Jean Oberg (North Palm Beach, Fla.) shot a net 67 (gross 89) to become the first woman in 12 years to win the Flight Winners’ Playoff at the PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship Friday at the Grande Dunes Resort Course.
Oberg finished two shots ahead of James Jacobs (Nashville, Tenn.) and Joe Lovin (Surfside Beach, Fla.), who carded net 69s. Oberg is the first woman since Linda Fuller in 2009 to claim the mantle of World Champion and the sixth in the event’s 38-year history.
Chuck Thatcher (Boonsboro, Md.) finished with a four-round score of 286, three shots better than second place Levi Shelton (Pineville, N.C.) to win the Men’s Gross Division.
Matt Corbitt (Juliette, Ga.) shot a 74 to beat Jim Marcelak (Fort Myers, Fla.) by one stroke in an 18-hole playoff to capture the Men’s Senior Gross Division crown.
Bill Ashley (Lubbock, Texas) finished five shots ahead of Dennis Monahan (Largo, Fla.) to complete his victory in the Men’s Mid-Senior Gross Division.
Ann Marie Costello (Longs, S.C.) finished with a four-round total of 308, four shots better than second-place Kendra Muir, en route to winning the first Women’s Gross Division title.
Matthew Thurman and Steven Keener, both from Rocky Mount, V.A., combined to win the Casa de Campo Pairs Competition, shooting a combined, net team score of 147. By virtue of winning, the pair received a 4-day, 3-night stay at luxurious Casa de Campo and unlimited golf.
Entry into the event, which included at least four rounds of golf, nightly admission to the World’s Largest 19th Hole and a gift bag, was $679.
While much of the 2021 tournament looked familiar to players, there were two new women’s divisions. For the first time, there was a women’s gross division, and the ladies, who previously had just one age group, were split into two groups – 59 and under and 60 and older.
The World Am flights players based on age, gender and handicap.
The World Am places players into 11 divisions – men 49 and under, senior men (50-59), mid-senior men (60-69), super senior men (70-79), seasoned seniors (80+), women (59 and under), senior women (60+), the gross division, senior (50+) gross division and women’s gross division. There is also a “Just For Fun” flight, created for players who want to enjoy the World Am experience without the pressure of competition.
After four days of play, all flight winners and ties advanced to the World Championship Playoff at the Grande Dunes Resort Course, an 18-hole shootout that crowned the event’s winner.
While the competition is initially what lures players to the tournament, it’s only part of what keeps them coming back. At the heart of the World Am’s appeal is the camaraderie among its participants and much of that kinship is fostered at the World’s Largest 19th Hole.
Each night of the event, the 19th Hole overtakes all 120,000-square feet of the Myrtle Beach Convention Center, providing participants with free food and drinks, live entertainment, celebrity guest appearances, a golf expo and more. Among the big names that have appeared at the 19th Hole in recent years are David Feherty, Brandel Chamblee, Charlie Rymer and John Daly.
Players also received a gift bag that included a polo, a pullover, a golf towel, a logo’d hat, a PGA Tour Superstore gift card and an assortment of other goodies valued cumulatively at $250.
For more information, please visit www.MyrtleBeachWorldAmateur.com.
