Beaufort's Simmons, Bluffton's Patterson qualify for U.S. Amateur Four Ball Championship
Beaufort's Rob Simmons, a member at Chechessee Creek Club, and Bluffton's John Patterson, who works in membership and sales at the club, play golf together often, according to Simmons.
Their relationship on the course paid off Monday when the duo qualified, after two playoff holes at the Members Club at Woodcreek in Elgin, for the second annual U.S. Amateur Four Ball Championship.
"Patterson is a relly good ball striker," said Simmons, the winner of three of the past five Beaufort City Championships. "I have a really good short game. We complement each other well."
Simmons and Patterson, who finished second, were among 56 teams playing for three spots and two alternate spots in the 2016 U.S. Amateur Four Ball Championship to be played May 21-25 at Winged Foot Golf Club in Mamaroneck, N.Y.
As part of a five-way tie for second, the duo made birdie on the first two playoff holes to claim a spot at Winged Foot.
The famed New York course has hosted five U.S. Opens (1929, 1959, 1974, 1984, 2006), two U.S. Women's Opens (1957, 1972), two U.S Amateurs (1940, 2004), a U.S. Senior Open (1980) and a PGA Championship (1997). It will host the U.S. Open again in 2020.
While Simmons has never played the course, Patterson, the three-time defending Hilton Head Open champion, has experience there.
The team of Cody and Caleb Proveaux won the championship. Ellison McCoy and Lee Palms took the third spot. This qualifier was conducted by the S.C. Golf Association on behalf of the U.S. Golf Association.
Nathan Smith and Todd White, a former Hilton Head Island High School teacher, won the 2014 U.S. Amateur Four Ball Championship and are exempt from qualifying for the 2016 event at Winged Foot.
Related content:
- John Patterson shoots 65 to win 3rd straight Hilton Head Open, Aug. 9, 2015
- Rob Simmons wins 2nd straight Beaufort City Championship, Aug. 3, 2015
This story was originally published September 30, 2015 at 8:10 PM with the headline "Beaufort's Simmons, Bluffton's Patterson qualify for U.S. Amateur Four Ball Championship."