Iconic Myrtle Beach family golf tournament under new ownership is accepting entries

The new owners and new operators of the National Father & Son Team Classic that has been held on the Grand Strand for the past 20 years have opened the 2018 tournament to registration.

The tournament will be held July 18-21 and is part of Family Golf Week, which will feature a new division designed to include the entire family. The Parent & Child Team Classic is replacing the Father & Daughter Team Classic and Mother & Daughter Team Classic, two events that were added three years ago but haven’t attracted many players.

This year's event featured approximately 650 players from 42 states and five foreign countries.

Longtime tournament owner Robert Harper of the Southern Dunes Inc. golf management and marketing company sold the event this fall to the locally-owned East Coast Golf Events.

The Parent-Child tournament will allow combinations of mothers, fathers, sons, daughters and grandparents to compete as two-person teams. Players can register for the tournaments at www.FamilyGolfWeek.com or by calling 800-833-8798.

Early entry for both events is $995 per team and includes three rounds of golf, daily lunch, pre- and post-event functions, and a gift bag valued at $600 that includes a logoed shirt, dozen Srixon balls and a $150 gift card for each player that can be used at host courses for food, merchandise and practice rounds. Players registering before Jan. 1 will receive an additional $50 on their gift card.

Host courses include TPC Myrtle Beach, Rivers Edge Golf Club, Barefoot Resort’s Fazio Course, Crow Creek, Legends Resort and Wachesaw Plantation East.

The 54-hole tournaments for players with USGA handicaps will feature a different format each day: two-person captain’s choice, better ball and alternate shot.

Holliday attracts 170

The 49th George Holliday Memorial Junior tournament, the third oldest junior golf tournament in South Carolina, attracted approximately 170 players from 14 states and at least two foreign countries over Thanksgiving weekend at Myrtle Beach National Golf Club’s three courses.

College of Charleston commitment Brady Hinkle of Lancaster topped a deep boys field by closing with a 66 and prevailing in a playoff over John Hatcher Ferguson of Rocky Mount, N.C., after both players finished with an even-par 216. Walker Isley of Oak Island, N.C., also finished at 216 in the boys 14-15 division.

Clemson commitment Gracyn Burgess of Lexington defended her girls championship after tying high school junior Susana Olivares of Myrtle Beach at 219, which was 11 strokes better than the third-place competitor. Olivares is a student from Mexico at the Greg Norman Champions Golf Academy at Barefoot Resort.

The top boys scores from the area were Carlos Garre of Myrtle Beach and Drew Mullen of Pawleys Island at 225, and Coleman Bess of Murrells Inlet at 229. Jordan White of Myrtle Beach posted a 237 in the girls competition.

See a PGA event

Tickets are on sale for a pair of PGA Tour events in the Carolinas: the 50th RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing from April 12-15 at Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island and the 16th Wells Fargo Championship from May 3-6 at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C.

The RBC annually follows the Masters Tournament and the Wells Fargo annually attracts a top field, as each of the top 25 players in the world rankings have played in the event. Quail Hollow hosted last year’s PGA Championship.

Fans can save about $50 by purchasing a Golden Ticket clubhouse badge to the RBC Heritage for $220 before Jan. 5. The price includes a badge with special artwork, lanyard and a 50th baseball cap.

Other early-purchase specials include a clubhouse badge for $195, a clubhouse ticket pack good for five days for $250, weeklong grounds badge for $155, daily grounds ticket for $65 and clubhouse practice round ticket for $40. Other hospitality-included badges are also available at www.rbcheritage.com or by calling 843-671-2448.

Wells Fargo grounds tickets start with a three-day $35 Practice Pack, daily tickets are $55-$65, an any-day ticket is $75, and a weekly ticket book is $175. Patrons can purchase or research tickets at www.WellsFargoChampionship.com or by calling 704-554-8101.

Wells Fargo organizers are giving away prizes such as valet parking and inside-the-ropes experiences daily from Dec. 4-21 for ticket purchasers.

Both tournaments allow juniors free entry with a paid adult – RBC is under 16 and Wells Fargo is under 13.

The Web.com Tour’s BMW Charity Pro-Am in Greenville will be held May 17-20 on three courses in the Greenville area. Tickets, volunteer and pro-am playing spots are available by calling the tournament office at 864-297-1660.

Event for children

The annual Christmas Child Golf Tournament to benefit area children at care facilities will be held Dec. 16 at the Man O’War and Wizard golf courses.

The four-person team captain’s choice event has a 10 a.m. shotgun start and $65 entry fee. Prizes will be awarded to the top eight teams and skills contest winners. Raffles and mulligans will be available for purchase.

Proceeds will provide Christmas gifts and services to children who are assisted through special care facilities. Additional projects that are funded through Lighthouse Care Centers include new shoes, a Christmas show at Alabama Theatre, a spring trip to Carowinds and a monthly movie at Sea Mist Resort.

To register contact Randy Broughton at 843-236-8000 or Randy.Broughton@mysticalgolf.com.

Overton tripping

“Boom Baby.”

Jeff Overton, who uttered those words after a hole-out from the fairway at the 2010 Ryder Cup, had another reason to break out his famous phrase last week at Indiana University’s basketball game against Duke.

The 2005 Indiana graduate got the chance to attempt a 94-foot putt, from baseline to baseline on the court, during a timeout. If he made the putt he would win a trip for four to Myrtle Beach for a selected fan at the game.

Overton improbably drained it, setting off a celebration that involved all in attendance.

Overton has earned more than $12 million in his PGA Tour career but has had a rough go of late.

He developed a spinal infection following surgery for a herniated disc and needed emergency surgery, and he played in just one event in 2017.

It doesn’t look like the Hoosier has lost his putting touch, however, and is sending a group to Myrtle Beach through a promotion sponsored by the Myrtle Beach Area Chamber of Commerce.

This story was originally published December 5, 2017 at 12:35 AM with the headline "Iconic Myrtle Beach family golf tournament under new ownership is accepting entries."