BLUFFTON, SC – Eighty-four talented young golfers will journey from all over the world to the Berkeley Hall Golf Club in Bluffton, SC, July 8 – 14. They will all be competing for a chance to be named the 2013 Players Amateur Champion and earn an exemption into the 2014 RBC Heritage presented by Boeing.
The Players Amateur is one of the most well respected tournaments in amateur golf. Many past participants have been successful at making the transition to the pro circuit. Ben Curtis, Rickie Fowler, Lucas Glover, Bill Haas and Camilo Villegas are just a few that all are now well known on the PGA TOUR.
Heading up the list of impressive commitments is Bobby Wyatt, a 20-year-old from Mobile, Alabama. He became famous in the golfing word in 2010 when he shot a 57 at the Alabama Boys State Championship. He is a rising senior at the University of Alabama and helped them capture the National Championship. He is currently ranked #3 in the SPWAR (Scratch Players World Amateur Ranking) rankings and was runner-up in the 2012 Players Am. Wyatt was a member of the 2013 Palmer Cup team that beat Europe to regain the Cup. He was named a first-team All American by Golfweek, making him a three-time All American. His teammate Trey Mullinax, also a rising senior, was an honorable mention choice.
South Carolina native Matthew NeSmith is no stranger to winning events hosted by the Heritage Classic Foundation. He was the 2011 Junior Heritage Champion. The 19-year-old from North Augusta had a successful freshman year at the University of South Carolina. He was named 2013 SEC Co-Freshman of the Year and is currently ranked #29 in the SPWAR rankings.
The popular Aussies are back in the field. The crew from the land down under is led by Nathan Holman and Oliver Goss. Holman is ranked #21 by SPWAR and Goss is currently in the #22 spot. Holman has six top ten finishes in the 2013 season.
Three local golfers are also in the field. University of South Carolina-Beaufort student Travis Cashion, Bluffton resident Mike Balzer and Hilton Head Island’s Woody Woodward all qualified to compete.
The competition rounds begin July 11th. The tournament is open to the public and admission is free. For more information visit www.playersam.com.