Big-Time Tournaments Headed to Broomsedge

Welcome to the Two Down Press golf newsletter!

The week we’ve all been waiting for is finally here. No, not the Tour Championship - we’re talking about the Charlotte City Amateur! We have some exciting content in store this week, but before the biggest event in Charlotte golf gets started on Friday, let’s catch up on some tournament news from around the Carolinas and across the country. We’ll be back with a full City Am preview later this week!

THIS WEEK’S HEADLINE

Registration Opens for 2025 Carolinas Invitational at Broomsedge Golf Club

Entries are officially open for the 2025 Carolinas Invitational, a 36-hole four-ball competition to be held October 17-19 at Broomsedge Golf Club. The event, which has a 20+ year history of taking place at Carolina Golf Club in Charlotte, is temporarily relocating to Broomsedge as the traditional host prepares for a clubhouse renovation.

“As the golf committee [at Carolina] was setting the calendar for 2025, they determined it didn't make logistical sense to host with the clubhouse being knocked down,” said Ross Alberghini, one of the tournament’s organizers. “We reached out to Broomsedge and they were extremely supportive and interested in hosting the event."

South Carolina’s newest course is quickly developing a reputation as a unique private club - one making an intentional effort to provide non-member access for both recreational and tournament play. Since opening, the club has advertised visitor access via email request on their website, with select tee times being reserved during the week for outside play. "Their model, having some public play opportunities, is similar to how a lot of places in the U.K. and Ireland operate. They are very welcoming of high-level golf and knowledgeable golfers,” said Alberghini of the club’s approach.

The Carolinas Invitational is not the only significant tournament slated to be held at Broomsedge. The club is scheduled to host next year’s Carolinas Mid-Amateur, and there are rumors of a to-be-announced college tournament hosted by the University of South Carolina. The club’s overall willingness to host supports its developing identity, one centered around inclusivity, competition, and a golf-first mentality.

Looking beyond 2025, the location of the Carolina(s) Invitational remains flexible. While there's uncertainty about returning to Carolina Golf Club given ongoing facility changes, Alberghini sees potential for the event to alternate between venues. "I'd be open to doing it back-and-forth," he said. "We modified the name to be Carolinas - plural, inclusive. I have no hesitation about one year at Broomsedge, one year at Carolina if they'd be open to it."

Registration details: 2 days of best ball stroke play competition at Broomsedge. Registration is $1,000 per team and includes a Friday practice round. Applications are being accepted now through August 31st, and the field will be announced by September 5th. The tournament committee will select teams based on golf resume, with historical exemptions being honored for past champions and 2024 performance.

STORIES TO TRACK

Georgia’s Howell Dominates Championship Match to Win U.S. Amateur at Olympic Club: Mason Howell, a rising high school senior from Thomasville, Georgia, defeated a who’s who of college stars in route to the title, culminating with a 7&6 victory over Tennessee’s Jackson Herrington in the final. Howell has had a 2025 to remember - he competed in 4 USGA championships (U.S. Four-Ball, U.S. Open, U.S Junior, and U.S. Amateur), took medalist honors at U.S. Open Final Qualifying and the U.S. Junior, and locked up a spot in the upcoming Walker Cup at Cypress Point. He is committed to play college golf at the University of Georgia following graduation.

• Carolinas corner: 19 Carolinians teed it up at Olympic Club this past week. WAGR #1 Jackson Koivun and 2024 Carolinas Amateur champion Garrett Risner led the cohort in stroke play (finishing T8), but neither made it past the round of 32.

• Fun follow: Outside of Howell’s dominance, the story of the week was Niall Shiels Donegan, a Scottish-born, Northern California native that had a huge contingent of local support as he made a surprising and dramatic run to the semifinals. Shiels Donegan is transferring to UNC this fall, where he will begin his junior season.

Einstein Runs Away with 61st North Carolina Open: 3 days of bogey-free golf and scores of 66, 64, and 65 propelled Brandon Einstein to a 9 shot (!) victory at Forsyth Country Club last week. Einstein, who played collegiately at High Point University and N.C. State, currently works as an assistant pro at Tanglewood Park. He grew up in the Winston-Salem-area and played many rounds at FCC during his time on the Forsyth Country Day School golf team. View full results here.

6 Players Book Spots in 2025 U.S. Mid-Amateur Across the Carolinas: 2 qualifiers took place last week for this September’s event at Troon Country Club in Arizona, with 2 more taking place today (Mid Carolina Club and Benvenue Country Club):

• Alamance Country Club: 16 players shot under par, with the 3 qualifiers securing spots with scores of 66 (-5) or better. Jerry Richardson took medalist with a 65 (-6). Full scoring here.

• Solina Golf Club: On the other end of the spectrum, Solina Golf Club failed to yield an under par score to the field. A score of 70 (E) was good for Philip Oweida to secure the medalist spot, while 2 other players got through with 71 (+1). Full scoring here.

Sunday 66 Lifts Shaver to Cedarwood Club Championship: Brandon Shaver made 6 birdies in the final round to secure a 2-shot victory over Jake McGlone in last weekend’s event. Shaver finished -1 after 54 holes of stroke play competition.

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