Harry Radley (Indianapolis, Ind.) made a gross par on the first hole of a three-way, sudden death playoff to emerge victorious in the Flight Winners’ Playoff at the 37th Annual PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship Friday at Barefoot Resort’s Dye Course.
Radley, Doug Mrstik (Sarasota, Fla.) and Bruce Moskovciak (Jacksonville, Fla.) all shot net 71s and were tied after 18 holes. The trio began the playoff on the Dye Course’s par-4 18th hole and Radley’s par was good enough to allow him to emerge from a field of 2,150 golfers and claim the mantle of World Champion.
Neither Radley, who entered the round as a seven handicap, or Moskovciak, who received one stroke on the day, got a shot on the 18th hole while Mrstik, a 20-handicap, got a stroke.
Ryan Reynolds (Camden, S.C.) shot a 1-under par 71 to complete his victory in the Gross Division.
Michael Batten (Jacksonville, Fla.) shot a 79, which allowed him to overcome a one-stroke deficit and beat Jim Marcelak (Fort Myers, Fla.) to win the Senior Gross Division.
Brian Katrek (Mableton, Ga.) and Todd Stires (Murrieta, Calif.) combined to win the Casa de Campo Pairs Competition, shooting a combined, net team score of 4-over. By virtue of winning, the pair received a 4-day, 3-night stay at luxurious Casa de Campo and unlimited golf.
“The 37th Annual World Am was certainly different, but the one thing that didn’t change was the competition at the heart of the event, and we are delighted to congratulate Harry Radley on earning the title of World Champion,” Tournament Director Scott Tomasello said. “We enjoyed a week of great golf and while we are grateful to have been able to play the World Am, we are certainly looking forward to next year’s tournament and a return to more normal circumstances.”
The 2021 World Am will be played Aug. 30 – Sept. 3.
Golfers from all 50 states competed in this year’s World Am, a 72-hole, net stroke play event, but the 2020 was altered due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
¨ The biggest change was the absence of the World’s Largest 19th Hole, which usually serves as the event’s social hub, providing players free food, drinks, live entertainment and more each evening.
¨ All participants had their own cart for each tournament round.
¨ There were no more than 72 golfers on each course (approx. 36 players per flight).
¨ A tee time window with threesomes was instituted.
¨ Complimentary range balls were provided and placed on respective ranges to eliminate touch points.
¨ No spectators were allowed.
