Chris Essay won the Amateur in 2004 He is tied for lead after the first round (File Photo)
Chris Essay and Robert Lutomski are tied for the lead after the first round of the 50th Greenville County Amateur. The championship is being played at Green Valley Country Club.
Eassy won the county title in 2004 and Lutomski has been close to a win several times.
The two leaders shot 4-under par rounds of 68 to take the lead into the second round.
Joining Essay and Lutomski on the top of the leader board is Bryan Newton who shot a 3 under par 69.
Robert Lutomski is tied with Eassy for the lead at 2-under par.(File Photo)
2013 champion Todd Hendley leads a group of three golfers at two under par 70. Walker Redman and 2011 champion Marcus Grumbles are also two-shots off the lead.
The ageless Bobby Hines is four-shots back in 8th place and is joined by five other golfers. Hines owns a pair of Greenville County titles after winning the County Amateur in 1996 and 1998.
Defending champion Yancey Johnson shot an opening round 2-over par 74.
This year the Greenville County Amateur is celebrating its 50th anniversary. The late Leon Gravley and a group of about a dozen Greenville County golf enthusiasts began the tournament in 1967.
Gravley served as the tournament director for 25 years until has passing in 1991. Since that time Mike Gravley operated the tournament for a few years and now his younger brother Robbie stages the event.
The first Greenville County Amateur was won by Marilynn (CatHead) Stroud. Over the years many of the best players in Greenville were able to take home a trophy. Dillard Traynham, was an early winner of the championship.
Mike Gravley is the only 4-time winner of the Greenville County Amateur. (File Photo)
The list of past champions includes the only four-time winner Mike Gravley. Dr Bill Lovett won the tournament three times and more than a handful of County golfers have earned two championships over the last 50 years.
The most successful past Greenville County champion was Clemson’s Chris Patton. Patton won the title twice in 1985 and 1989. His victory in the 1989 US Amateur came just about a month after winning his second Greenville Amateur.
The list of past champions includes the only four-time winner Mike Gravley. A three-time champion in Dr. Bill Lovett and 8 champions who have won two titles.
The field will be cut to 90 golfers after Saturdays round with the final on Sunday.
Categories: Upstate Amateur Golf
