Carles Retains the Crown for Consecutive Match Play Championships

Event: 25th South Carolina Junior Girls’ Match Play Championship

Host Site: The Wildewood Club

Playing Dates: June 10-12, 2024

Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

 

Related: Championship Website  | Scoring |  History  |  Photos

 

COLUMBIA, S.C. - Mia Carles of Clinton, SC, entered the 25th South Carolina Junior Girls’ Match Play Championship with one goal; repeat as tournament champion. With potentially 108-holes of match play ahead, and a competitive field amongst her, it certainly wasn’t going to be an easy task for the reigning champ. 

Match play provides unique opportunities for golfers, following the popular mantra; survive and advance. That’s exactly what Carles did, and it carried her all the way to the final round, securing her second consecutive South Carolina Junior Girls’ Match Play Championship in as many years. 

    Carles didn’t play her best brand of golf during the first round, winning her match on the 18th green to go one up on Kinley Brazell of Columbia, SC. After a tight battle to kick off the tournament, Carles proceeded to dominate the field in her next two group play rounds by finishing 6 & 5, and 5 & 3 respectively.

    After three rounds of group play, the field was cut to eight players for the quarterfinals, followed by another cut to four players beginning on the final day. The final two matchups were Marissa Scaletta of Belton, SC, versus Annabel Carman of Summerville, SC, and Mia Carles versus Akiera Sanchez of Charleston, SC. Scaletta ultimately won her match 4 & 3, and Carles won her match on the other side of the bracket, 3 & 1.

    With five rounds and over 80-holes played in the last three days headed into the final round, Carles says it’s important to prioritize her health during long tournaments in the scorching heat. “I carried my bag during the first round, then switched to my push cart the past two days to conserve my energy. I’ve also been staying hydrated, and getting great sleep at home.”

    Carles took the lead early on the first hole of the final round, and never looked back as she found herself leading by four at the turn. Scaletta didn’t lose her competitive edge on the back nine, as she cut Carles’ lead to three on the 13th hole. Although she wasn’t able to claw back any further as Carles sealed her win on the 16th green.

    Carles says that there were multiple facets about the course in which she was able to use to her advantage. “The fairways were really nice, so I got crisp wedge shots and iron shots. The greens were really good as well.”

    Special thanks to General Manager Kyle Gregory, Superintendent Kyle Matthias, and the remainder of The Wildewood Club staff for maintaining their course in excellent condition throughout the course of the event. 

 

About the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)

The CGA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization founded in 1909 to promote and protect the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support, and benefits to golf clubs and golfers. The CGA is one of the largest golf associations in the country, with over 700 member clubs represented by over 200,000 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 and 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 over $3,000,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives, including junior, women and adaptive programs.

For more information about the Carolinas Golf Association, follow @cgagolf1909 on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and TikTok or visit our website www.carolinasgolf.org/