Woodcreek Classic boasts proud history
Sunday morning question: What do Robert Streb, Russell Knox, Tommy Gainey, Ben Martin, Ted Potter, William McGirt, Scott Stallings, Russell Henley, and Michael Thompson have in common?
Answer: All have won PGA Tour tournaments, and all have competed in recent Woodcreek Classics at the Members Club’s Woodcreek Course.
“I use those names to illustrate the caliber of player we will have here,” said Terry Johnson, regional tournament director for the Swing Thought Tour in previewing the 10th annual Woodcreek Classic, set to begin Wednesday.
Johnson, a PGA of America professional, has been involved with the Swing Thought Tour and its predecessors since 2011, and marvels at the quality of players striving to climb the ladder in professional golf.
“Watching golfers participate at this level and grow into PGA Tour players is special to me,” he said. “Those names I mentioned are just some who have won on the big tour. There are others whose names you hear on television on Sunday afternoon or have won on the Web.com Tour.
“There are also players such as Wesley Bryan (Chapin/USC), who lost here in a playoff one year and this year has won three times on the Web.com Tour and will be on the PGA Tour next year. Adam Hart (Columbia) lost in a playoff here last year, and he’s playing in the Wyndham Championship this week.”
He could add a couple more names to the Woodcreek-PGA Tour winner list – Keenan Bradley and Kevin Kisner.
The folks at Woodcreek like to recall Bradley earned $900 at the Tom Fazio-designed course in 2009. Two years later, he banked more than $3.3 million, won the PGA Championship and partnered with Phil Mickelson to sparkle on the 2012 U.S. Ryder Cup team. Meanwhile, Aiken native/resident Kisner won at Sea Island this season and, like Wofford College graduate and Spartanburg area resident McGirt, ranks in the top 20 in both earnings and FedEx points.
Stories such as Bradley’s “I knew you when” climb to stardom keep the membership eager for another tournament, but the biggest winner will be the tournament’s charity, the Ronald McDonald House. This year’s donation will raise the tournament’s 10-year contribution to $150,000.
“There are so many components to an event, and the biggest one is charity,” Johnson said. “What has been done here is amazing.”
Indeed, the tournament is a labor of love for members of the Members Club who must secure volunteers, help arrange housing for some players, work with sponsors and work through a myriad of details to assure the event runs smoothly. Volunteer coordinator Tudy Clark has lined up 160 volunteers _ some club members, some not. “A lot of them come back every year,” she said.
The week’s schedule includes practice rounds Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, the pro-am tournament Tuesday afternoon and the main event Wednesday through Saturday. Play begins at 7:30 a.m. Wednesday and Thursday, and at 8 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Fans are welcome to attend free of charge.
Drive, Chip and Putt
Sub-regional competition in the Drive, Chip and Putt program will be staged Saturday at Fort Jackson GC with 144 players in eight age groups participating. Registration opens at 10 a.m. and play begins at 11.
The top two in each age bracket advance to the regionals. This’ll be the third year Fort Jackson has hosted a sub-regional, the equivalent of the quarterfinals, in the program that leads to the national championship each spring at Augusta National GC.
“We’re pleased to have the youngsters here again, and we want to provide them with a wonderful experience,” said Mike Casto, general manager and director of golf at FJGC. “The course is in ideal condition, and we look forward to a great day.”
Chip shots
In the U.S. Amateur at Oakland Hills CC in Bloomfield Hills. Mich., four players with state connections advanced to match play after two qualifying rounds. Bryson Nimmer (Bluffton/Clemson) and Doc Redman (Clemson) both won a match before falling in the round of 32. Todd White (Spartanburg) and Austin James (Charleston Southern) suffered first-round setbacks. Ryan Stachler (USC), Jeremy Grab (Daniel Island/Wofford), Art Griffin (Charleston Southern) and recent Clemson graduate Miller Capps failed to qualify for match play.