Columbia, SC (6/15/08) - Tripp McAllister of Lake City birdied the last hole to defeat Brent Roof of Columbia 1 up in the South Carolina Match Play Championship.

McAllister, Coastal Carolina University golfer and conference freshman of the year canned a 25 foot putt for his only lead of the day and the championship.

The first 12 holes were like two boxers throwing nothing but easy jabs. A couple of three putts and a ball in a hazard were as exiting as it got. Then McAllister pulled the wrong club on 13 and the ball hit just short of the green and rolled back down the hill 30 yards leaving an impossible chip, Roof goes 2 up on the failure to convert. Tripp storms back on 15 when his approach stops within a foot of the hole, back to one down. On 15, Tripp’s drive hits a cart path and bounds an extra 30 yards into a water hazard, back to 2 down.

On the par three 16th Brent’s tee shot buries under the lip forcing him to play away from the hole, McAllister back to 1 down. Roof tries to drive the short par 17th. His tee shot clips a limb and a dozen spectators along with the players cannot find the ball, the match is even. On the par five 18th, both players lay up with their second shots. McAllister stops his approach 25 feet and Roof responds with a wedge to 12 feet. McAllister makes, Roof narrowly misses and the championship is suddenly decided.

WEST END, NC (6/9/08) - When the 36th South Carolina Match Play Championship is played June 11-15, it will mark the fifth time that Spring Valley Country Club in Columbia has hosted a Carolinas Golf Association championship.

Spring Valley, designed by architects George Cobb and John LaFoy, previously hosted the Carolinas Amateur in 1965, the Carolinas Women's Four-Ball in 1978 and 1979, and the Carolinas Pro-Amateur Club Championship in 2001.

The course, which has bermuda grass fairways and mini verde hybrid bermuda grass greens, will play as a par-70 for the S.C. Amateur, with the yardage set at 6,753 yards.

Defending champion Warren Thomas of Columbia is among the 91 players entered. A year ago at True Blue Golf Plantation in Pawleys Island, Thomas scored a 4 & 2 victory over Kellen Altman of Myrtle Beach in the title match.

The Championship opens with a 36-hole stroke play qualifying event on Wednesday, June 11 and Thursday, June 12, the field competing for 31 match play berths. Thomas is automatically in the match play as the No. 1 seed. On Friday, June 13, the 32 golfers compete in the first and second rounds of the event, with the winners advancing to Saturday's quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. In a change instituted this year, the championship match on Sunday, June 15, will be contested at 18 holes instead of the 36 holes that had been used in the past.

ADDITIONAL MEDIA INFORMATION

36th South Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association June 11-15, 2008 Spring Valley Country Club 300 Spring Valley Road Columbia, South Carolina 29223

(803) 788-3084

2007 CHAMPION

Warren Thomas, Columbia

DATES

June 11-15, 2008

FORMAT

36 holes of stroke play to determine 32 qualifiers for match play. The defending champion is seeded number one for match play if otherwise eligible. The championship match on Sunday, June 15, has been reduced to 18 holes. A team competition is held in conjunction with stroke play qualifying. Three or four competitors from the same club comprise a team, with the lowest three scores counting each round. When more than four competitors from the same club are in the field, the lowest handicap indexes are used to determine the team.

ELIGIBILITY

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who is a legal resident of South Carolina, 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 7.4.

SCHEDULE OF ROUNDS

Tuesday, June 10, Tee times available for practice after 12 noon.

Wednesday, June 11, First round: 18 holes of stroke play (PM tee times) Thursday, June 12, Second round. 18 holes of stroke play (AM tee times).

Field cut to low 32 qualifiers for match play.

Friday, June 13, First and second rounds of match play (18 holes each round).

Saturday, June 14, Quarterfinal and semifinal rounds of match play (18 holes each round).

Sunday, June 15, Final match (18 holes).

PRIZES

Champion receives a trophy, merchandise and possession of the permanent championship trophy for the ensuing year. Prizes are awarded to the medalist, runnerup, semifinalists, quarterfinalists and members of the winning club in the team competition

FAVORITE

Warren Thomas, 2007 champion

PAST CHAMPIONS

Champion / Runnerup / Medalist Score Site

1973 David Bennett, Florence d. Marion Moore, Orangeburg 9 & 8 CC of SC, Florence

68-Bubba Hightower, Charleston

1974 Bill Lewis, Florence d. Marion Fowler, Lake City 10 & 9 CC of SC, Florence

71-Bill Ziegler, Orangeburg*

1975 Ken Wiland, Aiken d. Dick Horne, Mt. Pleasant 2 & 1 Dunes G&BC, Myrtle Beach

68-Jimmy White, Aiken

1976 Dick Horne, Mt. Pleasant d. Gus Sylvan III, Columbia38 holes Wildewood CC, Columbia

145-Horne

1977 Jim Holmes, Aiken# 287 Wildewood CC, Columbia

Ernest Faile, Hartsville 290

1978 Larry Boswell, Columbia d. Dick Horne, Mt. Pleasant 2 & 1 Wildewood CC, Columbia

143-John Plyler, Columbia

1979 Dick Horne, Mt. Pleasant d. Jim McNair Jr., Aiken 10 & 8 Wellman Club, Johnsonville

141-John Plyler, Hopkins

1980 Joey Graham, Columbia d. Ken Wiland, Columbia 6 & 4 Greenville CC, Greenville

147-Heyward Sullivan, Greenville

1981 Bill Lovett, Greenville d. Allen Powers, N. Augusta 2 up Greenville CC, Greenville

141-Bill Bowers, Columbia

1982 Allen Powers, N. Augusta d. Marion Fowler, Lake City10 & 9 Dunes G&BC, Myrtle Beach

140-Dillard Pruitt, Greenville

1983 Ken Wiland, Columbia d. Mike Carlisle, Aiken 1 up Greenville CC, Greenville

142-Wiland

1984 Bill Bowers, Columbia d. Chip Prezioso, Columbia 5 & 4 Dunes G&BC, Myrtle Beach

142-Jimmy Burgess, Kingstree

1985 Bob Varn, Orangeburg d. Joe Frederick, Fort Mill 1 up Greenville CC, Greenville

139-Bill Lovett, Greenville

1986 Rob Hrubala, Aiken d. Joel Hartwell, Myrtle Beach 5 & 3 Dunes G&BC, Myrtle Beach

141-Scott Lander, Myrtle Beach

1987 Oswald Drawdy, Hampton d. Brian Lamb, Pickens 1 up Greenville CC, Greenville

145-Chris Patton, Fountain Inn

1988 Barry Black, Spartanburg d. Rob Hrubala, Aiken 4 & 3 Carolina CC, Spartanburg

136-Todd White, Spartanburg

1989 Terry Ezell, Charleston d. Max Fain, Spartanburg 3 & 2 Osprey Point, Kiawah Island

142-Bob Stringer, Blythewood

1990 Barry Black, Spartanburg d. Mike Gravely, Greer 4 & 3 Wachesaw,Murrells Inlet

138-Todd White, Spartanburg

1991 Todd White, Spartanburg d. Mike Byce, Spartanburg 1 up Wild Dunes,Isle of Palms

139-Marion Moore, Orangeburg

1992 Barry Black, Spartanburg d. Roddy Guest, M. Beach 5 & 3 Prestwick GC, Myrtle Beach

70-Chris Winchip, Columbia+

1993 Butch Genoble, S'burg d. Barry Black, Spartanburg 7 & 6 Carolina CC, Spartanburg

134-Mike Byce, Spartanburg

1994 Bert Atkinson, Charleston d. Terry Ezell, N. Augusta5 & 4 Windermere Club, Blythewood

142-Brad Krapfel, Columbia

1995 Bert Atkinson, Charleston d. Frank Ford III, Charleston6 & 5 Ocean Course, Kiawah Island

143-Gus Sylvan, Columbia*

1996 Bert Atkinson, Charleston d. Charles Warren, Columbia10 & 9 Wild Wing Avocet, Myrtle Beach

136-Warren

1997 Bobby Hathaway, Columbia d. Bob Varn, Orangeburg 7 & 6 Tidewater GC, Myrtle Beach

146-Austin Page, Duncan

1998 Jason Gabriel, Aiken d. Rob Simmons, Walterboro 1 up Palmetto GC, Aiken

139-Gus Sylvan, Columbia

1999 Robert Godfrey, Central d. Kyle Thompson, Columbia 2 & 1 Windermere Club, Blythewood

139-Frank Ford III, Charleston

2000 Gregg Jones, Florence d. Brad Martin, Spartanburg 6 & 5 Musgrove Mill GC, Clinton

142-Jani Saari, Clemson

2001 Gregg Jones, Florence d. Jack Ferguson, Seneca 2 & 1 Myrtle Beach National

139-Ferguson

2002 Nick Biershenk, Boiling Spgs d. Taylor Hough, Sp’burg2 & 1 CC of Spartanburg, Spartanburg

137-Emmett Turner, Greenwood

2003 Dillard Pruitt, Greenville d. Todd White, Moore 5 & 3 Green Valley CC, Greenville

134-Brian Duncan, Greenville

2004 Todd White, Moore d. Nick Biershenk, Boling Springs 1 up Mount Vintage GC, North Augusta

134-Todd White, Moore

2005 Kellen Altman, Conway d. Ben Martin, Greenwood 2 & 1 Carolina CC, Spartanburg

133-Daniel Sloan, Greenville

2006 Adam Hart, Blythewood d. Baker Elmore, Cheraw 3 & 2 Camden CC, Camden

67-Holley Wallace, Columbia+

2007 Warren Thomas, Columbia d. Kellen Altman, Myrtle Bch4 & 2 True Blue, Pawleys Island

138-Ben Karns, Gaffney

* Won in playoff.

# Championship contested at stroke play.

+ Rain shortened.

SPRING VALLEY COUNTRY CLUB INFORMATION

DIRECTOR OF GOLF: Mike Birdsell

HEAD PROFESSIONAL: Chad Martin

COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Chris Williams

TYPE COURSE: Private

COURSE DESCRIPTION: Spring Valley Country Club is located on 150 acres in the midst of the first primary, upscale residential neighborhood in the northeast area of Columbia.

Elevation changes, large lakes, small ponds, wildflowers, natural flowering trees and wildlife provide a great setting for golf. The course's bermuda fairways and Mini Verde hybrid greens cover 18 distinctive holes that feature unique bunkers and elevated tees.

ARCHITECTS: George Cobb and John LaFoy

OPENED: 1961

YARDAGE & PAR: 6,753 yards, par 70

COURSE RATING/SLOPE: 73.7/135

FAIRWAYS & TEES: Bermuda

GREENS: Mini Verde hybrid bermuda

CGA MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS AT SPRING VALLEY: 1965 Carolinas Amateur, 1978 and 1979 Carolinas Women's Four-Ball, 2001 Carolinas Pro-Amateur Club Championship

MAP

WEST END, NC (6/3/08) -- Defending champion Warren Thomas of Columbia is among those entered in the Carolinas Golf Association's 36th S.C. Amateur Match Play Championship, which will be played June 11-15 at Spring Valley Country Club in his hometown.

A year ago at True Blue Golf Plantation in Pawleys Island, Thomas scored a 4 & 2 victory over Kellen Altman of Myrtle Beach in the scheduled 36-hole championship match. Altman is not entered in this year's championship.

Spring Valley CC, designed by architect George Cobb and opened in 1961, is a 6,791-yard,

par-72 course with Bermuda grass fairways and mini verde hybrid Bermuda grass greens. The club has previously hosted four Carolinas Golf Association major championships -- the Carolinas Amateur in 1965, the Carolinas Women's Four-Ball in 1978 and 1979, and the Carolinas Pro-Amateur Club Championship in 2001.

The Championship opens with a 36-hole stroke play qualifying event on Wednesday, June 11 and Thursday, June 12, with more than 90 golfers competing for 32 match play berths. A team competition is held in conjunction with the stroke play qualifying with three or four competitors from the same club comprising a team. The lowest three scores count each round.

On Friday, June 13, the 32 golfers compete in the first and second rounds of the event, with the winners advancing to Saturday's quarterfinal and semifinal rounds. In a change instituted this year, the championship match on Sunday, June 15, will be contested at

18 holes instead of the 36 holes that had been used in the past.

The field for this event consists of male South Carolina residents who are members in good standing of a club that is a member club of the CGA and who have a handicap index of 7.4 or less.

PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC (6/17/07) — Final round match play results of the 35th South Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association hosted by True Blue Golf Plantation in Pawleys Island, SC on Sunday, June 17, 2007. (6920 yards, Par 37-35—72).

Warren Thomas of Columbia defeated 2005 champion Kellen Altman of Myrtle Beach, 4 and 2, in the championship match. Thomas, a rising senior at the University of South Carolina, never trailed in the match. The win is Thomas’s first CGA major victory.

In the morning round, Thomas vaulted out to a 4 up lead through nine holes. Altman chipped away at the lead by winning the 10^th and 11^th holes to go two down. But Thomas won the 14^th and 15^th holes with birdies to re-take a 4 up lead heading into the afternoon round.

Thomas’s largest lead came with a birdie at the par three 21^st hole to gain a 5 up advantage. Altman bounced back with wins at the 21^st and 22^nd holes to cut the lead to a 3 up advantage.

Altman’s second shot at the par five 27^th hole hooked left of the green and was never found. Altman conceded the hole to Thomas.

Altman tried to mount a comeback. He birdied the 30^th hole only to have Thomas knock one right on top of him. Altman birdied the 31^st hole to cut the lead to 3 down.

The next 3 holes were halved and Thomas was dormie heading to the 188-yard par 3 34^th hole. Altman’s tee shot just missed the green right and kicked into the lateral water hazard…splashing any hopes of a late rally.  Thomas’s par putt was conceded for the victory.

“My mom was the good luck charm this week,” stated Thomas. “I made her ride in the cart all week. She got out once and I hit a shot over the green. I asked her to get back in and then I almost holed that chip. Ever since then she stayed in the cart.”

Good luck charm or not, Thomas played solid golf on Sunday. Through 34 holes played, Thomas was 8-under par that included 11 birdies and a conceded eagle.

“Every time I tried to make a rally, Warren topped me. He played very solid today,” said Altman.

This championship is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association.

Championship Match

Warren Thomas, Columbia, SC def. Kellen Altman, Myrtle Beach, 4&2