Golfers ready to tee off at Berkeley Hall in Players Amateur

The Heritage Classic Foundation is gearing up for one of its biggest tournaments of the season. The 18th annual Players Amateur, which will take place at the Berkeley Hall Club golf course, will see some of the country’s most outstanding golfers.

Known as one the premier events, many former amateur golfers have made their mark on the course in years past, including Rickie Fowler, Bill Haas, Dustin Johnson and Justin Thomas.

Some of the most recognizable names in golf will be in attendance, including Gavin Hall (University of Texas), Kyle McClatchie (South Africa), Patrick Martin (Vanderbilt) and Davis Riley (University of Alabama).

Cheng Jin, the defending champion, will headline the group of competitors. Jin is a sophomore at the University of Southern California.

The format will have a two-man team, featuring an amateur player and a sponsor playing 18 holes.

A sponsors exemption into the 2018 RBC Heritage is up for grabs. While some may be taking a relaxed approach, Clemson’s Bryson Nimmer is a man on a mission. Scratch Players World Amateur Rankings has Nimmer ranked No. 61 in the world.

“This is definitely a tournament that I take seriously,” said Nimmer. “This is a great opportunity to play against great competition, and I try to always take tournaments like this seriously. Also, having an exemption into the Heritage on the line is a big incentive to win.”

The Bluffton native hopes to have an advantage while playing is his own backyard.

“The Players Am is one of the most important tournaments I play in all year,” said Nimmer. “It’s always great to be able to play at home and feel comfortable on a course I’ve seen a lot. I’m looking forward to the tournament and hopefully having a great week.”

Will Miles, who plays at the University of South Carolina, is excited to perform in front of familiar faces as well and is also looking forward to the accountability that comes with competing. Miles was the 2016 Runner Up in the Rice Planters Amateur.

“I love the competitive part of it,” said Miles. “I like to see where you stack up against others at the end of a tournament and seeing what you need to improve on. I also like that it’s all up to you out on the course, and your score reflects that. I always look forward to this tournament, being that it’s one of the best events in the country and that it’s at home, it’s definitely a special week. It’s nice to stay at home and have friends and family come out and watch.”

Miles, who is from Hilton Head Island, won’t let the fact that there is an exemption at stake become a distraction, saying he wants to stay focused throughout the course.

“It does mean a little more with an exemption into the Heritage on the line, because I’ve always wanted to play in that tournament since I was little, but you have to kind of set that stuff aside once the tournament starts,” said Miles.

Angela McSwain, marketing and communications director at the Heritage Classic Foundation, knows the significance of this tournament, saying it’s a treat for the community to get a closer look at some of the athletes who may go on to play professionally.

“The Players Amateur brings the world’s best amateur golfers to Bluffton,” said McSwain. “Anyone can watch these outstanding golfers before many of them become stars on the PGA Tour.”

The tourney will run Thursday through Sunday and is open to the public.

This story was originally published July 11, 2017 at 5:45 PM with the headline "Golfers ready to tee off at Berkeley Hall in Players Amateur."