Mathews Makes Comeback to Win Dogwood Junior Girls

 

BY PALMER THOMBS

GREENVILLE, N.C. (July 16, 2020) -- Final results of the 16th Dogwood State Junior Girls’ Championship at Ironwood Golf & Country Club in Greenville, N.C. on July 16, 2020. (6,049 yards, par 36-36--72) 

 

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

 

Related: Championship Web Site | Scoring | History | Photos

 

When the day started, Emily Mathews of Mebane, N.C. was five strokes behind the leader, but after taking it one shot at a time, Mathews was able to notch a comeback win at the 16th Dogwood State Junior Girls’ Championship hosted by Ironwood Golf & Country Club.

 

“It's an honor to win this tournament,” Mathews said, following her final round 70. “Last year I didn’t finish as well as I wanted to, so this was some nice redemption for me.”

 

Last year, Mathews held the 36-hole lead at this event, but ultimately fell to second place with a final round 77. This time, the roles were reversed and it was Mathews’ turn to finish strong and come out on top.

 

After playing the front nine at even-par, she pulled to within one stroke of the lead with a birdie on No. 12. Two holes later, she stuck her approach shot to just a couple of feet away and made birdie to tie McKenzie Daffin of Fort Bragg, N.C atop the leaderboard.

 

“I had a solid front nine, but on the back, I got a couple of birdies to go,” Mathews said. “My iron proximity and wedge proximity were both extremely tight, so it was easy to make those putts go in the hole. Sticking it close is a great feeling, but you’ve got to take it one shot at a time. When I stick it, I’m just focused about getting the line down and getting the speed down for the putt.”

 

After another birdie for Mathews on No. 16, a hole that Daffin bogeyed, the Mebane native held a two-stroke advantage, and knew what she had to do on the closing stretch to come away a champion.

 

“After I made that birdie on No. 16, I just went to the next tee and was focused on that shot,” Mathews said. “I wasn’t focused on the score at all, because that can get to your head and mess you up. I was just taking it one shot at a time.”

 

“McKenzie is a great player,” she added. “She’s super nice. It was fun competing with her, but I knew what I needed to do to win, and I got it done coming down the stretch.”

 

With the win, and in addition to her great play all summer, Mathews earned an invite to play on the Carolinas Team at the 19th Girls’ Mid-Atlantic Challenge Matches at Danville Golf Club in Danville, Va.

 

The CGA would like to extend a thank you to the members and staff of Ironwood Golf & Country Club, specifically to PGA Professional John LaMonica, Golf Professional Jon Rucker and Golf Course Superintendent Danny Ray Britt for their hospitality in hosting the 16th Dogwood State Junior Girls’ Championship. We would also like to thank the players and spectators for their understanding and adherence to the new COVID-19 tournament protocols.

 

16th Dogwood State Junior Girls’ Championship

Ironwood Golf & Country Club | Greenville, N.C.

Final Results

 

Pos.	Player	City, State, Graduation	To Par	R1	R2	R3	Total
1	Emily Mathews	Mebane, NC, 2023	-1	73	72	70	215
2	McKenzie Daffin	Fort Bragg, NC, 2021	+1	72	68	77	217
3	Alexsandra Lapple	Pinehurst, NC, 2023	+3	69	78	72	219
4	Kiera Bartholomew	Wake Forest, NC, 2023	+5	75	74	72	221
5	Grace Ridenour	Raleigh, NC, 2025	+8	73	78	73	224
6	Grace Holcomb	Wilmington, NC, 2021	+9	76	73	76	225
7	Anna Howerton	Winston-Salem, NC, 2023	+11	74	79	74	227
T8	Morgan Ketchum	Winston-Salem, NC, 2022	+12	78	78	72	228
T8	Lotte Fox	Raleigh, NC, 2020	+12	76	77	75	228
10	Leah Edwards	Greensboro, NC, 2025	+13	79	73	77	229
11	Macy Pate	Boone, NC, 2024	+15	79	74	78	231
12	Elizabeth Lohbauer	Huntersville, NC, 2021	+16	81	74	77	232
T13	Jaclyn Kenzel	Southern Pines, NC, 2020	+17	79	80	74	233
T13	Kayla Dowell	Mebane, NC, 2021	+17	82	77	74	233
T13	Macie Burcham	Greensboro, NC, 2021	+17	79	76	78	233
T13	Megan Morris	Cary, NC, 2021	+17	80	75	78	233
T13	Halynn Lee	Cary, NC, 2021	+17	75	75	83	233
18	Deborah Spair	Raleigh, NC, 2020	+19	76	82	77	235
T19	Emerson B. Dever	Durham, NC, 2025	+20	79	78	79	236
T19	Ella Perna	Durham, NC, 2022	+20	76	81	79	236
T19	Layla Meric	Monroe, NC, 2021	+20	79	79	78	236
T19	Kinsley Smith	Raleigh, NC, 2024	+20	80	76	80	236
23	Maci Beaver	Roanoke Rapids, NC, 2021	+22	78	77	83	238
T24	Heather Appelson	Wake Forest, NC, 2023	+24	83	83	74	240
T24	Katherine Brictson	Raleigh, NC, 2024	+24	80	76	84	240
26	Gabriela Cruz	High Point, NC, 2021	+26	83	79	80	242
T27	Sophia Martone	Holly Springs, NC, 2021	+28	83	80	81	244
T27	Mary Sears Brown	Wake Forest, NC, 2021	+28	81	80	83	244
T29	Julie Fiedler	New Bern, NC, 2021	+35	83	86	82	251
T29	Camryn Lamp	Conover, NC, 2021	+35	87	82	82	251
31	Adamma Anukwuem	Salisbury, NC, 2023	+37	82	81	90	253
T32	Claudia Winterberg	Harrisburg, NC, 2021	+58	98	88	88	274
T32	Anna Reimers	Mount Olive, NC, 2023	+58	95	87	92	274
34	Peyton Nichols	Winterville, NC, 2024	+63	94	92	93	279
WD	Ava Lucas	Raleigh, NC, 2021	-	75	84	WD	WD

 

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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