The Palmetto Amateur
Registration for the 2013 Palmetto Amateur is now open.
The Palmetto Amateur has been contested since 1976, first as the Aiken Golf Classic and then, beginning in 1998, as the Palmetto Amateur. The tournament is held at the historic Palmetto Golf Club, where golf was first played in Aiken, SC, in 1892.
The 2013 Palmetto Amateur will be the 38th renewal of this event. The tournament is scheduled for Wednesday, June 5 through Saturday, June 8. Campbell University graduate Mitch Gray won the rain soaked 2012 tournament over Scott Strohmeyer of the University of Alabama. Mitch and Scott were tied after 70 holes, but Mitch finished with two birdies as Scott faltered. Mitch shot a one-under par 69 in the final round to finish at five under for the tournament. Scott shot a 71 to finish the tournament at even par. Alabama golfer Tom Lovelady finished third and Kansas State’s Ben Juffer finished fourth.
Palmetto Golf Club, while not overly long, is still quite challenging. The greens are small and the greens complexes are difficult, requiring accurate placement of approach shots. Putting is also a premium and the subtle MacKenzie contours are difficult to negotiate.
We again expect to receive more applications than can be accommodated and, because of that, the field will be selected based on world amateur rankings and performance in high level amateur tournaments, including USGA Open and Amateur events and previous Palmetto Amateurs. Invitations will be extended to players ranked in the Top 200 on selected lists, as well as former champions and club tournament champions.
