The largest weekend tournament in the Upstate is the Budweiser Classic at Boscobel. Two full flights of golfers (240) chase the title while enjoying an adult beverage or two courtesy of the tournament sponsor.

While more than a few of the competitors play in the event because of the free flowing taps, there are plenty of very good weekend golfers who know winning the Budweiser can make for a successful summer golf season.

Zach Bishop made the best of his first start in the tournament by coming from 2-shots off the lead in the final round to hold off the field and record a 1-shot victory.

Bishop played college golf at Limestone and graduated last spring.

“I’ve never been able to play in this tournament because I was back in Gaffney getting ready for the season,” said Bishop. “I’m glad I got to play this year. This is a fun event with a lot of good golfers and a course I really love to play,” said the winner of the annual tournament.

The Budweiser Classic has had amazing luck with the weather, the tournament began in the 80s and has never been cancelled because of bad weather, although it came close this year.

An afternoon delay for lighting slowed the first round a little, but after the all clear was given the rest of the tournament ran without a problem.

Jacob Lord, from Georgia, shot an opening round 8-under par 64 to take a two-shot lead into the final round.

Three golfers were within striking distance to start the second round.

Former champion Robbie Biershenk, Boscobel Club member Danny Day and Bishop all played together in the final group.

The championship would be decided among the group of four.

Bishop had closed his Saturday round with thee straight birdies to get within two shots of the leader. He opened his second round with a birdie to cut Lord’s lead in half, at least he thought he did.

“I got off to a better start in the scond round than the first,” said Bishop. “I thought the birdie was a great start, but the leader eagled the hole so instead of gaining a shot I actually lost one,” he said.

Bishop and the others in the final group were able to keep the pressure on Lord. When the now former Limestone golfer eagled the fifth hole he was able to catch the leader.

“It was pretty tight all day. He (Lord) had a bad hole and that gave me a chance to get by him and take the lead,” said Bishop.

Bishop only had one bogey in his final round and was able to nurse his one shot lead to the end of the round, but not without one more big challenge.

Day came to 18 trailing Bishop by two-shots. He had a tricky, but makable eagle opportunity on the final hole.

His attempt to tie rolled off to the right of the cup and Bishop had secured a win in a tournament he had not played in before.

“Since I finished school I’ve been playing a lot of golf here at Boscobel. I love the course, it is in great condition and fits my game,” said the winner who shot identical rounds of 66 for a 132 total..

Lord finished in second place with rounds of 64 and 69 for a 11-under par 133 total and second place.

Day finished with a 4-under par 68 for a 134 total and third place. Jimmy Hackenburg was fourth and Ryan Hunter was fifth in the championship flight.

The tournament included a Senior Division for the first time and Ric Cobb won the first senior title. He shot rounds of 70 and 69 for a 5-under par 139 total. His score was also good enough to be the First Flight winner.

Other Flight winners included: Second Flight – Colby Green, Third Flight – Bobby Crowe, Fourth Flight – Mike Page, Fifth Flight – Marshall Stuart, Sixth Flight – Tim Sims, Seventh Flight – Chuck Anderson, Eighth Flight – Jimmy Gambrell, Grinder Flight – Eric Jones.

During the round Second Flight winner Green aced the 10th hole while Third Flight winner Crowe made a double eagle on the first hole.

Bishop, who last week competed in the SCGA Amateur is looking forward to playing more weekend golf events.

“I really enjoyed playing. The course was great and the competition was strong. It was nice to finally get to play in a weekend tournament,” he said.

The former Travelers Rest High School golf stand out played college golf for six years. With the extra year granted by the NCAA because of the covid pandemic, he was able to complete his degree and get a masters in finance. He will start work with Merril-Lynch in Greenville later this fall.