Carolinas Junior Players of the Year

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (December 11, 2015) -- Christian Salzer of Sumter, SC and Ashley Czarnecki of Greenville, SC have been named the Richard S. Tuft’s Carolinas Junior Players of the Year by the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA). Both Salzer and Czarnecki compiled impressive records in 2015, winning multiple junior championships. Each also finished second at their respective Carolinas Junior and SCJGA Players  championships.

The Carolinas Junior Boys’ and Junior Girls’ awards are based on a series of junior tournaments run by associations that are the grassroots of junior golf in the Carolinas. Participating Carolinas associations and tournaments are the CGA, Carolinas PGA (CPGA), Trusted Choice Big I Junior Classics, South Carolina Golf Association (SCGA), Women's South Carolina Golf Association (WSCGA), South Carolina Junior Golf Association (SCJGA), Tarheel Youth Golf Association (TYGA), Carolinas-Georgia Junior Championship, and the Joe Cheves Junior Invitational.

The winners of the CGA's Richard S. Tufts Players of the Year awards for men, women, senior men, and senior women will be announced in January. The recipients from each category will be honored during Carolinas Golf Night at the Country Club of Charleston in Charleston, SC, on Friday, February 19, 2016.

 Junior Boys’ - Christian Salzer of Sumter, SC

Junior Boys’ Player of the Year Christian Salzer won the CGA's Jimmy Anderson Invitational

Salzer, a 17-year-old high school senior at Sumter High School.

2015 golf resume:

- Won the CGA Jimmy Anderson, SCGA Junior, and placed first at Big I Sectional Qualifying.

- Runner-up at the Carolinas Junior Championship and Jimmy Self Invitational.

- Top 5 finishes at U.S. Junior qualifying, SCJGA Cheraw Fall Challenge and Players Championship. 

- Represented the United States at the 2015 Can - Am Championship and currently holds the school record at Sumter High School for the lowest scoring average.

Salzer has committed to play collegiate golf at NC State. "I went to see Christian play at the Carolinas PGA a summer ago," NC State head coach Richard Sykes said. "I saw his name a few times and I just knew that I had to see this kid play. He doesn't have any weaknesses and proved to be one of the best players out there. I stayed in touch, kept watching, and he just kept getting better and continues to win."  
 

Junior Girls’ - Ashley Czarnecki of Greenville, SC

Junior Girls’ Player of the Year Ashley Czarnecki won the CGA's SC Junior Match Play

Czarnecki, a 17-year-old senior at Mauldin High School.

2015 golf resume:

- Won the WSCGA Junior, SC Junior Match Play, Upstate Junior Classic, Cobbs Glen Junior, and the George Holliday Memorial.

- Runner-up honors at the Carolinas Junior Championship, SCJGA Players Championship, and Class 4A Championship.

- Top 5 finishes at U.S. Junior Qualifying, Carolinas-Georgia Jr., Blade Junior Golf Classic, and Twin States.

- Czarnecki is also the recipient of SCJGA Player of the Year honors for 2015.

 

“I’m super proud,” Czarnecki said. “This is kind of a symbol of how all my hard work has paid off. I worked my butt off. I was proud that as much effort and hard work I put into it, I was able to hold on, not get burned out and enjoy playing.”

Czarnecki credits much of her success to her work with instructor Kevin Britt. She began taking lessons from the Columbia instructor in the summer of 2014. In the past year, she estimated she improved her distance off the tee from 200 to 230 yards and added at least one club in distance with her irons.

Though Czarnecki has had college offers, she’s looking forward to taking some time to concentrate on finding the right school. While enrolled in advanced placement and honors classes at Mauldin, Czarnecki has a 4.4 grade-point average. She’s going to participate in a few junior golf events over the winter and in the spring, giving college coaches opportunities to see her play.

 Portions of this release came from NC State Athletics and John Brasier's article at GreenvilleOnline.com.

 

Carolinas Golf Association's Junior Players of the Year Award Winners

Junior Boys’

2003 - Vince Hatfield, Greenwood, SC

2004 - Brad Dilen, Cary, NC

2005 - David Chung, Fayetteville, NC

2006 - McCuen Elmore, Cheraw, SC

2007 - Ben Kohles, Cary, NC

2008 - Mark Joye, Columbia, SC

2009 - Andy Knox, Cary, NC

2010 - Cody Proveaux, Leesville, SC

2011 - Carson Young, Pendleton, SC

2012 - Keenan Huskey, Greenville, SC

2013 - Tim Conover, Holly Springs, NC

2014 - Eric Bae, Pinehurst, NC

2015 - Christian Salzer, Sumter, SC

 

Junior Girls’

2003 - Mallory Hetzel, Summerfield, SC

2004 - Emily Street, Forest City, NC

2005 - Amber Littman, Stoney Creek, NC

2006 - Rachel Uremovich, Hilton Head Island, SC

2007 - Haley Stephens, Greer, SC

2008 - Haley Stephens, Greer, SC

2009 - McKenzie Talbert, North Augusta, SC

2010 - McKenzie Talbert, North Augusta, SC

2011 - McKenzie Talbert, North Augusta, SC

2012 - Kelli Murphy, Elgin, SC

2013 - Reona Hirai, Summerville, SC

2014 - Jessica Spicer, Bahama, NC

2015 - Ashley Czarnecki, Greenville, SC

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