2025 UPS The Rock Golf Club Tournament Results

After a week of rainstorms and heavy wind, the competitors on the Upstate Amateur Players Tour were excited to take to the course Saturday, as the tour hosted its tournament at The Rock Golf Club in Pickens, SC.  

While the golfers had to negotiate wet conditions on the course due to the amount of rain received in the Upstate during the week, the competitors enjoyed a beautiful day on a scenic golf course that has underwent many renovations over the past few years.  

The club is owned by Anthony Anders, who is a two-time NASCAR Whelen All-American Series National Champion and member of the NASCAR Hall of Fame. Anders partnered with Daivd Greene, the course’s superintendent, to purchase the club in 2017.  

The two immediately decided to begin improvements to the course, most notably by installing new TifEagle Bermuda greens, reinvigorating the course, and renovating the Pro Shop for the golf community. The Rock now has some of the best greens in the Upstate, with the facilities and views to match. The golf course comprises 18 challenging holes on 112 acres with breathtaking vistas, with the signature No. 8 tee box overlooking one of the best waterfalls in the area. 

The Upstate Amateur Players Tour travels the Upstate of South Carolina, along with portions of North Carolina and Georgia, offering golfers of all skill levels a chance to compete in one of ten different divisions. The tour is designed by the players, for the players, as cash and VISA gift card prizes are awarded each week, along with an optional cash skins game.  

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

Division 2 – Travis Wartluft buckled down on the back nine, playing his final eight holes in even par to secure a one stroke victory in Division 2 with a round of 77. Wartluft birdied the par-five sixth hole to get to even par. Another birdie came on the par-three 11^th as he followed it up with five straight pars.  

AJ Lee and Chris Lombardozzi were close behind in second play, posting rounds of 78. Lee started his round off in style with a birdie on the par-four opening hole as he played the front nine in just two over par.  

Lombardozzi birdied the par-five sixth hole to get back to even par, playing the front nine in just one over par, 37. Lombardozzi added another birdie on the par-five 12^th hole.  

Chris Kemp and Tray McLaughlin rounded out the top five in the division in a tie for fourth place after both players carded rounds of 81.  

Senior Division 2 – Travis Wartluft made it a clean sweep of the weekend as his round of 77 proved to be more than enough to also capture the title in Senior Division 2. Wartluft was even par through six holes before a double bogey followed by a bogey dropped him to three-over on the front.  

After a tough start to the back nine, Wartluft made birdie on the par-three 11^th hole, making pars on six out of the next seven holes to secure the victory.  

Dan Eastep finished second in the division with a score of 85. Eastep’s highlight of the round came on the par-four 17^th hole. John Masters played the front nine in just four-over par en route to a round of 86 to finish third.  

JB Anderson and Andy Stevenson rounded out the top five with rounds of 87 and 92, respectively. Anderson made two birdies on the day, including one on the par-four 16^th hole. Stevenson took advantage of the par-three 14^th hole.  

Division 3 – Mark Lytle’s steady start paved the way for his victory Saturday in Division 3 as he carded a round of 78 to win. Anderson played the first six holes in even par, including a birdie on the par-four second hole. Down the stretch, Lytle played his final six holes in just one over par, including a birdie on the par-four 16^th hole.  

Jeff Pauley and Myron Samuels finished second with rounds of 80. Pauley got off to a red-hot start, birding both the first and third holes to move to two under par. Pauley shot even par on the front nine as he closed his round on the back nine with a birdie on the par-five 18th hole.  

Samuels overcame two early bogeys with a birdie and a steady string of pars on the front nine to card a round of 37, one over par on the outward stretch. Sonny Smith finished fourth with a round of 81, followed by Michael Shirley in fifth place with a score of 82. 

Senior Division 3 – Mark Lytle’s steady day included scores of 39 on both the front and back nine as he secured the sweep of the weekend with a victory in Senior Division 3. Lytle’s round of 78 cleared the field by two shots.  

Jeff Pauley and Myron Samuels were close behind in second place as both players posted scores of 80. Pauley’s round included three birdies, two of which came in the first three holes. Samuels made his lone birdie on the day on the scenic par-three eighth hole.  

Sonny Smith finished fourth with a round of 81, followed by William Buie in fifth place after posting a score of 83. 

Division 4 – Eighteen holes of golf proved to not be enough to determine a winner in Division 4 as when the dust settled, it was Robert Gibson who emerged victorious in the playoff. Gibson, Calvin Carter, Bully Trull, and Ronald LaMorte all fired rounds of 89 to reach the playoff, as Gibson walked away with the victory. The Fletcher, NC native made six pars on the day, including two in his final three holes to reach the playoff, eventually prevailing.  

Carter finished second, followed by Trull in third and LaMorte in fourth place. Carter saved his best golf for the back nine, playing his final three holes in even par, including a birdie on the par-five 18^th hole. Trull also buckled down on the back nine, making pars on each of his final three holes.  

James Partee and Peter Fahey rounded out the top five in a tie for fifth place with rounds of 90.  

Senior Division 4 – While the playoff in Senior Division 4 included just three players rather than four, the outcome was the same as Robert Gibson won in the playoff after he, Calvin Carter, and Billy Trull all fired rounds of 89.  

Gibson made crucial pars on the 16^th and 18^th holes to shoot 44 on the back nine and reach the playoff. Carter, who finished second, also made a late run, birding the last hole to shoot 41 on the back nine. Trull, who came home third, also had a fast finish, making three straight pars to close his round.  

James Partee and Peter Fahey tied for fourth place with rounds of 90. Partee settled into his round on the front nine, making four pars in a five hole stretch. Fahey got off to a solid start with two pars in his first three holes.  

Division 5 – Emmett Warner’s five pars during his round proved to be the difference as he cleared the field by five strokes with his round of 88 to win Division 5 on Saturday. Warner made four pars in a six-hole stretch as he made the turn, paving the way for his victory.  

Wyatt Fulbright finished second with a score of 93, followed by Bill Turner in third place with a score of 95. Vern Verna finished fourth with a round of 96, which included a birdie on the par-three 14^th hole.  

Corey McCutcheon, Michael Addison, and Dick Jenkins rounded out the top five in a tie for fifth place with rounds of 97. 

Senior Division 5 – Emmett Warner’s round of 88 was also enough to earn him the top spot in Senior Division 5 on Saturday. Warner made five pars during his round, including three on the back nine as he carded a round of 43 on the inward stretch.  

Bill Turner finished second with a score of 95 as Vern Verna finished third with a score of 96. Verna recorded the lone birdie of the group as he took advantage of the par-three 14^th hole.  

Dick Jenkins and Tim Kunkel rounded out the top five in the division with rounds of 97 and 103, respectively.