Ella Perna Seals The Victory At Dogwood State

 

FUQUAY VARINA, N.C. (June 28 - 30, 2022) -- Final round results from the 18th Dogwood State Junior Girls’ Championship at Bentwinds Country Club in Fuquay Varina, N.C. on June 30, 2022. The field competed at 6,034 yards (par 36-36--72).

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

Following three rounds of stroke play at Bentwinds Country Club in Fuquay Varina, N.C., Ella Perna of Durham, N.C. was crowned the 18th Dogwood State Junior Girls’ Champion. Perna finished with an overall score of 4-over-par, 220.

Consistency was the main driving factor for Perna in this week’s tournament, carding 74-73-73 in the three rounds. Her consistent and steady performance across the board kept her at the top of the leaderboard for the majority of the week, answering all her bogeys with birdies to even out her score.

For the final round, Perna went in with a patient mindset, taking and executing each hole one at a time and using her past victory as a learning experience to fuel her next championship win.

“I just tried to focus on one shot at a time and focus on myself and what I was doing,” Perna said. “Just let that take care of itself.”

This strategy indeed paid off, as Perna made the turn at even-par and carded 15 pars on the day. Going down No. 18, Perna was confident she had the tournament sealed, despite describing herself as a non-leaderboard watcher.

Perna also emphasized how she continued to stay focused due to the competition surrounding her. Eleanor Burnette of Wrightsville Beach, N.C., who shot a tournament-best 3-under-par, 69 in the second round, was in the final pairing with Perna. Surrounded by this competition, Perna was able to keep herself humble and continue to play her game.

“You can’t ever get ahead of yourself or think that you always have it because there’s always someone, everyone wants to, beat you,” Perna said. “You can’t take your foot off the pedal.”

The course itself also gave Perna an edge going into the final round, having played her high school regionals at the course and taking advantage of additional practice rounds.

“I had a lot of confidence going in, just with playing here before and all the work that I put in,” said Perna. “I think that set me up for a lot of success.”

This was Perna’s first CGA win and it has given her the extra motivation and confidence she needs heading into future tournaments, including the upcoming North & South tournament.

“Just going in with a win and knowing my game is strong and all the work that I’ve put in is paid off is really, really motivating,” Perna said.

Burnette and Ellie Acrey of Winston-Salem, N.C. both tied for second, shooting 7-over-par, 223 overall. Following close behind them was Kasey McIlvaine of Raleigh, N.C., who finished in fourth with an overall 8-over-par, 224.

The Carolinas Golf Association would like to thank the members and staff at Bentwinds Country Club, especially, Zack Stewart, Tyler Shope, Keith Roberson and the entire maintenance team, Heather Herb, Chef Stephen Brooks, General Manager Erin Brooks, Head Golf Professional Evelyn Walters and the Board of Directors for graciously hosting the 18th Dogwood State Junior Girls’ Championship.

18th Dogwood State Junior Girls’ Championship

Bentwinds Country Club, Fuquay Varina, N.C.

Final Results

Position	Player	City, State, Graduation Year	To Par	R1	R2	R3	Total
1	Ella Perna	Durham, NC, 2022	+4	74	73	73	220
T2	Eleanor Burnette	Wrightsville Beach, NC, 2023	+7	81	69	73	223
T2	Ellie Acrey	Winston-Salem, NC, 2026	+7	74	76	73	223
4	Kasey McIlvaine	Raleigh, NC, 2023	+8	78	74	72	224
T5	Gracie Song	Waxhaw, NC, 2026	+14	76	78	76	230
T5	Hallie Wilson	Lewisville, NC, 2027	+14	80	74	76	230
7	Heather Appelson	Wake Forest, NC, 2023	+15	73	80	78	231
8	Madelyn Vogan	New Bern, NC, 2023	+19	83	78	74	235
T9	Megan Fiorini	Pinehurst, NC, 2024	+20	81	81	74	236
T9	Mary-Paige King	Clemmons, NC, 2023	+20	83	74	79	236
11	Lila Smith	Raleigh, NC, 2023	+21	78	79	80	237
12	Tyler Spriggs	Cary, NC, 2023	+22	80	80	78	238
T13	Cate Wellspeak	New Bern, NC, 2025	+25	74	84	83	241
T13	Terra Schmitt	Raleigh, NC, 2023	+25	78	81	82	241
15	Rachel Joyce	Southern Pines, NC, 2026	+27	77	80	86	243
T16	Anna Czarkowski	Morganton, NC, 2023	+28	86	81	77	244
T16	Katherine Dann	Charlotte, NC, 2023	+28	83	80	81	244
18	Salem Lee	Asheboro, NC, 2023	+29	82	81	82	245
19	Mary Elizabeth Harrison	Cary, NC, 2025	+33	83	81	85	249
20	Sloane Spessard	Raleigh, NC, 2024	+38	79	87	88	254
21	Miraya Lurie	Raleigh, NC, 2027	+39	87	84	84	255
22	Sarah Blair Harner	Charlotte, NC, 2022	+40	90	87	79	256
23	Mackenzie Cline	Cary, NC, 2025	+41	85	84	88	257
24	Kelsey Jones	Holly Springs, NC, 2025	+42	88	82	88	258
25	Hunter Hill	Hendersonville, NC, 2023	+43	91	86	82	259
T26	Elizabeth Pritchard	Charlotte, NC, 2025	+44	93	84	83	260
T26	Taylor Black	Winterville, NC, 2024	+44	89	83	88	260
28	Sadie Mecham	Winston-Salem, NC, 2025	+47	94	85	84	263
29	Hillary Gong	Pfafftown, NC, 2025	+54	95	93	82	270
30	Peyton Nichols	Winterville, NC, 2024	+56	87	93	92	272
31	Haley Paramore	Winterville, NC, 2024	+58	99	87	88	274
32	Cooper Perryman	New Bern, NC, 2023	+128	115	113	116	344

 

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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