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Marietta, S.C.: Elon University rising sophomore William Carr (a) claimed the 102nd Carolinas Open championship at The Cliffs at Mountain Park, closing with a back-nine 30 to finish at 15-under 201 (70-66-65) for a two-shot victory.
The final round unfolded under sunny skies as 74 players advanced through the 36-hole cut into a leaderboard that stayed in near-constant motion. Carr made his move over his final 12 holes, playing that stretch at 8-under par with seven birdies and an eagle to overtake the field.
Brandon Einstein of Diamond Creek Golf Club finished as runner-up at 13-under 203 (68-67-68), closing with a bogey-free front nine before adding three birdies over his final five holes. Einstein's 4-under 68 also secured him low professional honors.
A five-way tie for third at 12-under rounded out the top of the leaderboard, featuring Josh Rackley, PGA, Trace McDonald, PGA, and amateurs Luke Mueller, Jude Carper, and Maddux Cook.
The championship opened Tuesday with four players sharing the first-round lead at 6-under 66: Phillip Yribarren of The Country Club of Asheville, Luke Mueller (a) of Wake Forest, North Carolina, Trace McDonald, PGA, of Quixote Club, and Casey Kosney (a) of Spartanburg, South Carolina. One shot back, Rohan Allwood, PGA, carded five birdies and two eagles for a 5-under 67.
Wednesday's second round produced a new pair of co-leaders in Jude Carper (a) and Maddux Cook (a), who each fired 6-under 66 to reach 11-under. Carper's round featured eight birdies, while Cook closed with five birdies over his final seven holes to draw even. The round's signature moment came from Caden Collins (a), who recorded a hole-in-one on the 11th hole from 171 yards with an 8-iron.
A special thank you to Director of Operations Jeff Tyrrell, Director of Golf Matthew Pavia, PGA, the entire team, and the membership at The Cliffs at Mountain Park for their outstanding hospitality and for providing a premier championship experience throughout the week.
The Carolinas PGA congratulates all competitors who advanced to Thursday's final round and extends a sincere thank you to everyone who competed for making the 102nd Carolinas Open such a memorable event.
About The Cliffs at Mountain ParkDesigned by World Golf Hall of Famer Gary Player, The Cliffs at Mountain Park is a par-72 layout that embraces classic golf architecture with large greens, natural bunkering, and open approaches. Featuring zoysia fairways, fescue rough, and hybrid Bermuda greens, the course rewards strategic shot-making throughout the round before culminating with its memorable closing four holes, known as "The Joust," a risk-reward stretch that can quickly change the leaderboard. Visit cliffsliving.com to learn more.
Raleigh, NC — July 8, 2026 — The Carolinas PGA and PGA REACH Carolinas Foundation are proud to announce that United States Navy Veteran Jim Lewis has been selected to represent the Carolinas Section at the 7th Annual PGA HOPE National Golf & Wellness Week (NGWW). The event will take place October 14–20, 2026, at the prestigious Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland.
Jim was chosen from an incredibly competitive pool of remarkable PGA HOPE graduates nominated across the country. His infectious positivity, grit, and natural ability to advocate for his peers made him a standout selection to serve as a national PGA HOPE Ambassador.
Jim began his life of service in 1981 by joining the United States Navy, where he served with distinction maintaining critical electrical systems on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower. Decades later, in 2021, Jim faced a life-altering event that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Rather than letting the injury distance him from his lifelong love for golf—a passion sparked by his father at just six years old—Jim used the challenge to inspire others.
Before even finding his local PGA HOPE chapter, Jim became a regular fixture at the National Disabled Veterans' Golf Clinic from 2021 to 2024, helping veterans with spinal cord injuries, amputations, and visual impairments reconnect with the game.
When Jim joined the PGA HOPE Raleigh program as a student in September 2024, his impact was immediate. Despite driving over an hour each way to attend classes, he stepped up not just as a participant, but as a peer leader. Jim is a vibrant, smiling light on the range who treats every fellow veteran like an old friend, making everyone feel like they belong.
At the Carolinas Wellness Week event, Jim took center stage to deliver a highly impactful presentation on adaptive golf. By demonstrating how his SoloRider works, he showed fellow veterans, PGA HOPE Leads, and staff exactly how individuals in a sitting position can excel at the game.
"PGA HOPE gave me more than the opportunity to play golf again," says Lewis. "It gave me confidence, purpose, friendship, and a way to help other veterans discover that life after injury can still be filled with growth, achievement, and hope."
Jim’s selection comes at a critical time for his home chapter. PGA HOPE Raleigh is a massive, high-demand hub for veterans that currently faces a substantial participant waitlist. Under PGA HOPE Lead Professional Rick Hengstenberg, the program has raised over $20,000 in supplemental funding through initiatives like the 100 Holes for HOPE fundraiser.
As a National Ambassador, Jim will be a vital asset in managing this incredible growth. His deep familiarity with adaptive equipment and his natural capacity for peer advocacy make him the perfect regional liaison to help welcome incoming veterans, speak at local community events, and keep program graduates engaged long-term through post-program activities.
This October, Jim will join 19 other PGA HOPE Ambassadors from across the nation for a transformative week of elite golf instruction, wellness experiences, and leadership training at Congressional Country Club.
He plans to bring the advanced skills and national network he builds back to North Carolina to keep paying it forward. With his trademark infectious smile, his passion for connecting with others, and his dedication to the veteran community, Jim Lewis is fully prepared to make a lasting impact on a national level.
As PGA HOPE continues to grow across North and South Carolina, the Carolinas Section remains deeply grateful for all our nominees—veterans who remind us daily why this program changes and saves lives.
For more information on PGA HOPE or to support our veteran programming, visit:
https://carolinas.pga.com/foundation/pga-hope/
