Philip Barbaree set for Lowcountry return in The Players Amateur

Philip Barbaree, who captured the U.S. Junior Amateur just a few miles down the road last summer, and world No. 3 Sam Horsfield headline the roster unveiled Wednesday for The Players Amateur coming up next month at Berkeley Hall.

The lineup also includes Cheng Jin, who won a PGA Tour China event in 2014 and teed it up in April’s Masters, along with local collegians Bryson Nimmer (Clemson), J.D. Lehman (Louisville) and Will Miles (South Carolina).

The tournament tees off July 8 on Berkeley Hall’s South course, with the winner earning a sponsor exemption to next year’s RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing.

“It seems like we have a few more first-time players this year,” tournament director Steve Wilmot said, noting that recent champions Matt NeSmith and Hunter Stewart are among a handful of mainstays who turned pro this summer.

Barbaree makes his first return to the Lowcountry since winning the U.S. Junior crown last August, beating Hilton Head Island’s Andrew Orischak in extra holes after winning the final four holes of regulation at Colleton River Plantation.

One notable absence will be that of Orischak, who turned down an invitation as he rehabs a nagging hip injury. He expects to be ready in time for a U.S. Junior return next month in Tennessee.

“I figured it would be better to give someone else who is healthier a spot (in the Players field),” he said via text.

Horsfield, from England by way of Orlando, just completed his first year at Florida and was winner of the Phil Mickelson Award as the nation’s top freshman. He’s one of three entrants in the top 20 of the world amateur rankings, along with Jin and soon-to-be Southern California teammate Sean Crocker.

Jin made headlines when he won the Nine Dragons Open in 2014 and punched his Masters ticket by capturing the Asia Pacific Amateur in October. He’ll be a freshman at Southern California in the fall.

BEAUFORT’S ANDERSON MOVES UP

A tie for third at last week’s Nashville Golf Open has put Beaufort’s Mark Anderson in the thick of the chase for a PGA Tour promotion at the end of the Web.com Tour regular season.

Anderson’s first top-10 finish of the season vaulted him to 27th on the money list, just $495 outside the top 25 who will receive PGA Tour cards for the 2016-17 season. Nine events remain in the regular season, starting with this week’s Air Capital Classic in Wichita, Kan.

Anderson has played one full PGA Tour season, recording three top-25 finishes during the 2012 season. That left him 164th on the FedExCup points list.

GUO QUALIFIES FOR U.S. GIRLS AM

Sophie Guo, formerly of Bluffton, punched her ticket to the U.S. Girls Junior Amateur with a share of second place at a qualifier last week outside Atlanta. The native of China finished one shot behind medalist Auston Kim of St. Augustine, Fla.

Guo played out of Berkeley Hall last fall when she qualified for the Drive, Chip & Putt national finals at Augusta National. By the time Masters Week came around, though, the family had moved to Orlando so she could work with Annika Sorenstam’s longtime coach.

HJGT COMING TO HAIG POINT

The Hurricane Junior Golf Tour makes its next visit to the Lowcountry for next month’s Coastal Carolina Junior Challenge, to be played July 9-10 at Haig Point on Daufuskie Island.

Okatie’s Kasidy Beckel captured the girls’ division last year, with Thailand’s Sarit Suwannarut an easy winner of the the boys’ title.

Registration is $195 for HJGT members and $245 for non-members, with an entry deadline of June 29. For more information, go online to HJGT.org.

This story was originally published June 22, 2016 at 7:19 PM with the headline "Philip Barbaree set for Lowcountry return in The Players Amateur."