The leaderboard at the 54th JP Traynham Invitational at Paris Mountain Country Club featured many familiar names.

To borrow a line from the classic film Casablanca—
“Round up the usual suspects!”

Winning the club’s signature 36-hole championship takes calculated risk-taking and plenty of local knowledge. While experience helps, creative shot-making and a strong overall game are equally important.

Andy Mitchell brought his game over from Thornblade Club and fired a 4-under-par 68 to take the first-round lead, edging out some of those “usual suspects.”

Right behind Mitchell was former champion Shane Grumbles, who carded a 3-under-par 69 in the opening round.

Another past Traynham winner, Nick Biershenk, tied with North Greenville University’s Henry Hall and frequent upstate tournament contender James Scott, all posting 2-under-par rounds of 70.

But the threat to the top of the leaderboard didn’t end with the T-3 group—it extended to a player with deep experience at Paris Mountain.

Adam Black knows what it takes to win here—he had done it twice before entering this year’s event.

“This is a special golf course for me,” said Black. “I played a lot of golf here growing up with my dad, and now I’m a member here.”

Black’s first win came during the 50th anniversary of the tournament. As a memento, each player received a commemorative coin marked “50.”

“I kept that coin from the 50th. It reminds me how special this course is to me and how much I enjoy playing in this tournament,” Black said.

The final round saw plenty of movement on the back nine. Defending champion Biershenk, Mitchell, Grumbles, Black, Jeremy Revis, Hall, and Brad Sill were all in contention.

Black’s finish was dramatic. A bogey on the 17th dropped him into a tie for the lead, but he answered with a birdie on 18 to reclaim it.

Mitchell’s third shot on 18, from just off the green, rolled well past the hole. He missed the par putt—and the playoff.

Black shot matching rounds of 1-under 71 for a 142 total. Grumbles reached the same mark with rounds of 69 and 73.

Mitchell’s missed putt dropped him into a tie for third with Revis and Hall.

After reviewing scorecards, Black and Grumbles advanced to a sudden-death playoff.

Black hit a near-perfect drive down the middle on the first playoff hole. Grumbles found the right side of the fairway, but tree branches obstructed his approach, forcing him to lay up—handing Black the advantage.

The two-time champion made par to become a three-time Traynham winner.

“I’ve got to get one more to catch Marcus [Grumbles, a four-time Traynham champ],” he chuckled. “But winning three puts me in some pretty good company when you look at the names on the trophy.”

That elite company includes Johnny League, Mike Gravley, and Kyle Turner—each also three-time winners of the Traynham.

Black, who has played hundreds of rounds at Paris Mountain, gave credit to recent course improvements for his success.

“The guys here have done an amazing job since they took over a few years ago. You couldn’t have asked for better conditions than we had these past two days,” said the champion.

The course, built by tournament namesake J.P. Traynham and his family, opened in 1938. A few years later, the Traynham Invitational became a must-play event for upstate golfers—and many from surrounding states.

This year’s event featured the largest field since before COVID, with over 120 golfers competing in the two-day event.

Flight Winners:

• First Flight: Brandon Pearson
• Second Flight: Tyler Plumly
• Third Flight: Randall Bell
• Fourth Flight: Ethan Gray
• Fifth Flight: Jake Earl

Senior Division Champion: Greg Moore (73-69, won by two strokes)
Senior Flight Winners:

• First Flight: Cary Sanders
• Second Flight: Wesley Ball
• Third Flight: Tommy Stewart