River Hills Recap 8/1/2020

With another hot and steamy day, River Hills Country Club played host to the GolfWeek Amateur Charlotte Tour. We had 96 players representing three different tours come out to compete on the classic gem.

	Champ flight saw a lot of jockeying for position at the top of the leader board this week. Through the front nine holes, Scott Patnode (+5 77) had the early lead with level par. Jim Aughtry (+1 73) , Bruce Bevins (+5 77), Joe Jaspers (-1 71) and a few others stayed within striking distance. Early in the back nine would prove pivotal. Scott would stumble, Bruce played steady, while Jim Aughtry and Jimmy Popp (+5 77) played level par on the back. Ultimately it was Jaspers steady play from tee to green and a putter that got hot which secured the two-shot win. Aughtry takes second, Popp takes third on a three-way scorecard playoff, Bevins fourth and missing out on the money, Patnode takes fifth.
	A flight saw some quality play on this tight track. With 12 players within 7 shots of the lead after nine holes. By the end of the round, consitant play by the leaders would unltimatley determine the winner. Finishing fifth on the tie breaker, Andy Murrow (+10 82) would finish outside the money, Brent Smith (+10 82) takes fourth. Points leader Judd Dye (+8 80) continues his steady play for the year and takes third. Jason Benguche (+7 79) finishes second. Winner of River Hills in 2019, repeats this year as Michael Edwards fires 76 (+4) to take the win.
	B flight had some of the tightest competition of the day with eight players within five shots of the lead. Geof Smith, Dale Ambrose and Jake Currie all finish one shot out of the money (+14 86) Jeff Johnson (+13 85) takes fith, Brandon Halsey (+12 84) in fourth, Deric Milligan (+11 83) takes third. Tour veteran and early club house leader Terry Upright (+10 82) finishes in second. With an improved short game, John Anderson (+9 81) gets his second win of the year.
	C flight had what can be regarded as a blow-out this week. Chris Becks (+11 83) appeared in control all day and won six shots clear of second. Steve Daniels (and golf hole-by-hole announcer) takes second (+17 89). Steve Bisson takes third on a score card playoff (+19 91), while Brent Coffey (+19 91) takes fourth. Raymond Hoerr (+19 91), had some explaining to do when he got home as his wife likes money and winners, finishes outside the money in fifth. Once scores were posted, Chris' index moved to 13.9 and an automatic graduation to the B Flight.
	D flight had the tightest competition of the day as three players, all finishing at 96 (+24), had to go back to the course to determine the top two spots. Mark Stone finished in third and outside the money. Richard Zonjic takes second. Only needing one playoff hole and grinding bogey, Shonn Brown takes the win.