William Welch (Photo submitted)
By Chris King
William Welch of West Islip, N.Y., shot a net 69 (gross 85) to win the Flight Winners’ Playoff at the 36th Annual PlayGolf MyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship on Friday at Barefoot Resort’s Dye Course.
Welch bested James Juden of Lancaster, Calif., by a shot to emerge from a field of 3,215 golfers and claim the title of World Champion. Patrick Yoe of Athens, Ga., Michael Thompson of Columbia, S.C., and Paul Carrier of Cumming, Ga., finished in a three-way tie for third at 1-under par on a day when only five players broke par.
Christopher Reina of Frisco, Texas shot a final-round 75 to secure a one-stroke victory over AmateurGolf.com’s own Kyle Rector of San Diego, Calif., in the Gross Division.
Steve Humphrey of Ocala, Fla., shot a 76 en route to an eight-stroke win in the Senior Gross Division.
Nigel Palmer of Birmingham, England, and David Palmer of Uncasville, Conn., combined to win the Club Choice Ireland Pairs Competition, shooting a combined, net team score of 146. By virtue of winning, Long and Johnston won a six-night, five-round trip to Ireland, courtesy of Club Choice Ireland.
“Congratulations to William Welch, who played great golf all week and certainly earned the title of World Champion,” Tournament Director Scott Tomasello said. “The 36th Annual PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship enjoyed a spectacular week on and off the course, and we are already looking forward to next year’s event.”
The 2020 World Am will be played Aug. 31 - Sept. 4.
A 72-hole, net stroke play event, golfers were placed into tightly grouped flights based on age, gender and their handicap index. After 72 holes of competition, all flight winners and ties advanced to Friday’s Flight Winners’ Playoff at Barefoot Resort’s Dye Course, an 18-hole shootout that crowned the 2019 World Champion.
There were 67 flights in this year’s tournament and 33 Myrtle Beach golf courses hosted tournament play each day. In total, 55 area courses hosted at least one round of the World Am.
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ABOUT THE
Myrtle Beach World Am
"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.
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