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Five facts about the Azalea Invitational

Since 1946, the Azalea has been held every Spring with the exception of 1990 and 1991 due to Hurricane Hugo, 2006 when the course was renovated, and 2019 due to the club hosting the US Women’s Open.  In 2005, this was the first year that Frank Ford, Sr. was not part of the Azalea.

Mr. Ford passed away that summer at the age of 100. He was a four-time Azalea champion, including the inaugural event in 1946. One of the preeminent amateur players of his day, Mr. Ford won numerous championships and was elected into the Carolina’s Golf Hall of Fame and the South Carolina Athletic Hall of Fame.

His grandson, Frank Ford III, is a six-time Azalea champion. Although his presence will be sorely missed, his spirit and love of amateur golf will always have a special influence on the Azalea Invitational.

The Frank C. Ford Azalea Champions’ Trophy was presented for the first time at the conclusion of the 2002 tournament. The award recognizes Mr. Ford in particular and all champions for their contribution to the wonderful tradition of the Azalea.

The trophy, a beautiful silver antique wine cooler, has been and will continue to be, inscribed with the names of all Azalea Champions. It will be permanently on display in a prominent place at the Country Club of Charleston.

The 2006 Azalea was canceled when the Country Club of Charleston members voted to renovate and restore the golf course. Noted golf course architect Brian Silva was retained to oversee this project. The restoration has proved to be an unequivocal success.

The integrity of the Raynor design has been preserved despite the course's new greens, restored and additional bunkers, and a top-of-the-line irrigation system. 

The Azalea has featured a number of the country’s top amateur players. Starting with Frank Ford Sr., past champions include Dale Morey, Billy Joe Patton, Dick Siderowf, George Burns, Buddy Alexander, Vance Heafner, Ken Green, and D.J. Trahan. Ryuji Imada, a native of Japan, in 1996 became the first foreign player to win the Azalea.

In 2001, Casey Wittenberg, a sixteen year old high school sophomore, became the youngest player to win the championship. Trahan, Wittenberg and Imada are all on the PGA Tour as well as U.S. Open Champion Webb Simpson, who won the Azalea in 2004 and 2007, and 2003 Azalea Champ Spencer Levine.

Other PGA Tour players that have competed in the Azalea are Rickie Fowler, Luke List, Jordan Spieth, Eric Compton, Patrick Reed, Billy Horschel, Matthew Wolff, CT Pan and William McGirt.

Azalea fields have included US Open Winners Webb Simpson and Lucas Glover; USGA Amateur Champions John Harris, Buddy Alexander, Jay Segal, Vinnie Giles and Peter Uhlein; USGA Public Links Champions Hunter Haas, Brandt Snedeker, D.J. Trahan and Brad Benjamin; USGA Mid Amateur Champions Danny Green, Jerry Courville, Tim Jackson, Spider Miller, Danny Yates, George Zahringer, Austin Eaton, Trip Kuehne, and four time winner Nathan Smith; USGA Junior Amateur Champions Matthew Rosenfield, Cameron Peck, Corey Whitsett, Brian Harmon and Kevin Tway.

The Azalea Invitational contributed to this report