Long road for Columbia City Championship leads to Lexington
Perhaps the most important ingredients in putting on a quality golf tournament are securing the site and the sponsor, but those only scratch the surface, says Allen Knight, in his second year at the helm of the Midlands Chevy Dealers Columbia City Championship.
“Initial plans for this year’s tournament” – set for July 16-18 at the Country Club of Lexington – “probably started a year and a half ago,” Knight, the tournament director, said.
Longtime tournament director and now adviser Bobby Foster secured the venue and sponsorship, and Knight takes care of the details – getting tournament information to players and clubs, setting up the course, making tee times and all the rest that make the event hum along smoothly.
“We’re excited about playing at Lexington,” Knight said. “This will be the first time the tournament has been played there, and we believe we will have some new players from that area who will compete.”
The “excitement” feeling is shared by the club, general manager Clem King said. Foster approached Lexington three years ago, but a conflict delayed the move.
“I told Bobby I would take it to the (club’s) board, and they were receptive,” King said. “(Club member) David Herndon (with the sponsoring Chevrolet dealers) wanted it here, too. We’re looking forward to it.”
The club has a history of sharing its facility for tournaments. Recent events at Lexington include the SCGA Four-Ball, the WSCGA Senior and a USGA qualifier is on the schedule.
“We want to be ambassadors for golf and give back to the community,” King said. “We get some exposure, but (tournaments) aren’t money-makers for the club.”
The Lexington course can be stretched to more than 6,650 yards, but Knight will vary the length.
“The par-5s are short by today’s standards,” King said. “In a way, it’s like Camden. We don’t have the (Donald Ross) tradition, but like Camden, players see our yardage and think it will be easy only to find out they will be tested.
“Some of the players in the Four-Ball who be playing the City tournament had some nice things to say about the course. We believe everyone will be pleased with the condition of the course and its challenges.”
Entries will be accepted until July 8, and Knight expects a field between 100-120 that will compete in four divisions – amateur, senior, super-senior and professional.
Entry information is available at fairwayoutreach.net.
Chip shots: As part of the installation’s Independence Day celebration, Fort Jackson GC will be open for public play on Friday. Tee times will be available on both courses and can be made by calling the pro shop (803-787-4437) after 1 p.m. on Wednesday. Visitors without access cards must enter the Fort’s Forest Drive gate and provide proper identification. ... Ashley Czarnecki (Greenville) won the WSCGA Junior Championship at Sumter’s Sunset CC and joins runner-up Gracyn Burgess (Lexington) in qualifying for the U.S. Junior championship. ... Dave and Brandon Bradosky (Anderson) edged Eddie and Cole Haggett (Blythewood) in a playoff to win the SCGA’s Father-Son title at Greenville CC’s Chanticleer Course. ... South Carolina Amateur champion Andrew Novak (Mt. Pleasant/Wofford) captured the CGA’s South Carolina Match Play tourney with a 3 and 2 triumph over Jonathan Hardee (Greer/Alabama) at the Windermere Club. ... Winners in the Columbia Amateur Golf Tour event at Windermere: Brett Foltz (championship flight), Darryl Averyhart (A flight), William Gwaltney (B flight), Regal Perry (C flight) and Greg Taylor (D flight). For information, call John Livoti (864-982-0876). ... Brandon Truesdale (Winnsboro) shot 68 at Windermere to lead sectional qualifying for the CGA’s Carolinas Amateur. ... USC rising seniors Will Starke (second team) and Matt NeSmith (third team) have earned Ping All-America recognition by the Golf Coaches Association of America. ... Trent Phillips (Inman) edged Jake Carter (Aiken) by one stroke and Caleb Proveaux (Lexington) by three to win the Grant Bennett Junior Invitational at Florence CC.