High School golf teams in South Carolina divide their schedules between Region matches and important tournaments.

The tournaments draw top teams from the Upper State to Upper State events, Lower State to Low Country tournaments and the teams in the Mid-Lands can pick and choose which way to go.

At least until the Parks Hutto Bengal Invitational.

Teams from all over the state come to the Columbia Country Club to play in what is a South Carolina High School version of a major.

The tournament is held in memory of Parks Hutto. Hutto was a Blythewood golfer who passed away at a very young age.

The annual tournament included 27 teams, from all classifications, playing 36 holes, instead of the usual 18 holes.

At this year’s championship one of the hottest teams and one of the hottest players brought wins home to the upstate from the Midlands.

Greenwood High School won its second important high school championship with a 7-shot victory over Blythewood.

Individually Spartanburg’s Davis Petty won his second championship of the year with a 2-shot victory over a very strong field.

Greenwood was led by their youngest player sophomore Bryson McCurry, who tied for third at 2-under par.

“We have five players who can step forward and lead our team,” said Eagles coach Chip Whitt. “Bryson has done it a couple of times this year and our seniors have helped us get off to a good start,” he said.

The Eagles trailed Bishop England by two shots after the first round, but with the help of senior Adam Knox’s 69 in the final round were able to take the lead and the win.

The format at the Bengal is four players and four scores instead of the usual high school format of five play and count the best four scores.

“We took our lumps for a few years while are players grew up. Now seniors Adam Knox, Cameron Addis, Keegan Farmer and Jaelan Fisher join with McCurry to give us a deep lineup ready now to compete for a state title,” said Whitt.

Spartanburg’s Petty started with a 4-under par 67 to hold a one shot lead over McCurry in the battle for medalist honors.

The ninth grader won the Rebel Invitational in a playoff earlier in the season, but holding the lead going into the second round was a first for Petty,

“You don’t play many two or three day tournaments in high school so it was something I had not done before,” he said. “And I wasn’t playing with the guys who were close to me so I had to check the scoring ap a lot,” he said.

High School tournaments set the pairings by team scores not individual. Petty was in head to head competition with golfers on different holes on the course.

“There were four or five guys right behind me at the turn,” said Petty. “I was glad I could see the scores so I knew I had to keep making some birdies,” he said.

Petty finished his second round going four-under par on his last four holes. Birdie,eagle, par birdie earned him his second high school victory.

The Spartanburg golfer was a big winner on the sub-junior circuit before aging into SCJGA and High School competition.

As a first year high school golfer last year, Petty sometimes let the pressure of high expectations get to him, but that is now gone.

“I was the new kid on the block and I kind of felt like the little kid, but it is different this year. I’m still proving myself, but I think I’m one of the best players in the state. I’m just trying to play the best golf I can,” he added.

Greenwood was moved up a classification in last year’s high school realignment. It has boosted the Eagles into the same classification with the two-time defending champions from Hanna and a talented Greenville team.

“This is the best team I’ve had in a long time and we are now competing with the two time champions at Hanna and Greenville and we are all in the same region. Its going to be a real battle,” said Whitt.