2025 Clemson University’s Walker Golf Course Tournament Results

The Upstate Amateur Players Tour kicked off its new season this past weekend with the Tiger Paw Championship held at Clemson University’s Walker Course.

Over $3,800 in cash and VISA gift card prizes were up for grabs as the Upstate tour began its new season. 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 across ten different divisions.

The Upstate Amateur Players Tour already has a full schedule set for the new 2025 season, which continues next week with a tournament at Timberlake Country Club in Chapin, SC.

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’s tournament:

Division 1 – Randy Hodges used three consecutive birdies on the back nine to solidify his spot atop the leaderboard as his round of 70 earned him the top honors in Division 1. Hodges made two front nine birdies before he made three in a row on holes 14, 15, and 16.

Braxton Floyd finished runner-up with a round of 77. Floyd got off to a solid start, birding the par-five fifth hole to get back to even par. Paytton Wright rounded out the top three in the division with a round of 82, highlighted by birdies on the fifth and 16^th holes.

Division 2 – Carlos Santana will long remember his back nine on Saturday, firing an impressive three under par to secure the victory in Division 2 with a round of 70. Santana birdied the par-four 10^th hole before four straight birdies in a row on the 14^th, 15^th, 16^th, and 17^th holes.

Chris Lombardozzi shot 77 to finish second. Lombardozzi birdied the par-four 13^th and 18^th holes down the stretch to finish runner-up.

James Teston and Bob Grove carded rounds of 78 to finish tied for third. Grove played his final six hole in two under par to climb the leaderboard to third place.

Logan Pendergrass rounded out the top five with a round of 79.

Senior Division 2 – Bob Grove made a pair of birdies in his final six holes to reach a playoff in which he prevailed to win Senior Division 2. Grove and James Teston tied with rounds of 78 before Grove won in the playoff.

Teston started his round in style with a birdie on the par-five first hole before paring six of the nine holes on the back nine. Phil VanGeersdaelen shot 80 to finish third, followed by Carlos Mojica in fourth place with a round of 82.

Mojica had three birdies on his round, including two on the front nine. Matthew Hendon rounded out the top five with a round of 88.

Division 3 – Mark Lytle emerged from a crowded field of challengers in Division 3 to win with a round of 76. Lytle birdied the par-four seventh hole en route to playing the back nine in just one over par with eight pars.

Myron Samuels came up just short of the top spot with a round of 78, finishing runner-up. Samuels found his groove on the back nine with six straight pars to close the round.

Tony Koechi finished third with a round of 79. Koechi birdied the par-four 10^th hole along with the par-five 14^th hole. Tommy Boyter and Jeff Pauley tied for fourth place with rounds of 80 to round out the top five.

Senior Division 3 – Mark Lytle made it a clean sweep over the weekend as he also claimed the top spot in Senior Division 3 with his round of 76. Lytle’s steady day featured him playing his final 11 holes in even par to secure the victory.

Myron Samuels finished runner-up with a round of 78. Samuels had two long par streaks, spanning five holes on the front and six holes on the back.

Jeff Pauley finished third with a round of 80, followed by Daniel Shelbo with a score of 82. Timothy Carswell and Paul Harris tied for fifth place with rounds of 83 to round out the top five.

Division 4 – Robert Gibson tied for the most birdies in the division as he carded a round of 82 to win Division 4 on Saturday. Gibson took advantage of the fifth and fifteenth holes with birdies en route to his victory.

Harold Heath finished second after posting a round of 82, followed by Monty Berry in third place with a round of 86.

A five-way tie for fourth place rounded out the top five, including FJ Flesburg, Djuan Johnson, Zach Hutchinson, Rodney Ferrell, and Justin Sartain who all carded rounds of 88.

Senior Division 4 – Robert Gibson made it two-for-two over the weekend as his round of 82 also earned him the top honors in Senior Division 4. Gibson made birdie on the par-four fifteenth hole.

Harold Heath finished runner-up with a round of 84, followed by Monty Berry in third place after posting an 86. Djuan Johnson carded a round of 88 to finish fourth, as David Croston and Scott Bryant rounded out the top five in a tie for fifth place after both players shot 91.

Division 5 – Michael Addison used five back nine pars to stay atop the leaderboard and win Division 5 on Saturday. Addison also added three pars in a five-hole stretch to close the front nine.

Marty Brock, Dick Jenkins, and Dusty Bright were close behind, all three carding rounds of 91 to finish in a tie for second place. Brock made two birdies on the day, including one on the par-five fifth hole.

Gene Mason rounded out the top five with a round of 92, highlighted by a closing birdie on the par-four 18^th hole.

Senior Division 5 – Battling to the end, 18 holes proved to not be enough to decide a winner in Senior Division 5 as Marty Brock and Dick Jenkins finished tied for the top spot. In the end, it was Brock who prevailed in a playoff after both players carded rounds of 91.

Brock used two birdies to climb the leaderboard, and later reach the playoff. Jenkins got off to a solid start, which included five pars on the opening nine holes.

Gene Mason finished third with a round of 92, followed by Vern Verna in fourth place with a score of 95. Tim Kunkel and Terry Bollenbecker rounded out the top five with rounds of 98.