Gordon & Whitfield Win SC Jr Match Play Titles

Zack Gordon and Katie Whitfield won their respective divisions at the 40th South Carolina Junior Match Play

GAFFNEY, S.C. (July 14, 2017) -- Semifinal results for the 40th South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship at Cherokee National Golf Club in Gaffney, S.C. on Friday, July 14th (Boys' 6,943 yards, Par 36-36--72, Course Rating 73.4/128, Girls'  5,800 yards, Par 36-36--72, Course Rating, 73.2/127)

Related: Championship Web Site  Scoring | History - Girls | History - Boys | Photos

The par-4 13th was a kind hole in the semifinal round of the 40th South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship, as #4 seed Zack Gordon of Gaffney and medalist Katie Whitfield of Clemson won 6-and-5 on the dogwood left to advance to the final match of their respective divisions at Cherokee National Golf Club in Gaffney, S.C.

Gordon blistered through the final seven holes of his morning match, making five birdies to defeat defending champion Brady Hinkle of Lancaster. "It feels great to get some rest going into the finals," said Gordon. "I had really good looks all day and luckily got a few to fall."  Joining Gordon in the finals will be Reed Bentley of Wellford, who knocked off Ian Faulconer of Simpsonville 2-and-1.

Whitfield defeated Elle Johnson of Inman to punch her ticket to the match play finals. Whitfield, a Bowling Green State University commit, converted a birdie on the par-4 fourth to go 1-up after a back-and-forth battle on the first three holes. From there, Whitfield took advantage of three straight bogeys by Johnson to build a 4-up lead. Wins on Nos. 9 and 11 with pars gave her a 6-up lead, a deficit Johnson could not overcome. "Par is definitely your friend in match play," said Whitfield, who won six of her seven holes with par. "I never really made any mistakes ... my pars were good enough to win."

 

40th South Carolina Junior Match Play
Cherokee National Golf Club, Gaffney, S.C.
Semifinal Match Play Results

Boys Match Play Results
Round -- (Semifinal)
Zack Gordon, Gaffney, S.C.  (2018) def. Brady Hinkle, Lancaster, S.C.  (2018), 6 and 5
Reed Bentley, Wellford, S.C.  (2017) def. Ian Faulconer, Simpsonville, S.C.  (2019), 2 and 1

 

Girls' Match Play Results

Round -- (Semifinal)

Jalen Castle, West Columbia, S.C.  (2020) def. Phoebe Carles, Clinton, S.C.  (2020),1 up

Katie Whitfield, Clemson, S.C.  (2018) def. Elle Johnson, Inman, S.C.  (2019),6 and 5

 

GAFFNEY, S.C. (July 14, 2017) -- Final results for the 40th South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship at Cherokee National Golf Club in Gaffney, S.C. on Friday, July 14th (Boys' 6,943 yards, Par 36-36--72, Course Rating 73.4/128, Girls'  5,800 yards, Par 36-36--72, Course Rating, 73.2/127).

 

Zack Gordon of Gaffney and medalist in the girls' division Katie Whitfield of Clemson walked away as champions of the 40th South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship at Cherokee National Golf Club in Gaffney, S.C. Gordon, the #4 seed, defeated #3 seed Reed Bentley of Wellford 3-and-2, while Whitfield, the #2 seed, won 3-and-2 against #13 seed Jalen Castle of West Columbia.

In the boys' championship match, Bentley held an early lead, recording birdies on Nos. 1, 2 and 5 to help him go 1-up through six holes. Gordon responded by claiming three of the next four holes to go 2-up. He then went on another mini-run, capitalizing on a bogey by Bentley on the par-4 13th and making birdie on the par-15th, extending his lead to 4-up. With Gordon dormie, Bentley made par on the following hole to keep his championship hopes alive. Then, both players found themselves on 16 green with chances for birdie, but neither could convert, giving Gordon the his first CGA championship on his home course. "I feel really good," said Gordon. "I do not think I missed a shot all day. I pured every shot that I hit." With the course just a short drive for his family, they were there watching his every move. "There was a lot of people out there supporting me today. It was a great win."

Whitfield started the girls' championship match on fire, making four birdies on her first five holes to take a 4-up advantage over Castle. "I hit a lot of close shots, so I did not have to make any long putts," Whitfield remarked on her hot start. "When I made those early putts, it was a big momentum booster." Whitfield's biggest lead was 5-up after making a par on the par-4 11th, but she watched her lead dwindle down to just 2-up after four straight holes over par. Castle triple-bogeyed the par-4 16th after a wayward tee shot out of bounds that disrupted her momentum, giving Whitfield the win with par. "I knew that I had a big enough lead that if I had a couple bad holes it would not hurt me. Thankfully I was able to pull through and finish strong." With the win, Whitfield earned her first CGA championship. "This is definitely the best win I have ever had. It is a big deal being able to compete with all of these girls and know that you are one of the best players in the field."

Whitfield has now earned an automatic spot for the 2018 Mid Atlantic Matches, while Gordon secured a spot on the 2017 Carolinas-Virginias junior team matches roster.

Entry is open to any male or female amateur golfer who has not reached their 19th birthday by July 14, 2017, who has not started college, is a legal resident of South Carolina, is a member or their parent 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 CGA would like to thank the members and staff of Cherokee National Golf Club for their hospitality as host of the 40th South Carolina Junior Match Play. A special gratitude is extended to head golf professional Danny Agapion.

 

40th South Carolina Junior Match Play
Cherokee National Golf Club, Gaffney, S.C.
Final Match Play Results

 

Boys' Match Play Results

Round -- (Final)

Zack Gordon, Gaffney, S.C.  (2018) def. Reed Bentley, Wellford, S.C.  (2017), 3 and 2

 

Girls' Match Play Results
Round -- (Final)
Katie Whitfield, Clemson, S.C.  (2018) def. Jalen Castle, West Columbia, S.C.  (2020), 3 and 2

 

Championship Facts
Event: 40th South Carolina Junior Match Play
Playing Dates: July 11-14
Host Site: Cherokee National Golf Club, Gaffney, S.C..
Boys - 6,943 yards, par 72, Girls - 5,800 yards, par 72.
Defending Champion: Brady Hinkle, Lancaster - Alyssa Campbell, Lake Wylie
Format: 36 holes stroke play qualifying (July 11-12) for all divisions. The boys' division will be cut to the low 31 for
match play. The girls’ division will be cut to the low 15 for match play. Defending champions Brady Hinkle and Alyssa Campbell will be the #1 seeds.
 

Schedule of rounds:

Tuesday, July 11
8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Stroke play qualifying round 1
12:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Player lunch
Wednesday, July 12
8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Stroke play qualifying round 2
12:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Player lunch
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Boys’ Round 1 matches
Thursday, July 13
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Boys’ Round 2 matches
9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Girls’ Round 1 matches
12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m. Boys’ Quarterfinal matches
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Girls’ Quarterfinal matches
Friday, July 14
8:00 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. Boys’ Semifinal matches
8:20 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Girls’ Semifinal matches
12:30 p.m. Boys’ Championship match
12:40 p.m. Girls’ Championship match

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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