The Golfweek Amateur Tour's national championship is back on Hilton Head Island for its 10th consecutive year, bringing some 850 golfers from around the nation to compete on eight of the area's layouts.
Joe Jaspers of Charlotte will seek a third consecutive title in the championship flight, which will compete on Palmetto Dunes' Robert Trent Jones course and Dolphin Head Golf Club. A year ago, he pulled away to a four-shot victory.
Other divisions will spread out to the Country Club of Hilton Head, Bear Creek, Oyster Reef, Hampton Hall, Palmetto Dunes/Arthur Hills and Palmetto Hall Plantation/Robert Cupp. Play begins Friday, with champions crowned Sunday.
The championship brings together the top performers from 44 regional tours, including one in Hilton Head/Savannah, with winners crowned in five divisions based on handicaps. The championship flight features 101 golfers; the B flight (handicaps of 9 to 13.9) has 244 qualifiers.
More details can be found at AmateurGolfTour.net.
WEAVER AMONG TOP S.C. TEACHERS
Doug Weaver, director of instruction at Palmetto Dunes, ranks No.2 among South Carolina instructors in Golf Digest's newest compilation unveiled this week.
Megan Padua of Belfair Plantation is fourth on the list, with five other locals ranked among the top 12 -- No.8 David LaPour of Colleton River Plantation, followed by the Berkeley Hall duo of Andrew Rice and Krista Dunton and Sea Pines Resort's Tim Cooke and Rick Barry.
Topping the state list was Ron Cerrudo of Daniel Island Club near Charleston.
Butch Harmon remains No.1 in the national rankings, taking the top spot for the eighth time in the past nine surveys. Chuck Cook of Austin, Texas, is the fast-rising No.2, followed by mainstays Jim McLean and David Leadbetter.
MAGGERT SLIPS IN SCHWAB CUP RACE
A strong Sunday finish on the Champions Tour has vaulted Colin Montgomerie to the top of the Charles Schwab Cup points race, pushing Sea Pines pro Jeff Maggert into second with three events left on the schedule.
Montgomerie's closing 66 at the SAS Championship outside Raleigh lifted him into a share of fifth, giving him the upper hand after he and Maggert entered the week tied for the points lead. Montgomerie now holds a 39-point advantage over Maggert, who tied for ninth.
Montgomerie now has recorded a top-5 finish in seven consecutive Champions Tour starts, dating back to May. His lead over Maggert is the second-slimmest margin this late in any season since the Schwab Cup made its debut in 2001.
The closing push continues this week with the San Antonio Championship in Texas.
SCGA MID-AMATEUR
Beaufort's Matt O'Quinn was the top Beaufort County finisher at last week's South Carolina Mid-Amateur in Greenville, shooting rounds of 76-78 to claim a share of 46th. Benji Gecy (Cat Island) was another two shots back.
Greer's Todd Hendley was the runaway winner, recording two of just four rounds to break 70 all weekend at Green Valley CC. His scores of 67-69 produced a four-shot romp.
RBC HERITAGE VOLUNTEERS
The RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing will conduct one more meeting next week for those wishing to volunteer at next year's PGA Tour stop at Harbour Town.
Tournament officials will meet with prospective volunteers next Wednesday at 9 a.m. at Palmetto Electric's corporate offices in Hardeeville. More information can be found at RBCHeritage.com/volunteers, or call Tyler Daly at 843-671-2448.
ACES & ALBATROSSES
John McCutcheon recorded a hole-in-one Oct. 6 on the fourth hole at Old South Golf Links, using a 7-iron from 144 yards. Witnesses were George Liggett, Vic Gusmar and Don Gambridge.
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