Semifinal Matches are set for the 23rd Carolinas Women's Match Play Championship

GASTONIA, N.C. (July 28, 2021) -- Round of 16 and quarterfinal match results of the 23rd Carolinas Women’s Match Play Championship at Gaston Country Club in Gastonia, N.C. from July 27-29, 2021.

Related: Championship Web Site | Full Field of Players | Starting Times | Scoring | History | Photos

In the quarterfinal stage at the 23rd playing of the Carolinas Women’s Match Play Championship hosted by Gaston Country Club in Gastonia, N.C., Kathryn Carson of Mooresville, N.C. snapped Sasha Hayes’ (Winston-Salem, N.C.) winning streak in a nail-biting finish. 

Carson, a rising senior at East Carolina University and Gaston Country Club member, was the underdog entering Wednesday afternoons’ match against No. 1 seed Hayes. Although Carson was seeded lower, her home-course advantage and the vast course knowledge of her caddie (father Tom Carson, a longtime Gaston CC member) provided her an advantage in the match. Carson also benefited from a strong cheering section which included her golf coach at East Carolina University, CC Buford of Winterville, N.C., who was knocked out by Hayes in the Round of 16 that morning.

With a solid support system at her side, Carson was able to dismount the No. 1 seed from the championship, even though it took her 20 holes to advance. On the first playoff hole, the par-5, first hole both players dropped in birdie putts, Hayes’ from over 15 feet. Then on the 164-yard par-3, which is playing as the third hardest hole this week, the match was decided with a made par putt from the Pirate golfer, Carson. 

Carson is scheduled to duel it out against the University of North Carolina at Wilmington rising Senior, No. 21 seed Mallory Fobes on Thursday morning. Fobes of East Bend, N.C. defeated Lauren Martin of Mooresville, N.C., in the round of 16, 6 & 5 on Wednesday morning. She then punched her ticket to the next round after claiming victory against Emily Dunlap of Greenville, S.C. in the quarterfinal stage of the championship 2 & 1. 

The second matchup for the semifinal round will feature the No. 6 seed Jessica Spicer of Bahama, N.C. against  the No. 15 seed Kennedy Carroll of Mount Pleasant, S.C. 

Spicer, who is a recent alumna of the Hokies women’s golf team at Virginia Tech, paved her way to the semifinals after a resounding 5 & 4 win over the No. 22 seed Amber Capote in the round of 16, and after a 4 & 2 victory over the No. 3 seed Tara Bettle of Greensboro, N.C. 

Carroll found her way to the semifinals, after she beat the No. 7 seed Kerington Lamb of Easley, S.C. 4 & 3 in the quarterfinals. However, the No. 15 seed Carroll first had to overcome her match in the morning against the No. 2 seed Emily Mahar of Bermuda Run, N.C. Carroll upset Mahar, advancing to the quarterfinals after a 2 & 1 victory.

The semifinal matches will begin on Thursday morning with No. 8 seed Carson taking on No. 21 seed Fobes at 8:00 a.m., followed by the second semifinal match, No. 15 seed Kennedy Carroll taking on No. 6 seed Jessica Spicer at 8:10 a.m. Winners of the morning matches will advance to the championship match in the afternoon.

 

Championship Division

Round of 16 Results:

No. 1 Sasha Hayes of Winston - Salem N.C. def. No. 17 CC Buford of Winterville, N.C. 1 Up

No. 8 Kathryn Carson of Mooresville, N.C. def. No.  9 Hannah Rose Bruxvoort of Charlotte, N.C 6 & 4

No. 29 Emily Dunlap of Greenville, S.C. def. No. 20 Jaclyn Kenzel of Southern Pines, N.C. 5 & 4

 No. 21 Mallory Fobes of East Bend, N.C. def. No. 28 Lauren Martin of Mooresville, N.C. 6 & 5

No. 15 Kennedy Carroll of Mount Pleasant, S.C. def. No. 2 Emily Mahar of Bermuda Run, N.C. 2 Up

No. 7 Kerington Lamb of Easley, S.C. def. No. 23 Pilar Berchot of Raleigh, N.C. 6 & 4

No. 3 Tara Bettle of Greensboro, N.C. def. No. 19 Baylee Evans of Lancaster, S.C. 5 & 4

No. 6 Jessica Spicer of Bahama, N.C. def. No. 22 Amber Capote of Waxhaw, N.C. 5 & 4

 

Quarterfinal Results:

No. 8 Kathryn Carson def. No. 1 Sasha Hayes 20 holes 

No. 21 Mallory Fobes def. No. 29 Emily Dunlap 2 & 1

No. 15 Kennedy Carroll def. No. 7 Kerington Lamb 4 & 3. 

No. 6 Jessica Spicer def. No. 3 Tara Bettle 4 & 2

 

 

First Flight 

Quarterfinal Results:

No. 8 Patricia Cuero Nielsen of Charlotte, N.C. def. No. 1 Anna McDonald of Hickory, N.C., Match was conceded 

No. 5 Lauren Denhard of Salisbury, N.C.  def. No. 4 Marilyn Hays, 5 & 3

No. 7 Katherine Mann of Fort Mill, S.C. def. No. 2 Kate Bonham of Gaston, N.C., Match was conceded 

No. 3 Toni Blackwell of Fayetteville, N.C. def. No. 6 Christina Fisher of Morganton, N.C. 7 & 5

 

First Flight Semi-Final Results:

No. 5 Lauren Denhard def. No.8 Patricia Cuero Nielsen 7 & 6

No.3 Toni Blackwell def. No. 7 Katherine Mann 2 & 1

 

Schedule of rounds:

 

Thursday July 29: 

Semifinal Matches in Championship Flight and final matches for other flights beginning at 8:00 a.m. Final Match in Championship Flight beginning around 12:30 p.m.

 

 

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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