Crenshaw and Siehl Capture 2020 South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship

 

CONWAY, S.C. (July 10, 2020) -- Final results of the 2020 South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship at the Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, S.C. on July 10, 2020. (Boys’ - 6,800 yards, par 36-36--72) (Girls’ - 5,600 yards, par 36-36--72)

 

The CGA will be conducting this championship under the new COVID-19 Tournament Protocols. Learn more here . 

 

Related: Championship Page | Starting Times | Boys' Bracket | Girls' Bracket  | Photos | Girls’ History | Boys’ History

 

Girls’ Final Match

 

Alexia Siehl of Fort Mill, S.C. was named the 2020 S.C. Junior Girls’ Match Play Champion after clinching the winning putt on No. 18. Siehl defeated Adrian Anderson of Murrells Inlet, S.C. after a long day of head-to-head play. 

 

“I feel so happy. I’ve worked so hard. This week there were a lot of really great players, it was a competitive field,” said Siehl.

 

Siehl and Anderson were even through No. 17, including the majority of the back nine until No. 18. Siehl said fine tuning her putting on the back nine was what dialed her in and secured the win. She told herself to stay consistent and keep hitting it close throughout the day. 

 

“My putting was definitely my strong point today. Not so much on the front nine, but on the back nine I found out what the problem was, fixed it and we were good from there,” said Siehl.

 

Coming down No. 18, Siehl and Anderson both hit iron shots into the green to approximately seven feet. Anderson putted first, missed by a hair, and opened the door of opportunity for Siehl. 

 

“I was shaking. I just told myself that I deserve this,” Siehl said. With that boost of confidence, she sank her putt and claimed the title. 

 

Siehl has many upcoming tournaments that she will be competing in, one of which is the Carolinas Junior Girls‘ Championship at the Country Club of Asheville in Asheville, N.C.

 

Boys’ Semifinals

 

No. 1 seed, Nolan Hawkins of Hilton Head Island, S.C. defeated Andrew Swanson of Bluffton, S.C. 2 and 1 to secure his spot in the Final Match. 

 

Swanson took an early lead going 2 up through No. 3. With the help of a few birdie putts, Hawkins was able to bring the match back to tied through No. 6. Hawkins said, “I really turned it around with the putter and started dropping putts.”

 

Hawkins and Swanson went back and forth from tied to Hawkins 1 up and then back to a square match until No. 12. Hawkins birdied No. 12 to go 1 up and managed to hold Swanson off as he went 2 up on No. 15. He held that lead going into No. 17 and managed to close out the match 2 and 1. 

 

The win seemed unexpected to Hawkins as he said, “I was glad just to get the No. 1 seed in the qualifying round, I didn’t think I would make it this far. I didn’t even bring enough shirts, we had to do laundry yesterday.”

 

Hawkins would go on to play against Trey Crenshaw of Lancaster, S.C. in the Boys’ Final Match. Crenshaw also won his match with a 2 and 1 finish against Trey Howard of Woodruff, S.C.

 

Crenshaw, like Hawkins, was 2 down through No. 3 and the match stayed that way until his big comeback on No. 6. 

 

“I was sitting on No. 6 and hit my drive down the middle of the fairway. Then I hit a 3-iron to about six feet, putted for eagle and since he made par, I knew I could just make an easy two putt,” said Crenshaw. That was just the beginning.

 

After a clean par on No. 7, Crenshaw brought the match back to a tie. Then a birdie on No. 8 took Crenshaw 1 up for the first time in the match. He held that lead on the back, but that was not an easy feat. 

 

“Holding him (Howard) off on the back nine was tough. We tied from hole No. 10 all the way up to No. 16 when I chipped in for eagle and he birdied,” said Crenshaw. That chip in for eagle on No. 16 was the beginning of the end. After a tie on the seventeenth green, Crenshaw sealed his position in the Final Match. 

 

Boys’ Final Match

 

Trey Crenshaw of Lancaster, S.C. defeated Nolan Hawkins of Hilton Head Island, S.C. in 23 holes, the longest match of the week, to claim the South Carolina Junior Boys’ Match Play Championship title.

 

In yesterdays’ post round interview, Crenshaw said he was very confident going into today’s round, he even mentioned that he was the best player in the field. Today that statement proved true after a tireless head-to-head match. 

 

“I am really excited. I’m just happy all the hard work I’ve been putting in on and off the golf course paid off,” Crenshaw said. 

 

Before the championship round, Crenshaw remained calm and relaxed and got in the right mindset. In the championship match, Crenshaw and Hawkins went back and forth, each taking 1 up leads throughout the match. Crenshaw took a 1 up lead thru 14, then 2 up lead thru 15. On No. 16 Hawkins took the hole and sent the match back to Crenshaw at 1 up thru 16. 

 

After a long putt to tie the match by Hawkins on No. 18, the boys were sent into a sudden death playoff match. 

 

“I just kept telling myself not to make a mistake. I knew if I made a mistake I wasn’t going to win and that’s the main goal to win, that’s why I came here,” Crenshaw said. 

 

Crenshaw admits he was ready to get the match over by the fifth playoff hole, and made that happen with a tight iron shot off the par 3, No. 5. He clinched the putt and secured the win. 

 

Crenshaw caddied for last year’s champion and best friend, Mason Tucker, during his final match and now will have his name next to Tucker’s on the trophy. 

 

“Mason and I have been best friends since third grade. I was on vacation last year so didn’t get to play, but I told him if he made it to the finals I would caddie for him. He made it and we had a really good time. I’m happy he won last year, and I’m happy I won this year,” Crenshaw said. 

 

The CGA would like to extend a thank you to the members and staff of The Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina University, specifically to Head Professional Charles Johns, Course Superintendent Matt Simril, and catering manager Jerome Coleman for their hospitality in hosting the 2020 South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship. We would also like to thank the players and spectators for their understanding and adherence to the new COVID-19 tournament protocols.

 

South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship

The Hackler Course at CCU | Conway, S.C.

Girls’ Final Results

 

Alexia Siehl, Fort Mill, S.C. def. Adrian Anderson, Murrells Inlet, S.C., 1 up

 

South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship

The Hackler Course at CCU | Conway, S.C.

Boys’ Semifinals Results

 

Nolan Hawkins, Hilton Head Island, S.C. def. Andrew Swanson, Bluffton, S.C., 2 and 1

Trey Crenshaw, Lancaster, S.C. def. Trey Howard, Woodruff, S.C., 2 and 1

 

South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship

The Hackler Course at CCU | Conway, S.C.

Boys’ Final Results

 

Trey Crenshaw, Lancaster, S.C. def. Nolan Hawkins, Hilton Head Island, S.C., 23 holes

 

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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