2025 Upstate Cherokee National Golf Club Tournament Results

A full field of competitors teed it up under pristine summer skies Saturday at Cherokee National Golf Club, as the Upstate Amateur Players Tour made its latest stop in Cherokee County. 

The event drew competitors from across the Carolinas, offering a chance to take on Cherokee National’s championship-caliber layout. The semi-private course, located off Highway 11 in Gaffney, has been a local staple since the early 1960s, known for its scenic views and challenging design.  

The 18-hole course stretches over 7,000 yards from the back tees and features more than 4,000 square feet of mini-Verde Bermuda grass greens. Over the past decade, the course has undergone several changes with the removal of trees and improvements to fairways and tee boxes, making Cherokee National a premier club in the Upstate.  

The Upstate Amateur Players Tour, which hosts events across South Carolina and parts of North Carolina, is designed “by the players, for the players” and strives to create a world-class experience for its competitors with five different divisions, along with senior divisions as well.   

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

Division 1 – Nine golfers finished within five shots of the lead in Division 1 Saturday, as in the end, it was Ivan Jones who claimed the top spot with an even-par round of 72. Jones made four birdies on the front nine, including two in a row on holes seven and eight to card a round of 34 on the front none. Seven pars on the back proved to be enough for the High Point, NC native to win the top division.  

Jackson Hill and Rodric Overholt were close behind in second place, posting rounds of 73. Hill birdied both the par fives on the front nine before carding an impressive even par round of 36 on the challenging back nine. Overholt kept the card clean on the front nine, making three birdies to shoot 33 and hold the lead after the opening stretch.  

Randy Hodges and David Winesette rounded out the top five with rounds of 74 and 75 in fourth and fifth places, respectively.  

Senior Division 1 – Randy Hodges stellar front nine paved the way for his victory in Senior Division 1 as the Monroe, NC native carded a round of 74 on Saturday. Hodges birdied the par-five opening hole, and made just one bogey on the front nine to shoot even par. Hodges made his final birdie of the day on the par-five 15^th hole.  

Stuart Smith finished second with a round of 77. Smith birdied the par-four 10^th hole as he attempted to make a back nine charge. Smith finished with four birdies on the day, securing the runner-up spot.  

Division 2 – Eighteen holes of golf proved not to be enough as Zack Boyd and Zan Hill found themselves tied with scores of 72. In the end, it was Boyd who emerged victorious in the playoff. Boyd made eight pars on the front nine, settling into his round. The Inman, SC native made bookend birdies on the 10^th and 18^th holes to reach the playoff with an even par round.  

Hill got off to a hot start, making three birdies on the front to shoot two under par on the opening stretch. Hill made two back nine birdies, taking advantage of both par fives to reach the playoff before finishing in the runner-up position.  

AJ Lee finished third with a round of 75. The Gaffney, SC native made himself right at home, making two birdies on the front nine to shoot 36 on the outward nine.  

Logan Pendergrass, JB Anderson, Brayden Anderson, Judd Dye, and Nikki Standell finished tied for fourth place with rounds of 77. 

Senior Division 2 – JB Anderson got off to a fast start, playing the front nine in even par en route to a round of 77 to win Senior Division 2. The Hendersonville, NC native birdied the par-five ninth hole to move back to even par as he cleared the field by three shots while securing the victory.  

Dan Eastep finished second with a round of 80, featuring two birdies on the back nine. Eastep birdied the challenging par-four, dogleg left 12^th hole along with the par-five 15^th hole.  

Wayne Blyler finished third with a round of 83, highlighted by a birdie on the downhill par-four 10^th hole. Matthew Hendon finished fourth, followed by Andy Stevenson in fifth place with rounds of 89 and 91, respectively.  

Division 3 – Weston Brown overcame a slow start to post a round of 77 and win Division 3 on Saturday. Brown played his final six holes of the front nine in one under par, with an eagle on the par-five ninth hole. Brown added his final birdie on the par-five 15^th hole.  

Colby Crow and Myron Samuels finished tied for second place with rounds of 80. Crow’s steady day included eight pars on the back nine, as his lone birdie of the day came on the par-three second hole. Samuels round featured a birdie on the par-three 17^th hole.  

Joseph Lee and Michael Fitzgerald finished tied for fourth place with rounds of 83.  

Senior Division 3 – While Myron Samuels came up just short of the victory in Division 3, the Columbia, SC native’s round of 80 was enough to claim the top spot in Senior Division 3. Samuels made 10 pars on the day, playing his final six holes in one over par – including a birdie on the par-three 17^th hole.  

Josheph Lee and Michael Fitzgerald tied for second place, three strokes behind with rounds of 83. Lee took advantage of the par-five ninth hole as Fitzgerald made his lone birdie of the day on the most difficult hole on the course – the par-four 13^th.   

Ronnie Strange finished fourth with a round of 84, followed by Allen Hagen and Daniel Shelbo in a tie for fifth place with rounds of 85. Strange led the division in birdies with four on the day. 

Division 4 – David Croston outlasted a crowded field of challengers in Division 4 to claim the top spot with a round of 83. Croston made five pars on the front before making his lone birdie of the day on the par-five 18^th hole.  

Kenny Brown and Billy Trull finished second with rounds of 84, just one shot behind Croston. Brown made a late charge, birding both par fives on the back nine to shoot 41 on the inward stretch. Trull made birdie on the par-five 15^th as well, playing his final five holes in one over par.  

Jason Upright and John Beck rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth place with rounds of 85 and 86, respectively.  

Senior Division 4 – David Croston made it a clean sweep of the weekend as his round of 83 was also enough to claim the top spot in Senior Division 4. The Franklin, NC native made five pars on the front nine to shoot 40, four over par. Croston played his final three holes in even par, aided by a birdie on the par-five 18^th hole.  

Billy Trull came home second with a round of 84. The Anderson, SC native made two birdie on the day, taking advantage of the par-five opening hole and the 15^th hole. Steve Daniels finished third with a round of 87, finishing with three pars in his final five holes.  

Marty Brock finished fourth with a round of 88, followed by Tracy Franklin and Bruce Hutchinson in a tie for fifth place with rounds of 89. 

Division 5 – Tim Kunkel was the class of the field in Division 5, firing a round of 89 to win by three strokes. Kunkel shot 44 on the front nine, including a birdie on the par-five ninth hole. The Wellford, SC native also made three straight pars late in the round, securing his victory.  

Bill Turner finished second with a round of 92. Turner’s round was highlighted by a birdie on the par-four 16^th hole as he shot 46 on the back nine. Tim Deyton finished third with a round of 94, followed by Dick Jenkins in fourth place with a score of 95. Bruce Reeves rounded out the top five in the division with a score of 97.  

Senior Division 5 – Tim Kunkel was a perfect two-for-two on Saturday as he also took home the top prize in Senior Division 5 with a round of 89. Kunkel’s lone birdie of the day came on the par-five ninth hole before making a string of three straight pars on holes 15-17.  

Bill Turner finished second with a round of 92, followed by Dick Jenkins in third place with a round of 95. Andy Alcon and Vern Verna rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth place with rounds of 103 and 104, respectively.