Todd White first medaled at the South Carolina Match Play in 1988
(CGA Photo)
SPARTANBURG, SC (June 15, 2017) - In 1988, Todd White of Spartanburg, S.C. won medalist honors in the South Carolina Amateur Match Play at The Carolina Country Club and has repeated that feat 29-years later. White finished stoke play qualifying at three-under-par, 133 overall, securing the number two overall seed for match play. Defending champion Connor Bruns of Duncan, S.C. will be the number one seed. 32 golfers will compete in the match play portion.
"I thought I played really well out of the gate," said White. "I hit some quality golf shots on the first nine holes."
After an impressive 64 on Wednesday, White admitted he played with complacency knowing he was almost a guaranteed lock for match play. "I went to the front side and I got in a lull. I made a stupid bogey on a par-5 [4th], but that reignited me and got my competitive juices flowing."
The three-time South Carolina Amateur Match Play champion noted that a loss of focus, even for one hole, can cost you in match play. "It is easier for me to stay in the moment in match play," said White. "It lends itself to not getting into a lull and can get out of hand quickly if you are not careful. You have to look at each hole as its own separate tournament."
Matt O'Quinn of Beaufort, S.C. secured the number three seed after shooting five-under-par in his second round, putting him at seven-under 137 overall. O'Quinn shot two-under-par 70 Wednesday, them used five birdies and a clean scorecard to break q five-way tie for second. "I made a lot of putts today," said O'Quinn. "That is the difference between a 70 and a 67." Heading into match play, O'Quinn looks to being accurate off the tee as a key to help maintain his success. "Once I get the ball into the fairway; I'll take my chances from there. I have to stay somewhat conservative, but be more aggressive than I was in the stroke play portion."
Julian Keur of Summerville, S.C. was just one-shot back of O'Quinn at six-under-par, 138 overall. Kuer began today in seven-way tie for , then four straight birdies, beginning on the par-5 13th to help distance himself. "Overall, I feel like my putter helped me a lot," said Keur. "I went pin-hunting on the ones that I really felt that I could. I did leave myself a bunch of 20-footers and I was able to roll in a few which was nice." With momentum on his side, Keur looks to keep things simple and focus hitting fairways and greens going into match play. "That really is the best way to give yourself birdie looks and minimize your mistakes."
A 5-for-3 playoff at five-over 149 was used to decide the final participants for match play. Christian Garruppo of Hilton Head secured his spot after holing his chip shot for eagle on the par-5 18th. Then, on the par-4 first, Richard Coggins of Gaffney and Wil Sheppard of Mt. Pleasant made par to lock in their spots.
View results for South Carolina Amateur Match Play
ABOUT THE
South Carolina Amateur Match Play
Championship format is 36 holes of stroke play to
determine 32 qualifiers for
match play. The defending champion is seeded
number one
for match play if otherwise eligible.
Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has
reached his 13th birthday, is a legal resident of
South Carolina, is a member in good
standing of a club which is a member of the
Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)
and has an active GHIN® USGA Handicap Index® at
a CGA member club that
does not exceed 7.4.
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