2024 River Falls Plantation Golf Tournament Results

Arguably the best weather day of the New Year, the Upstate Amateur Players Tour took advantage of Saturday’s ideal conditions, hosting its tournament at the challenging River Falls Plantation in Duncan.  

Golfers across the Upstate are eager to get back on the course, as evident by a sold out field of 92 golfers looking to claim over $5,300 in cash and VISA gift card prizes. While the temperatures approached 80 degrees, a constant, and sometimes blustery, wind made the course play more difficult.  

The Upstate Amateur Players Tour hosts tournaments throughout the year around the Upstate of South Carolina and portions of North Carolina, giving golfers of all skill levels a chance to compete in ten different divisions. The competitors are also vying for prizes, including a cash skins game as well.  

River Falls Plantation is located just a few miles off Interstate 85 in Duncan. The Gary Player designed course demands players to be accurate off the tee, while rewarding birdies with solid approach shots. The course features lush, rolling fairways and Diamond Zoysia greens.  

Here’s a breakdown of the results from Saturday’s tournament by division: 

Division 1 – Walker Redmon kick started his round with an eagle on the par-five ninth hole before managing his round on the back nine to post a score of 75 to win Division 1. Redmon took advantage of the par fives, birding both on the front nine to shoot just one over par. A birdie at the par-four 10^th hole helped Redmon shoot 38 on the back nine.  

Greg Moore, Brandon Pearson, and DJ Freese finished in a tie for second place as all three golfers shot 79. Freese led the division with six birdies on the day, including birdies on three of his last four holes.  

Tim Cook and John Schiemer rounded out the top-five with rounds of 81 to tie for fifth place. Schiemer found birdies on the par-five fourth hole and the par-four 14^th hole.  

Senior Division 1 – Greg Moore added the exclamation point to his round on the par-four 17^th hole, negotiating the water on the right to find a birdie and solidify his place atop the leader board in Senior Division 1 with a round of 79. The Greer, SC native made an impressive six pars on the front nine before shooting 40 on the back nine.  

Thomas Owens finished runner-up with a round of 83, which included a birdie on the par-five fourth hole. Brandt Howard shot 84 to finish third, followed by Mark Blankenship, who finished fourth with a round of 87. 

Division 2 – The competition was fierce in Division 2 on Saturday, with six golfers finishing within three shots of the lead. But at the end of the day, it was Robert LaCombe who emerged victorious with a round of 80 to win by one shot.  

LaCombe got off to a steady start to his round, and took advantage of the short, downhill par-four 13^th hole with a birdie to move into the lead. Despite two double bogeys in his last five holes, LaCombe held off a large group of challengers.  

Michael Mullins came home second with a round of 81. Mullins steadied his round down the stretch as he made a move towards the top of the leader board with a birdie on the par-three 15^th hole.  

Scott Webber and Mary Graham Forrest finished tied for third place with rounds of 82. Ryan Marks and Derek Godfrey tied for fifth place with rounds of 83. 

Senior Division 2 – The battle atop the leader board in Division 2 also played out in Senior Division 2 as Robert LaCombe topped Michael Mullins by just one shot. LaCombe shot 80 as Mullins shot 81. Robert S Bullard finished third with a round of 84. Bullard ended his round in style with a birdie on the par-five 18^th hole. 

Travis Wartluft used two birdies in his final five holes to shoot 86 and finish fourth, followed by Joe Hamacher in fifth with a round of 87. 

Division 3 – Travis Blackwell positioned himself perfectly with six pars on the front nine as he held on with a round of 82 to win Division 3 on Saturday. Ronnie Strange finished runner-up after posting a round of 84. Strange birdied the dogleg par-four 14^th hole to shoot 42 on the back nine.  

Matt Miller and Myron Samuels tied for third place with rounds of 86. Miller birdied the par-five 12^th hole before making three pars down the stretch. Nick Adams rounded out the top-five with a round of 87.  

Senior Division 3 – Travis Blackwell’s round of 82 was also good enough to win Senior Division 3 on Saturday. Blackwell cleared second-place finisher Ronnie Strange by two strokes. Myron Samuels finished third with his round of 86, followed by Tommy Boyter in fourth with a round of 88.  

Boyter settled into his round with four straight pars on his first five holes to begin the day. John Pearson and Lawrence Daniels finished tied for fifth place with rounds of 89. Daniels made a birdie on the par-four 17^th hole to close out his round.  

Division 4 – Charlie Warstler overcome a few bogeys down the stretch to hang on to win Division 4 on Saturday with a round of 88. Warstler won by six shots as he made four pars on the front nine to gain position atop the leader board.  

Kyle Trammell and Ellis Williams III tied for second with rounds of 94. Trammell birdied the par-five ninth hole to shoot 43 on the front nine, just one shot behind Warstler at the turn.  

Peter Fahey and Gene Mason rounded out the top-five in the division with rounds of 96 and 98, respectively.  

Senior Division 4 – Two pars on his final two holes proved to be the difference for Ellis Williams III on Saturday, posting a round of 94 to win by two in Senior Division 4. Williams III defeated second-place finisher Peter Fahey, who carded a round of 96.  

Gene Mason finished third with a round of 98, followed by Maurice Sherman and Scott Bryant who rounded out the division with rounds of 99 and 105, respectively.  

Division 5 – Martin Brock’s impressive start proved to be just enough in Division 5 on Saturday, as Brock won with a round of 89. Brock made six pars in a row on the front nine to settle into the round. He carded a 41 on the outward nine before shooting 48 on the back nine.  

Michael Addison finished one shot back in second place after posting a round of 90. Addison made two back nine birdies to climb the leader board as he made birdie on the par-four 14^th and the par-four 17^th holes.  

Dick Jenkins shot 91 to finish third, followed by Danny Sullivan in fourth with a round of 98. Steve Kwon rounded out the top five with a round of 100. 

Senior Division 5 – Martin Brock’s round of 89 also earned him the top honors in Senior Division 5 on Saturday. Brock defeated Dick Jenkins by just two shots as Jenkins finished runner-up. His round was highlighted by two birdies on the back nine, including one on the par-five 12^th hole.  

Danny Sullivan came home third with a round of 98 as Jam Kendrick and Tim Kunkel rounded out the top-five with scores of 102 and 107, respectively.