South Carolina Open champion Jerry Haas is the coach at Wake Forest
Jerry Haas comes from a well-known family of golfers. His uncle was 1968 Masters champion Bob Goalby, his brother is Jay, and his nephew is Bill, who he coached at Wake Forest.
And while he never won on the PGA Tour, Haas has three Nike Tour victories on his resume, as well as a number of Carolinas Section PGA victories. His storied career includes over 20 years of coaching at his alma mater Wake Forest.
Today at the South Carolina Open, Haas had a chance to relive his youth, battling it out with two young amateurs just a day before turning 57.
After starting the day 8-under-par after a nearly flawless 64 in the first round, Haas spent the day playing with amateur Blake McShea, who trailed by two after a first round 64 at The Reserve Golf Club in Pawley's Island, South Carolina.
But it was another amateur, Logan Sowell of the College of Charleston, who Haas would face on the first extra hole to duke it out for the title. Sowell, coming off a first round 71, fired 6-under-par, 66 to move himself 12 spots up the leaderboard deadlocked with Haas at 7-under.
After going to three playoff holes with the seasoned champ in Haas, Sowell fell just short, but was still able to walk away with the low amateur honors.
For Haas, a former Walker Cupper who finished T31 as an amateur in the 1985 Masters, winning never gets old.
“This win really means so much to me. It is really special. Not to mention, tomorrow is my birthday!” said Haas to the Carolinas PGA.
Haas even had some good family golf mojo going on as he stayed with his brother, Jay Haas, this week in Pawley’s Island.
Finishing only one shot back from the leaders, Brock Elder, PGA carded a bogey-free 65 to push himself over 20 spots up the leaderboard into solo third. Two shots back from Elder in fourth was Blake McShea (66-74) who finished at 4-under-par Amateur Tyler Gray rounded out the top five, with rounds of 70, 71 to finish at 3-under-par.
Along with the low amateur Sowell, Burke Cromer, PGA tied the low round of the day at 66 highlighted by an eagle on the par-5, 13th hole.
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ABOUT THE
South Carolina Open
36 hole stroke play championship for professionals
and
amateurs. Amateurs must reside in North or South
Carolina and have a current USGA Handicap Index of
5.5 or less at the time of entry deadline, verified by
a
CPGA Professional.
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