Garrett Risner (Carolinas Golf Association Photo)
Garrett Risner of Holly Springs, N.C., won the 110th Carolinas Amateur Championship, an official USGA exemption event that carries an exemption into the 124th U.S. Amateur Championship. Risner carded rounds of 69-69-67-72, finishing 11-under to defend his title successfully.
“I finally got there, it’s been so hard to get [to the U.S. Amateur] for me,” Risner said. “I had a chance last year at my home club and couldn’t get it done, so to be in without having to qualify is a relief.”
The Cliffs at Mountain Park are atypical in design for the area. Senior Designer Jeff Lawrence worked with Course Architect Gary Player to create a links-style course with holes winding through the Saluda River that runs through the property.
“We tried to bring the shot value, strategic element back into the game,” Lawrence said.
The greens were fast and firm all week, challenging players' aggressiveness when attacking pins—it was only fitting that Risner holed a 12-foot birdie putt to win on the 72nd hole.
“I’m telling myself that this is your spot, and this is where you’re trying to hit it,” Risner said. “Just kind of felt relief that I didn’t have to play another playoff [like last year].”
With mountains surrounding the property and afternoon shadows slowly creeping in, Risner fist-pumped his winning putt home with a crowd of spectators watching greenside.
He started the Final Round two shots behind Jack Wieler of Bluffton, S.C., but with birdies on three, four and six, Risner started to mount a strong lead.
“I was just trying to hold onto it and put pressure on the golf course,” Risner said.
Mountain Park didn’t make it easy. Pars were high commodities with tricky pin locations.
“When you miss a green, it’s not always easy to get up and down, especially when you’re short-sided,” Risner said.
Colin Salema of Matthews, N.C., surged seven spots up the leaderboard in the Final Round with a bogey-free 7-under, 65 to finish in second. He put some pressure on Risner down the stretch to force Risner to save par on 17 and ultimately convert that birdie on 18.
Wieler tied Salema for second at 10-under overall after initially setting the pace for the championship with an opening round 7-under, 65. His putter was hot all week and typically came to life toward the end of his rounds.
On Wednesday, Wieler birdied four of his last five holes and Thursday he wrapped up birdie-birdie-eagle.
Wieler benefitted from having shorter approach shots into greens. Because of the distance he gets off the tee, he didn’t always have to rip driver; he could rely on his 2-iron.
But at Mountain Park, putting seemed to be all that mattered. Despite back to back 69s to start the championship, Risner wasn’t satisfied.
“I played two great rounds and really haven’t gotten much out of them,” Risner said Thursday.
After every round, Risner worked on the putting green trying to get comfortable and gain more confidence.
Risner and Wieler spent Round 3 and 4 riding together. The Elon teammates relied on each other to take their minds off golf during breaks in the action.
“It’s a little bit weird since you’re kind of playing against somebody you usually root for,” Wieler said. “But we can have casual conversations that you wouldn’t have with a normal guy you’re playing with.”
Mountain Park’s Superintendent, Jed Fedor, and his maintenance crew conditioned the course to create the tough test for the championship.
“You’ve got to train [the greens] throughout the season, not just for a week — we try to keep them at a high speed for our members.” Fedor said. “It’s just all details, details, details, details.”
Risner had his best round of the week on moving day by carding a 5-under 67. He eagled nine to go out at 4-under and grinded through the back to go in with a 35 for the 67.
However, it was a grind to card the even-par 72 in the Final Round. On 18, he found the bunker off the tee and powered a shot just right of the green. The chip wasn’t easy, even with the pin on the left because of the different slopes. Those final 12 feet made Risner the first back-to-back champion of the Carolinas Amateur since Joshua Martin in 2018 and 2019.
ABOUT THE Carolinas Amateur
The championship is conducted at 72 holes of stroke
play. After 36 holes, there is a cut to the low 60
scores and ties. Entry is open to any male amateur
golfer who has reached his 13th birthday by the first
day of the championship, is a legal resident of North
Carolina or South Carolina, is a member in good
standing of a club which is a member of the CGA
and
has an active GHIN USGA Handicap Index at a CGA
member club that does not exceed 9.9.
The Frank F. Capers Cup Team Competition is held
during rounds one and two of the Carolinas Amateur
Championship. Three or four bona fide members
from the same club comprise a team. The low three
scores count each round.
Format changed from match play to stroke
play in 2010.
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