South Carolina Amateur: Parks Price goes deep in round one

Florence, SC – The 86th contest for the SCGA Amateur Championship got underway Thursday at Florence Country Club. Conditions were relatively mild for the early August tradition and slightly overcast. Parks Price (Longs) certainly enjoyed the day posting a blemish free opening-round low score of eight under par-62, three shots clear of his nearest competitor. Sitting in second is local resident Jon Weiss, Jr. who used his local knowledge to fire six birdies, including one on his closing hole, the par-four ninth, and finish the round at five-under par 65. The real story was Price though who started his day on the back-nine with a birdie on the short par-four tenth hole. “I made a great up and down on 12,” Price remarked alluding to the 35-foot par putt he sank for the save. From there it was simply a stroll around the classic Florence Country Club layout. "The golf course was great, he said. "I just love Donald Ross style courses – something about them – they’re just beautiful." Price followed up his save on 12 with birdies on holes 13 and 17. He then added an exclamation point with an eagle on the par-five 18th to make the turn at five under par. Price birdied holes three, five and eight on the front side to shoot he lowest round thus far. “It was just there. The putter was on today,” he said proudly. Three players sit four strokes off the lead and one behind Weiss at four-under par. They include recent Carolinas Amateur Champion and Wofford Terrier, RJ Keur of North Charleston, Easley’s Matt Carter who plays for USC Upstate and NCSU Wolfpack team member Justin Hood of St. Matthews. This is the ninth time the SCGA Amateur Championship has been held at Florence Country Club.