Semifinals Set at Carolinas Women's Match Play

Jessica Spicer is one of four semilfinalists at the Cas W Match Play

ROCK HILL, S.C. (July 26, 2017) -- Round of 16 and quarterfinal match play results of the 20th Carolinas Women's Match Play Championship at Rock Hill Country Club in Rock Hill, S.C. on Wednesday, July 26th (Championship Division - 6,085 yards, par 72, Course Rating 75.3/131 | Carolinas Division - 5,234 yards, par 72, Course Rating 71.0/119).

Related: Championship Web Site | Starting Times | Scoring | History | Photos

In the biggest upset of the day, No. 17 seed Hailey Cleary of Lexington, S.C. defeated medalist and No. 1 seed Kathryn Carson of Mooresville, N.C. in the Round of 16 at the 20th Carolinas Women's Match Play Championship at Rock Hill Country Club in Rock Hill, S.C. The match was all-square through 17 holes, but Carson made bogey on the final hole that gave Cleary the hole with par. "Putting was big for me today," said Cleary. "We were playing about even the entire way, but it just came down to who was steady and did not mess up." After her newfound confidence, Cleary, a rising sophomore at Limestone College and member of the women's golf team, is determined to keep her momentum going into the next round. "I have really exceeded my expectations for this tournament. I am just going to go back out there, have fun, and see what happens."

Round of 16 Match Play Results

Quarterfinals

Virginia Tech Hokie and No. 4 seed Jessica Spicer of Bahama, N.C. rocketed through the quarterfinal round, defeating Hannah Craver of Winston Salem, N.C. 7-and-6 to lock up a spot in the semifinals. After the pair halved the first three holes, Spicer won seven of the next eight holes to go 7-up, a lead that Craver could not overcome. "I have always been a player where if I can play 18 in the morning and get through it, I can really loosen up in the afternoon and gain a lot of confidence," remarked Spicer, the recent North Carolina Women's Amateur champion. "It gives me the opportunity to work with what I have and I figured out how to do it today." With a potential 36-holes tomorrow, Spicer noted that the quick turnaround can be difficult, but is always for a challenge. "It is always tough when you have been playing and playing, then come back and do it all over again. I just have to keep the same feel and thought process going into tomorrow by picking a target, visualizing my shot, and just let it go."

After defeating medalist Kathryn Carson in the Round of 16, Hailey Cleary of Lexington, S.C. went on to secure a 1-up victory over Kate Collom of Charlotte, N.C. and advance to the semifinals to face Spicer. The Limestone College Saint found herself all-square heading to No. 18 tee, just as she did earlier in the day. History repeated itself when Collom made bogey, giving Cleary the win with par.

Joining Spicer and Cleary in the semifinals will be Mary Chandler Bryan of Chapin, S.C., who was victorious over Rock Hill Country Club member Jodee Tindal 4-and-3, and Rachel Jones of Asheboro, N.C., who defeated Anne Taylor Hough of Spartanburg, S.C. 2-and-1 to secure her spot.

Semifinal matches will begin at 8:07 a.m. on Thursday morning and the final match is set for Thursday afternoon.

Entry is open to any female amateur golfer who has reached her 13th birthday by July 25, 2017, is a legal resident of North Carolina or South Carolina, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has an active GHIN® USGA Handicap Index® at a CGA member club.

Scoring will be provided by the CGA throughout the championship, offering 9 and 18-hole updates. Live updates will also be available on the CGA’s Twitter account, @CGAGolf1909. Continue to visit the CGA website throughout this championship and all year long for complete championship coverage including scores, interviews, photos, and recaps.

Quarterfinal Match Play Results

Championship Facts
Event: 20th Carolinas Women's Match Play
Playing Dates: July 25-27
Host Site: Rock Hill Country Club in Rock Hill, S.C.
Championship Division - 6,085 yards, par 72, Course Rating 75.3/131 | Carolinas Division - 5,234 yards, par 72, Course Rating 71.0/119
Defending Champion: Cecily Overbey, High Point, N.C.
Format: 18 holes of stroke play qualifying to determine seeding and flights for match play in the Championship Division and seeding for match play in the Carolinas Division.

Schedule of rounds

Tuesday, July 25
First round. 18 holes of stroke play qualifying.
Lunch provided for all players.
Wednesday, July 26
Championship Flight. First and quarterfinal round matches (18 holes).
All other flights: First round matches and semifinal round matches (18 holes).
Thursday, July 27
Championship flight. Semifinal and Final matches (18 holes).
All other flights: Final matches (18 holes).

About the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)

The CGA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization that was founded in 1909 to promote and to protect the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support and benefits to golf clubs and golfers. The CGA is the second largest golf association in the country with over 700 member clubs represented by nearly 150,000 individuals.

The CGA annually conducts 48 championships and five team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. It also runs over 150 One-Day (net and gross) events as well as qualifying for USGA national championships. The CGA serves golf in the Carolinas with numerous programs such as: the USGA Handicap System; tournament management software and support; course measuring and course/slope ratings; agronomy consultation; answers about the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, and Handicapping; Carolinas Golf Magazine; Interclub series; Tarheel Youth Golf Association; Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame; expense assistance for USGA Junior and Girls' Junior qualifiers from the Carolinas; and the Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF). The CGF has distributed nearly $2,000,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives including junior and women's programs.

For more information about the CGA, visit our website.

 

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