...Carolina Golf News Line                          Rivertowne Golf Hole

“BELLFLOWER SURVIVES RIVERTOWNE!”

 Mount Pleasant, SC – Jody Bellflower of Milledgeville, GA survived strong winds and a strong RiverTowne Country Club course on Thursday to capture the Tarheel Tour’s RiverTowne Open.
            Bellflower, who played on the Nationwide Tour for three years, began the day six shots behind overnight leader Daniel Sloan of Greenville, SC. The soft spoken southerner felt he might be a bit too far back to have a chance.
            “I never even thought about winning, to be honest,” said Bellflower, “this early in the year, I was just trying to get my feet wet.”
            Bellflower got off to a slow start and was only one over through six when his game and his putter caught fire. He birdied 7, 8, and 9 and added another at the par-4 10th before heading to RiverTowne’s fearsome stretch run where he would bogey the 13th and the 16th.  Bellflower quickly regained his form at the par-3 17th with a 12-foot birdie putt that gave him a two shot cushion over the lead group.
            “I just wanted to act like I knew what I was doing this week and hopefully try to impress some sponsors,” Bellflower joked minutes after a clutch up and down on the 480 yard par-4 18th solidified his victory with a three day total of three under par 213.
            “I think I’m just going to play the Tarheel Tour all year because that will better prepare me for PGA Tour Qualifying School,” he said just before posing for the cameras with his check for $15,000.
            Second place was shared by Sloan, Andrew Pratt, Gary Haugh, and Cameron Yancey, who all finished at 215. Sloan had the best chance to win but played the last six holes in four over par as he was eyeing his first win on the Tarheel Tour.
            Tour regulars William McGirt and Tommy “Two Gloves” Gainey finished tied for 6th at even par for the week.
            By week’s end, players had been beaten down by RiverTowne Country Club. The arduous layout features death, destruction, and water hazards on virtually every hole. Players who get sucked in by the dramatic views often find themselves taking relief from the same views they were just gawking at. However, it is a testament to the Arnold Palmer designed course that not one player made one complaint for the entire week. They merely surrendered.
            The tour would like to thank Head Golf Professional Marc Sunshine and Head of Outside Operations Jimmy Tausher as well as their respective staffs for all of their help in running this event. They went above and beyond the call of duty and certainly made this one of the tour’s most popular events. A big thanks also goes to Robert Wilson and Bryce London and their staff for presenting an immaculate golf course in rather difficult conditions.
            The Tarheel Tour will head south on Hwy. 17 next week for the second annual Patriots Point Classic at Patriots Point Links in Mount Pleasant, SC. 

RiverTowne Open

Final Round Results

RiverTowne Country Club

Mount Pleasant, SC  

1. Jody Bellflower, $15,000.00, *70-73-70-213 -3


2. Andrew Pratt, $5,850.00, *69-76-70-215 -1


2. Gary Haugh, $5,850.00, *73-71-71-215 -1


2. Cameron Yancey, $5,850.00, *72-74-69-215 -1


2. Daniel Sloan, $5,850.00, *70-67-78-215 -1


6. William McGirt, $3,025.00, *72-70-74-216 E


6. Tommy Gainey, $3,025.00, *69-71-76-216 E


8. Kevin Silva, $2,400.00, *73-70-74-217 +1


8. Dane Burkhart, $2,400.00, *70-71-76-217 +1


10. Matt Davidson, $1,857.14, *76-74-68-218 +2


10. Ryan Gioffre, $1,857.14, *72-75-71-218 +2


10. Brian Quackenbush, $1,857.14, *74-73-71-218 +2


10. Richard Scott, $1,857.14, *76-70-72-218 +2


10. Kyle Bradley, $1,857.14, *74-70-74-218 +2


10. Kevin Kisner, $1,857.14, *75-69-74-218 +2


10. Tommy  Tolles, $1,857.14, *76-67-75-218 +2


17. Alex Hamilton, $1,550.00, *76-74-69-219 +3


17. Brian Duncan, $1,550.00, *76-73-70-219 +3


17. Craig Farrelly, $1,550.00, *69-75-75-219 +3


17. David Sanchez, $1,550.00, *70-72-77-219 +3


21. Brent DelaHoussaye, $1,325.00, *72-78-70-220 +4


21. David Robinson, $1,325.00, *78-71-71-220 +4


21. Emmett Turner, $1,325.00, *72-76-72-220 +4


21. Scott Brown, $1,325.00, *73-72-75-220 +4


21. Cory Kaufman, $1,325.00, *76-71-73-220 +4


26. Scott Feaster, $1,133.33, *77-73-71-221 +5


26. Steve  Sokol, $1,133.33, *75-73-73-221 +5


26. Matt Cannon, $1,133.33, *75-73-73-221 +5


26. Kenny Coakley, $1,133.33, *76-72-73-221 +5


26. Bjorn Widerstedt, $1,133.33, *72-71-78-221 +5


26. Vince  Covello, $1,133.33, *72-70-79-221 +5


32. Frank Adams III, $1,025.00, *77-72-73-222 +6


33. Josh Redmond, $975.00, *79-71-73-223 +7


33. Richard Hanna, $975.00, *74-75-74-223 +7


33. Stephen Ledwell, $975.00, *74-72-77-223 +7


36. Will Claxton, $846.43, *72-78-74-224 +8


36. Jon Kennedy, $846.43, *74-76-74-224 +8


36. Stuart Moore, $846.43, *80-70-74-224 +8


36. Grover Justice, $846.43, *76-74-74-224 +8


36. Jonathan Fricke, $846.43, *75-74-75-224 +8


36. Bruce McDonald, $846.43, *74-72-78-224 +8


36. Ben McClung, $846.43, *71-73-80-224 +8


43. David Harget, $666.67, *75-75-75-225 +9


43. Gregg Jones, $666.67, *72-76-77-225 +9


43. Reid Edstrom, $666.67, *75-73-77-225 +9


46. Chase Wortman, $600.00, *75-75-76-226 +10


47. Andy Bare, $500.00, *75-75-77-227 +11


47. Tommy Schaff, $500.00, *76-72-79-227 +11


47. Jonathan Dudley, $500.00, *70-75-82-227 +11


50. Rolf Muntz, $433.33, *74-75-79-228 +12


50. Chris Taylor, $433.33, *75-73-80-228 +12


50. Fernando Mechereffe, $433.33, *74-72-82-228 +12


53. Will Dottley, $400.00, *76-73-82-231 +15