Baucom Battles for First CGA Title

 

Event: 27th North Carolina Junior Boys’ 14 & Under Championship

Host Site: Asheboro Municipal Golf Course

Playing Dates: July 22-23, 2024

Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

 

Related: Championship Website  | Scoring |  History  |  Photos

 

ASHEBORO, N.C. - Grayson Baucom of Hickory, NC, set the tone from the first tee box at the 27th North Carolina Junior Boys’ 14 & Under Championship. From the moment he teed off in Round 1 to his final putt to win the tournament, there was no point in which he rose over par. After his birdie on Hole 8 of Round 1, Baucom gained sole possession of first place and led the pack for the remainder of the tournament and captured his first CGA championship. 

A notable highlight of his 36-hole stroke play performance came during the middle of Round 1 where he birdied five out of six holes, which included three consecutive birdies and a bogey. Baucom shot sub-70 both days, finishing 4-under-par, 67-69 for the tournament.  

Asheboro Municipal Golf Course provided players with a unique advantage during this tournament, as the nine-hole track was played consecutively on both days. As golfers wrapped up on the Hole 9 green, they would spin right back to the tee box on Hole 1. Baucom says this format benefitted him tremendously and allowed him to become more familiar with the course layout. 

“Playing the nine holes was nice the second time, I knew exactly where the flags were so I always knew where to be under the hole. Even when I was above, I knew how to get up-and-down because my putting was really good. 

    Baucom accredits his stellar performances to the greens and his short game. “I made every putt I looked at and when I didn’t, it always lipped out. I’d have 15-footers for par and I wasn’t even thinking, I knew it was going in.”

    Both players that were grouped with Baucom during the Final Round also posted extremely impressive rounds. Nate Horne of Fayetteville, NC, was remarkably consistent, finishing in second after shooting even-par, 70-70. Sage Osteen of Black Mountain, NC, finished 1-over-par, 71-70, coming in third. Ryan Baker of Chapel Hill, NC, shot up the leaderboard following his 3-under-par, 67 performance during the Final Round.

Scattered thunderstorms invaded significant portions of North Carolina during the playing dates, temporarily postponing golf tournaments across the state. Fortunately Asheboro escaped the rain, only running into a light drizzle during the morning wave of tee times in Round 1, followed by sunny skies throughout the course of the Final Round.

The Carolinas Golf Association extends our gratitude to Head Golf Professional Austin Stout. Golf Course Superintendent Tracy Garnett, and the remainder of the staff at Asheboro Municipal Golf Course for maintaining the course in excellent condition and graciously hosting the 27th North Carolina Junior Boys’ 14 & Under Championship.

 

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/