Tournament Champions
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The Charleston Amateur Players Tour kicked off its new season in style on Saturday as 31 golfers enjoyed a round at the immaculate Riverton Pointe Golf and Country Club in Hardeeville. The Charleston Amateur Players Tour travels the Lowcountry of South Carolina, offering golfers of all skill levels an opportunity to compete for cash and VISA gift card prizes. The tour is designed by the players, for the players and has ten divisions, including senior divisions as well.
On Saturday, the golfers were treated to one of the best kept secrets in the Lowcountry at Riverton Pointe. The Jack Nicklaus design features large, subtle greens and fairways lined with tall sea pines and splashes of colorful wildflowers. The course includes five sets of tees, reaching all the way back to 7,300 yards.
Registration is already open for the Charleston Amateur Players Tour’s next tournament on November 18 at Hilton Head Lakes in Hardeeville.
Here’s a breakdown of each division from Saturday’s tournament at Riverton Pointe:
Division 1 – Phillip Knezevich had a strong finish to solidify his victory in Division 1 on Saturday with a round of 72. The even par day for Knezevich included three birdies on his final six holes. Darryl Phelps finished second, three shots behind after posting a round of 75.
Elliott Johnson came home third, two shots behind Phelps with a round of 77. After a shaky start, Johnson turned it around, playing his final 13 holes in one over par. Sean McGenity finished fourth with a round of 80. McGenity shot just one over par on the front nine before a seven-over par on the back nine.
Brent Densmore rounded out the top-five with a score of 84.
Senior Division 1 – While Darryl Phelps’ round of 75 was just a few shots shy in Division 1, he did claim the top spot in Senior Division 1. Phelps’ round of three-over par was highlighted by an eagle on the par-five fifteenth hole. The card also included 14 pars following the steady round for Phelps.
Division 2 – Eighteen holes were not enough to settle the top spot in Division 2 on Saturday as Kevin Lyles prevailed in a playoff over Tim DuPree as both golfers shot 77 on Saturday. Lyles used a steady string of eight pars on the back nine to remain atop the leaderboard.
DuPree, who finished runner-up, led following his birdie on the par-five fifteenth hole. A double bogey on the par-three seventeenth dropped him back into a tie with Lyles.
Trent Whitfield shot 79 to finish third, followed by Sam Belcher, who shot 80 and came home fourth. Sean Soltysiak rounded out the top-five with a score of 82.
Senior Division 2 – Kevin Lyles round of 77 that included 14 pars was enough to clear him by two shots to take the top spot in Senior Division 2 on Saturday. Trent Whitfield finished runner-up posting a round of 79. Whitfield took advantage of two of the par-fives making birdies during his round.
Sam Belcher finished third after posting an 80. Belcher made eagle on the par-five fifteenth hole before a birdie on the seventeenth hole to play his last six holes in one under par.
Phil VanGeersdaelen and Michael Mead rounded out the top-five with rounds of 83 and 95, respectively.
Division 3 – Sam Lewis used two birdies on the day to edge Mitchell Long by just one shot and win Division 3 on Saturday with a round of 82. Lewis made one birdie on the front and back nine, the final of which came on the par-three twelfth hole.
Long, who shot 83 and finished runner-up, birdied the par-four seventh hole en route to shooting 40 on the front nine. John Benton shot 85 to finish third.
A three-way tie for fourth place involved Jerome Maxie, Lyn Rhode, and Daniel Ellis, who all shot 87.
Senior Division 3 – Two closing pars were an ideal finish for John Benton as he took home first place in Senior Division 3 on Saturday. Benton struggled to find his groove on the back nine after an impressive start on the front nine, which included six pars.
Jerome Maxie finished two shots back, posting an 87. Maxie’s round was highlighted by a birdie on the par-three third hole. Chris Huge finished third with a score of 90, followed by Allen Morrell and Chad Battle who shot 93 and 96, respectively.
Division 4 – A stellar start helped Brandon Long establish a lead on the front nine en route to a round of 85 to win Division 4 on Saturday. Long played his first seven holes in even par as he shot 39 on the front nine. Cooter Douglas finished two shots back in second place after firing an 87.
John Haynie shot 90 to finish third, followed by Alan Reynolds and Sitty Mendez who rounded out the top-five with scores of 96 and 100, respectively.
Senior Division 4 – While Cooter Douglas was a few shots shy of the top spot in Division 4 on Saturday, Douglas round of 87 was enough to win him the top spot in Senior Division 4. Douglas found his groove on the back nine, making six pars on the inward nine.
Alan Reynolds finished runner-up in the division with a round of 96. Sitty Mendez rounded out the division in third place after shooting 100. Mendez’s round was highlighted by a birdie on the par-four tenth hole.
