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Michael Sanders Wins 68th Carolinas Jr Boys'
Michael Sanders of Davidson, NC posted a final round 67 to win by three strokes
CONCORD, N.C. (July 27, 2017) -- Final results of the Carolinas Golf Association's 68th Carolinas Junior Boys' Championship at Cabarrus Country Club in Concord, N.C. on Thursday, July 27th (6984 yards, par 36-36--72).
Related: Championship Web Site | History | Scoring | Photos |
Michael Sanders of Davidson, N.C. followed back-to-back 70s with an impressive five-under 67 in Thursday's final round to win the 68th Carolinas Junior Boys' Championship by three strokes at Cabarrus Country Club.
Facing a one-shot deficit to start Thursday's final round against 36-hole leaders Fulton Smith of Pinehurst, N.C. and Abhay Gupta of Concord, N.C., Sanders watched the13-year-old Gupta drain a 60-foot birdie putt on the first hole. "I knew it would be important for me to birdie the first," Sanders, 17, recalled. "Especially after watching Gupta make his." Sanders rolled in his 15-foot birdie, drawing even with Smith and staying within one of Gupta.
A poor tee shot on the par-3 7th hole led to Sanders first bogey. Instead of falling apart, he kick-started a four-hole stretch of five-under-par golf. "I definitely think that hole motivated me," said the rising senior at the Cannon School. "I wasn't going to let that bogey on No. 7 take me back."
Sanders, who has committed to play collegiately at Louisiana State University, piped his tee shot on the 513-yard par-5 8th well down the fairway. With just an 8-iron left into the green, Sanders two putted for birdie. Using a putter he added to his bag for the first time this week, he converted birdies on the par-4 9th and 10th holes. "It's not coming out of the bag for awhile," Sanders said with a smile. On the par-5 11th, Sanders drilled a 6-iron to 20 feet and sank the eagle putt to reach 10-under-par.
At that point, Sanders was two shots clear of the field, with defending champion Jacob Bridgeman of Inman, S.C. becoming his closest competition. Bridgeman had entered the final round T7, but found his swing Thursday at Cabarrus. "I honed it in off the tee, unlike my first two days," said Bridgeman, who has committed to play at Clemson University next fall. "Then I made some putts."
Bridgeman's round was also buoyed by a mid-round barrage. Like Sanders, he also birdied Nos. 8 and 9, then added another on No. 11. An 8-iron to 15 feet on the 161-yard 12th and chip-in from behind the green on the par-3 15th added two more birdies to his scorecard. However, a bogey on 16 and Bridgeman's only bad drive of the day on 18, derailed his chances for a closing birdie to add pressure to Sanders playing two groups behind.
"It's all I could ask for today. It would have been a stretch for me to get to 9-under," said Bridgeman, whose final round 68 was enough to finish alone in second at six-under 210. "I'm happy for Michael."
Despite bogeys on 15 and 17, Sanders played the 613-yard par-5 18th with a two shot lead. He laid back to 125 yards to have a full wedge shot on his approach into the green. When his 15-foot birdie fell into the hole, Sanders used one word to describe his feelings, "Relief." Later, he added, "That putt was going five or six feet past the cup if it didn't fall in. The fact that it caught the lip and went in was really nice."
Finishing 54 holes at nine-under-par claimed a three-stroke victory for Sanders, first CGA title. "I have played well in other events," Sanders said, who won his second straight NCISAA 3A state individual championship in May. "To finally win a CGA championship feels great."
Smith, 2017 N.C. Junior Boys' champion Quinn Riley of Raleigh, and 2015 N.C. Junior Boys' champ Jack Massei of Cary tied for third place at five-under 211.
The Carolinas Junior Boys' championship format is 54-holes of stroke play. Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has not reached his 19th birthday by July 27, 2017, who has not started college, 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 a current USGA handicap index® at a CGA member club that does not exceed 18.4.
The Carolinas Golf Association wishes to thank the members and staff of Cabarrus Country Club for their hospitality. We would especially like to thank General Manager Brad Bourret, Head Golf Professional Ken Guilford, and Course Superintendent Tim Davis for their extra effort in helping to conduct the championship.
68th Carolinas Junior Boys' Championship
Cabarrus Country Club | Concord, NC
Final Results
| Rank | Player (Graduation Year), City, State | Score | |
| 1 | Michael Sanders (2018) Davidson, NC | 70-70-67--207 | |
| 2 | Jacob Bridgeman (2018) Inman, SC | 69-73-68--210 | |
| T3 | Fulton Smith (2019) Pinehurst, NC | 70-69-72--211 | |
| Quinn Riley (2018) Raleigh, NC | 70-72-69--211 | ||
| Jack Massei (2018) Cary, NC | 69-71-71--211 | ||
| T6 | Stephen Carroll (2017) Concord, NC | 66-74-72--212 | |
| Peter Fountain (2020) Raleigh, NC | 69-73-70--212 | ||
| Zane Sullivan (2019) Charlotte, NC | 73-68-71--212 | ||
| Garrett Cooper (2019) Cowpens, SC | 70-72-70--212 | ||
| 10 | Brady Hinkle (2018) Lancaster, SC | 68-74-71--213 | |
| T11 | Zack Gordon (2018) Gaffney, SC | 71-75-69--215 | |
| Jackson Van Paris (2021) Pinehurst, NC | 71-73-71--215 | ||
| Nicholas Mayfield (2019) Rock Hill, SC | 70-73-72--215 | ||
| T14 | Michael Baker (2017) Concord, NC | 69-75-72--216 | |
| Abhay Gupta (2022) Concord , NC | 68-71-77--216 | ||
| Pierce Robinson (2019) Kings Mountain, NC | 74-68-74--216 | ||
| Lansdon Robbins (2018) Davidson, NC | 75-68-73--216 | ||
| Ben Woodruff (2018) Huntersville, NC | 69-77-70--216 | ||
| Walker Jones (2018) Sumter, SC | 72-71-73--216 | ||
| T20 | Chris Kim (2019) Cary, NC | 69-76-72--217 | |
| Quinton Metz (2019) Wilkesboro, NC | 73-71-73--217 | ||
| Charlie Tate (2018) Greensboro, NC | 75-72-70--217 | ||
| Holden Grigg (2019) Myrtle Beach, SC | 72-74-71--217 | ||
| Jacob Rutter (2017) Winston-Salem, NC | 70-75-72--217 | ||
| Attie Giles (2018) Pinehurst, NC | 67-78-72--217 | ||
| 26 | Michael Coe (2017) Morrisville, NC | 73-72-73--218 | |
| T27 | Michael Childress (2018) Salisbury, NC | 71-77-71--219 | |
| Chandler Metz (2017) Wilkesboro, NC | 72-70-77--219 | ||
| Carson Ownbey (2018) Candler, NC | 77-69-73--219 | ||
| Ike Joy (2021) Denver, NC | 74-71-74--219 | ||
| T31 | William Crook (2018) Sherrills Ford, NC | 73-70-77--220 | |
| Narayan Mohan (2021) Charlotte, NC | 72-75-73--220 | ||
| Daniel Azallion (2019) Hilton Head, SC | 75-74-71--220 | ||
| Ethan Hall (2019) Morehead City, NC | 69-73-78--220 | ||
| Grant Sellers (2018) McBee, SC | 73-75-72--220 | ||
| T36 | Jacob Lowe (2017) Angier, NC | 71-73-77--221 | |
| Graham Chase (2019) Charlotte, NC | 71-74-76--221 | ||
| Noah Connor (2019) Reidsville, NC | 70-79-72--221 | ||
| T39 | Tim Bunten (2017) Concord, NC | 70-77-75--222 | |
| Chad Carter (2018) Aiken, SC | 75-72-75--222 | ||
| Seth Taylor (2019) Gaffney, SC | 72-73-77--222 | ||
| Alex Goff (2018) Kings Mountain, NC | 71-74-77--222 | ||
| Drew Hackett (2019) Charlotte, NC | 70-74-78--222 | ||
| Bronson Myers (2018) Columbia, SC | 76-73-73--222 | ||
| T45 | Mason Elmore (2017) Charlotte, NC | 70-75-78--223 | |
| Nathan Norfleet (2018) Chapel Hill, NC | 73-73-77--223 | ||
| Spencer Oxendine (2019) Fayetteville, NC | 73-72-78--223 | ||
| Ian Faulconer (2019) Simpsonville, SC | 71-76-76--223 | ||
| T49 | Tyler Gray (2018) Lugoff, SC | 76-75-73--224 | |
| Andrew Wilmoth (2018) Raleigh, NC | 73-71-80--224 | ||
| Austin Bonfiglio (2017) Holly Springs, NC | 77-74-73--224 | ||
| Zach Caudill (2017) Wilkesboro, NC | 75-73-76--224 | ||
| Chandler Perry (2018) Clinton, NC | 74-75-75--224 | ||
| Garrett Clark (2020) Burlington, NC | 72-76-76--224 | ||
| T55 | Brady Hooks (2019) Clayton, NC | 70-77-78--225 | |
| Patten Williams (2017) Davidson, NC | 74-74-77--225 | ||
| Will Hawley (2019) Raleigh, NC | 74-73-78--225 | ||
| Tyler Dechellis (2021) Clayton, NC | 75-75-75--225 | ||
| T59 | Connor Moore (2018) Bluffton, SC | 71-78-77--226 | |
| Christian Bailey (2017) Matthews, NC | 76-73-77--226 | ||
| Michael Blair (2020) Kernersville, NC | 76-74-76--226 | ||
| Thomas Eubanks (2019) Charlotte , NC | 69-79-78--226 | ||
| Drayton Stewart (2019) Charleston, SC | 71-80-75--226 | ||
| Thomas Hollingsworth III (2019) Spartanburg, SC | 77-73-76--226 | ||
| T65 | Will Sleeper (2018) Charlotte, NC | 75-73-79--227 | |
| Riley Smith (2019) Concord, NC | 78-73-76--227 | ||
| Rafe Reynolds (2020) Greenville, SC | 75-74-78--227 | ||
| T68 | Kenan Poole II (2019) Raleigh, NC | 76-75-78--229 | |
| Gene Zeigler (2021) Florence, SC | 71-78-80--229 | ||
| T70 | Zach Roberts (2020) Holly Springs, NC | 76-75-79--230 | |
| Colin Browning (2020) Charlotte, NC | 76-75-79--230 | ||
| 72 | Cody Transou (2018) Gaffney, SC | 76-74-81--231 | |
| T73 | Avery Papalia (2017) Kernersville, NC | 76-73-84--233 | |
| Trey Pope (2018) Clinton, NC | 75-75-83--233 | ||
| 75 | Austin Scott (2021) Charleston, SC | 73-78-83--234 | |
| 76 | Nicholas Holanek (2017) Cary, NC | 75-75-85--235 | |
| Failed to Qualify for Final Round | |||
| T77 | Alex Scott (2017) Raleigh, NC | 77-75--152 | |
| Landon Barnes (2020) Pilot Mountain, NC | 77-75--152 | ||
| Addison Manring (2017) Stoneville, NC | 77-75--152 | ||
| Matthew Fary (2018) Thomasville, NC | 77-75--152 | ||
| Justin Poole (2017) Wendell, NC | 77-75--152 | ||
| Micah Westermeyer (2017) Chapin, SC | 74-78--152 | ||
| T83 | Austin Duncan (2017) Bessemer City, NC | 75-78--153 | |
| Kaison King (2017) Elon, NC | 77-76--153 | ||
| Dalton Mauldin (2017) Sanford, NC | 75-78--153 | ||
| Joey Pritchard (2020) Whispering Pines, NC | 74-79--153 | ||
| Jack Brea (2017) Charlotte, NC | 80-73--153 | ||
| Levi Moody (2018) Greenville, SC | 74-79--153 | ||
| Andrew Graham (2021) Asheville, NC | 75-78--153 | ||
| Onterio Jones (2018) Simpsonville, SC | 76-77--153 | ||
| Benjamin Loudermilk (2018) Anderson, SC | 80-73--153 | ||
| T92 | Jack Towarnicky (2019) New Bern, NC | 81-73--154 | |
| Clark Kistler (2017) Charlotte, NC | 80-74--154 | ||
| Daniel Adkins II (2021) Holly Springs, NC | 77-77--154 | ||
| Jack Phenecie (2018) Davidson, NC | 78-76--154 | ||
| Keegan Vaugh (2020) Myrtle Beach , SC | 77-77--154 | ||
| Alec Vardas (2018) Lexington, SC | 80-74--154 | ||
| T98 | Tanner Bibey (2017) Walnut Cove, NC | 75-80--155 | |
| Parker Lewis (2018) Spartanburg, SC | 77-78--155 | ||
| Manning Sloop (2020) Rock Hill, SC | 77-78--155 | ||
| Braxton Tracy (2018) Huntersville, NC | 77-78--155 | ||
| Davis Gilmore (2018) Winston Salem, NC | 78-77--155 | ||
| T103 | Carter Cheek (2018) Cary, NC | 75-81--156 | |
| Carson Castelli (2018) Greensboro, NC | 79-77--156 | ||
| Seve Anfindsen (2017) Apex, NC | 81-75--156 | ||
| Karsten Shields (2020) Monroe, NC | 77-79--156 | ||
| Johnny Velasquez (2020) Mt. Pleasant, SC | 79-77--156 | ||
| Hinson Perry (2020) Rock Hill, SC | 81-75--156 | ||
| T109 | Grant Smith (2019) Charlotte, NC | 80-77--157 | |
| Tyler Partee (2021) Thomasville , NC | 79-78--157 | ||
| Parker Chavis (2017) China Grove, NC | 80-77--157 | ||
| Kellen Graham (2018) Asheville , NC | 80-77--157 | ||
| Jared Clontz (2019) Nebo, NC | 80-77--157 | ||
| Addison Beam (2019) Cherryville, NC | 78-79--157 | ||
| T115 | Drew Weary (2018) Bluffton, SC | 78-80--158 | |
| Connor Jones (2018) Raleigh, NC | 77-81--158 | ||
| Connor Fahey (2018) Greenville, SC | 79-79--158 | ||
| T118 | Josh Lendach (2021) Raleigh, NC | 82-77--159 | |
| Justin Kristof (2018) Morrisville, NC | 80-79--159 | ||
| Payne Thrift (2020) Charlotte, NC | 76-83--159 | ||
| Kevin Burris (2018) Conway, SC | 81-78--159 | ||
| 122 | Christian Jarrell (2020) Davidson, NC | 77-83--160 | |
| T123 | Will Tamplin (2017) Asheville, NC | 82-79--161 | |
| Justin Guilford (2019) Huntersville, NC | 79-82--161 | ||
| Payne Gettys (2020) Rock Hill, SC | 81-80--161 | ||
| T126 | Minor Hinson (2021) Charlotte, NC | 79-83--162 | |
| Colin Trahan (2019) North Augusta, SC | 80-82--162 | ||
| William Brooks (2019) Woodruff, SC | 84-78--162 | ||
| 129 | Mitchell Tanis (2020) Pineville, NC | 85-78--163 | |
| T130 | Brandon Einstein (2018) Clemmons, NC | 79-85--164 | |
| Alex Rubino (2019) Charlotte, NC | 85-79--164 | ||
| Colin Wholey (2018) Charlotte, NC | 84-80--164 | ||
| Wilhelm Elliott (2019) Columbia, SC | 81-83--164 | ||
| Dillon Hite (2019) Lexington, SC | 80-84--164 | ||
| Garrett Dawson (2019) Wilkesboro, NC | 83-81--164 | ||
| T136 | Andrew Johnson (2018) Millers Creek, NC | 79-86--165 | |
| Collin Adams (2020) Charlotte, NC | 81-84--165 | ||
| 138 | Gus Lascola (2018) Durham, NC | 85-82--167 | |
| T139 | Rence O'Connor (2020) Columbia, SC | 84-87--171 | |
| Zander Briggs (2020) Simpsonville, SC | 83-88--171 | ||
| 141 | Zain Tucker (2018) Salisbury, NC | 88-85--173 | |
| 142 | Jackson Neal (2019) Concord, NC | 89-85--174 | |
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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