Plymouth CC will welcome another strong field this week for the 62nd Hornblower Invitational on May 29-30.
The 156-player event is a 36-hole stroke-play championship with an 18-hole cut at the par-69 Donald Ross design.
What Happened Last Year
Nick Maccario won his second Hornblower Invitational with a strong finish at Plymouth CC. He made birdies on hole Nos. 16 and 17 to edge out Drew Golden and another past champion, Aiden Emmerich, by one shot with a one-over par total score.
Golden earned low junior honors for his impressive runner-up finish; he just finished his freshman year at Lehigh and is back in the field this year.
Full Results from 2025
Some history about the event
The event is rich in history. Named after a close friend of Donald Ross, Harry Hornblower, the tournament began in the 1930s after Hornblower saved the club from financial ruin during the Great Depression. However, as the event gained steam, World War II put a pause on any recreation. Tragically, Harry Hornblower would die of a heart attack in 1940 while visiting Pinehurst.
Between the war and Hornblower’s death, the tournament was forgotten until Skeeter Ellis discovered the original Hornblower Trophy in the back of a closet on a rainy day in 1962. The club resurrected the event to give regional players an opportunity to kick off the competitive season.
Related: A Rainy Day Discovery and the Rebirth of a Prestigious Tournament (Northeast Golf Magazine)
The weather often plays a major factor at Plymouth CC. Wind, rain, and heat all make Plymouth CC play differently.
This week’s weather forecast
Plymouth CC members in the field
Fifteen players will represent the host course in this year’s field.
Nicholas Clarke, Jonathan Stoddard, Michael Willock, Jeff Piltch, Kevin Duncan, Matt Montt, Brian Steverman, Brian Secia, Donald Cornell, Nolan Skaggs, James Magner, Colin Buckley, Sam Jenkins, Nick Drago, Matthew Miller
Another cool part of this tournament is that the club runs it on its own. Skeeter Ellis’ son, Mike Ellis, is the organizer, and the club depends on volunteers to score, spot, and keep the trains on time throughout the entire week.
