Preview: 2024 Keiser University College of Golf Palmetto Championship at Tradition, True Blue & Caledonia
By Dylan Hoffman
Top boys’ high school teams and players from the Southeast and beyond will be competing once again this week in the Keiser University College of Golf Palmetto Championship, contested at Tradition Golf Club and the Grand Strand’s beautiful Mike Strantz designs at Caledonia Golf & Fish Club and True Blue Golf Club.
The 2024 Palmetto takes place March 28-30 in a 54-hole, collegiate-style tournament that has grown in demand and popularity to attract more than 40 teams each year from as many as 10 states and Canada, spanning the continent from the Carolinas to Texas to California. Past participants include such PGA TOUR stars as Rickie Fowler and Harris English, with this year’s field loaded with young talent that looks to someday join them at the highest level.
Here’s what you can expect to see from a handful of this year’s top contending schools and players:
AC Flora High School (SC)
The Palmetto’s defending champions are back in this year’s field and looking once more to dominate their competition. The Falcons are led by their top player Charles Cauthen (2025), who won the AJGA Junior at Parris Island and finished third at the Mizuno–Keith Mitchell Junior Championship. Cauthen was also a participant in The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by Rolex. Coleman Ferguson (2024), a Coastal Carolina commit and AC Flora’s number two player, will be another name to watch as the Falcons vie for their second straight team title.
Forsyth Country Day School (NC)
Known as “the Furies,” Forsyth Country Day School returns to Pawleys Island this year in its quest to build off of a runner-up finish at the 2023 Palmetto. Paced by their number 1 player, Preston Howe (2025), the Furies should again be near the top of the team leaderboard this year. Howe finished T2 at the AJGA Preview presented by Visit Sevierville/Tennessee Tourism, and T5 at the HV3 Foundation Junior Open.
Charlotte Catholic High School (NC)
Will Hartman (2025) will look to flex his muscles at this year’s Palmetto as the highest-ranked player in the field. With a Golfweek junior ranking of 12 and a Junior Golf Scoreboard ranking of 14, Hartman is the odds-on favorite to bring home the individual title. Hartman won the 2022 Bobby Chapman Invitational and well as the 3rd place finisher at both the 2023 US Junior Amateur Championship and The Junior PLAYERS Championship presented by Rolex. Will was a participant in the Junior Ryder Cup and Wyndham Cup, as well as the Dustin Johnson World Junior, held at TPC Myrtle Beach earlier this month.
Waccamaw High School (SC)
The Warriors of Waccamaw High School return as tournament host in 2024 and will look to bring home the title against some of the best high school teams the country has to offer. Led by Campbell McLain (2027) and Jackson Kaylor (2024), the Warriors look to use their knowledge of this year’s host courses to their advantage when they tee it up in Thursday’s opening round.
The first two rounds Thursday and Friday will feature afternoon tee times, with Saturday’s final round teeing off in the morning. Stay in touch with PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com for event updates throughout the week!
