White wins second SCGA Am

By golfclubsc on August 7, 2023 • ( Leave a comment )

Hear from the 2023 SCGA Amateur champion Todd White. (GolfClub video)

Spartanburg’s Todd White was inducted into the SCGA Hall of Fame last January. He showed the honor was not the end of his competitive career as he won his second state amateur title 33 years after his first championship in 1990. (GolfClub Photo)

Todd White turned the clock back as the 1990 SCGA Amateur champion repeated as the state champion 33 years after winning it for the first time in 1990..

The Spartanburg High School golf coach spent much of the tournament chasing rising USC senior Rafe Reynolds from Greenville.

The two had to feel like it was a Match Play final because no one else in the field could get close to the leaders 10 under par totals.

White won his first title after completing an All-American career at Furman.

He won his second state title now, as an experienced amateur, who has played in just about everything the SCGA CGA and USGA have to offer amateurs’ over the last thirty plus years.

At Musgrove Mill, White battled Reynolds in what turned into a classic, who ever blinks first loses match.

Gamecock golfer Rafe Reynolds held a one shot lead going into the final round and came within inches of matching White on the final hole before finishing second at Musgrove Mill. (GolfClub Photo)

Reynolds started the final round with a one-shot lead , but by the turn White had taken a two shot lead.

Reynolds suffered three bogeys early in his round, but by the 13th hole the Gamecock golfer had fought back to once again tie White.

When Reynolds bogeyed the 14th hole White was able to take a one-shot lead with his par and held the narrow lead for the final four holes.

Reynolds had one last chance on the final hole fo catch White.

His birdie putt from 30 feet missed the cup by inches and White was able to two-putt for his par and second South Carolina Amateur championship.

SCGA officials were trying to determine if White was the oldest golfer to win the state am, but if he wasn’t he would have been pretty close to the oldest.

“I think I may have discovered the fountain of middle age,” White joked after receiving his second state championship trophy. “I was never in trouble off the tee. I hit a ton of greens in regulation and I only had five holes over par for the tournament,” he recalled.

The now two time champion found to him the equivalent of a four-leaf clover when on a tee he spoted a broken tee with the Camden Country Club logo.

White won his first championship at Camden.

“I saw that and thought I was able to win at Camden 33 years ago I can do it again. Winning 33 years after the first one is very satisfying,” concluded White.