Kelli Murphy Takes Home Carolinas Junior Girls Trophy for Second Time

Manning, SC – Final results of the 57^th Carolinas Junior Girls Championship hosted by Wyboo Golf Club on Thursday, June 27, 2013.  Par 36-36—72  5906 yards. (73.1/127). 

Kelli Murphy of Elgin, SC was able to fight through two hard fought matches on a hot and humid day during the semifinal and final round of the 57 ^th Carolinas Junior Girls Championship.  Murphy, who won this championship back in 2011, was the number one seed after shooting 71 in the stroke play qualifying round and faced off against Jessica Spicer of Durham, NC in the semifinal morning match.  Spicer would start off strong and would go three up on Murphy at one point in time but Murphy, who doesn't make many mistakes, started getting her putts to fall and was able to gain some momentum back on the inward nine.  Murphy would go on to defeat the 15 year old Spicer by a 2 and 1 margin.  “I was a little nervous at the turn,” Murphy admitted.  “I just took a deep breath and I told myself one shot at a time.  We had a great match.” 

In the other semifinal match of the morning Nicole Chin of Irmo, SC was matched up against 2013 NC Junior Girls Championship Runner-Up, Emiilia Migliaccio of Cary, NC.  Both long hitters in their own right, Chin would find herself with an early lead and went on to defeat Migliaccio also by a 2 and 1 margin. 

While Murphy is no stranger to being in the finals of this championship (this is her third straight championship final) Chin advanced for the first time in many starts.  “We’re good friends,” Chin said.”  I just want us to play the golf course and not each other.  I want us both to play well.”  Murphy would gain an early lead after she decided at the last minute to go back to her old putting stroke.  “I've been working on my putting but it was letting me down a little this week, so I figured I’d just go back to what always seemed to work for me,”  Murphy laughed.  “I was able to make a lot more putts this afternoon but I still have some work to do.”  Chin was 4 down after missing a short putt on the par 5 ninth hole.  The long hitting Chin was able to go for the par 5 eleventh in two but found the green-side bunker.  Chin successfully got up-and-down for a birdie-4 and was able to gain some momentum back in the match.  Having the honor on the twelfth tee, Chin hit her approach shot to about a foot from the hole and was conceded her birdie while Murphy missed her attempt to stay 3 up.  Chin was starting to feel confident but the hot weather would start to become a factor and Chin would miss her putt to tie the hole and found herself 3 down yet again.  Chin’s drive on the par 5 15 ^th found the left side of the hole in some tall fescue and she was forced to take an unplayable while Murphy’s drive would find the fairway and was able to nuzzle up her birdie putt for a par and her second Carolinas Junior Girls Championship title.  “This win means a lot to me.  Not only do I love match play but I love this tournament and to win it again will always hold a special place in my heart.”  Murphy will also now be a part of the 2013 Carolinas Junior Girls Team Matches (Mid-Atlantic Challenge) held in July for the third straight year.    

For more information on this championship, photos, results and its history visit our championship homepage:  https://www.carolinasgolf.org/championship/home/juniorgirls/year/2013  This annual junior championship was conducted by the Carolinas Golf Association which in its 104^th year of serving amateur golf in North and South Carolina. 

Final Results

Championship

Round of 16

Kelli Murphy, Elgin, S.C.  (1) def. Chandler Danielson, Etowah, N.C.  (16), 4 and 3

Ann Elizabeth Gore, Lexington, S.C.  (8) def. Sarina Sonoda, Florence, S.C.  (9), 1 up

Savanah Goodman, Easley, S.C.  (4) def. Alexis Kershaw, Winston-Salem, N.C.  (13), 6 and 5

Jessica Spicer, Bahama, N.C.  (12) def. Sarah Spicer, Bahama, N.C.  (5), 19 holes

Carly Burkhardt, Greenville, S.C.  (2) def. Annabelle Dallery, Sumter, S.C.  (15), 10 and 8

Nicole Chin, Irmo, S.C.  (7) def. Emily Cox, Lancaster, S.C.  (10), 3 and 2

Reona Hirai, Summerville, S.C.  (3) def. Kate Harper, Isle of Palms, S.C.  (14), 2 up

Emilia Migliaccio, Cary, N.C.  (6) def. Megan Munroe, Raeford, N.C.  (11), 4 and 2

Quarterfinals

Kelli Murphy, Elgin, S.C.  (1) def. Ann Elizabeth Gore, Lexington, S.C.  (8), 19 holes

Jessica Spicer, Bahama, N.C.  (12) def. Savanah Goodman, Easley, S.C.  (4), 4 and 3

Nicole Chin, Irmo, S.C.  (7) def. Carly Burkhardt, Greenville, S.C.  (2), 2 and 1

Emilia Migliaccio, Cary, N.C.  (6) def. Reona Hirai, Summerville, S.C.  (3), 1 up

Semifinals

Kelli Murphy, Elgin, S.C.  (1) def. Jessica Spicer, Bahama, N.C.  (12)

Nicole Chin, Irmo, S.C.  (7) def. Emilia Migliaccio, Cary, N.C.  (6)

Final

Kelli Murphy, Elgin, S.C.  (1) def. Nicole Chin, Irmo, S.C.  (7)

 

First Flight

Quarterfinal

Kayla Thompson, Whiteville, N.C.  (1) def. Jaelyn Tindal, Rock Hill, S.C.  (8), 1 up

Jodee Tindal, Rock Hill, S.C.  (4) def. Maria Cassas, Cary, N.C.  (5), 7 and 5

Catherine Ashworth, Fuquay-Varina, N.C.  (7) def. JensenCastle, W. Columbia, S.C.  (2), 1 up

Hailey Cleary, Lexington, S.C.  (3) def. Savannah Hallman, Mt. Pleasant , S.C.  (6), 19 holes

Semifinals

Kayla Thompson, Whiteville, N.C.  (1) def. Jodee Tindal, Rock Hill, S.C.  (4), 2 and 1

Catherine Ashworth, Fuquay-Varina, N.C.  (7) def. Hailey Cleary, Lexington, S.C.  (3), 1 up

First Flight

Final

Catherine Ashworth, Fuquay-Varina, N.C.  (7) def. Kayla Thompson, Whiteville, N.C.  (1)

 

Second Flight

Final

Amanda Yannoni, Cary, N.C.  (1) def. Aubrey Patti, Winston Salem, N.C.  (2), 4 and 2

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