Preview: 4th Carolinian Amateur

The 4th Carolinian Amateur will be played at Keith Hills Golf Club from May 17-19.

 

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (May 16, 2019) -- The Carolinas Golf Association will conduct the 4th Carolinian Amateur at Keith Hills Golf Club in Buies Creek, N.C. from May 17-19, 2019.  Keith Hills GC has been the sole host of this event since its inception, and this year's field will include 153 golfers. Keith Hills GC was previously host to the Keith Hills Invitational before the CGA began conducting the event in 2016 as the Carolinian Amateur.

 

Related: Championship Web Site | Full Field of Players | Starting Times | Scoring | History
 

Players to watch:

• Harry Reynolds of Greenville, S.C. is the defending champion and the only past champion in the field at this year's Carolinian. Last year, Reynolds shot 9-under-par, 207 total and ultimately claimed the title after a three-hole playoff.
• William Herring of Lillington, N.C. is a former N.C. State golfer turned professional who’s amateur status was just reinstated May 11, 2019. Herring was named to the North Carolina All-State Boys’ Team in 2008.
• Spencer Oxendine of Fayetteville, N.C. is currently the second ranked golfer on the Carolinas Junior Boys' Ranking. Oxendine captured both the Creed Boys' Invitational and the Hope Valley Junior Invitational in 2018. He also finished in second place at the Carolinas Amateur Championship and tied for third at the Carolinas Junior Boys' Championship.
• Mason Tucker of Lancaster, S.C. won the Tom Fleischer High School Invitational earlier this year. He also finished in second place at the AAAA High School Regionals and third place at the 2019 AAAA State Qualifier.
• Brett McLamb of Coats, N.C. has never finished outside the top four places in this event. In the Inaugural Carolinian, Mclamb finished in fourth place. He finished in second place in 2017 and last year finished in third place. This year, he hopes to have his best finish to date and bring home the trophy.
• Stephen Lavenets of Willow Spring, N.C. recently claimed medalist honors with his partner, Clay Watkins, at the Carolinas Four-Ball Championship at Camden Country Club. The duo was eliminated in the quarter final matches by the eventual championship. Lavenets finished tied for 13^th at last year’s Carolinas Amateur Championship and tied for 27^th earlier this year at the Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship.
• Fulton Smith of Pinehurst, N.C. claimed medalist honors at last year’s U.S. Junior Amateur Qualifying. He was able to make it to the match play portion of the championship before being eliminated. In April, he finished tied for first place at the TYGA N.C. High School Invitational.
• Brady Hinkle of Lancaster, S.C. won our 2016 South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship at Green Valley Country Club in Greenville, S.C.
• Ryan Nagy of Raleigh, N.C. finished runner-up in last year’s North Carolina Mid-Amateur Championship at Ballantyne Country Club in Charlotte, N.C.
• Chris Cassetta of High Point, N.C. finished tied for 17th in this event last year. He also finished tied for eighth at last year’s North Carolina Mid-Amateur Championship and finished tied for 11^th earlier this year at the Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship.

Opened in 1954, the course at the Keith Hills GC features 6,712 yards of a tranquil and picturesque landscape overlooking the banks of the Cape Fear River. This Ellis Mapes-designed course features a par-72 layout surrounded by luscious trees and beautiful views of the river. The course has a unique set up with three 9-hole courses, and this year's Carolinian Amateur will be played with an Orange-Black routing to create an 18-hole course for the event.

Past champions in the field (1): Harry Reynolds, Greenville, S.C., 2018

The Carolinian Amateur format is 54 holes of stroke play. After 36 holes, the field is cut to the low 60 scores and ties.

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer ages 16 or older by the first round, 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 member club that does not exceed 10.4. There is no residency requirement for this tournament.

Scoring will be provided by the CGA throughout the championship. Live updates will also be available on the CGA’s official Twitter account, @cgagolf1909. Continue to visit the CGA website throughout this championship and all year long for complete championship coverage including scores, interviews, photos, and recaps.

Schedule of rounds:

Friday, May 17

First Round Starting Times: 8:00 am - 9:30 am; 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Saturday, May 18

Second Round Starting Times: 8:00 am - 9:30 am; 12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Sunday, May 19

Third Round Starting Times: 8:00 - 9:30 am; 12:30 - 2:30 pm

Awards ceremony immediately following play.