Adams, Skenandore Win 2021 South Carolina Junior Match Play Championships

 

LANCASTER, S.C. (July 16, 2021) -- Match Play results from the Boys and Girls Divisions after the final day of the 2021 South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship at Lancaster Golf Club, in Lancaster, S.C. on July 16, 2021. The Boys’ division competed at 6,553 yards (36-36--72). The Girls’ division competed at 5,781 yards (36-36--72).

 

Related: Championship Web Site | Full Field | Starting Times | Scoring | Photos | Girls’ History | Boys’ History

 

Boys’ Semifinal and Final Results

The Boys’ Semifinals saw Zach Adams of Charleston, S.C., doing what he’s done best this week, continuously pouring pressure on his competitors with terrific ball striking. Adams won his Semifinal match 3 and 2, to continue to build momentum into the final. 

 

Jay Smith of Florence, S.C., continued his steady play through the bracket as well. Smith has kept it close in a lot of his matches thus far and the Semis’ were no different. His 1 up Semifinal victory was the third victory he has had in this event determined by a margin of just one hole. 

 

Adams would continue to play his game in the Championship match. Never truly playing out of position, the rising high school senior made the turn 5 up in the match, eventually winning 2 and 1 on the 17th. 

 

“I’m feeling pretty good right now,” said Adams. “I had a pretty good day today. I won the match but it came close though. I’m just excited to win.”

 

However, Smith would not go down easy in the final match of the week. He would win 3 of the final eight holes of the match to push the Final all the way to the Par-4 17th at Lancaster. After a tee shot that found the fairway a mid iron in gave him a look at birdie from about 20 feet that just caught the outside of the cup and somehow didn’t fall, that would clinch the 2 and 1 victory for Adams. 

 

“It just really fit my eye,” said Adams. “I was making a lot of putts. I think I made four or five bogeys all week so that helped a lot. I made a lot of birdies too.”

 

Adams took advantage of opportunities such as driving the green at the short Par-4, and being able to play an aggressive style of golf at Lancaster GC, a course that naturally fit his eye.

 

“On eight and a few of the others you can get aggressive,” said Adams. “You can try and drive the green and get it closer to the hole.”

 

 

Girls’ Final Results

In what proved to be a razor thin final match, Skye Two Hawks Skenandore of Aiken, S.C., narrowly beat out Madison Dixon of Boiling Springs, S.C., to become the 2021 South Carolina Junior Match Play Girls’ Champion. 

 

“It feels really good,” said Skenandore. “I haven’t had the scores I’ve wanted to. Lately I’ve been playing pretty well. It's just been a matter of when the big tournament was coming. It felt really good today to pull it off.”

 

Both girls played the front very well, making the turn all square in the match. Dixon would rip off wins on holes 10 and 11 to take a 2 up advantage with only seven remaining, but Skenandore would play some excellent golf with her back against the wall, especially using the flatstick to her advantage.

 

“I would say putting,” said Skenandore. “My approach shots were really good just getting on the green. Putting was really good because I was able to two putt, save pars and make birdies.”

 

Skenandore would win three of the next seven to take home a decisive 1 up victory and claim her title to bring back to Aiken. 

 

 

South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship

Lancaster Golf Club | Lancaster, S.C.

Boys’ Semifinal Results

 

Jay Smith, Florence, S.C. def. Braedan Barnett, Galivants Ferry, S.C., 1 up

Zach Adams, Charleston, S.C. def. Jake Delbusse, Surfside Beach, S.C., 3 and 2

 

South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship

Lancaster Golf Club | Lancaster, S.C.

Boys’ Final Results

 

Zach Adams, Charleston, S.C. def. Jay Smith, Florence, S.C., 2 and 1

 

South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship

Lancaster Golf Club | Lancaster, S.C.

Girls’ Final Results

 

Skye Two Hawks Skenandore, Aiken, S.C. def. Madison Dixon, Boiling Springs, S.C., 1  up

 

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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