The Upstate Amateur Players Tour kicked off the new season in style this past weekend, as a sold-out field of 64 players competed at Clemson University’s Walker Course on Saturday. The tournament marks the first of many scheduled for the 2023-2024 season.

The Upstate Amateur Players Tour provides golfers of all skill levels an opportunity to play and compete for prizes while enjoying a round of golf. The tour features ten different divisions, which include senior divisions as well. There are also additional perks to being a member of the tour, which include lower entry fees and discounts on merchandise.

The tour was also happy to contribute more than $2,300 to Folds of Honor, a non-profit organization that assists veterans and their families. The money was raised throughout the 2023 season as the Amateur Players Tour presented Folds of Honor with a $100,000 from contributions from chapters across the country.

Saturday’s tournament gave golfers from around the area a chance to play one of the premier golf courses in the Upstate. The Walker Course was voted one of the top-10 golf courses in the Southeast region by My Golf Spy and The Grint. It also was voted No. 1 in the ‘Best 25 College Golf Courses’ for 2021 by Golfers Choice.

The 18-hole championship layout features a wide variety of tees ranging from 5,900 yards all the way back to 7,000. Saturday, golfers enjoyed a beautiful fall day with temperatures reaching the mid-70’s with clear skies.

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

Division 1 – Jody Clary used a stretch of nine consecutive pars on the back nine to edge out DJ Freese in Division 1 on Saturday. Clary shot 74 to win the top division by just one shot. Freese shot 75 to finish second, followed by Christopher White in third with a round of 76.

Clary got off to a good start with a birdie on the par-five first hole. Three bogeys through the final six holes on the front nine led to a score of 38 on the outward nine. Clary locked in on the closing stretch to solidify his position atop the leaderboard.

Brandt Howard shot 79 and finished fourth, followed by John Schiemer who shot 84 and finished fifth.

Senior Division 1 – Brandt Howard’s round of 79 allowed him to claim first place in Senior Division 1 on Saturday. Howard found himself one under par through four holes before consecutive bogeys dropped him to one over par.

Howard bounced back with a birdie en route to shooting 37 on the front nine.

Division 2 – Six players were left separated by just two shots on Saturday afternoon as Mitch Howze emerged from a crowded field to win Division 2 with a round of 75. Howze bogeyed two of his first three holes on the back nine before tightening down to par the rest of his holes.

Matthew Hendon, Carlos Santana, and James Davis all finished in a tie for second place, just one shot behind. Hendon made three birdies on the front nine, but also made two double bogeys to card a 37 on his first nine holes.

Santana’s round was highlighted by two birdies as he shot two over par on both the front and back nine. Davis got off to a fast start with a birdie on the par-five fifth hole to get to one under par.

Phil VanGeersdaelen and Carlos Mojica shot 77 to finish in a tie for fifth place.

Senior Division 2 – Mitch Howze’s round of three over par, 75 was also good enough to claim the top spot in Senior Division 2. Howze outlasted Phil VanGeersdaelen and Carlos Mojica, who finished in a tie for second place, two shots behind.

VanGeersdaelen found his groove on the back nine, birding the par-four 15th hole to shoot even par on the inward nine. Mojica used two back nine birdies to draw into a tie for second place.

Bob Grove shot 81 to finish fourth as Wayne Blyler rounded out the top-five with a round of 82.

Division 3 – An intense battle played out on the final holes in Division 3 on Saturday as Sonny Smith took the top spot with a round of 80. Smith made two birdies on the front nine to jump out to the lead as he managed to hang on through the final stretch to secure the win.

Myron Samuels finished runner-up, just one shot behind Smith. Tommy Boyter, Kirk Tatge and Darrius Prysock finished in a tie for third place with rounds of 82. Boyter made an impressive back nine charge when he birdied the par-three 12th hole as he proceeded to play his final seven holes in even par.

Senior Division 3 – The leaderboard had a familiar look in Senior Division 3 as Sonny Smith also claimed the top spot on Saturday. Samuels finished second, followed by Tommy Boyter and Kirk Tatge in a tie for third place.

William Buie shot 84 to finish in the top-five. Buie’s round was highlighted by a birdie on the par-five 16th hole as he closed out his round.

Division 4 - Pete Brushaber’s steady round of golf paid off in a big way on Saturday as he came home a winner in Division 4. Brushaber made five pars on the back nine en route to shooting 83 as he battled closely with a large group of competitors.

Thomas Gibson shot 84 and finished second as Steven Daniels followed a shot behind with a round of 85 to finish third. Justin Sartain and Lawrence Daniels finished in a tie for fourth place with rounds of 86.

Senior Division 4 - Pete Brushaber also took home the top honors in Senior Division 4 with his round of 83. Thomas Gibson finished runner-up, followed by Steven Daniels and Lawrence Daniels.

Steven Daniels played his final five holes in even par with a birdie on the par-five 14th hole. It allowed him to battle his way up the leaderboard and chart a top-three finish.

Jimmy Sullivan rounded out the top-five with a round of 87.

Division 5 – Gary Schnoor found his groove as he closed the front nine, creating separation on the leaderboard and never looking back as he won Division 5 on Saturday. Schnoor made four pars in his final six holes on the front to shoot 41 as he carded an 18-hole round of 89 to win.

Tim Kunkel was the nearest challenger, finishing second and five shots back with a round of 94. Michael McGill, Don Hamblett, and Jan Kendrick rounded out the top-five in a tie for third place after posting rounds of 95.

Senior Division 5 – While Tim Kunkel came up just short of victory in Division 5, his round of 94 was enough to win Senior Division 5 on Saturday. Kunkel defeated Don Hamblett and Jan Kendrick by just one shot as the two finished in a tie for second place.

Terry Bollenbecker finished fourth with a round of 96 as Dick Jenkins shot 98 to round out the top-five.

TOURNAMENT RESULTS