Upstate SC & Western NC APT Golf

Sunny And Warm Weather Brings Out the Player's Best!

The Upstate Amateur Players Tour traveled to the Foothills this past weekend for its tournament at Oconee Country Club, presenting competitors with a classic test of precision and patience.

Built in 1948 on a former farmstead just outside Seneca, the historic layout may not overwhelm players with length by modern standards, but it more than makes up for it with demanding tee shots, strategic approach play and small, undulating Diamond Zoysia greens that reward accuracy while punishing mistakes. With summer conditions providing firm, smooth putting surfaces, the course offered a challenge that required players to think their way around the course rather than simply overpower it.

The Upstate Amateur Players Tour travels the Upstate of South Carolina, along with portions of North Carolina and Georgia, offering golfers of all skill levels a chance to compete in one of five different divisions. The tour also has mid-am and senior net divisions each week and awards the division winners with cash and VISA gift card prizes.

Here’s a breakdown of the results from Saturday’s tournament by division:

Division 1 – Carlos Santana overcame a difficult start, playing his final 14 holes in three-under par to card a round of 73 and win Division 1 on Saturday. Santana birdied the par-five fifth hole and the par-four seventh hole to quickly climb the leaderboard. Eight pars and another birdie on the back cleared him by a stroke over the field.

Joe Brooks was close behind in second place, posting a round of 74. Brooks played the front nine in even-par with a pair of birdies. He made his final birdie on the par-four 17th hole, as he attempted to force a playoff with Santana.

Scott Webber rounded out the division with a round of 81. Webber played the back nine in two-over par with back-to-back birdies on the 15th and 16th holes.

Division 2 – Jeff Pauley closed his round with four straight pars, proving to be enough to claim the top spot in Division 2 on Saturday. Pauley made two birdies on the front nine to card a round of two-over par on the opening stretch. Pauley birdied the par-three 11th hole before making five pars in his final seven holes.

A.J. Lee was close behind in second place, carding a round of 76. Lee made thirteen pars on the round, and his worst score of the day was bogey. Lee managed to plot his way around the course, making seven pars on the back nine.

Weston Brown finished third with a round of 77. Brown made three birdies on the day, two of which came on the back nine. Nestor Santana finished fourth with a round of 80, followed by Andy Stevenson with a score of 83.

Division 3 – David Krumenacker was the class of the field in Division 3, posting a round of 81 to clear the field by two strokes. Krumenacker eagled the par-five fifth hole before making birdie on the par-three sixth.

Nick Sparks finished second with a round of 83. Sparks birdied the par-five eighth hole before making five pars on the back. Sonny Smith and Jeff Adams tied for third place with rounds of 84. Smith made four pars on the front nine and made his lone birdie of the day on the par-five 15th hole. Adams made two birdies on the round, the last of which came on the par-three 11th hole.

Cody Markovich, Jorge Fraga, and Bobby Worthman tied for fifth place with rounds of 85. Markovich made consecutive birdies on the front nine to kickstart his round as Fraga eagled the par-five 15th hole. Worthman shot 41 on the back nine with a birdie on the par-four 12th hole.

Division 4 – Robert Gibson made six straight pars to close his front nine, leading to a round of 83 on the victory in Division 4. Gibson added three more pars on the back nine as he shot 41 on the closing stretch, securing the victory by a single stroke.

Grayson Moody was close behind in second place with a round of 84. Moody made two birdies on the front nine and added a third on the par-four 12th hole. He also made three pars in his final four holes to secure the runner-up finish.

Billy Trull finished third with a round of 87. Trull played his best golf on the back nine, shooting 40 on the closing stretch. Zach Hutchinson came home in fourth place with a round of 89, followed by Shane Baldwin in fifth place with a score of 90.

Division 5 – Rodney Ferrell took home the top honors in Division 5 on Saturday with a round of 92 to win by two strokes. Ferrell made three pars on the front nine before adding two more on the closing stretch. Ferrell’s par on the par-four 17th hole proved to be crucial in his two stroke victory.

Gene Mason finished runner-up with a round of 94. Mason’s round was highlighted by a birdie on the par-four 12th hole. He made three bogeys to close the round and shoot 43 on the back nine.

Desmond Smith finished third with a round of 96. Smith finished with four pars on the round. Vern Verna and Anna Cyphers-Smith rounded out the top five in fourth and fifth places with rounds of 98 and 99, respectively.

Mid-Am (Net) – While Grayson Moody came up just short of the top spot in Division 4, his net round of 70 was enough to win the Mid-Am net division. Moody made four net birdies and a net eagle on the front nine before making three more birdies and another eagle on the back nine. Moody’s one-under par round cleared the field by two strokes.

A.J. Lee finished second with a net round of 72. Lee made two net birdies on the back nine as he shot even par on the closing stretch. Weston Brown and Carlos Santana tied for third place with rounds of 73. Brown made three net birdies on his final nine holes as he attempted to climb the leaderboard. Santana’s steady round included three net birdies.

Bobby Worthman and Zach Hutchinson rounded out the top five in the division in a tie for fifth place with rounds of 75.

Senior (Net) – Jeff Pauley made it a clean sweep of the weekend, posting a net round of 70 to also win the Senior net division. Pauley finished with five net bridies, three of which came in his first six holes.

Jeff Brooks finished three strokes back in second place with a round of 73. Brooks opened his day with a net eagle on the par-four first hole before making two net birdies on the round.

Andy Stevenson and Sonny Smith tied for third place with rounds of 74. Stevenson made five net birdies, two of which came on the back nine as he shot even par on the closing stretch. Smith recorded three net birdies and a net eagle to secure a share of third place. Nestor Santana, Desmond Smith, and Rodney Ferrell shared fifth place with rounds of 75.

🏆🔥 Champions Rise at the 2026 Carolina Crown Classic at Oconee Country Club! ⛳🌄

What an incredible day at Oconee Country Club! From booming drives finding the center of the fairway to pressure-packed putts falling right in the cup, the 2026 Carolina Crown Classic delivered nonstop excitement, fearless shot-making, and true championship drama from the opening tee shot to the final scorecard.

Nestled in the beautiful Upstate scenery, Oconee Country Club provided the perfect championship test. With its scenic layout, demanding approach shots, and slick greens that kept players on edge all day long, every hole challenged competitors to stay focused, aggressive, and composed under pressure.

This was a tournament built on confidence, momentum, and clutch ex*****on.

Big birdies sparked leaderboard swings, tough pars kept rounds alive, and every division featured players battling until the very last hole. The atmosphere all day? Pure electricity. ⚡🔥

👏 Huge congratulations to our 2026 Carolina Crown Classic
Champions! 👑

🌟 Tournament Champions
🥇 Division 1 – Carlos Santana (Clayton, GA))
🥇 Division 2 – Jeff Pauley (Mill Spring, NC)
🥇 Division 3 – David Krumenacker (Anderson, SC)
🥇 Division 4 – Robert Gibson (Fletcher, NC)
🥇 Division 5 – Rodney Ferrell (Gaffney, SC)
🥇 Mid-Am Net – Grayson Moody (Greenville, SC)
🥇 Senior Net – Jeff Pauley (Mill Spring, NC)

These champions brought determination, precision, and championship grit to the course—and proved exactly what it takes to come out on top on the Amateur Players Tour. 💪⛳

Drop those 👏👏👏 below to celebrate our champions—and get ready, because the next stop on the APT Tour is shaping up to be another unforgettable showdown! ⛳🔥

Silver Creek Recap

The Western North Carolina Amateur Players Tour returned to action this past weekend at Silver Creek Golf Club, hosting an elevated event that drew competitors from across both Carolinas.

Nestled in Morganton, NC at the base of the South mountains, Silver Creek Golf Club is a picturesque Tom Jackson design. The 18-hole layout incorporates the scenic beauty of Burke County and also offers a challenge for golfers of all skill sets. The course underwent renovations in 2022, which included the installation of immaculate Bermuda greens.

The Western North Carolina Amateur Players Tour travels throughout the Tar Heel State offering golfers of all skill levels a chance to compete in one of five different divisions. The tour also features Mid-Am and Senior net divisions, along with an optional cash skins game. Designed by the players, for the players, the tour strives to create a first-class experience for its competitors.

Here’s a breakdown of the results from Saturday’s tournament by division:

Division 2 – Johnny Moffett’s steady round paid off in a big way as he posted a score of 77 to win Division 2 by just a single stroke. Moffett opened with a one-over par round of 37 on the front nine which featured a birdie on the par-four seventh hole. Down the stretch, Moffett pared five of his final seven holes to secure the victory.

Jeremy Yancey finished second with a round of 78. Yancey attempted to make a back nine charge, birding the par-three 13th hole as he played the closing nine in one-over par, 37.

Chris Lombardozzi came home in third place with a score of 79. Lombardozzi led the division with four birdies on the day, including two in his final four holes.

Scott Dixon and Joshua Hall rounded out the top five in the division in fourth and fifth places with rounds of 84 and 85, respectively.

Division 3 – John Beck saved his best golf for the back nine, playing the closing stretch in even par to shoot 77 and win Division 3 on Saturday. Beck birdied the par-four 10th hole before making an impressive eagle on the par-four 16th hole. Beck’s five-over par round of 77 cleared the field by five strokes.

Frederick Velazquez finished runner-up with a round of 82. His round was highlighted by a birdie on the par-five second hole. Velazquez carded a round of four-over par 40 on the back nine with six pars.

Tim Carswell and Michael Chastain tied for third place with rounds of 84. Carswell finished with two birdies on the day, the last of which came on the par-three 13th hole. Chastain played his best golf on the front nine, making five pars to shoot four-over par on the opening stretch. Andre Banks finished fifth with a round of 85. Banks got off to a solid start to his round, making seven pars on the front nine.

Division 4 – Ryan Riffle’s round of 81 was more than enough to win Division 4 on Saturday, clearing the field by eight strokes. Riffle bounced back after a tough start on the front nine to shoot two-over par 38 on the back nine. Riffle took advantage of the par-five 12th hole, making birdie.

Robert Gibson, Grayson Moody, Daniel Andrews, Eric Seibert, and Ronnie Thornton tied for second place as all golfers carded rounds of 89. Gibson made five pars on the front nine as he shot seven-over par on the opening stretch. Moody saved his best golf for last, making three pars in his final four holes. Andrews made consecutive birdies on the ninth and 10th holes, serving as the highlight of his round. Seibert finished the day with eight pars as Thorton made his lone birdie of the day on the par-three 17th hole.

Division 5 – Seven golfers finished within six shots of the eventual winner in Division 5 as Shane Wright emerged from the crowded field with a round of 92 to take the top honors. Wright made five pars during the round, along with a birdie on the par-four 16th hole.

Vern Verna finished runner-up with a round of 93, just one stroke behind Wright. Verna birdied the par-four ninth hole before making four pars on the back nine. Tim Kunkel and Dick Jenkins finished tied for third place with rounds of 94. Kunkel finished with four pars on the day as Jenkins’ round was highlighted by a birdie on the par-three 17th hole. Brian McMahan rounded out the top five with a round of 96.

Mid-Am (Net) – Gregg Pruitt made seven net birdies en route to a net round of 71 to win the Mid-Am net division on Saturday. Pruitt shot even par on the front nine with four net birdies. He made three birdies in a row on the back nine to shoot one-under par on the closing stretch.

Frederick Velazquez finished runner-up with a net round of even-par 72. Velazquez made five net bridies on the round, including three on the back nine to shoot one-under par on the inward stretch. Grayson Moody finished third with a net round of 73. Moody made five net birdies on the round, including two in a row on the third and fourth holes. Moody also birdied three of his final four holes on the back nine.

Shane Wright finished fourth with a net round of 74, followed by a three-way tie for fifth place including Jeremy Yancey, Jason Cogdill, and Zach Hutchinson as all three carded net rounds of 75.

Senior (Net) – Johnny Moffett and Scott Bryant shared the top spot in the Senior net division as both golfers carded rounds of two-under par 70. Moffett made six net birdies on the round, four of which came on the front nine. Bryant finished with six net birdies and a net eagle, which came on the par-four 16th hole.

Terry Bollenbecker and Vern Verna tied for third place with rounds of 71. Bollenbecker found his groove on the back nine, making five birdies on the closing stretch. Verna made two net eagles and four net birdies to climb the leaderboard and share third place. Ronnie Thornton rounded out the top five in the division with a net round of even-par, 72.

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We have (1) spot left for this Saturday’s tournament at Oconee Country Club! Register today!

🏆🔥 Champions Shine at the 2026 Silver Creek Slam at Silver Creek Golf Club! ⛳️🌄

What a day it was at Silver Creek! From laser-straight tee shots to clutch putts dropping dead center, the 2026 Silver Creek Slam delivered edge-of-your-seat action, fearless play, and championship-level intensity from start to finish.

Set against the stunning backdrop of the mountains, Silver Creek Golf Club proved to be the ultimate stage. With its rolling terrain, challenging fairways, and slick, undulating greens, every hole demanded smart strategy, confident swings, and a steady hand under pressure.

This was a battle of momentum and mindset—where bold play created opportunity, but composure closed it out. And when it mattered most, the cream rose to the top. 💪⛳️

All day long, the leaderboard was a rollercoaster. Birdies dropped, pars were grinded out, and pressure moments delivered unforgettable finishes across every division. The energy? Absolutely electric. ⚡🔥

👏 Huge congratulations to our 2026 Silver Creek Slam Champions! 👑

🌟 Tournament Champions
🥇 Division 2 – Johnny Moffett (Catawba, NC)
🥇 Division 3 – John Beck (Forest City, NC)
🥇 Division 4 – Ryan Riffle (Forest City, NC)
🥇 Division 5 – Shane Wright (Ellenboro, NC)
🥇 Mid-Am Net – Gregg Pruitt (Roebuck, SC)
🥇 Senior Net – Scott Bryant (Pickens, SC)

These players brought the heat, the focus, and the determination that define the Amateur Players Tour—and they earned every bit of it.

Drop those 👏👏👏 below to celebrate our champions—and stay locked in… the next stop on the APT Tour is coming in hot! ⛳🔥

Chilly Weather and Beautiful Golf Course Gave Players A Challenge!

The forecasted storms across the Carolinas never materialized Saturday, allowing the Upstate SC and Western NC Amateur Players Tour to take full advantage of cool, overcast conditions as it made its annual trip to Brevard, N.C., for a stop at Connestee Falls Golf Club.

With comfortable temperatures and calm weather throughout the day, players were able to focus solely on navigating one of the region’s most scenic and challenging mountain layouts.

Regarded as Brevard’s premier mountain course, Connestee Falls is an 18-hole championship design by renowned architect George Cobb. Sitting at more than 3,200 feet above sea level, the course features rolling fairways, elevation changes, and picturesque views that create both a rewarding and demanding experience.

The Upstate SC and Western NC Amateur Players Tour travels the Upstate of South Carolina, along with portions of North Carolina and Georgia, offering golfers of all skill levels a chance to compete in one of five different divisions. The tour also features mid-am and senior net divisions as well and awards its division winners with cash and VISA gift card prizes.

Here’s a breakdown of the results from Saturday’s tournament:

Division 1 – Christopher White got off to a hot start on the front nine and never looked back, carding a round of even-par 72 to win Division 1. White birdied two of his first four holes before adding a third birdie on the par-four ninth hole to shoot two-under par, 34, on the opening stretch.

Carlos Santana finished two strokes behind in second place with a round of 74. Santana birdied his first two holes of the day and carded a round of even par, 36, on the front nine. Santana attempted to make a back nine charge, birding the 15th and 16th holes.

Dan Constantino finished third with a round of 77, highlighted by three birdies. Constantino made a pair of birdies on the front nine to shoot one-over par. He played his final four holes in one-under par, birding the par-five 15th hole. John Masotti and Randy Hodges tied for fourth place with rounds of 78.

Division 2 – Davis Sires outlasted a crowded field of 22 challengers in Division 2 to lift the trophy with a round of 77. Sires birdied the par-five second hole to settle into his round, carding a two-over par 38 on the front nine. Two birdies in his first three holes of the back nine allowed Sires to play his first five holes of the back nine in one-under par.

AJ Lee and Jeff Ferguson tied for second place, three strokes off the pace set by Sires. Lee shot three-over on the front nine and made two birdies on the back nine, his final of which came on the par-five 15th. Ferguson birdied the 16th and 18th holes to climb into a tie for second place.

John Schiemer finished fourth with a score of 81. Schiemer held the lead after the front nine, shooting one-over par with a pair of birdies. Despite a few difficult holes on the back nine, Schiemer managed to par four of his final six holes to secure a top five finish. Nestor Santana finished fifth with a round of 82 to round out the top five.

Division 3 – David Croston’s steady day paid off in a big way as he secured the top spot in Division 3 with a round of 81. Croston managed to keep his scorecard relatively clean, avoiding double bogeys while making nine pars. Croston played his best golf on the front nine, making five pars en route to a round of four-over par, 40.

Sonny Smith finished in second place with a round of 83. Smith saved his best golf for the back nine, playing his final four holes in one-under par with a birdie on the par-four 18th hole. Bobby Worthman came home third after posting a round of 84. Worthman led the division with three birdies on the day, two of which came in the first five holes as he opened his day one-under par.

Kyle Ramsey and John Beck rounded out the top five in the division in fourth and fifth places with rounds of 85 and 86, respectively.

Division 4 – Daniel Andrews was the class of the field in Division 4, carding a round of 77 to win by a comfortable six-stroke margin. Andrews bounced back from a double bogey on his first hole of the day with two front-nine birdies to shoot two-over par. Andrews made two more birdies on the back nine, his final of which came on the par-three 17th hole.

Ryan Riffle finished runner-up with a round of 83. Riffle overcame a bad start to birdie the par-three fifth hole and settle into the round. Riffle also took advantage of the par-five 11th hole, making birdie.

Robert Gibson came home in third place with a round of 85. Gibson made eight pars on the round, including four in his final seven holes to secure the podium finish.

Eric Seibert finished fourth with a round of 86, followed by Greg Dover in fifth place with a round of 88.

Division 5 – Rodney Ferrell claimed the top spot in Division 5 with an impressive round of 85, clearing the field by six strokes. Ferrell made four pars on the front nine, carding a round of 42 on the opening stretch. Ferrell’s steady day included four more pars on the back nine as he topped the field of 16 challengers.

Bruce Reeves finished second with a round of 91, recording four pars on the round. Anna Cyphers-Smith came home in third place with a round of 92. Cyphers-Smith made three of her five pars on the front nine to shoot 45 on the opening stretch. Michael McGill and Gene Mason rounded out the top five with rounds of 93 in a tie for fourth place.

Mid-Am (Net) – Christopher White made it a clean sweep of the weekend as he also claimed the Mid-Am net division with a round of four-under par, 68. White made three net birdies and a net eagle on the front nine to shoot four-under par, 32. He added two more net birdies on the back to clear the field by two strokes.

Bruce Reeves finished second with a net round of 70. Reeves round included five net birdies on the day. Carlos Santana finished third with a net round of 71. Santana birdied his first four holes on the day, shooting two-under par on the front nine.

Bobby Worthman came home in fourth place with a net round of even par, 72. Worthman finished with six net birdies and a net eagle on the day. Worthman played the back nine in one-under par, using two net birdies and a net eagle on the side to climb the leaderboard.

Zach Hutchinson rounded out the top five in the division with a two-over par round of 74. Hutchinson’s round featured seven net birdies, four of which came on the front nine.

Senior (Net) – Rodney Ferrell made eight net birdies en route to a round of six-under par 66 to win the Senior net division on Saturday. Ferrell opened with four net birdies on the front nine to shoot four-under par. Despite two bogeys on the back nine, Ferrell made four net birdies on the back to shoot two-under par and post the round of 66.

David Croston finished second with a net round of three-under par 69. Croston made five net birdies on the front nine to shoot two-under par on the opening stretch. Anna Cyphers-Smith made seven net birdies as she carded a net round of two-under par 70 to finish in third place.

Sonny Smith and Andy Stevenson rounded out the top five in the division in fourth and fifth places with rounds of 71 and 73, respectively.

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