The Amos Martin Tournament's most frequent winner, Bobby Jones (left) strokes a perfect 30-foot putt as the most recent winner, 2005 champ Tommy Wells, watches during preparations for this weekend's annual classic. Expecting about 70-80 players to participate in the 79th annual Amos Martin Invitational golf tournament this weekend, the WashingtonWilkes Country Club had already signed up about 50 early in the week and is expecting a surge of local players to add their names at the last minute.

The expected number of golfers is about equal to the 2005 field, which was 71, but is down from a number of years ago when it was frequently over 100.

As usual, the weather is the only thing in question for the tournament. However, the extended forecast calls for outstanding tournament weather with sunny days and high temperatures predicted at 93-94 degrees for both days of the event.

Set to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 1, and continue through Sunday afternoon, July 2, the tournament is organized to accommodate up to 110 golfers.

Though the number of hopefuls signed up to play is a little off, according to committee chairman Jack Harvey, plenty more are expected and will be accepted until Saturday's tee time or until the slate is full. Harvey said there are always those who sign up late.

"We're looking forward to have a real good time with a lot of participation in a family atmosphere," Harvey said. "Whether you're playing or not, it's a good way to spend a holiday weekend with friends and family."

Harvey explained that while the number of participants is down, it is just "part of the cycle." A lot of the older regular players are getting older and the local country club hasn't had many younger players to fill in behind them.

"Locally, we haven't had the influx of younger players," he said. "And we are going to do what we can to address that. It's nobody's fault - it's just part of the cycle."

Former champion Bobby Jones remembered that a number of years ago, when he lived in Greensboro, the Washington course was the only one around and Athens was the next closest. "Now everybody has a golf course and there are tournaments everywhere so players are just spread out," he said.

But the Washington-Wilkes course is still a classic. Designed in 1925 by Donald Ross, who also designed the Augusta Country Club course and had a hand in the design of Augusta National, it has remained basically the same for over 80 years. One of the characteristics of a Ross course, Harvey explained, is the relatively small target greens, and these are like that.

"This course can be scored on," he said, "but it can also eat your lunch."

Recent rains and showers have been extremely welcome, Harvey said, and have really perked up the fairways and greens especially since the irrigation system had not been operating for about a week after a lightning strike.

A developing trend, especially of late, is the tendency of tournament winners to repeat their performance in consecutive years. That could happen again this year - Tommy Wells, who shot impressive rounds of 70 and 71 to win last year's tournament by two strokes, is ready to defend his championship.

If superstition has anything to do with it, Wells would seem to have something going in his favor. The last three repeaters have all been local, home-grown players, as is Wells.

In the last nine years, the defending champion has been a repeat, back-to-back winner three times. Steve Chafin won in 1997 and 1998, Alex McMichael won in 1999 and 2000, and Bryan Barnett won in 2001 and 2002. A win by Wells this year would keep the current trend going strong.

Other back-to-back winners include Mitch Marchman (1990 and 1991), Sammy Craig (1972 and 1973), and Mel Fleisher (1961 and 1962).

Interestingly, no on has ever won the prestigious tournament in three consecutive years.

The only 4-time champion is Bobby Jones of Washington, who first won in 1967. Jones added titles in 1975, 1982, and 1989, and he is still regarded as a contender.

Billy Craycraft, who first won in 1984, set the course record of 137 (36 holes) in 1988. Bryan Barnett equalled the record in 2001.

For the tournament, USGA rules will apply in all cases unless trumped by local rules which include the following:

OB areas are:

Ball touching any part of the highway or across the highway;

Stakes on No. 8 and No. 17 beside the carts sheds extending towards the clubhouse;

OB line behind the hedges on No. 9 and No. 18 green.

General Club Rules are:

Golfers can move the ball anywhere in the fairway (one club length no closer to the hole), any ball outside the fairway is played down. (Note: Even in the fairway you cannot take a hazard out of play; i.e. sandtraps, you can move the ball back a club length if in fairway, but the trap must stay in play.)

Any tree with a wire cage around the base, a ball can be moved no closer to the hole in line of sight.

The Washington-Wilkes Country Club welcomes all golfers and families and encourages all to participate in the 79th annual tournament this Saturday and Sunday. Tournament winners and scores for the past 49 years, as compiled from Tournament winners for the past 50 years
The News-Reporter files, are:
1955 .... Richard Nix ...... No score
1956 .... David Boyd .... 113 (27h.)
1957 .... Jon Martin ...... 114 (27h.)
1958 .... Gene   Beard....... no score
1959 .... No report
1960 .... Billy Williford ........... 112
1961 .... Mel Fleisher .............. 113
1962 .... Mel Fleisher .............. 112
1963 .... Jim Norris ....... 113 (27h.)
1964 .... Dennis Hopkins Jr. .... 110
1965 .... Mel Fleisher .............. 107
1966 .... Dennis Hopkins Jr. .... 112
1967 .... Bobby Jones .............. 112
1968 .... Dave Kettles .............. 106
1969 .... Robert Hawthorne ..... 148
        (Changed to 36 holes)
1970 .... Ricky Odenweller ..... 107
  (Scheduled 36, rain shortened)
1971 .... Eddie Williamson ...... 144
1972 .... Sammy Craig ............. 149
1973 .... Sammy Craig .... No score
1974 .... Buford Jones .............141
1975 .... Bobby Jones .............. 141
1976 .... Eddie Bolton ............. 146
1977 .... Ed Moore .................. 143
1978 .... Ed Moore .................. 139
1979 .... Bill Rousey ................ 108
      (27 holes, rain shortened)
1980 .... Greg McBride ...........143
1981 .... Ed Moore .................. 149
1982 .... Bobby Jones .............. 145
1983 .... Gene Beard................141
1984 .... Billy Craycraft ........... 141
1985 .... Butch Mattison ..........143
1986 .... Gary Pollock ............. 143
1987 .... James Drinkard .........139
1988 .... Billy Craycraft ........... 137
              (36-hole record)
1989 .... Bobby Jones .............. 146
          (only 4-time winner)
1990 .... Mitch Marchman .......139
1991 .... Mitch Marchman .......140
1992 .... Grady Barron.............143
1993 .... James Drinkard .........141
1994 .... Mike Jackson ............ 143
1995 .... Grady Barron.............144
1996 .... Mike Gunn ................143
1997 .... Steve Chafin .............. 139
1998 .... Steve Chafin .............. 140
1999 .... Alex McMichael .......142
2000 .... Alex McMichael .......138
2001 .... Bryan Barnett ............ 137
          (tied 36-hole record)
2002 .... Bryan Barnett ............ 141
2003 .... Mark Blanton ............ 142
2004 .... Alan Moody .............. 139
2005 ....Tommy Wells............. 141