Sowell, White Set for Championship Showdown at S.C. Match Play

 

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (June 20, 2020) -- The results from the semifinals of match play at the 48th South Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship at Orangeburg C.C. in Orangeburg, S.C. on June 20, 2020. (7,032 yards, par 36-36--72)

 

Related: Championship Web Site | Bracket | History | Photos

 

Logan Sowell of Kershaw, S.C. and Todd White of Roebuck, S.C. were on opposite ends of the spectrum during stroke play qualifying. Sowell cruised into match play and earned medalist honors shooting a 9-under-par, 135 total, while White had to make a 25-foot putt for birdie on the last hole to cement his spot in the match play bracket. Tomorrow, the two will meet with the 48th South Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship trophy on the line.

 

Sowell defeated Harry Reynolds of Greenville, S.C. 3&1 on Saturday to earn his spot in the championship match. It wasn’t an easy road to the championship though, as the rising senior on the men’s golf team at College of Charleston had to fight to win his first match of the day, not holding a lead until the 18th hole. He carried that momentum into his semifinal match though and took an early lead.

 

Sowell led Reynolds by two holes through four, and he did just enough down the stretch to hold him off. Reynolds won No. 9 to pull within one, and after Reynolds made eagle on No. 11, it looked like he might tie the match up, however Sowell matched his eagle and regained his two hole advantage three holes later on No. 14. He secured the match with a par on No. 17.

 

“My match with Harry was kind of the opposite of mine this morning,” Sowell said. “I got off to a pretty hot start, and we both played steady the rest of the way. The eagle on No. 11 kept my momentum going for the rest of the way. It was a lot of trading pars.”

 

As for White, the three-time champion of this event defeated Henry Augenstein of Columbia, S.C. 2&1 in his semifinal match to advance. After shooting 7-under-par this morning through 17 holes, yet only winning 3&1, White carried that solid play into the afternoon. He won two of the first three holes and was three-up at the turn.

 

White also made eagle on No. 11 and was able to fend off Augenstein’s late push. White made par on No. 17, while Augenstein narrowly missed his putt to extend the match.

 

“I jumped out to an early lead and held on,” White said. “Believe it or not, fatigue was setting in for this 52 year old man coming down the stretch. I hit a great shot in to No. 17 and was able to finish it off.”

 

Both White and Sowell have played in the championship match of this event before. As previously mentioned, White is a three-time winner of the championship with titles in 1991, 2004 and 2010, along with two runner-up finishes. Meanwhile, Sowell has finished runner-up each of the last two years. With that in mind, both players aren’t letting their past experiences affect how they play tomorrow.

 

“I don’t know how many times that I’ve played in this event, but I’ve been fortunate enough to advance to the finals six times,” White said. “Luckily for me, the golf clubs and the golf ball have no earthly idea how old I am … The most important shot on every hole is the tee shot. If I can put the ball in play, I can be aggressive from there. Hopefully I can jump out and put a little bit of pressure on the opponent, but if not, I’ve been here before.” 

 

“It’s the same mindset for me as it has been all week,” Sowell added. “Have fun with it, play my game, and hopefully the outcome will be a little bit different than it has been the last couple of years. I feel very confident that things will work out.”

 

The South Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship is contested at 36 holes of individual stroke play to determine 32 qualifiers for match play. Five rounds of match play will determine the champion.

 

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has reached his 13th birthday by June 17, 2020, and is a legal resident of South Carolina, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has an active USGA Handicap Index® that does not exceed 10.4 at a CGA member club.

 

48th South Carolina Amateur Match Play Championship

Orangeburg Country Club, Orangeburg, S.C.

Semifinal Result

 

Logan Sowell def. Harry Reynolds 3&1

Todd White def. Henry Augenstein 2&1

 

Quarterfinal Results

 

Logan Sowell def. Tyler Gray 1 up

Harry Reynolds def. Austin Duncan 1 up

Henry Augenstein def. Christian Salzer 3&1

Todd White def. Nicholas Mayfield 3&1

 

For a recap of the quarterfinal matches, click here.

 

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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