Players to Watch at SC Jr. Match Play

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (July 15, 2016) -- The Carolinas Golf Association will conduct the 39^th South Carolina Junior Match Play at Green Valley Country Club in Greenville, S.C. on July 19-22.

 

There will be 18 holes of stroke play qualifying on July 19 for all divisions. The boys' division will be cut to the low 63 for match play. The girls’ division will be cut to the low 16 for match play.

Cowpens native and defending boys champion Nick Willis will be returning to defend his title against a strong field of competitors.  Following are the top five ranked junior boys in South Carolina participating in the event.

 

• Levi Moody of Greenville, S.C., has recently finished second in the Carolinas Jr. PGA Championship as well as winning the PGA Superstore – Legacy on the Lake tournament in April.  Moody is currently ranked 3^rd on the South Carolina Junior Boy’s Rankings. 
• Reed Bentley of Welford, S.C., tied for third during last year's South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship.  During June, he won the Spartanburg County Jr. Tournament and the Tom Fazio Junior Masters.  Bentley is currently ranked 7^th on the South Carolina Junior Boy’s Rankings. 
• Zack Gordon of Gaffney, S.C., is currently ranked 8^th on the South Carolina Junior Boy’s Rankings and recently won the Carolinas Jr. PGA Championship. 
• Nick Willis of Cowpens, S.C., is the defending South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship and recently tied for third at the Grant Bennett Florence Jr. Willis is currently ranked 10^th on the South Carolina Junior Boy’s Rankings.
• Brady Hinkle of Lancaster, S.C., is currently ranked 15^th on the South Carolina Junior Boy’s Rankings.  Hinkle has finished second in the Lancaster HS Keenan Classic, tied for second at the Stallion HS, and finished third at the 3A Region 3 HS. 
   

Greenville native and defending champion Ashley Czarnecki will not be on hand to defend her title, but here are a few of the notable participants who certainly have their eyes on the prize:

• Jodee Tindal of Rock Hill made it all the way to the championship match last year. Last year's runner up is currently ranked 5^th in the SCJGA rankings. The rising senior recently won the Carolinas Jr. PGA.
• Jensen and Jalen Castle of West Columbia each find themselves in the top 20 of the SCJGA rankings. Jensen, who will be a rising sophomore, made it to the quarterfinals last year. She has registered three top 10 finishes already this summer. Jalen, who will be a rising freshman, checks into the rankings at the 19^th spot.
• Baylee Evans of Lancaster is the 8^th ranked junior girl in the state. Evans will be a rising junior finished inside the top 5 at the CGA Vicki DiSantis and is coming off a win at the WSCGA Junior Girls earlier this summer.
• Elle Johnson of Inman has used an impressive start to her summer to get earn a ranking just inside the top 10. The ninth ranked junior golfer will be a sophomore this fall. Johnson has a win and four other top five finishes this summer.   
• Anna Grace Brock of Greenwood returns to the championship after qualifying for match play last year. The rising sophomore is ranked 10^th in the state. Brock will look to keep her steady play going after a top three finish at the WSCGA Junior Girls earlier this summer.
   

Scoring will be provided by the CGA throughout the championship, offering 9 and 18-hole updates. Live updates will also be available on the CGA’s official Twitter accounts, @CarolinasJunior and @cgagolf1909. Continue to visit the CGA website throughout this championship and all year long for complete championship coverage including scores, interviews, photos, and recaps.

Defending Champions:
Boys’ Champion: Nick Willis of Cowpens
Girls’ Champion: Ashley Czarnecki of Greenville

                                         

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 43 championships and five team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. It also runs over 140 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 more than $1,500,000 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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