Peterson Climbs The Mountain To Win Dogwood Junior Boys' Championship

 

Event: 20th Dogwood Junior Boys Match Play Championship

Host Site: Cedar Rock Country Club, Lenoir, N.C

Playing Dates: July 29th-August 1st, 2024

Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

 

Related: Championship Website  | Scoring |  History  |  Photos

 

LENOIR, N.C- After a thrilling week at Cedar Rock Country Club, CJ Peterson of Wake Forest, N.C has emerged victorious at the 20th Dogwood State Junior Boys’ Championship. Peterson played exceptionally throughout the entire week, eventually winning the championship match 1-up over Jake Lewis of Cary, N.C. 

This year, the Dogwood Junior Boys’ Championship introduced a new format: 64 player round-robin match play, with the top 16 players advancing to the bracket stage. 

Peterson went undefeated in seven rounds of golf played over four days to claim the trophy. This was also Peterson’s first victory at a CGA tournament. 

Heading into the final day, Peterson found himself in the semi-finals playing against Sam Terry of Thomasville, N.C. The two battled back-and-forth throughout the front nine, with Peterson making the turn at 1-up. However, Peterson took control on the back nine, winning three straight holes and beating Terry 3 & 2 to clinch a spot in the championship match. 

Peterson then found himself in a matchup against a very formidable opponent in Lewis, who defeated Michael Snyder of Lillington, N.C 3 & 2 to advance to the finals. 

The first five holes of Peterson’s championship match was easily the greatest stretch of golf played all week. Peterson hit his first three approach shots to inside four feet, and made each putt that he had. Then, after making par on the long par-3 4th hole, Peterson stuck another iron shot to five feet and made the putt, where he took a commanding 4 up lead over Lewis.  

When asked about his mindset playing with the lead, Peterson said: “I just hit three realIy good iron shots, and I kinda knew that with how good of a player Jake is, that a 4 up lead isn’t safe on him. I just tried to keep the pressure down.”

Peterson was right about Lewis. Lewis stormed back after Peterson took the lead, winning holes 9, 11, and 15, and making the match competitive again. However, on the 16th hole, Peterson hit one of his best shots of the tournament, hitting a 3-wood from over 200 yards out to 20 feet on the par-5, where he and Lewis both made birdie. 

From here, Peterson was able to stop Lewis’ back-nine charge and make par on his final two holes, winning the match by a score of 1-up.

When asked about the pressure of the last three holes, Peterson said: “It wasn’t fun for my heart, it was racing. I mean, he is a great player and he just kept putting pressure on me, I just knew that I should be able to close it out.”

Congratulations to CJ Peterson for winning the 20th Dogwood State Junior Boys’ Championship. Thank you to all of the players who participated this week.

Additionally, the CGA would like to thank Cedar Rock Country Club Head Professional Champ Detmore, General Manager Jim Hart, and Superintendent Robert Reid for their assistance in putting on a phenomenal 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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