Simple philosophy is working well for Harwood

The 2014 American Junior Golf Association tourney at Spring Valley Country Club featured a future U.S. Amateur champion, a player who would become the Atlantic Coast Conference’s player of the year and a covey of golfers who would achieve excellence on the college stage.

Amid that array of talent, William Harwood experienced his golfing epiphany.

Standing on the 18th tee in the final round tied for the lead and in title contention in a high-profile tournament for the first time, he remembers shaking like a tree in a storm. The high school sophomore eventually spun his wedge off the green and missed the championship playoff by two shots.

Disappointed, yes, but he discovered he could play this game pretty well, too.

Continual improvement became his quest. He illustrated just how far he has advanced a couple of weeks ago by winning the South Carolina Amateur championship.

Like his 2014 performance against the all-star field, capturing the state’s top competition for amateurs “gives me more confidence,” Harwood said. “I know I have the ability to compete at that level and higher.”

His goal in competition: “Try to be William.”

That’s the William who grew up in a golfing family. Dad Bill, mom Karen and sister Savannah all play, and William honed his game “chipping and putting until dark in the backyard” for this home near Spring Valley’s fourth green.

That practice-until-dark habit led to his developing a deadly short game, a talent that served him well down the stretch in the State Amateur.

“I’m more like Zach Johnson” than bombers such as Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Rory McIlroy, said Harwood, who will be a junior at Elon College this fall. “My wedges and short game are my strengths.”

Harwood played competitive tennis in his early years and school rules permitted him to play noncontact sports in the sixth grade. “I flipped a coin, and it came up golf.”

The decision linked him with Columbia teaching professional Fred Wadsworth and, Harwood said, “It’s unbelievable how much he has helped me and a lot of others, too.”

After his close call in the 2014 AJGA tourney, Harwood won a National Junior Golf Tour event and qualified for the Junior World Championships in San Diego. He earned a scholarship to Elon, has one college win and has played in the team’s every tournament in his two years.

Time management is vital in college, and he laughed about sitting on the back bench seat in the team’s van typing a paper for class on the long ride from the Florida tournament. “But I usually try to stay ahead with class work so I can concentrate on golf in tournaments,” he said.

Turning professional, winning on the PGA Tour and a major and climbing to the top of the golf world are on the wish list

Ambitious? Sure. “I’ll be wherever the Lord needs me, and that might not be anything to do with golf,” Harwood said. “I just want to be the best I can be. If you’re not shooting to be the best, you’re going to get left behind.”

His philosophy – “Try to be William” – is working just fine.

Chip shots. Lexington’s Jordan Sease and Barnwell’s Kyle Bearden earned berths in the U.S. Mid-Amateur in qualifying at the CC of Lexington. ... Brothers Trevor and Trent Phillips (Inman/Georgia) and USC golfer Ryan Stachler advanced to match play in the U.S. Amateur. The brothers won their first-round matches before falling, and Stachler lost in 19 holes in the Round of 64. ... Emily Rapp (Greenville) and Lea Anne Brown (Mt. Pleasant) won spots in the U.S. Women’s Mid- Amateur in qualifying at the CC of Lexington.