After two near misses Kevin Roberts won his third Spartanburg County Amateur championship. Hear from the 2020 Spartanburg Champion.

Kevin Roberts won his third Spartanburg County Amateur championship with a 2-shot victory.[John Byrum photo ]

Roberts wins third Spartanburg County title

With a three shot lead Kevin Roberts was in position to have a pressure free final round. After a pair of second place finishes the last two years the Chesnee golfer was on his way to a third Spartanburg County Amateur championship.

When he added a birdie on his second hole and his closest competitor suffered an unfortunate string of three straight bogeys Roberts lead grew to five shots at the Carolina Country Club.

“I was playing well,” he said. “I didn’t have to reach for any pars except one. I think I hit just about every green, but I didn’t make any birdies,” said Roberts.

When Upstate’s Hunter Fry’s three bogeys dropped him back, another college golfer stepped forward to challenge Roberts.

George Eubank, Jr. got within a shot of the lead in the final round of the Spartanburg County Amateur championship before finishing in second. (John Byrum photo)

USC Aiken golfer George Eubank Jr, birdied holes 5, 7 and 9 to move up from fourth place at the start of the round to become Robert’s challenger.

“I thought I had a chance to catch him when I made those three birdies in five holes,” said Eubank. “Especially when he wasn’t making any birdies,” he said.

Kevin Roberts didn’t have a great day putting, but still carved out a 1-under par 71 to win the Spartanburg title. (John Byrum photo)

At the turn Roberts lead was cut by a stroke and when Eubank birdied the 11th hole there was just a one shot margin between first and second.

“He (Eubank) was really playing well. Honestly he played better than I did. I had a couple of birdie chances, but after the second hole I couldn’t get anything to fall. It was frustrating,” said Roberts.

His lead stayed at one shot until the 16th hole.

Eubank didn’t hit a very good tee shot. It put pressure on his second shot from the rough to a green surrounded on three sides by water.

His shot flew over the pin and ended up in the water behind the hole.

“I had to take a drop and got it on the green, but missed the putt and made a double to put me three shots behind again,”said Eubank.

On the 17th hole Roberts had a chance to put the championship in his pocket, but a 5-foot birdie putt skirted the hole while Eubank scrambled in for a par to keep the margin the same.

Eubank would need a fantastic finish and some help from Roberts to have any chance of forcing a playoff.

The former Dorman golfer’s chip from the edge of a green-side trap tracked directly at the hole. It had just a little too much speed. It hit the stick and bounced back a few inches from the hole.

“I knew the only chance I had was to make it. I got close,” said Eubank who tapped in the near miss for a birdie.

Robert’s had put his second shot just off the green, but leaving him with a tricky chip.

Kevin Roberts accepts congratulations from his competitors after winning the Spartanburg County Amateur at the Carolina Country Club. (John Byrum photo)

“I wasn’t going to take a chance with a three shot lead so I played it safe. If his chip had gone in there would have been some pressure,” said the two-time county champion.

Roberts made an easy par on the finishing hole for a 1-under par 71 and a two shot victory.

“The last couple of years have been frustrating especially the year I three putted the last hole, I’m pretty happy right now,” he said.

Roberts carded a final round 1-under par 71 for a three day 8-under par 208 total.

Eubank finished second after shooting a final round 3-under par 69.

Carter Davis matched Eubank’s score to finish in third place while former champion Robbie Biershenk finished at 1-under par for fifth place.

Kevin Roberts shot 8-under par at the Carolina Country Club to win the 2020 Spartanburg County Amateur. (John Byrum photo)

The Tournament Division was won by Kevin. McGrain who led from start to finish.

Flight winners included: First Flight – Carter Davis, Second Flight – Jay McAllister, Third Flight – Hunter White, Fourth Flight – Russell Callicutt, Fifth Flight – Trenton Crocker, Sixth Flight – Leonard Shaine, Seventh Flight – Jordan Warnock, Eighth Flight – Jesse Wall, Ninth Flight – Drew Mason, Tenth Flight – Jamison Belcher.

Tournament Division Flight winners: First Flight – Greg Moore, Second Flight – Ric Oyervides, Third Flight – David Bombria.

First Tee Upstate presented the tournament and received the proceeds from the event sponsored this year by Delaney’s Irish Pub, R.J. Rockers and Budweiser of Spartanburg.

Complete scores, division, flight and skins winners available athttps://www.golfgenius.com/pages/6190665602797980201

The final Spartanburg County Amateur tournament is the County Senior to be played at Three Pines Country Club starting on July 31st.

The tournament is open to Spartanburg residents or members of Spartanburg clubs who are 50 or older. The tournament will include a Super-Senior Division.

Online entry is available at https://www.golfgenius.com/register?league_id=6190728140340382292