Spencer Oxendine of Fayetteville, N.C., captured the overall title at the sixth annual Jimmy Creed Boys’ Invitational played Saturday and Sunday at the Camden Country Club.
Oxendine also set a tournament record with his 5-under-par score of a 135.
After the first day of play, the 2019 North Carolina State commit was tied with Bronson Myers of Columbia with a 2-under 68.
The top Kershaw County finisher was Tyler Gray, a Lugoff resident and recent Thomas Sumter Academy graduate. Gray, who signed to play golf at Coastal Carolina University next season, finished tied for seventh with a 71-70—141.
Three members of the Camden High School golf team also played in the two-day, 36-hole event over their home course. Wills Kelly went 88-73 —161. Evan Younghans shot an 81-85 —166 while Davis Bishop carded an 89-86 —175.
A calm demeanor throughout his round, Oxendine steadied himself when nerves crept in by joking around with his group as well focusing on simply striking the ball well every time he came up for a shot.
“I never really thought about winning,” Oxendine said. “That thought never really came into my head, so I focused on getting the ball on the fairway and then on the green, hoping to make a putt.”
Consistency was key for Oxendine in the final round, and he avoided scoring a bogey through all 18 holes. Ending his performance with an exclamation point, he hit an approach shot onto the 18th green which landed just three feet shy of the hole. He sank the putt and ended the day with a birdie, his fifth of the tournament.
Out of the field of 80 players, only six players finished even or better, including the leaders of both divisions. Oxendine also captured the title in the 16-18 division. Tyler Dechellis, who finished second overall in the tournament, earned the 13-15 title with 2-under-score of 138.
The Carolinas Golf Association thanked the Camden Country Club for hosting the event and club members and staff that allowed the usage of the facilities and for their hard work throughout the tournament. The CGA also issued a special thank you to general manager, Rob Butler, and head golf professional, Matt McCarley, for their dedication to this event.
