Bengals remember Parks Hutto with popular tournament

All Tournament Team members, from left: Gene Zeigler, Nathan Franks and Matthew Hutto. Not pictured are Max Green and Luke Walmet | Photos Contributed

BLYTHEWOOD – Blythewood High School’s Matthew Hutto was named to the top five in the All-Tournament team of the Parks Hutto Bengal Invitation played at Columbia Country Club, March 15 – 16. The tournament is named for Matthew’s late brother, Parks, who was a top Bengal golfer when he died after a brief, rare illness in June, 2015.

Matthew posted a solid 69, a three under par score, on day two of the tournament and took home a medal engraved with “2021 Parks Hutto All-Tournament Team.”

The Town of Blythewood and the Blythewood High School (BHS) Golf Team, along with Columbia Country Club, hosted 28 of the best boys golf teams from around South Carolina.

Coached by Midlands native Robert Dargan, the AC Flora High School team took home the title for the overall team competition with a four-player, two-day score of 591.

“This is the highlight of our season, the best tournament in the state,” Dargan said.

Boiling Springs posted 593 for a second place finish in the tournament. 

A one-hole playoff on number 18 between future USC Gamecocks Gene Zeigler of Trinity Collegiate Academy and Nathan Franks of Dorman High School was held to determine Tournament Medalist. Zeigler clinched the title after Franks’ par putt lipped out of the hole.  

“Our tournament is considered one of the premier tournaments in the season,” BHS Coach Jason Minkel said. “We have to turn away many teams, and we’re pushing it to allow 28 to compete.”

Each player received a ball marker with a heart for Parks on one side and the Town of Blythewood logo on the other.

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