Weekly golf notes: Wounded Heroes Classic continues rapid growth
At this rate, the Wounded Heroes Golf Classic might have to look to add yet another golf course next year.
After quickly filling all 144 spots last year, organizers with the Lowcountry Foundation for Wounded Military Heroes expanded its scope to include a second locale at Belfair for Monday’s edition. All 80 of those places are sold out, too.
“It’s been amazing to see the response,” said Russ Spicer, CEO of the foundation.
The extra spots definitely should help the foundation approach its fundraising target this year. After raising $185,000 in 2015, officials are hopeful they can hit a new goal of $250,000.
Now in its sixth year, the Golf Classic has helped the LFWMH donate more than $500,000 to Birdies for the Brave homefront charities in conjunction with the PGA Tour. Primary recipients are the Military Warriors Support Foundation, which arranges mortgage-free homes for wounded personnel and their families, and the K9s for Warriors foundation.
“All our donations have Lowcountry impact,” Spicer said. “Either the recipient is from the Lowcountry, or in the case of the canines, they come from Lowcountry shelters.
A total of 28 local wounded personnel are slated to participate Monday, each accompanying a foursome for nine holes. The warriors also will take part in a clinic hosted by Bob Duval, a former Champions Tour winner and father of 2001 Open Championship winner David Duval.
OPEN SEASON
A total of 81 golfers are slated to tee it up Tuesday for U.S. Open local qualifying at Secession Golf Club, though no one will have more course knowledge than the head pro.
Mike Harmon, Secession’s longtime director of golf, is entered in a longshot quest to add another Open to his portfolio 36 years after playing his first in 1980 at Baltusrol.
Other entrants of note include Walker Campbell, who recently helped Hilton Head Prep claim the SCISA Class 2-A title, as well as area mainstays Benji Gecy and Matt O’Quinn.
They’re among 9,877 people who signed up to take a shot at cracking the lineup next month at Oakmont. Last year, 22 people made it to Chambers Bay through both local and sectional qualifying.
▪ Hilton Head Island’s Will Miles came up just shy of a chance to advance through a qualifier at Spartanburg’s Carolina Country Club. Miles carded a 2-under-par 70, which fell two strokes short of joining a playoff for the final qualifying spot.
HERITAGE DATES SET
Not that it’s any surprise, but it’s official: Heritage Week will begin April 10 next year, with the 49th edition of the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing to be contested April 13-16 at Harbour Town Golf Links.
It’ll mark the 35th consecutive year that the Heritage has followed the Masters on the calendar, offering a chance for PGA Tour pros to unwind from the pressure of the year’s first major at a venue annually ranked among the most popular on the circuit.
Tickets for next year’s tournament will go on sale in October.
SIX FOR GRIZ
Hilton Head Island’s Jonathan Griz added another trophy to his 2016 collection, capturing the Boys 11-13 division at last weekend’s Hurricane Junior Golf Tour stop in Gainesville, Fla.
Griz used a closing 1-over-par 71 at the University of Florida’s Mark Bostick GC to finish off a four-stroke victory over Orlando’s Brenden Valdes. It was Griz’s sixth HJGT win of the year, including one the previous weekend at Crescent Pointe GC.
▪ Lowcountry Golf Hall of Famer Karen Ferree placed third in this week’s WSCGA Senior Championship on Johns Island, fashioning rounds of 76-79 to finish two shots behind eventual winner Betty Jean Armbruster. Fellow Hilton Head Island resident Terrie Allemang was another shot back.
ACES & AGE-BEATERS
▪ Don Olivie posted a hole-in-one Tuesday on the second hole at Hidden Cypress Golf Club, using a 7-iron to hole out from 108 yards during the club’s member/member outing. Witnesses were Paul Romano, Gary Phillips and Ronald Albert.
▪ Bill Boston, 83, matched his age twice in the span of three days on the South course at Moss Creek GC. Boston first turned the trick April 30, then again two days later while playing with Bill Mott, Bill Ritchie and Fred Weigle.
This story was originally published May 11, 2016 at 5:44 PM with the headline "Weekly golf notes: Wounded Heroes Classic continues rapid growth."