Spear: April ‘madness’ for golf looms over South Carolina

College basketball commands the sports spotlight with its “March Madness,” and South Carolina golf will counter with what Happ Lathrop calls “April Madness” this month.

“Four big-time events,” said Lathrop, executive director of the South Carolina Golf Association.

Masters week begins across the state line in Augusta with the Drive, Chip and Putt competition set for Sunday, and the year’s first major starts Thursday. Following in rapid-fire order will the Columbia Golf Ball at the State Fairgrounds on Thursday night, the Hootie and the Blowfish Monday after the Masters pro-am in North Myrtle Beach on April 13, and the RBC Heritage presented by Boeing at Hilton Head Island on April 16-19.

The pro tournaments will attract the lion’s share of the publicity, but, Lathrop said, “The Golf Ball and the Monday after the Masters pro-am mean so much to the future of junior golf in the state.”

The latter events are fundraisers for the junior golf program that Golf Digest has labeled the best in the country. The Columbia Golf Ball, which has raised more than $530,000 in its first 13 years, will have items ranging from rounds of golf to Heritage, U.S. Open tickets, a quail hunting experience, and a San Francisco/Sonoma getaway available for auction.

“Our SCJGA program has had an impact on more than 51,000 youngsters and has contributed more than $280,000 back into communities in each of the last two years,” Lathrop said.

The junior program includes developmental initiatives such as the First Tee and has also produced a posse of golfers who have succeeded on the PGA Tour and on Ryder Cup and Walker Cup teams. Lucas Glover won the U.S. Open, Dustin Johnson is ranked among the top 10 players in the world, and Bill Haas owns a FedEx Cup title. Johnson, Haas and Ben Martin have earned PGA Tour tournament victories this season.

“Wins just keep coming,” Lathrop said, and sometimes too quickly.

“For the Heritage, we had T-shirts printed with the 28 (top level) tournament wins produced by players who came through our programs and they’re already out-of-date,” Lathrop said. “Dustin won the 29th in Miami two or three weeks ago.”

The Golf Ball begins at 6:30 p.m. and tickets are $60 per individual and $100 per couple. Tickets will be available at the door.

Heritage fieldThe field for the 47th annual RBC Heritage presented by Boeing continues to strengthen with 2010 British Open champion Louis Oosthuizen committing to play in the tournament on Hilton Head Island. Already in the field are a bevy of former champions, including Matt Kuchar, Graeme McDowell, Jim Furyk and Brandt Snedeker.

But the players will share the spotlight with a Boeing 787 Dreamliner. Pending flight certificates and clear weather, the airliner is scheduled to fly over the 18th hole at noon on Friday, April 17.

Tournament tickets are available online at rbcheritage.com.

Chip shotsChristian Salzer (Sumter), a high school junior who has verbally committed to N.C. State, won the CGA’s Jimmy Anderson Boys’ Invitational in Jacksonville, N.C. ...

Gracyn Burgess (Lexington) won the girls’ title and Matt Teaster (Spartanburg) claimed the boys’ crown in the SCJGA’s Caddie Classic, The top 11 girls and 22 boys earned caddying positions in the Hootie & the Blowfish Monday after the Masters Pro-Am. ...

Todd White (Spartanburg) took a giant step toward earning a spot on the U.S. Walker Cup team by winning the Azalea Invitational at the CC of Charleston. ...

USC’s men’s team moved up one spot to fourth in the Golfstat Relative Rankings after winning the Hootie at Bulls Bay Intercollegiate by 11 strokes. Matt NeSmith won the individual title and garnered SEC player of the week honors. ...

Flight winners in the Columbia Golfweek Amateur tourney at Cobblestone Park included Jared Beard (championship), Jo Tejada (A), Kip Neikirk (B), Gary Collins (C) and John Greider (D). Players compete in flights according to handicaps. Call John Livoti (866) 918-4653 for schedules and information.

This story was originally published April 4, 2015 at 11:43 PM with the headline "Spear: April ‘madness’ for golf looms over South Carolina."