Risner Rises to the Top Again at the Carolinas Amateur

Event: 110th Carolinas Amateur Championship

Host Site: Cliffs at Mountain Park, Marietta, SC

Playing Dates: July 10-13, 2024

Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

 

Related: Championship Website  | Scoring |  History  |  Photos 

 

MARIETTA, S.C. - Congratulations to Garrett Risner of Holly Springs, N.C. on winning the 110th Carolinas Amateur Championship, an official USGA Exemption Event, which carries exemption into the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship. Risner carded rounds of 69-69-67-72 finishing at 277, 11-under par to successfully defend his title. 

“I finally got there, it’s been so hard to get [to the U.S. Amateur] for me,” Risner said. “I had a chance last year at my home club and couldn’t get it done, so to be in without having to qualify is a relief.”

The Cliffs at Mountain Park is atypical in design for the area. Senior Designer, Jeff Lawrence, worked with Course Architect Gary Player to create a links style course with holes winding through the Saluda River that runs through the property.

“We tried to bring the shot value, strategic element back into the game,” Lawrence said. 

The greens were fast and firm all week which challenged how aggressive players could be when attacking pins — it was only fitting that Risner holed a 12-foot birdie putt to win it on the 72nd hole. 

“I’m telling myself that this is your spot and this is where you’re trying to hit it,” Risner said. “Just kind of felt relief that I didn’t have to play another playoff [like last year].”

With mountains surrounding the property, and afternoon shadows slowly creeping in, Risner fist-pumped his winning putt home with a crowd of spectators watching greenside.

He started the Final Round two shots behind Jack Wieler of Bluffton, S.C., but with birdies on three, four and six, Risner started to mount a strong lead. 

“I was just trying to hold onto it and put pressure on the golf course,” Risner said. 

Mountain Park didn’t make it easy. Pars were high commodities with tricky pin locations.

“When you miss a green, it’s not always easy to get up and down, especially when you’re short sided,” Risner said.

Colin Salema of Matthews, N.C. surged seven spots up the leaderboard in the Final Round with a bogey-free 7-under, 65 to finish in second. He put some pressure on Risner down the stretch to force Risner to save par on 17 and ultimately convert that birdie on 18. 

Wieler tied Salema for second at 10-under overall after initially setting the pace for the championship with an opening round 7-under, 65. His putter was hot all week and typically came to life toward the end of his rounds. 

On Wednesday, Wieler birdied four of his last five holes and Thursday he wrapped up birdie-birdie-eagle. 

Wieler benefitted from having shorter approach shots into greens. Because of the distance he gets off the tee, he didn’t always have to rip driver; he could rely on his 2-iron. 

But at Mountain Park, putting seemed to be all that mattered. Despite back to back 69s to start the championship, Risner wasn’t satisfied. 

“I played two great rounds and really haven’t gotten much out of them,” Risner said Thursday.

After every round, Risner worked on the putting green trying to get comfortable and gain more confidence. 

Risner and Wieler spent Round 3 and 4 riding together. The Elon teammates relied on each other to take their minds off golf during breaks in the action. 

“It’s a little bit weird since you’re kind of playing against somebody you usually root for,” Wieler said. “But we can have casual conversations that you wouldn’t have with a normal guy you’re playing with.”

Mountain Park’s Superintendent, Jed Fedor, and his maintenance crew conditioned the course to create the tough test for the championship.

“You’ve got to train [the greens] throughout the season, not just for a week — we try to keep them at a high speed for our members.” Fedor said. “It’s just all details, details, details, details.”

Risner had his best round of the week on moving day by carding a 5-under 67. He eagled nine to go out at 4-under and grinded through the back to go in with a 35 for the 67.

However, it was a grind to card the even-par 72 in the Final Round. On 18, he found the bunker off the tee and powered a shot just right of the green. The chip wasn’t easy, even with the pin on the left because of the different slopes. Those final 12 feet made Risner the first back-to-back champion of the Carolinas Amateur since Joshua Martin in 2018 and 2019. 

The Carolinas Golf Association would like to thank The Cliffs Properties and the Cliffs at Mountain Park and its membership for hosting the 110th Carolinas Amateur Championship. A special thank you to General Manager Paige Fraizier, Superintendent Jed Fedor, and Director of Golf Matt Pavia for a wonderful week.

 

2024 Frank F. Capers Cup Team Competition

Congratulations to the Country Club of Lexington on winning the 2024 Frank F. Capers Cup Team Competition at the Cliffs at Mountain Park. On the winning team is Michael Sims, Zachary Herold, Sam Jackson and Gage Gaskins, shooting a team total of 3-under to take home the trophies.

This competition is held during rounds one and two fo the Carolinas Amateur Championshio, and three or four members comprise as a team. The low three scores count each round, and this year, 10 clubs including The Cliffs competed for the title. 

 

About the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)

The CGA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1909 to promote and protect the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support, and benefits to golf clubs and golfers. The CGA is one of the largest golf associations in the country, with over 700 member clubs represented by over 200,000 individuals.

The CGA annually conducts 48 championships and five team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. It also runs over 150 One-Day (net and gross) events and qualifying for USGA national championships. The CGA serves golf in the Carolinas with numerous programs such as: the USGA Handicap System; tournament management software and support; course measuring and course/slope ratings; agronomy consultation; answers about the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, and Handicapping; Carolinas Golf Magazine; Interclub series; Tarheel Youth Golf Association; Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame; expense assistance for USGA Junior and Girls' Junior qualifiers from the Carolinas; and the Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF). The CGF has distributed over $3,000,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives, including junior, women and adaptive programs.

For more information about the Carolinas Golf Association, follow @cgagolf1909 on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok or visit our website www.carolinasgolf.org/

 

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