Lurie Secures Vicki DiSantis Junior Girls’ Win

 

Event: 19th Vicki DiSantis Junior Girls’ Championship

Host Site: Stonebridge Golf Club, Monroe, N.C.

Playing Dates: May 11-12, 2024

Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

 

Related: Championship Website  | Scoring |  History  |  Photos

 

LOCATION – Monroe, N.C.

 

Congratulations to Miraya Lurie of Raleigh, N.C. on securing the win at the 19th Vicki DiSantis Junior Girls’ Championship played at Stonebridge Golf Club in Monroe, N.C. Lurie shot rounds of 73-70 for a two-day total of 143, 1-under to claim her first CGA victory.

 

In Round 1, Lurie started her round strong with a birdie on her second hole. Along with that birdie, she carded eight pars to make the turn at 1-under. Lurie finished her round with another birdie on her second to last hole, finishing strong to come in at 73, 1-over, just two strokes back from first place. 

 

When asked what she did well this weekend to be in a position to potentially win on Sunday, Lurie said “I think I was putting really well, and I just kept my head in it all weekend.”

 

Ella June Hannant of Pikeville, N.C. was the leader after Round 1, sitting at 1-under after recording one birdie and 17 pars for a very consistent day. 

 

In the Final Round on Mother’s Day, there were many players in the running with a chance of taking home the trophy on Sunday. Lurie started her front nine with four birdies, gaining momentum as she made the turn.

 

After nine holes, Lina Polteraitis of Florence, S.C. led the pack at 2-under by carding three birdies on the front nine to be 3-under so far for the round. 

 

With only a few holes left of play, the competition was still very tight with five players tied for first place at even-par. This included Lurie, Hannant, Polteraitis, Rachel Joyce of Pinehurst, N.C. and Katherine Brictson of Raleigh, N.C. As the final groups came through 18, their approach shots determined whether they would separate themselves and move up the leaderboard. 

 

When asked if she knew she was in contention and tied for the lead as she came up 18, Lurie explained “I had no idea; I don’t like looking at the leaderboard during the round.”

 

On hole 18, Lurie hit her approach shot to less than two feet, giving herself a tap-in birdie putt to go 1-under for the weekend and unknowingly put her in first place. After the last couple of groups finished, she remained alone at the top of the leaderboard to secure her first CGA win at this year’s Vicki DiSantis Junior Girls’ Championship.

 

Regarding how it felt to birdie her final hole on Sunday, Lurie said “It felt good. I knew I needed to do something coming in and making that shot and putt felt really good.”

 

Vicki DiSantis has done incredible work to encourage junior girls within the game of golf. Lurie shared “It means a lot. I know she’s done amazing things for junior golf and girls golf overall so it means a lot to win her tournament.”

 

Polteraitis, Hannant, and Riley Grimm of Pinehurst, N.C. finished tied for second place just one stroke back at 144, even-par for the weekend.

 

The Carolinas Golf Association would like to thank Vicki DiSantis for all she has done to help grow the game for junior girls. The CGA would also like to thank Nick Jacobi - Head Professional, Jake Stewart - Head Superintendent, and the rest of the staff at Stonebridge Golf Club for hosting this 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/

 

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