RBC Heritage and The CJ Cup? That’s ‘great for the state of South Carolina’

With the RBC Heritage coming off a smashing success in April and The CJ Cup in South Carolina headed to Congaree Golf Club in October, the spotlight from the PGA Tour again shines brightly on South Carolina.

“Exciting times,” said Steve Wilmot, tournament director of the RBC Heritage. “We had a great tournament with momentum going forward, and I expect the same thing” for The CJ Cup in South Carolina.

The venues are neighbors, the Heritage unfolding each April on Hilton Head Island and The CJ Cup making a one-time visit to Congaree about an hour away in northern Jasper County.

“What’s good for the neighborhood is good for the neighborhood,” Wilmot said. “Having two top-level tournaments so close is great for the area and great for the state of South Carolina.”

The PGA Tour made a quick stop at Congaree in June 2021, hastily putting together the Palmetto Championship at Congaree to replace the RBC Canadian Open, canceled by the coronavirus outbreak.

The success then made Congaree a natural site for The CJ Cup after pandemic concerns forced organizers to forego returning the tournament to its roots in South Korea. The event began in the Asian nation in 2017 before COVID-forced moves to Las Vegas the past two years.

Wilmot and his crew at the RBC Heritage moved quickly to support the 2021 tournament and will lend assistance to The CJ Cup staff.

“Everybody wins,” Wilmot said.

If the Congaree tourney can match the 2022 RBC Heritage in competition and weather, the sky’s the limit. At this year’s Heritage, Jordan Spieth edged Patrick Cantlay in a playoff, and the tournament featured an all-star leaderboard.

The CJ Cup’s 78-player field will not be determined until closer to tournament time, but the 2021 event featured Spieth, Rory McIlroy, Collin Morikawa, Sam Burns, Justin Thomas, Cameron Smith, Scottie Scheffler and Xander Schauffele. McIlroy, at 25-under-par, edged Morikawa by one shot.

“There’s a lot going on in professional golf, and we don’t know how everything will turn out, but it’s an interesting time to be involved with the game,” Wilmot said. “I know in our case, we reached capacity (of fans) last year, had a marvelous tournament and of course having a popular winner added to the excitement.

“We can still feel the excitement and the buzz. Really great interest, and we’re planning to build on that. We’re looking for ways to make a better fan experience, maybe more hospitality areas, for example. I can see that momentum carrying over to Congaree.”

The next RBC Heritage will be played April 13-16, 2023.

Of course, The CJ Cup in South Carolina, set for Oct. 20-23 this year, will be competing with college football for attention. Both USC and Clemson have home games on Oct. 22, the Gamecocks facing Texas A&M and Clemson taking on Syracuse.

“There are always challenges, but you have to focus on what you can control,” Wilmot said. “We know this is an exciting time on the PGA Tour, and I know (The CJ Cup) will be great for the area and great for the state of South Carolina.”

Chip shots. USC freshman stars Louise Rydqvist and Hannah Darling advanced deep into the Women’s Amateur Championship in Hunstanton, England. Rydqvist earned a spot in the final and Darling reached the semifinals in one of the world’s top amateur tourneys for women. Rising senior Justine Fournand lost in the round of 32. ... Miles Eubanks (Warrenville) surged from behind with a final-round 64 to capture the 64th SCGA Junior Championship at Florence CC. He finished the 54-hole event at 11-under 202, five shots better than second-place finisher Mitchell McNeill (North Augusta). ... Madison Messimer (Myrtle Beach) dominated in rolling to victory in the WSCGA Junior Girls Championship at Arcadian Shores in North Myrtle Beach. ... Tyler Macolly (Spartanburg) and Matthew Talley (Roebuck) won the SCGA’s Lefty-Righty Championship at Lake Marion GC in Santee. Rye Tifft (Blythewood) eagled the second playoff hole to take the Left-Handers’ title. ... Charlie Cauthen (Columbia) earned a spot in the U.S. Junior Amateur in a six-hole playoff in qualifying at the Links of Stono Ferry in Hollywood. Others advancing to the national tournament include Sam McMillan (Mount Pleasant), Jack Seward (Florence), Jay Wilkins (Simpsonville) and Ryan Jahr (Ocean Isle Beach, North Carolina). ... Entries are open for the South Carolina Women’s Open presented by the Town of Blythewood, set for Aug. 12-14 at Cobblestone Park GC. The Aug. 11 pro-am includes an LPGA Clinic and a concert by Keith Burns. Register online at www.southcarolinawomensopen.com