By Stan Olenik. Editor-Publisher, The Golf Club

Golf tournaments created to honor the memory of an outstanding contributor to the game, who has passed on, often get off to a very successful start.

Friends want to remember and honor the memory and accomplishments of someone who made an impact in the game.

But as time moves on from the honorees passing, and over the next few years, sponsors and volunteers drift away to other causes and eventually so does the annual tournament,

“It may happen like that for some events, but not for the Seawell Junior,” said Matt Harbin who helped begin the event four years ago and leads the organizing committee. “If anything we have seen an increase of support and sponsors,” he added.

Many of the sponsors and volunteers were once juniors who started playing the game under his guidance and are giving something back to honor his legacy.

Before Seawell passed away in 2021 at the age of 79, he was asked if the event could be created in his honor.

After wishing the event be named for someone else, Seawell gave his approval to be the namesake of the junior tournament and his family has annually been at Cobb’s Glen to show their support.

This year as part of the weekend tournament activities , event registration on Friday included dinner for parents and participants.

“I think another reason we are still growing is the core group of volunteers who have expanded their role with the event and helped us gain more support,” said Harbin.

The Seawell tournament has advisors, but it also has a working board that joins with the South Carolina Junior Golf Association to make the tournament an event too many players want to play in,

One of the most popular volunteers is Roger Cox who doesn’t see much golf because he is busy grilling burgers and dogs during the tournament.

“Parents and kids come over and want to know how much the food costs and there is no cost to them, its free because Roger volunteers to make it happen. He may grill 300 or 400 burgers in a weekend,” said Harbin.

This year Dave Chamblee took over the social media for the event and has developed a large following with his pictures and posts. Harbin believes his efforts helped generate new sponsors for the tournament.

“John Glenn, James Lindley and John Caan all do what we need done to help the tournament run smoothly and allow the players and parents only to be concerned with golf,” Harbin noted.

Over the years the tournament fields began with just 13-15 year old golfers, but now it includes all age groups and this year’s boys field featured 30 of the top 40 juniors in the state.

“This year we played 130 golfers and probably had to turn away almost as many requests to play. We put on a first class show for the golfers and their families.They get some very nice tee gifts and we wish we had room to take more players,” said Harbin.

With new Cobb’s Glen owner Bill Sanders and Director of Golf Jeff Ruth now on hand making improvements to the golf course the tournament founder believes even better times are ahead for the Seawell Junior.

This year a 10th grader from May River High School in Bluffton claimed the overall title in the boys division.

Landry Williams shot rounds of 66 and 69 to finish with a 9-under par total of 135 to not only win the boys 13-15 division by two shots over Anderson’s Bennett Scaletta, but also win the overall boys title.

Williams finished two shots in front of Dorman golfer Will Ruth who claimed the boys 16-18 title.

Landry has some growing to do off the tee, but for now his short game makes up for any lack of distance.

“My putter was great both days. It can be really good or really bad, today it was great,” said Williams. “I took advantage of the par 5s and birdied each one today,” he said.

The overall championship at the Seawell moves to the top of his list of accomplishments in his young junior career replacing a top10 finish at this year’s Blade Junior.

“This was the best tournament round I have ever had. I really enjoyed playing in this tournament and winning,” said the 2024 Seawell champion.

Scores from the Jackie Seawell Junior at Cobb’s Glen https://scjga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scjga24/event/scjga2426/contest/13/leaderboard.htm

Mia Carles from Clinton continued her outstanding tournament streak with the victory in the girls 13-15 division.

Besides the win at the Seawell, Carles won her second straight Orange Jacket championship last month at Boscobel.

During the summer she won the CGA Twin State championship and the CGA South Carolina Girls Match Play

The younger boys and girls played an 18 hole tournament broken into two nine-hole rounds.

In the boys 10-12 division Cullen Beck of Greenville was crowned champion after a three-under par 69 for the event. 

Beck had an impressive 6 birdies over the course of 18 holes. 

Sims Bratton of Florence, Scout Nettles of Mt. Pleasant and Luke Caughman of Lexington all finished tied for second in this division with a four over par round of 76.

In the girls 10-12 division Emma Bullman of Spartanburg was crowned champion after firing seven over par 79 for the event.  Nealy Pretulak of Duncan finished runner up in division firing a ten over par 82.

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