Stiglitz and Song Achieve Victory at 5th Daniel Meggs Memorial Junior

 

Event: 5th Daniel Meggs Memorial Junior

Host Site: Catawba Creek Golf Club, Gastonia, N.C

Playing Dates: August 12th-13th, 2024

Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

 

Related: Championship Website  | Scoring |  History  |  Photos

 GASTONIA, N.C- After a rainy and wet final round at the 5th Daniel Meggs Memorial Junior at Catawba Creek GC in Gastonia, N.C, Warren Stiglitz of Denver, N.C and Gracie Song of Waxhaw, N.C have claimed victory. Stiglitz shot scores of 65 and 69 to win in a playoff, while Song shot scores of 71 and 72 to win by one shot.

In the boy’s championship division, Stiglitz entered his final round tied for the lead with Alexander Pascall of Charlotte, N.C and Aiden Clark of Davidson, N.C. With this three way tie, everyone expected one of these three to eventually win the championship.

However, Hayden Magnussen of Greensboro N.C had other plans. He climbed 16 spots up the leaderboard, shooting a career-best 7-under round of 63. Magnussen made only one bogey on the 2nd hole, and then played his next 16 holes at 8-under par, including a stretch of five birdies in a row. Magnussen finished his round almost an hour before the leaders, and held a one-shot lead in the clubhouse. 

Stiglitz played very consistently throughout his entire round, playing his first 14 holes at 1-under par. However, costly bogeys at 15 and 16 put him one shot behind Magnussen. Going into the 18th hole, Stiglitz needed to make a birdie to force a playoff with Magnussen. He did just that, putting his approach shot to inside five feet and draining the birdie putt.

“It was a grind, I hit my wedges well and struggled a bit with the putter. I was able to hit that clutch putt on 18 to make it to the playoff. It was an overall decent game.” Stiglitz said after the round.   

Stiglitz capitalized on his consistency in the playoff, where he hit a perfect drive and approach into the green. He then comfortably two-putted to victory on the first playoff hole.

“I’m pumped. I’m really excited to win my first CGA tournament. I've been preparing for this moment for a long time.” Stiglitz said after he won.

 

 

In the girls championship division, Gracie Song entered her round one shot behind first Round leader Mary Elizabeth Harrison of Cary, N.C. Both girls teed off in the final group on the 10th hole, and consistent rain affected play throughout the first few holes. 

Song and Harrison battled throughout the entire front nine. Song then made a birdie on the long par-3 17th hole, which played as the 3rd toughest hole all week. With this clutch birdie, Song was tied for the lead heading into the back nine.

“I was very stressed playing down the stretch, but I knew that I just needed to push through and keep my mind in the game in order to win. You never know what is going to happen.” Song said about her mindset after the round.

Song was certainly able to mind in the game. She played incredibly smart golf throughout the back nine, minimizing mistakes while staying within grasp of the victory. After making a birdie on the 4th hole and a par on the very difficult 8th hole, Song was able to close out her round with a par and achieve a one-shot victory over Harrison.

“I feel really good, it is my first win in a really long time, so it feels great to finally win something.” Song said after the victory. 

This victory had a special significance for Gracie Song. Daniel Meggs, the tournament’s namesake, was Song’s first golf coach. Song’s victory at this tournament goes to show how important Daniel’s impact was on the young golfers that he used to mentor and coach.

The Daniel Meggs Memorial is conducted by the HV3 Foundation and the Carolinas Golf Association. Daniel Meggs grew up in Charlotte, N.C. and had a highly successful junior golf career winning the Carolinas Golf Association’s inaugural Dogwood State Junior Boys’ Championship and the Joe Cheves Junior Invitational in 2005. 

After college, Daniel shared his knowledge and love for golf as the Director of Instruction at TPC Piper Glen where he especially loved working with the junior golfers. In May of 2017, just weeks before his wedding to his high school sweetheart Jordan, Meggs was diagnosed with stage four colon cancer. Daniel fought courageously against the cancer for over 2 years before passing away in February of 2020. (HV3 Foundation Website) Daniel’s impact on the game of golf and our community cannot be understated. 

The Carolinas Golf Association would like to thank the HV3 Foundation, along with the staff at Catawba Creek Golf Club, especially General Manager Richard Duffy and Owner Roger Freeman for graciously hosting the 5th Daniel Meggs Memorial Junior 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/

 

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