Going low on the Norman Course

Tom Taylor, from Tradition Golf Club in Myrtle Beach, S.C. is the Carolinas Golf Course Superintendents Association golf champion. Taylor fired a two-over par round of 73 on the Norman Course at Barefoot Resort in North Myrtle Beach to win the title after a scorecard playoff against Kyle Brown, from Seven Lakes Country Club in Pinehurst, N.C. Taylor recorded his victory over a field of 346 golfers, a record turnout for the event presented over three courses in partnership with Smith Turf and Irrigation and The Toro Company.

(Pictured: Steve Smith, of Smith Turf and Irrigation, with 2015 Carolinas GCSA golf champion Tom Taylor from The Tradition Club in Myrtle Beach.)

The golf championship kicks off the Carolinas GCSA’s annual three-day Conference and Trade Show in Myrtle Beach. Some 2,000 people are expected at the event featuring education, networking events and a trade show with about 200 companies occupying 400 exhibit booths.

Taylor is in his third year as assistant superintendent at Tradition under Clay DuBose, CGCS a past-runner-up in the championship. He hails from Long Island, N.Y., and, like many in the profession, went to Rutgers University but his initial interest was fire science. It was only after seeing some literature about Rutgers’ turf program that he became curious about a career in the game he’d loved all his life.

“I thought, ok, how hard can it be to grow grass,” Taylors said, with a laugh. “Little did I know…”

Taylor hit all but three fairways all day and his card included three birdies and five bogies. Past champions Billy Lewis (2000) from Dormie Club in Pinehurst, N.C., and Rhett Baker (2003) from Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, S.C., tied for third with rounds of 75. Last year’s winner and three-time champion, Steve Agazzi from Turtle Point course at Kiawah Island Resort, shot a 78 along with another past champion, Matthew Wharton, CGCS from Carolina Golf Club in Charlotte, N.C.
 
Frank Christopher, of Trinity Turf, is the 2015 affiliate champion after a round of 79. David Denner, from Horry Georgetown Technical College in Myrtle Beach, shot the low round of the day with a 72 but as a non-superintendent or affiliate members, was ineligible for either championship title but still earned a prize.

James Duke of Cardinal Chemicals won the sporting clay championship ahead of more than 40 competitors.