Hear from Spartanburg County Amateur Champion Matt Carter about his win at the Carolina Country Club.

Matt Carter led from start to finish to win the Spartanburg County Amateur at the Carolina Country Club. (GolfClub Photo)

Matt Carter opened the Spartanburg County Amateur with a bogey free round and finished the 54 hole championship with the best round of the tournament to go wire to wire for the win.

Carter fired a 6-under par 66 to claim the County title by 6-shots at the Carolina Country Club.

The victory for the USC Upstate golfer was the first win of any kind in his golf career.

“I’ve been in the final group a bunch of times, but I never was able to get it done,” he said. “This win has made all the hard work pay-off,” said Carter.

The All-Big South golfer from Upstate entered the final round with a one shot lead over 2019 Spartanburg County Junior champion Daniel Brasington.

Carter got off to a quick start in the final round. He made the turn at two under par, but was still within reach of the field.

Former Champion Kevin Roberts finished as the runner-up six shots behind Carter. (GolfClub Photo)

Former champions Kevin Roberts and Kyle Milner each were able to close within a couple of shots of the leader, but each time Carter was able to answer the challenge.

“I knew some other guys would be playing well, but I didn’t keep up with the scores until the last couple of holes,” he said.

On the back nine Carter started to pull away. He birdied the 11th and 12th hole to go to 4-under par. His eagle on the par-5 13th hole gave him the breathing room he needed to take any pressure off the last few holes.

“I was glad we were playing lift, clean and place. My drive ended up in a divot and there would not have been anyway I could get there in two from that lie,” he said.

Almost  two inches of rain on Saturday forced the use of the option to lift, clean and place. Carter made the best of it landing his second shot 20 feet from the pin and rolling in the eagle putt to go to 6-under for the day.

Brasington was the last of the challengers to fall off the pace. On the 14th hole the County Junior champions approach shot landed in a front bunker. The bunkers sand was thick and Brasington needed two swings to escape.

Spartanburg County Junior Champion Daniel Brasington finished with an even par round to take third place. (GolfClub Photo)

“There just was a lot of sand where my ball ended up. It was hard to get through and I wasn’t able to pull off the shot,” he said.

Carter bogeyed the hole, but bounced back with a birdie on number 15. With his lead now up to seven shots the Easley High School grad was able to cruise in for the win.

“It was only on the last few holes I checked the scores. I wanted to play my own game and not worry about what anyone  else was doing,” he said.

Roberts, playing a few groups in front of Carter finished at 2-under par for the tournament. Roberts carded the second best final round in the championship flight at 4-under par 68 to finish as the runner-up.

Brasington overcame the triple on 14 to finish at even par and claim third place.

Max Fain, Garrett Cooper and Derrick Oyervides all tied for fourth at even par 216 for the tournament.

Carter’s first win is a confidence booster as he gets ready to play in the SCGA Amateur later this month at Thornblade Club.

“I have always believed in myself. but this win really helps. You can believe in yourself, but you need something good to happen after you work your but off and winning this tournament is really nice,” he said.

Carter has completed his eligibility at Upstate , but needs a few classes to complete his degree. Once he finishes school he hope to play professionally.

“I’d like to get school taken care of before I try to play so it may be around the start of the year thay I finalize my decision,” he concluded.

Flight winners included, First Flight – (tie) Tyler Macoly and George Eubank, Jr. Second Flight – Walker Redmon, Third Flight – Chad Barnette, Fourth Flight – Davin McRoberts, Fifth Flight – Barrett Josey, Sixth Flight – Mitch Reese, Seventh Flight – Daniel Parham.

The tournament is presented by the Upstate First Tee. Proceeds from the event go to support the organizations programs in Spartanburg, Greenville and soon to be in Anderson Counties.

Complete scores available  here https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/5102221394154933203