Talented field set to tee it up at Bright’s Creek in first Wolverine Invitational

Bright’s Creek certainly has seen its share of excellent golf – and certainly will do so this weekend.

Seven of the region’s finest high school golf teams will join Polk County for the 1st annual Wolverine Invitational tournament, slated for Friday and Saturday at the Tom Fazio-designed course in Mill Spring. The two-day event begins Friday at 1 p.m. with a shotgun start, with tee times starting Saturday at 8:30 a.m.

Two-time defending state 2A champion Newton-Conover headlines a field that includes Shelby, Hendersonville, A.C. Reynolds, T.C. Roberson, Spartanburg and Spartanburg Christian Academy as well as the host Wolverines.

“We’ve got a good field,” said Polk County golf coach Jim Hemphill. “It’s a good mix. We’d like to eventually have four teams from South Carolina and four from North Carolina.”

The eight teams will tackle the 7,450-yard Bright’s Creek layout and will do so at no cost, a rarity for high school tournaments. Tourney organizers also plan to feed both teams at the conclusion of each round, with Bright’s Creek playing a vital role in both areas, Hemphill said.

“We’re doing it for the kids,” Hemphill said. “Hopefully, we can make this an annual event.”

Hemphill said spectators are welcome to watch either day of play.