The Southern Icebreaker Regional brought members from 29 of our local Tours across the country to Hilton Head, South Carolina for the first tournament of the year. Palmetto Dunes Plantation (Robert Trent Jones) and Sea Pines Resort (Harbour Town Golf Links) hosted 128 Golfweek Amateur Tour members in the largest field ever in the event’s history! The start of the 2023 season marks both the 20th year of the Southern Icebreaker and opening weekend of the 28th season of the Golfweek Amateur Tour.

In the Championship Flight, Jeff Wong (Hilton Head/Savannah) came from five shots back to capture the victory for the second straight year at this event with scores of 74-72-146.  Wong started the day five shots back of Joe Jaspers (Charlotte) who shot 69 at Jones on Saturday thanks to a five-under-par back nine.  The two battled all day but when Wong holed out for an eagle on number 15, the deal was pretty much sealed.  Jaspers ultimately finished five shots back with 69-82-151, followed by Jay Barnes (Charlotte) at 160.  Chris Legare (Hilton Head/Savannah) played well and finished tied for fourth with Bryan Benton (Jacksonville) after both carded two-day totals of 161.

In the A Flight, Eric Whitworth (Charlotte) won by only two shots with rounds of 79-79-158. Ronnie Averett (Mississippi) and Steve Evans (Hilton Head/Savannah) finished tied for second with two-day totals of 160.  John Dobbins (Hilton Head/Savannah) finished solo in fourth place at 162 followed by Scott Kennedy (Myrtle Beach/Wilmington) with 163.

In the B Flight, Scott Ammons (Hilton Head/Savannah) claimed the victory by two strokes with rounds of 81-80-161.  Joshua Kirkley (Hilton Head/Savannah) finished second at 163 followed by Boyd Laughlin (Hilton Head/Savannah) in third at 169. Jeremy Huff (Tidewater) was fourth at 172 and finished two strokes ahead of both Daniel Montgomery (Augusta) and Michael Ericksen (Atlanta) who tied for fifth with 174.

In the C Flight, Bill Kubik (Eastern NC) finished one shot ahead of four other players with a two-day score of 183 for the victory.  John Page (Charlotte) was second on the card playoff followed by Scott Holland (Augusta) then John Haynie (Hilton Head/Savannah) and finally John Parrish (Tidewater). All four of these players fired two-day totals of 184.

In the D Flight, Melissa Williamson (Washington DC Metro) won by just one shot with a two-day total of 189 while playing in her very first event.  Jeremy Harper (Arkansas) was solo second at 190 followed by Will Spittle (Tidewater) with 193 and both Steve Start (Orlando) and Mitch Green (Upstate SC) tied for fourth at 201.

The Golfweek Amateur Tour operates local Tours in over 47 markets across the country and hosts both one-day and two-day tournaments.  To get your tour card, visit www.amateurgolftour.net, complete the Join the Tour form, pay your annual membership, and become part of the oldest and largest nationwide amateur golf tour in the United States. The Senior Amateur Tour also hosts both one-day and two-day tournaments in markets nationwide and is open to players 50 years of age and older. Consider joining us for our 25^th anniversary this season by visiting www.senioramateurgolftour.net completing a Join the Tour form, and paying your annual membership for one of our 23 local Tours.