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Players to Watch at Carolinas Girls'
Ten to Watch at 59th Carolinas Junior Girls’ Championship
Defending champion Jessica Spicer tops list of favorites
The Carolinas Golf Association’s Carolinas Junior Girls’ Championship is set for its 59th playing on July 28-30th at Rock Hill Country Club in Rock Hill, SC.
This year marks the first time the tournament has been hosted by Rock Hill CC, although the course is not new to hosting CGA championships; the 2001 and 2009 South Carolina Junior Match Play and the 2008 Carolinas Pro-Amateur where held at the golf course. Many past champions have gone on to play Division I collegiate golf including two-time champion Kelli Murphy (Auburn), Lucia Polo (Tennessee), McKenzie Talbert (Clemson), Maureen Dunnagan (NC State/San Diego State), Haley Stephens (Texas), and Courtney Taylor (UNCG). Defending champion Jessica Spicer, a rising high school senior, will continue the trend when she attends Virginia Tech in the fall of 2016.
Founded in 1934, Rock Hill Country Club was originally a public facility offering residents golf, swimming and fishing. The original nine holes, now the club's front nine, were designed by famed golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast. Construction was supervised by Arthur Hamm, head professional at nearby Charlotte Country Club and a former field supervisor for architect Donald Ross, along with assistance from Charlie Reynolds, recognized as one of America's first golf professionals. In 1949 the second nine holes, were designed and built by Hamm. In 1954 the club was made private and has remained so ever since. Through the years, Rock Hill Country Club has served the area as a focal point for golf, community, politics and family life. Rock Hill Country Club will continue to serve its members well into the future just as it has for over 75 years.
Here are ten players to watch at this year’s Carolinas Junior Girls’:
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Jessica Spicer of Bahama, NC. The only former champion in the field, Spicer is a rising high school senior who won her first CGA title last year by eight shots. Spicer is currently ranked #6 in N.C. She qualified for this year’s U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship.
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Ashley Czarnecki of Greenville, S.C. The top ranked junior in S.C. is coming off three wins in the last two months including the WSCGA Junior Girls and the CGA’s SC Junior Match Play. The rising high school senior has also had two second place finishes, and four top-5’s. Czarnecki also qualified for the U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship.
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Madison Moosa of Charlotte, NC. A rising junior in high school, Moosa has already notched one victory in 2015 and won the CGA’s Vicki DiSantis Girls’ Championship in 2013. She is ranked 14th in N.C.
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Kathleen Sumner of Charleston, SC. Sumner, a rising high school junior, has won three times in 2014 including the CGA’s Twin States Girls at the end of June. She is currently ranked #9 in S.C.
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Grace Yatawara of Salisbury, N.C. Yatawara, who begins her collegiate career at East Carolina in the fall, won the 2014 NC 1A/2A state championship and was the 2014 NC Junior Girls’ champion. She is the #7 ranked junior in N.C.
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Gracyn Burgess of Batesburg-Leesville, S.C. A rising sophomore in high school, is the #2 ranked junior in S.C. She’s already had a successful 2015 with two wins, two second place finishes – one at the CGA’s Twin States Girls, and four top-5 finishes. Burgess also qualified for the U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship.
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Sarah Spicer of Bahama, N.C. A rising senior in high school, she is ranked #5 in N.C and won the NC Women’s Amateur in June. She will join her sister in playing at Virginia Tech Fall 2016. Spicer reached the round of 65 at this year’s U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship.
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Jodee Tindal of Rock Hill, S.C. As a rising high school junior, Tindal is one of few with home course advantage and past success. She won a Peggy Kirk Bell tournament at Rock Hill in May. She is ranked #3 in S.C.
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Grace Massengill of Hickory, N.C. The rising senior in high school and 14th ranked junior girl in N.C., has had three wins already in 2015 including her NC Junior Girls’ victory last month.
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Emily Cox of Lancaster, S.C. Cox, a rising junior in high school is the 10th ranked junior girl in S.C. She is coming off her recent win at the SCJGA’s Blade Junior Golf Classic and the CGA’s Vicki DiSantis in May. Cox also reached the round of 64 at the U.S. Junior Girls’ Championship.
Others also looking to contend in this year’s Carolinas Junior Girls’ are Jenson Castle of West Columbia, S.C., Hailey Cleary of Lexington, S.C., Savannah Goodman of Easley, S.C., Emily Hawkins of Lexington, N.C., Carly Lyvers of Greenville, S.C., Anna McDonald of Hickory, N.C., and Riley Smyth of Cary, N.C.
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.
Now in its 106th year, the CGA annually conducts 43 championships and five team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. It also runs over 140 One-Day (net and gross) events and 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 more than $1,500,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives including junior and women's programs.
For more information about the CGA, visit www.carolinasgolf.org.