On the heels of an overwhelmingly successful U.S. Junior Amateur Championship in July, The Country Club of North Carolina extends its golf legacy by hosting The National Father-Son Invitational, which began in 1971, August 20-22.
Notable past winners of the National Father-Son Invitational, which began in 1970, include Tom and Tom Kite, Jr; Arthur and Scott Hoch; Rod and Steve Spittle; Kelly and Blair Miller; and Doug and Drew Hanzel.
The tournament was conceived by Dale Morey, a CCNC member and a noted amateur player who was also a basketball All-America at LSU. He won the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship in 1974 and 1977.
“The Country Club of North Carolina welcomes all of the competitors in this year’s Father-Son Invitational,” said club president Tom Beddow. “Family means a lot to us at CCNC, and the Father-Son emphasizes that in the spirit of its competition.”
Among the 31 teams entered are the 2020 Super Senior division champions James and Wes Martin of Dallas, Texas, who won their division by 24 strokes at 285 last year. (pictured L to R: Wes and James Martin).
Three generations of the Ward family from Florida and New York are participating. Hammer Ward (83), is playing with his son Johnny (59) and Johnny is also playing with his son Brandon (26).
The field consists of players from 11 states: Connecticut, Florida, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Texas, Tennessee, and Virginia, who will play both the Cardinal and Dogwood Courses in the three-day competition.
The format for the 52nd Invitational consists of three flights, all gross – Championship, Senior, Super Senior. The scoring format is better ball of each team for the first two rounds from division-designated tees (August 20 and 21) and then combined score on the event’s final day (August 22).
Championship Division (10)
Mike & Will Betts - Leechburg, Pa.
Justin & Jackson Bode - Pinehurst, N.C.
Chris & Brett Dudek - Beverly Hills, Mich.
Jim & Anthony Gammon - Eden, N.C.
Randy & Scott Hanna - Pinehurst, N.C.
Darrin & Jack Hotts - Troy, Mich.
Rick & Griffin Jones - Rochester Hills, Mich.
John & Joey Maniaci - Rochester, Mich.
Chuck & Chase Tickle - Raleigh, N.C.
Senior Division (10)
Robert & Danny Brooks - Canfield, Ohio
Dan & Jordan Cross - Eden, N.C.
Skip (Columbia, S.C.) & Everett Eynon (Mt. Pleasant, S.C.)
Michael & Aaron Kiem - Erie, Pa.
Michael & Alex Kiem - Erie, Pa.
Alex & Charlie Moore - Dallas, Texas
Tim & Greg Porter - Canfield, OH
Tim & Michael Porter - Canfield, Ohio
Tim & Scott Porter - Canfield, Ohio
Johnny (Maitland, Fla.) & Brandon Ward (New York, N.Y.)
Super Senior Division (11)
Terry (Pinehurst, N.C.) & Evan Collins (Simsbury, Conn.)
Michael (Sebring, Fla.) & Brett Custer (Allentown, Pa.)
Reuben Harris (Rocky Mount, N.C.) & Hank Thompson (Pinehurst, N.C.)
John (Murrells Inlet, S.C.) & Jeffery Long (Ashburn, Va.)
James (Dallas, Texas) & Wes Martin (Denver, Colo.)
Pleas & Chris McMichael - Reidsville, N.C.
Pleas (Reidsville, N.C.) & John McMichael (Greensboro, N.C.)
Cliff & Jason Seastrunk - (Raleigh, N.C.)
Todd Turner (West End, N.C.) & Ben Bonner (Nashville, Tenn.)
Todd Turner (West End, N.C.) & Andrew Donovan (Greensboro, N.C.)
Hammer (Winter Park, Fla.) & Johnny Ward (Maitland, Fla.)