Maddie Peake Wins S.C. Junior Match Play

 

 

ORANGEBURG, S.C. (July 15, 2022) -- Final results from the Girls’ Division of the 2022 South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship at Orangeburg Country Club, in Orangeburg, S.C. on July 15, 2022. The Girls’ Division competed at 5,931 yards (36-36--72).

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

On a Friday morning when the sun finally came out in Orangeburg after a week of inclement weather, Maddie Peake of Pauline, S.C. was crowned the South Carolina Junior Match Play Champion. The 2023 grad, dominated her championship match winning 4 & 3 over runner-up Akiera Sanchez of Charleston, S.C.

“I just played my own game,” Peake said. “I was hitting my iron shots pretty tight and made a few putts when [Sanchez] didn’t, which helped me win my match.”

This victory earned Peake her first Carolinas Golf Association Championship, which came at a perfect time to boost her confidence in the middle of the summer golf swing.

“I had been getting down on myself because I had not won much lately, so it feels good to win,” Peake said.

The girls’ championship was scheduled to end on July 14, but multiple weather delays pushed the final match to July 15, after the girls played their quarterfinal and semifinal matches the day before.

“It was definitely making me anxious with all the delays,” Peake said. “I just had to keep my head in the game and play my own game.”

In the championship match, Peake lost the first hole with an opening bogey. This would turn out to be the first of only two bogeys on the scorecard for her in the 15 holes that were played.

After Peake and Sanchez went back and forth, for the first five holes, Peake made a par on No. 6 that gave her a 1-up lead. This is a lead that she would not give back for the remainder of the match.

To give herself more momentum, Peake made back-to-back birdies on Nos. 8 and 9 to take a commanding 3-up lead at the turn. On No. 8, which is a par-5, Peake had a gimme birdie after a great wedge shot then on No. 9, a par-4, Peake drained a 10-foot putt for another birdie.

“It boosted my confidence a bunch when I birdied those two holes,” Peake said. “I was going into No. 10, 3-up so I knew I had a good chance.”

Peake and Sanchez halved the next six holes after making the turn. Sanchez birdied No. 15 to put some pressure on Peake, but she answered a few minutes after with a birdie of her own to keep her lead at 3-up.

Peake closed the match with a par on No. 16 after Sanchez was unable to get up-and-down from off the green.

The week began with stroke play qualifying, where Aubrey Merryman of Summerville, S.C. earned medalist with a round of 3-over par, 75. In match play, Merryman was defeated by Peake in the semifinals 2 & 1. The other semifinalist was Katherine Mann of Fort Mill, S.C.

The Carolinas Golf Association would like to thank the members and staff at Orangeburg Country Club, especially Director of Golf David Lackey, Head Course Superintendent Alex Tolbert, and Head Golf Professional J.P. Waldron for graciously hosting the South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship. 

 

South Carolina Junior Girls’ Match Play Championship

Orangeburg Country Club | Orangeburg, S.C.

Semifinal Results 

Maddie Peake of Pauline, S.C. def. Aubrey Merryman of Summerville, S.C. 2 & 1

Akiera Sanchez of Charleston, S.C. def. Katherine Mann of Fort Mill, S.C. 4 & 3

 

Final Results

Maddie Peake of Pauline, S.C. def. Akiera Sanchez of Charleston, S.C. 4 & 3

 

 

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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