Winning a big Upstate amateur event on his home course once seemed impossible for Josh Branyon.

Now it’s the opposite—losing one there feels almost unthinkable.

Branyon, whose summer schedule has shrunk in favor of his business, started the final day a shot behind but charged past the field to capture his eighth Earl Wooten Memorial at Saluda Valley in Williamston.

.“It always feels great to win this tournament,” Branyon said. “I was just a kid when Earl Wooten was around, but he was always encouraging and wanted us kids to learn to play the game well.”

Wooten was a Saluda Valley fixture. He played in the big leagues with the Washington Senators in the late 1940s, but around the Upstate he became a legend for his basketball exploits in the old textile leagues.

The tournament was first staged to honor him, and after his passing nearly 20 years ago at age 82, it became a memorial in his name.

For Branyon, the early years brought more frustration than trophies.

“It seemed like no matter how I played I was going to be second. I must have finished second a half-dozen times before I finally got a win,” he said.

Once he broke through, the wins started piling up—but this year’s felt different.

Branyon played the first round with his young son.

“We’d talked about doing it for a couple of years and this year it just happened for us. I didn’t play very well, but having him along in a tournament I love was a lot of fun,” he said.

He ended Day 1 a shot back of Marcus Grumbles, who opened with a 2-under-par 70. In Round 2, Branyon quickly seized control.

“I made a bunch of birdies in the second round. I went from one down to four or five up pretty fast,” he said.

The former SCGA Mid-Am champion usually seals the deal by pulling away from the field, but the closing stretch this time looked different.

Bogeys at 15 and 16 were interrupted by a much-needed birdie on the par-3 17th.

On 18, Branyon admitted he wasn’t looking over his shoulder—but he wasn’t exactly finishing with his usual flourish either.

“Bogeying three of the last four holes isn’t how you want to win,” he said with a grin.

Still, no one else finished better, and the trophy will sit alongside the other seven with his name on it.

With eight titles, Branyon is the undisputed King of the Earl.

Leaderboard & flights
Champion: Josh Branyon, Runner-up: Ty Pendley (final-round 70), one shot back. Third: Marcus Grumbles
Men’s flights: First Flight — Thomas Nielsen, Second Flight — Tyler Burgess, Third Flight — Tyler Plumly
Seniors: Mark Torres edged Ron Clontz by one for the Senior Championship. “My putting made the difference,” Torres said. “I made a lot of putts and had to hold on to the lead.” Third went to Ben Cox. Senior First Flight winner: Randal Bell. Senior Second Flight: Phil Guenthener.

Legends: Ricky Capps posted a 75 – 71- 146 for a three-shot win over Mike Teasley, Legends – First Flight: Mike Dortch, Legends Second Flight: Larry Thompson.

Saluda Valley will be in tournament mode again when it hosts the Eddie Martin Classic (Texas Two-Man) on October 25-26 call the golf shop to register at 864-847-7102.