Streicher Crowned Carolinas Women’s Amateur Champion

 

Event: 98th Carolinas Women’s Amateur Championship

Host Site: Pine Island Country Club, Charlotte, N.C.

Playing Dates: July 23-24, 2024

Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

 

Related: Championship Website  | Scoring |  History  |  Photos

 

LOCATION – Charlotte, N.C.

 

Megan Streicher of Chapel Hill, N.C. battled this week to secure the 98th Carolinas Women’s Amateur Championship, a USGA Exemption Event, which carries an exemption into the 124th U.S. Women’s Amateur. Streicher carded rounds of 71-66 for a total score of 137, 5-under to claim the title.

 

This championship was shortened to 36 holes due to inclement weather throughout the week. 

 

Round 1 was scheduled for Monday, but due to rainfall and flooding, it was postponed to Tuesday. Tuesday’s plan was for 36 holes to complete both Round 1 and Round 2. On Tuesday, Round 1 began with sunny, blue skies in the morning, but with more rain and lightning in the middle of the day, only 18 holes were completed to put Round 1 in the books, and the championship was shortened to 36 holes total. The Final Round was set for Wednesday. It was a shotgun start at 9:30am to determine who would be crowned the Carolinas Women’s Amateur Champion.

 

The age range of the field was 13-32 years old, with 12 players under the age of 18. From the 83 players, 37 different colleges/universities were represented this week, and 13 schools were represented in the Collegiate Cup, a secondary competition at the Carolinas Women’s Amateur (read more about the Collegiate Cup below).

 

In Round 1, Streicher carded three birdies and three bogeys to finish at even par. 

 

When asked about her mindset in dealing with the schedule changes, Streicher explained, “I think just being adaptable and just taking it one shot at a time, taking it day by day.”

 

Mallory Fobes of East Bend, N.C. had an incredible in the first round. She had a slam-dunk eagle on her second hole, the par 4 11th, followed by three birdies on her next four holes to get off to a strong start. After Round 1, Fobes and Katherine Brictson of Raleigh, N.C. were tied for the lead at 2-under, with Streicher just two strokes behind them at even par. 

 

Streicher had a game plan entering round 2 with a 2-stroke deficit. “I think it was just to go at it and see how many birdies I could make. I felt pretty free chasing.”

 

The leaderboard shifted throughout the day, making for an exciting finish. Sydney Roberts of Chesnee, S.C. took the lead as they made the turn. Through nine holes, Roberts was at 3-under thanks to birdies on holes 7 and 8 to gain momentum. Streicher was just one behind at 2-under. Emma Schimpf of Daniel Island, S.C. joined the party with Streicher through 10 holes, with Roberts at 4-under and Streicher and Schimpf at 3-under. 

 

Streicher’s birdie on 11 matched Roberts at the top of the leaderboard at 4-under, putting on the pressure as they played their second nine. 

 

“I was not checking the leaderboard. I think yesterday I was and it kind of threw me off a little. So I just went out there today and played. After my bogey on eight, I think I kind of got it back on 10 and 11 so that was great.”

 

Streicher sank another clutch birdie putt on the 16th to separate herself from the pack and go one stroke ahead to 5-under. With just a couple holes left to play, it was down to the wire to see who would be crowned champion. 

 

Streicher finished with two pars to fire 5-under 66, the lowest round of the tournament.. After a chance for birdie and to force a playoff on the 18th hole, Roberts finished with a par. Streicher’s 66 was even more impressive as only six players broke par in the final round. 

 

When asked what she is most proud of from this week, Streicher shared, “Probably just the way I’ve carried myself over the past few days and just doing my best, so I’m proud of that.”

 

The 98th Carolinas Women’s Amateur Championship is an official USGA Exemption Event, which carries an exemption into the 124th U.S. Women’s Amateur. Regarding what the exemption means to her, Streicher said, “It’s pretty cool. It will be my first so I’m definitely excited.” 

 

Roberts finished in second place at 138, 4-under. 14 year old defending champion, and #1 ranked junior girl,  Jenna Kim of Raleigh, N.C.  finished third  at 1-under for the tournament. 

 

Pine Island Country Club is a long-time supporter of the CGA and women’s golf, having hosted the Vicki DiSantis Girls’ Junior for 17 years from 2007-2023. 

 

The Carolinas Golf Association would like to thank Head Golf Professional Sam Bryant, Golf Course Superintendent Jim Schramm, and the rest of the staff at Pine Island Country Club for a fantastic week.

 

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Collegiate Cup

 

During the Carolinas Women’s Amateur, there is a secondary competition called the Collegiate Cup where eligible players can also represent their college/university in a team competition. Players who are currently enrolled in a college/university, will be enrolled by September 15, 2024 at a college/university or graduated from a college/university in 2024 are eligible to represent their school in the Collegiate Cup. The top two 54-hole scores from players representing a college/university will be combined to create a team score. The lowest team score will win the Collegiate Cup. 

 

There were 37 different colleges/universities represented at the 98th Carolinas Women’s Amateur, and 13 competed in the Collegiate Cup this year. Colleges represented this week included Anderson University, Appalachian State University, Clemson University, College of Charleston, East Carolina University, High Point University, James Madison University, Presbyterian College, Radford University, UNC Asheville, UNC Charlotte, UNC Greensboro, and UNC WIlmington. 

 

The College of Charleston, represented by Adrian Anderson and Emma Schimpf,,brought home the Collegiate Cup this year. Anderson shot rounds of 75-69 and Schimpf shot rounds of 70-71 to bring in a team total of 285 to secure the Collegiate Cup.

 

View final results for the Collegiate Cup here.

 

 

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/

 

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