SCGA 2003 AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP
Greenville Country Club Club Chanticleer Course
Greenville, SC
August 7-10, 2003

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Haas Takes Title

After a fourth consecutive two under par score of 70, Bill Haas is the 2003 State Amateur Champion. Haas completed the 72nd Annual State Amateur Championship one shot ahead of Emmett Turner and four shots ahead of first round co-leader, Greg Jones, Jr.

Starting the day with four consecutive pars, Haas made bogey on the 433 yard par four 5th hole. That bogey didn’t shake him a bit as he came right back on the next hole, the short par four 6th, with a birdie 3. The Wake Forest player settled in after that and reeled off five straight pars ending that streak with a birdie on the dangerous par four 12th hole. After a bogey on 14 and a three-putt par on 15, Haas found himself one shot back of the leader Emmett Turner. A clutch birdie putt on the par three 16th put Haas and Turner all square as they made their way to the par five 17th. With Turner in trouble after hitting his second shot in the creek surrounding the green, Haas played a long iron onto the middle of the green and two putted for a birdie. Turner failed to get up and down for par after a well struck par putt lipped out. With a two shot swing, Haas came upon the final hole playing safe and hoping for victory. Hitting one extra club to avoid the water in front of the green, Haas got up and down and secured his Championship title. A final hole birdie could only assure Turner of a second place finish.

Greg Jones, Jr. shot a final round 73 to finish by himself in third place. A costly double bogey on the 9th hole and a bogey on the 11th dashed any hopes of a late round run from the Clemson Tiger. Second round leader Kevin King played well on the front nine only to run into problems on the back. King had four bogies and a double to tie for fourth, seven shots back.

For Haas, 2003 has been a year full of accomplishments. Earlier this year he was named the 2003 ACC player of the year, just this last Friday he learned that he had made the 2003 Walker Cup team, and today he added the 2003 State Amateur Championship. Haas accomplished the last feat with stellar play and timely putting. With a hint that this could be his last year as an Amateur, Haas has added on of South Carolina oldest Championships to his list of victories.

142 players started the competition playing the 6,811-yard Chanticleer Course at Greenville Country Club. 71 players made the cut at 157 and competed over the weekend. The 2002 Champion, DJ Trahan has turned pro and was not eligible to defend his title. The 2004 State Amateur Championship is scheduled to be held at Columbia Country Club, August 5-8, 2004. The State Amateur is one of 18 Major Championships that the South Carolina Golf Association conducts throughout the year.