Palmetto Golf Club—founded in 1892 and the oldest continuously operated 18-hole golf course in its original location in the Southeast—hosts the 50th edition of the Palmetto Amateur Invitational. The 2025 championship brings together top collegiate and mid-amateur players for four rounds on one of the game’s most historic and demanding courses.
Round 1 Recap (Friday, November 7)
Miles Eubanks of Warrenville, South Carolina, carded an opening-round 68 (-2) to take the early lead at Palmetto Golf Club. The College of Charleston standout used home-course familiarity to his advantage on a day when only two players broke par.
Just one shot back is Nick Maccario (Atlanta, GA) after a 69 (-1), followed by a five-way tie at even par 70 that includes Ben Kendrick (Lexington, KY), Jordan Sease (Columbia, SC), Charles Cauthen (Columbia, SC), Preston Hage (Raleigh, NC), and Adam “AJ” Hovermale Jr. (Lakewood Ranch, FL).
The firm, elevated greens and strategic bunkering at Palmetto demanded precision throughout the day. The field averaged just over 74 strokes on the par-71, 6,695-yard layout, emphasizing the course’s classic Donald Ross bite.
PosPlayerTotalR11Miles Eubanks (Warrenville, SC)-2682Nick Maccario (Atlanta, GA)-169T3Ben Kendrick (Lexington, KY)E70T3Jordan Sease (Columbia, SC)E70T3Charles Cauthen (Columbia, SC)E70T3Preston Hage (Raleigh, NC)E70T3Adam “AJ” Hovermale Jr. (Lakewood Ranch, FL)E70 About the Palmetto Amateur
First played in the 1970s, the Palmetto Amateur has long been one of the Southeast’s most prestigious invitational tournaments. The event is played annually at Palmetto Golf Club in Aiken, South Carolina—a course known for its small, undulating greens and classic strategic design. In 2005, current tournament director Dane Burkhart made history by shooting a 59 en route to victory, while Jordan Sease claimed the 2024 title with rounds of 66–68 to close.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Palmetto Amateur, a milestone celebrating five decades of elite amateur competition at one of America’s oldest golf clubs. The 2025 field features standout players from top collegiate programs and mid-am ranks, each vying to etch their names alongside past champions on the storied Palmetto trophy.
