Truett and Atkinson, who successfully defended their title, became only the fifth team in the 51-year history of the event to claim back-to-back titles. The last team to take this honor was Dick Horne and the late Allen Powers who won their two titles in 1982 and 1983. No team has ever won three consecutive championships.

In the scheduled 18-hole match, both teams began steadily with pars on the first three holes. Truett was then conceded a six-foot birdie on the fourth to go 1 up. After trading pars on six, Hendricks won the par-4 7^th with a two-putt par to get the match back to even. Atkinson countered on the ninth with a 50-foot birdie to get the Atkinson-Truett team back to one up at the turn.

On the back nine, Atkinson and Truett birdied the 13th and 14th respectively to take a two-up lead. After halving the 15^th and 16^th holes, Truett's conceded par on 17 secured the win.

Truett, Vice President of Moore and Associates Health Insurance Agency, was pleased with their steady improvement throughout the week.

"We started slowly in the early part of the week and got better with each match", said Truett, a recently re-elected town council member of Surfside Beach, S.C. "Today, we just played solidly. As difficult as those last few holes were playing today, our birdies on those back-to-back par 5's really prepared us for the last few holes."

Atkinson, President of O'Connor Headwear felt that both players contributed well to the win.

"Today was nice in that we were both in play on most every hole", said Atkinson, winner of three South Carolina Amateur Match Play titles. "That helped us keep the pressure on."

Unseasonably cold weather made conditions challenging.

In only their third attempt in competing for the Carolinas Four-Ball title, Atkinson and Truett have one twice.

With the win, Atkinson and Truett qualify to compete on the Carolinas Team, which will play against the best amateurs in Virginia and West Virginia in the Carolinas-Virginias Team Matches. The event will be played October 11-13 at the Kinloch Golf Club in Mankin-Sabot, Virginia.

The Carolinas Four-Ball Championship is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association.

Camden, S.C. - Defending champions Bert Atkinson of Charleston, S.C. and Sammy Truett of Surfside Beach, S.C. fought windy, rainy conditions to advance to the finals of the Carolinas Four-Ball Championship played at Camden Country Club.

In the quarterfinal morning match, Atkinson and Truett ousted first-time competitors Steve Jones and Dirk Fennie of Greensboro, N.C. Jones and Fennie, both former North Carolina Amateur Champions, came to the last hole one down only to halve the hole and lose the match.

In the semi-finals, Atkinson and Truett took advantage of a break in the weather and soundly defeated Chris Cassetta of Kernersville, N.C. and Kenny Flynn of Winston-Salem, N.C. 5 and 4. Atkinson registered 6 birdies and Truett added one in the winning semifinal effort. Atkinson struggled in the morning round and was felt like he redeemed himself in the semifinal round. "I was delighted to earn my way back on to the team this afternoon", said Atkinson. "Sammy really played well this morning."

Truett added, "We were six feet away from going home in the very first match. Bert had to make a five-footer on the eighteenth hole to take that match into extra holes. We were fortunate to win that one and be here now."

In the other semifinal match, 1999 Champions Daran Womack of Aiken, S.C. and Joe Hendrick of Chesterfield, S.C. edged out Lanny Correll, Jr. and Taylor Kush of Columbia, S.C., 3 and 2. Womack and Hendrick won the 15^th and 16^th holes to secure the win.

"Although neither played really great, we both played good at the right time", said Hendrick. "We covered each other well."

Womack added, "This was a very hard day for everyone. The rain really drained us all this morning."

The 18-hole final match will begin at 8 a.m. on Sunday.

The Carolinas Four-Ball Championship is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association.

Quarterfinal Round Match Play Results

Bert Atkinson, Charleston, SC-Sammy Truett, Surfside Beach, SC

def. Dirk Fennie, Greensboro, NC-Steve Jones, Oak Ridge, NC, 1up

Chris Cassetta, Kernersville, NC-Kenny Flynn, Winston-Salem, NC

def. Keith Harris, Concord, NC-Glenn Quintana, Concord, NC, 1 up

Joe Hendrick, Chesterfield, SC-Daran Womack, Aiken, SC

def. Noel Brown, Charlotte, NC-Bob Phipps, Charlotte, NC, 4 & 3

Lanny Correll, Jr., Columbia, SC-Taylor Kush, Columbia, SC

def. Danny Gurley, Chapel Hill, NC-David Eaker, Forest City, NC, 1 up

Bert Atkinson, Charleston, SC-Sammy Truett, Surfside Beach, SC

def. Chris Cassetta, Kernersville, NC-Kenny Flynn, Winston-Salem, NC, 5 & 4

Joe Hendrick, Chesterfield, SC-Daran Womack, Aiken, SC

def. Lanny Correll, Jr., Columbia, SC-Taylor Kush, Columbia, SC, 3 & 2

Camden, SC--First and second round match play results of the 51^st Four-Ball Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association hosted by Camden Country Club in Camden, SC on Friday.

First Round

Upper Bracket

Bert Atkinson, Charleston, SC-Sammy Truett, Surfside Beach, SC df. Arnold Edwards, Charlotte, NC - Frank Morris, Winston-Salem, NC 20 holes

Mike Bivins, High Point, NC-Jim Carmichael, High Point, NC df. Mitch Adams, Cary, NC-Preston Edmondson, Morrisville, NC 19 holes

Dirk Fennie, Greensboro, NC-Steve Jones, Oak Ridge, NC df. Ray Womack, Burlington, NC-Jimmy Simmons, Elon, NC 4&3

Mark Wagner, Statesville, NC-Lance Waggener, Statesville, NC df. Keith Waters, Raleigh, NC-Greg Powell, Whiteville, NC 22 holes

Chris Cassetta, Kernersville, NC-Kenny Flynn, Winston-Salem, NC df. Steve Sharpe, Greensboro, NC - Jacob May, Lexington, NC 22 holes

Chuck Floyd, Fort Mill, SC-Mike Granger, Charlotte, NC df. Walter Todd, Laurens, SC-T.D. Todd, Laurens, SC 2&1

Keith Harris, Concord, NC-Glenn Quintana, Concord, NC df. Gus Sylvan, Columbia, SC-Steve Liebler, Irmo, SC

Marion Moore, Orangeburg, SC-Jackson Hughes, Greenville, SC df. Herb Lohr, Lexington, NC-Tom Saintsing, Lexington, NC 22 holes

Lower Bracket

Robert Godfrey, Clemson, SC-Ken Murray, Pendleton, SC df. Dillard Pruitt, Greenville, SC - Jim Macfie, Columbia, SC 3&2

Joe Hendrick, Chesterfield, SC-Daran Womack, Aiken, SC df. Twig Wood, Siler City, NC-Craig Wood, Siler City, NC 3&2

Larry Penley, Central, SC-Bill Smunk, Kingstree, SC df. Vic Hannon, Camden, SC-Darrell Teubner, West End, NC 4&3

Noel Brown, Charlotte, NC-Bob Phipps, Charlotte, NC df. John Fritz, Charlotte, NC-Ken Hissam, Waxhaw, NC 19 holes

Lanny Correll, Jr., Columbia, SC-Taylor Kush, Columbia, SC df. Dean Channell, Cary, NC - Steve Harwell, Mooresville, NC 1 up

Brad Krapfel, Columbia, SC-Eddie Hargett, Blythewood, SC df. Whitney Mathis, Kingstree, SC-Jim Burgess, Kingstree, SC 4&3

Danny Gurley, Chapel Hill, NC-David Eaker, Forest City, NC df. Jim Hillard, Greenville, NC-Greg Hardison, Greenville, NC 2&1

Brian Westveer, Concord, NC-John Tuttle, Kannapolis, NC df. John Stratton, Greensboro, NC-Lawrence Hicks, Greensboro, NC 2&1

Second Round

Upper Bracket

Atkinson-Truett df. Bivins-Carmichael 4&3

Fennie-Jones df. Wagner-Waggener 7&6

Cassetta-Flynn df. Floyd-Granger 3&2

Harris-Quintana df. Moore-Hughes 4&3

Lower Bracket

Hendrick-Womack df. Godfrey-Murray 1 up

Brown-Phipps df. Penley-Smunk 5&4

Correll-Kush df. Krapfel-Hargett 2&1

Gurley-Eaker df. Westveer-Tuttle 3&2

Camden, SC--Defending Champions Bert Atkinson of Charleston, SC and Sammy Truett of Surfside Beach, SC won two matches on Friday to advance to the quarterfinals at the 51^st Four-Ball Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association hosted by Camden Country Club in Camden, SC.

In morning action, 7 out of 16 matches were decided in extra holes with 3 matches ending in 22 holes. Atkinson and Truett survived a scare from Arnold Edwards of Charlotte, NC and Frank Morris of Winston-Salem, NC. Truett sank a 50-foot birdie putt on the 20^th hole to win the match. Edwards and Morris was the last team to qualify for match play via Thursday's six-team playoff.

Atkinson and Truett then faced Mike Bivins and Jim Carmichael of High Point, NC in their afternoon match. Bivins and Carmichael needed 19 holes to win their morning match versus Mitch Adams of Cary, NC and Preston Edmondson of Morrisville, NC. Atkinson and Truett did not find their game until the back nine of their afternoon match. "We uglied it this morning and uglied it around the front nine this afternoon," stated Truett. "The back nine was a little better." Truett sank a 15-foot birdie putt on the 15^th hole to secure a 4&3 victory.

In other afternoon action, Dirk Fennie of Greensboro, NC and Steve Jones of Oak Ridge, NC were eight-under par after 12 holes to win a decisive victory over Mark Wagner and Lance Waggener of Statesville, NC. Fennie and Jones birdied the last 5 holes of their match.

Stroke play qualifying medalists Robert Godfrey of Clemson, SC and Ken Murray of Pendleton, SC, were ousted by Joe Hendrick of Chesterfield, SC and Daran Womack of Aiken, SC by a 1 up score. Godfrey and Murray fired a 12-under par 128 total during stroke play qualifying.

A couple of twenty-somethings kept their first Four-Ball Championship hopes alive by winning the dubbed "Greater Columbia Championship" afternoon match. Lanny Correll, Jr., 27, and Taylor Kush, 20, of Columbia, SC defeated Brad Krapfel, 38, of Columbia, SC and Eddie Hargett, 41, of Blythewood, SC by a 2&1 score. Correll, Jr. and Kush will face Danny Gurley of Chapel Hill, NC and David Eaker of Forest City, NC in tomorrow's last quarterfinal match. Gurley is the 2002 NC Mid-Amateur Champion.

Saturday's quarterfinal matches are slated to begin at 8:00am at Camden Country Club with the semifinals to follow in the afternoon. The 18-hole championship match will be played Sunday morning.

This championship is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association.

To visit the Carolinas Golf Association on-line, log onto www.thecga.org.

Robert Godfrey, Clemson, SC - Ken Murray, Pendleton, SC 64-64--128

Chris Cassetta, Kernersville, NC - Kenny Flynn, Winston-Salem, NC 63-66--129

Lanny Correll, Jr., Columbia, SC - Taylor Kush, Columbia, SC 65-64--129

Gus Sylvan, Columbia, SC - Steve Liebler, Irmo, SC 62-67--129

Danny Gurley, Chapel Hill, NC - David Eaker, Forest City, NC 64-67--131

Larry Penley, Central, SC - Bill Smunk, Kingstree, SC 66-66--132

Noel Brown, Charlotte, NC - Bob Phipps, Charlotte, NC 69-64--133

Dirk Fennie, Greensboro, NC - Steve Jones, Oak Ridge, NC 68-65--133

Keith Waters, Raleigh, NC - Greg Powell, Whiteville, NC 66-67--133

Brian Westveer, Concord, NC - John Tuttle, Kannapolis, NC 67-66--133

Mitch Adams, Cary, NC - Preston Edmondson, Morrisville, NC 65-69--134

Chuck Floyd, Fort Mill, SC - Mike Granger, Charlotte, NC 66-68--134

Joe Hendrick, Chesterfield, SC - Daran Womack, Aiken, SC 68-66--134

Herb Lohr, Lexington, NC - Tom Saintsing, Lexington, NC 67-67--134

Mike Bivins, High Point, NC - Jim Carmichael, High Point, NC 69-66--135

John Fritz, Charlotte, NC - Ken Hissam, Waxhaw, NC 68-68--136

Brad Krapfel, Columbia, SC - Eddie Hargett, Blythewood, SC 68-68--136

Whitney Mathis, Kingstree, SC - Jim Burgess, Kingstree, SC 69-67--136

Marion Moore, Orangeburg, SC - Jackson Hughes, Jr., Greenville, SC 68-68--136

John Stratton, Greensboro, NC - Lawrence Hicks, Greensboro, NC 67-69--136

Walter Todd, Laurens, SC - T.D. Todd, Jr., Laurens, SC 66-70--136

Twig Wood, Siler City, NC - Craig Wood, Siler City, NC 70-66--136

Vic Hannon, Camden, SC - Darrell Teubner, West End, NC 69-68--137

Keith Harris, Concord, NC - Glenn Quintana, Concord, NC 68-69--137

Jim Hillard, Greenville, NC - Greg Hardison, Greenville, NC 68-69--137

Mark Wagner, Statesville, NC - Lance Waggener, Statesville, NC 66-71--137

Ray Womack, Burlington, NC - Jimmy Simmons, Elon, NC 70-67--137

*Dean Channell, Cary, NC - Steve Harwell, Mooresville, NC 66-72--138

*Arnold Edwards, Charlotte, NC - Frank Morris, Winston-Salem, NC 70-68--138

*Dillard Pruitt, Greenville, SC - Jim Macfie, Columbia, SC 72-66--138

*Steve Sharpe, Greensboro, NC - Jacob May, Lexington, NC 68-70--138

Dick Hogan, Burlington, NC - Bubba Judy, Greensboro, NC 68-70--138

Mike Emory, Lake Wylie, SC - Joe Howren, Charlotte, NC 65-73--138

David Braxton, Burlington, NC - Neal Braxton, Burlington, NC 70-69--139

Robert Dargan, Columbia, SC - David Dargan, Columbia, SC 67-72--139

Wayne Howle, Darlington, SC - Robby Bennett, Jr., Cheraw, SC 68-71--139

Mark Kinlaw, Lumberton, NC - Patrick Smith, Lumberton, NC 71-68--139

Bill Thaxton, Monroe, NC - Ron Medlin, Monroe, NC 72-67--139

Daniel Hendrickson, Charlotte, NC - Bobby Dean, Charlotte, NC 70-70--140

Hank Jones, Rocky Mount, NC - Jim Pittman, Rocky Mount, NC 68-72--140

Mark Sharp, Burlington, NC - Ronnie Stuber, Burlington, NC 71-69--140

Gary Lark, Charlotte, NC - Jon Rivers, Mt. Croghan, SC 72-69--141

Byron Beck, Marion, SC - Tommy Randall, Bishopville, SC 69-72--141

Dave Whipkey, Charlotte, NC - Mike Richardson, Charlotte, NC 71-70--141

Darryl Baker, Farmville, NC - Charlie Rose, Greenville, NC 69-72--141

Dave Bogedain, Cary, NC - Charles Welch, Salisbury, NC 70-71--141

Pete Clough, Columbia, SC - Rich Houghton, Columbia, SC 70-71--141

Johnny Elam, Charlotte, NC - John Fitch, Jr., Charlotte, NC 69-72--141

Rusty Flanders, North Augusta, SC - Lad Wright, North Augusta, SC 73-68--141

Matt Grandy, Simpsonville, SC - Frank Wrenn III, Greenville, SC 68-73--141

David Hurt, Davidson, NC - John Hurt, Davidson, NC 73-68--141

Doug Seefus, Huntersville, NC - Chris Gilbert, Huntersville, NC 69-73--142

Marc Copeland, Charlestown, SC - Richard Moore, Isle of Palms, SC 76-66--142

Cliff Seastrunk, Raleigh, NC - Lee Barton, Florence, SC 71-71--142

Rick Aldous, Lexington, SC - Todd Webber, Moore, SC 72-71--143

Rick Condrey, Nebo, NC - Bill Norris, Spruce Pine, NC 71-72--143

Gig Hilton, Lexington, NC - Ed Streetman, Lexington, NC 75-68--143

Rick Ingle, Jr., Winnsboro, SC - Tim Eich, Columbia, SC 71-72--143

John Salerno, Charlotte, NC - Ted Barnes, Charlotte, NC 72-71--143

Robin Alley, Columbia, SC - George Kennedy, Irmo, SC 73-71--144

Luke Hill, Charlotte, NC - Tom Polito, Charlotte, NC 71-73--144

Larry Webb, Greensboro, NC - James Brown, Jr., Stoneville, NC 72-72--144

Ronnie Brower, Waxhaw, NC - Chris Deaton, Staley, NC 74-70--144

Jamie Frazier, Winnsboro, SC - Lanny Correll, Sr., Pawleys Island, SC 72-72--144

Martin Huff, Pinehurst, NC - John Marcum, Pinehurst, NC 71-73--144

DeeBo Kelly, Camden, SC - Kevin Gobbi, Lexington, SC 73-71--144

Wayne Petty, Burlington, NC - Jack Nance, Pinehurst, NC 70-74--144

Chris Sauer, Midland, NC - Robert Shoaf, Harrisburg, NC 72-72--144

Kenny Treece, Monroe, NC - Brad Thomas, Charlotte, NC 70-74--144

Tradd McCrary, Durham, NC - Kevin Hinkle, Chapel Hill, NC 72-73--145

Rob Wilson, Charleston, SC - Don Williams, Charlotte, NC 72-73--145

Mike Beaver, High Point, NC - Chip Stroup, High Point, NC 71-74--145

Rhett Graham, Myrtle Beach, SC - Ernie Newton, High Point, NC 71-74--145

Jimmy Stokes, Camden, SC - Bobby Grimm, Camden, SC 74-71--145

Dave Wall, Lexington, NC - Daniel Timberlake, Lexington, NC 74-72--146

Jonathan Tamburro, Greenville, SC - Tony Tamburro, Greenville, SC 75-72--147

Neal Baker, Charleston, SC - Bubba Hightower, Moncks Corner, SC 72-75--147

Michael Nowak, Charlotte, NC - David Richards, Charlotte, NC 74-73--147

Butch Reynolds, Lexington, SC - Robert Renfroe, Lexington, SC 76-71--147

Guy Smith, Lexington, NC - Hugo Crigler, Lexington, NC 74-73--147

Mitch Small, Anderson, SC - T.J. Grubbs, Central, SC 76-72--148

Mike Mahoney, Greeleyville, SC - Robbie Mahoney, Florence, SC 78-70--148

Steve Wilson, Wilmington, NC - Joe Johnson, Wilmington, NC 77-74--151

Gray Yancey, Oxford, NC - Bill Long, Henderson, NC 76-75--151

Phillip Greene, Charlotte, NC - Mark Simpson, Monroe, NC 75-77--152

Al Edwards, Charlotte, NC - Roger Fuller, Charlotte, NC 78-75--153

Joe Carson, Florence, SC - Laddie Hiller, Florence, SC 81-76--157

Bobby Faulkner, Southern Pines, NC - Andrew Faulkner, Pinehurst, NC 81-79--160

Donald Kilgo, Matthews, NC - Matt Kilgo, Raleigh, NC DNS---DNS

*won match play position in playoff