Greg Williams (Myrtle Beach World Am photo)
By Chris King
MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. -- Greg Williams of North Augusta, S.C., shot a net 67 (gross 90) to win the Flight Winners’ Playoff at the 35th Annual PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship Friday at Barefoot Resort’s Dye Course.
On the week, 3,184 golfers teed it up around 55 Myrtle Beach area courses. All winners (and ties) from each of the 64 handicap flights were eligible to tee it up on Friday at Barefoot. Williams was the last man standing after edging second-place finishers Rob Durbin of York, S.C., and Mark Dey of Decatur, Mich., by two shots to claim the title of World Champion.
Derrick Oyervides of Greer, S.C., shot a 74 to cruise to a six-stroke win in the gross division, finishing with a five-round total of 363. Bobby Stiffler of Glen Rock, Pa., who fired a 76 at the Dye Course, was second, while Todd Stires of Murrieta, Calif., finished third, 11 shots back.
Steve Comings of Odenton, Md., shot a 73 at the Dye Course, finishing with a five-round score of 372, one shot clear of second-place finisher Steve Humphrey of Lexington, Ky., to win the Senior Gross Division.
By virtue of winning the gross divisions, Oyervides and Comings won all expenses-paid trips to compete in the Hainan Amateur in the Yangpu Economic Development Zone in China in November.
John Long of Allen, Texas, and Ted Johnston of McKinney, Texas, combined to win the Club Choice Ireland Pairs Competition, shooting a combined, net team score of 150. By virtue of winning, Long and Johnston won a six-night, five-round trip to Ireland.
“Greg Williams played great all week and earned the right to be called World Champ,” Tournament Director Scott Tomasello said. “The World Am is golf’s best and most inclusive event, and we enjoyed another outstanding week of competition and camaraderie. We are already looking forward to 2019.”
As appealing as the competition was, it’s only half the fun at the World Am. Each night players gathered at the World’s Largest 19th Hole, which consumed all 120,000 square feet of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.
Tournament players and a guest enjoyed free food and drinks, a 70-exhibitor golf expo, live entertainment, demo areas, celebrity appearances and more.
Among the celebrity guests who appeared at the 35th annual event were Golf Channel stars Charlie Rymer, Damon Hack and Chantel McCabe, billiards legend Ewa Laurance, and media personality Paige Spiranac. The popular Sirius/XM radio show Maginnes on Tap, hosted by Brian Katrek and former PGA Tour player John Maginnes, originated live each night from the World’s Largest 19th Hole.
ABOUT THE Myrtle Beach World Amateur
"The largest amateur golf tournament in
the
world" now has 4 gross divisions. The event
attracts
3500
players annually. Barefoot Resort is just
one of
over 40 of Myrtle Beach area’s
championship
courses on which this tournament is
contested.
The winner of each flight competes on the
fifth
day for the overall title.
View Complete Tournament Information