SCGA bringing its four champions together for unique event, fun diversion

Difficult times call for creative solutions, and the South Carolina Golf Association delved into uncharted territory to provide a respite for fans who yearn for high-level competition.

With amateur tournaments in the Carolinas suspended until at least May 28, the SCGA came up with a made-for-social-media event called the “Battle at the ’Burg” that features the organization’s current four major champions.

The four-ball, match-play event begins at 11 a.m. Friday (May 8) at Orangeburg Country Club and will be streamed live on the SCGA’s Instagram and Facebook platforms.

Competing will be Tyler Gray (Amateur champion), Jordan Sease (Mid-Amateur), Kevin King (Senior) and Austin Scott (Junior). They will draw for partners on Monday.

“We have never been able to get our four major champions together like this before,” SCGA executive director Biff Lathrop said. “The ‘Battle’ will be an opportunity to showcase the players and perhaps provide a little diversion” for golf fans from the coronavirus pandemic.

Lathrop borrowed the idea from the made-for-TV match featuring Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady and Peyton Manning. He talked to his staff and “they ran with it,” he said. “(Professional) David Lackey and the folks at Orangeburg Country Club liked the idea, and we’re looking forward to a great day. It ought to be a fun time.”

All the social-distancing protocols will be in place and no spectators will be allowed.

The “Battle” will have to serve for amateur competition in the Carolinas until at least June. The decision to suspend events through May 28 wiped out the SCGA’s Super-Senior Championship and Four-Ball Championship. The Women’s South Carolina Golf Association put the Palmetto Cup on hold until September and canceled the Foundation Junior Girls’ Championship.

“We decided to cancel both of our events,” Lathrop said. “We wanted to take every precaution. Rescheduling the Four-Ball would be really difficult since it’s a five-day tournament and clubs have their own events planned.”

The one-player-per-cart rule created by the coronavirus’ social-distancing requirement makes tournaments difficult. Clubs generally have fleets of 40 to 50 carts, and that’s not enough for a full-field event.

“That’s our biggest challenge right now,” Lathrop said. “Clubs have enough carts for recreational players and not enough for our tournaments.”

On the positive side, he said the Junior Championship, scheduled for June 8-10 at The Tradition Golf Club on Pawleys Island, remains on the schedule.

“It’s a walking event, so carts are not a factor,” Lathrop said. “But we still will observe all the regulations and that might mean it’s going to be a bare-bones event. We hope we can use electronic scoring (to eliminate scorecards) and there may be no gifts and minimal lunches.”

Looking ahead, the tournament schedule accelerates rapidly in June. The WSCGA has both the State Women’s Amateur and the State Junior Girls’ Championship slated, and the Columbia Women’s Championship is also on the calendar. In addition to the Juniors, the SCGA has three tournaments plus the first qualifier for the State Amateur.

“We’re hoping for the best,” Lathrop said, “but the safety of our players and staff remains our highest priority. The situation is so fluid that we just have to wait and see.”

Meanwhile, the “Battle at the ’Burg” is on tap Friday, a fun diversion in challenging times.

Chip shots. Honors continue to roll in for USC’s women golfers with three players earning All-American honors from Golfweek. Freshman Pauline Roussin-Bouchard joined Furman senior Natalie Srinivasan in earning first-team berths, and seniors Lois Kaye Go and Ana Pelaez received honorable mention recognition. . . . The window to purchase tickets for the 2021 PGA Championship at Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Ocean Course has been delayed and the opportunity to register has been extended until Aug. 9. Tickets are sold through a free, no-obligation process that requires advance registration. Earlier registration “holds” a place in line for the sale that will begin in August. The 2021 championship is set for May 17-23, 2021.

This story was originally published May 1, 2020 at 11:06 AM.