55th Carolinas Junior Girls Championship

Members Club at Woodcreek Farms, Elgin, SC

June 30, 2011

Final Results

Elgin, SC --- Final results of the 55th Carolinas Junior Girls Championship hosted by the Members Club at Woodcreek Farms on Thursday, June 30, 2011.  Par 36-36-72, 5980 yards. 

Local knowledge seemed to be the winning advantage as local favorite Kelli Murphy of Elgin, SC captured her CGA championship title over Allison Emrey of Charlotte, NC by a one up margin.  Murphy is a member of Woodcreek Farms.  "I probably knew the way the greens reacted to putts more than anyone else this week but to be honest I never thought I would get this far," Murphy said.  "I just thought I would come here play pretty decent a few days and head home.  This win means a lot to me." 

Murphy faced off against McKenzie Talbert of N. Augusta, SC in the first semifinal match of the morning and would go on to beat the defending champion 3 & 2.  At one point, Murphy was four under on her round. Talbert would drain a 50 foot putt to keep the match going after sixteen holes but Murphy won the par 5 17th to take Talbert out of the championship.

In the final championship match Emrey would get off to a slow start.  "I think we were both so tired," Emrey said.  "This is a long week and it takes a lot of focus to keep your game going."  Emrey went one down after the first hole but quickly bounced back with a birdie to take the match back to all square.  The players turned to the outward nine and Murphy held a 1 up advantage.  Emrey would then go on to win holes 11, 12 and 13 to go 2 up after Murphy made a mental error conceding a hole she could have tied Emrey with a par.  "My mind went blank out on those holes.  I was mentally exhausted," Murphy laughed.  When asked what got her to bounce back into the match she simply said "a good pep talk from my caddie." 

Murphy would go on to win holes 14 and 16 with a birdie to get the match back to all square.  Both players made impressive birdies on the par 5 17th. But it was the 18th hole that sealed the deal for Murphy.  After both players reached the green with good approach shots from the fairway Murphy drained a 42 food putt while Emrey's chance at birdie hit the hole and bounced out.  "I couldn't believe my putt when in," Murphy laughed.  "What a week!"

In the sub-junior division, Jalen Castle of W. Columbia, SC defeated Anna Eddy of Hilton Head, SC by a 2 & 1 margin.  These players play nine holes each day.

Players were placed into flights for the match play portion of the championship with the top 16 players competing for the overall championship.

Complete brackets, flights and results can be located at:  http://www.carolinasgolf.org/tourn/2011/result/juniorgirlsbracket.pdf

For more information on this championship and its history visit:  http://www.carolinasgolf.org/tourn/2011/yearbook/cga%20girls%20-%20pages%2091-95.pdf

This championship is conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) which is in its 102nd year of serving amateur golf throughout North and South Carolina.

Overall Championship