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC, 205 at North Ridge CC, Lakes*

1996 Terry Ezell, Rock Hill, SC, 210 at Greenville CC, Chanticleer

1995 Macon Moye, Charlotte, NC, 207 at Myers Park CC

1994 Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC, 209 at Old Tabby Links

1993 Kelly Miller, Southern Pines, NC, 210 at Pinehurst National GC

1992 Larry Penley, Central, SC, 213 at Musgrove Mill GC

1991 Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC, 217 at Treyburn CC 1990 Paul Simson, Raleigh, NC, 204 at Yeamans Hall Club

1989 Larry Boswell, Greensboro, NC, 142 at Cedar Rock CC#

1988 Frank Ford III, Charleston, SC, 216 at Wachesaw Plantation*

1987 Larry Boswell, Greensboro, NC, 209 at Wilson CC

1986 Bob Varn, Orangeburg, SC, 208 at CC of Orangeburg

1985 Walter Hall, Clemmons, NC, 213 at Myers Park CC*

1984 Vance Whicker, Greensboro, NC, 213 at CC of Spartanburg

1983 Larry Boswell, Greensboro, NC, 142 at MacGregor Downs CC#

1982 Larry Boswell, Columbia, SC, 208 at Foxfire Inn & CC

1981 Larry Boswell, Columbia, SC, 213 at Carmel CC

* Won in playoff. # Shortened to 36 holes.

GREENVILLE COUNTRY CLUB INFORMATION

HEAD PROFESSIONAL: Eric Pedersen

COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Jim Matthews

TYPE COURSE: Private

COURSE DESCRIPTION: The Chanticleer Course has been rated by Golf Digest as one of America's Top 100 Courses since 1979, and has just been named #6 in South Carolina for 2008. The 6,688-yard par 72 layout is situated separately from the rest of the club as a golf-only facility. Rolling fairways, towering hardwoods and pines, pure white sand, gently flowing creeks, and some of the most challenging greens in the nation combine to make Chanticleer a memorable test.

ARCHITECT: Robert Trent Jones

OPENED: 1970 (remodeled by Rees Jones in 2001) YARDAGE & PAR: 6,722 yards, par-72 COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 73.9/144 FAIRWAYS & TEES: Bermuda grass

GREENS: A-1 Bentgrass

CGA MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS AT GREENVILLE CC: 1910, 1925, 1937, 1972, 1977, 2005 Carolinas Amateur; 1971 Carolinas Junior; 1973, 1989 Carolinas Senior (Chanticleer); 1980, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1987 S.C. Match Play (Chanticleer); 1996 Carolinas Mid-Amateur (Chanticleer); 1990 Pro-Amateur (Chanticleer); 1973 Carolinas-Virginias Team Matches (Chanticleer).

WEST END, NC (4/11/08) -- The Carolinas Golf Association steps back to its very beginnings when the group conducts its 28th Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship at Greenville Country Club's Chanticleer course in Greenville, SC, April 18-20.

Although the CGA was organized in Charleston in 1909, its first Amateur championship was played the following year at Sans Souci Country Club, which a few years later would become Greenville Country Club. In the years since, the club has hosted CGA championships on 17 other occasions, including this year's Carolinas Mid-Amateur.

Greenville CC also was venue for the 1996 Carolinas Mid-Amateur won by Terry Ezell of Rock Hill, SC.

The Robert Trent Jones-designed Chanticleer course will be a far different layout than the original Sans Souci course that opened in 1905 -- a nine-hole test that measured a mere 2,634 yards. Chanticleer, which has been rated by Golf Digest as one of America's Top 100 Courses since 1979, is a demanding par-72 that will play 6,688 yards for this championship. It was remodeled by Trent Jones' son Rees in 2001.

Walter Todd of Laurens, SC, who led wire-to-wire in 2007 at Providence Country Club in Charlotte, will be chasing the title again this year. Todd shot 68-67-72--207 last year to win by one stroke over Steve Liebler of Irmo, SC. Liebler is also entered in this year's championship.

Charlotte, NC (4/22/07) - Walter Todd of Laurens, SC led wire-to-wire to claim the Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship at Providence Country Club.

Todd shot a final-round even-par 72 to hold off a back-nine charge by reigning South Carolina Mid-Amateur Champion Steve Liebler of Irmo, SC. Todd's steady nines of even par on both sides provided a one-shot lead over Liebler.

The 46 year-old Todd began the final round with a four-stroke lead over 2003 champion Rick Cloninger of Fort Mill, SC. Cloninger's final round 71 was enough for a solo third place finish, three back of Todd.

Playing with Cloninger, Todd thought his lead was three strokes heading into the 18th hole.

"The only time I checked the scores was at the turn to see if anyone was making a charge," said Todd. "At that time I was six strokes in the lead.

Unbeknownst to Todd, Steve Liebler was making a back-nine charge with birdies on 12, 13, 14, 15 and 17. Liebler's back-nine four-under par 33 was not enough to secure the win.

"I had no idea what Steve (Liebler) was doing in front of me," said a relieved Todd. "Maybe it was best I did not know."