Amos Martin Invitational Golf Tourney's 80th tee-off set for Saturday at Washington-Wilkes Country Club

After Billy Craycraft's amazingly incredible comeback win in last year's Amos Martin Invitational, the stage is set for him to catch up to the tournament's only four-time winner, Bobby Jones. The 80th playing of the annual golf classic is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 7-8, at the Washington-Wilkes Country Club. Craycraft, who is also in a tie holding the course record at 137, got his three-peat with a 142 in 2006.

As of late last week, 84 golfers had already signed up for a spot in the tournament and that's seven more than played last year. While participation has been off for the last couple of years, W-WCC President Casey Jackson says the early signups are encouraging and he's hoping for 100 or so to play this year.

There is always a last-minute surge of golfers signing up to play and, as expected, they will be accepted until the slate is full or until Saturday's tee time, whichever comes first.

Set to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Saturday, July 7, and continue through Sunday afternoon, July 8, the tournament is organized to accommodate up to 110 golfers.

As always, the weather could be a factor but indications are that it won't hamper play this year.

And while the weather has been particularly dry this spring and summer, it hasn't affected the course adversely. Jackson reports that the course is in good shape and that the greens are especially improved after going through some tough times in recent years.

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, according to Jack Harvey a former tournament chairman, 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."

Though it hasn't happened since 2002, a developing trend is the tendency of tournament winners to repeat their performance in consecutive years. That could happen again this year - Craycraft, who shot an impressive round of 66 to win last year's tournament by two strokes, is ready to defend his championship.

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

In the last ten years, the defending champion has been a repeat, backto 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 Craycarft 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, Jones, also of Washington, first won in 1967. He then added titles in 1975, 1982, and 1989, and he is still regarded as a contender.

Craycraft set the course record of 137 (36 holes) in 1988 and now shares it with Bryan Barnett matched it in 2001.

More than half a century of champions

Tournament winners and scores for the past 52 years, as compiled from 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
2006	Billy Craycraft	142

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