WEST END, NC (7/27/08) - With 2007 winner Lee Bedford of Cary, NC out of this year's competition, it will be difficult to pick a favorite when the 59th Junior Championship of the Carolinas Golf Associataion is played July 29-31 at Chechessee Creek Club near Bluffton, SC.

Justin Clement of Lexington, the No. 3-ranked junior in North Carolina, is certainly a possible choice; as is Mitchell Gray of Florence, the fifth ranked junior in South Carolina. Other potential champions include Drew Lankford of Charlotte, NC, whose

69 led the 24 qualifiers at the CC of Orangeburg, SC on July 21; and Bobby Baysden of Ernul, NC and John Gillespie of Pinehurst, whose 67s paced the 32 successful qualifiers at Whispering Woods GC in Whispering Pines, NC on July 23.

The 54-hole stroke play tournament will be played on the par-70 Chechessee Creek Club layout, which was designed by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore and opened in 2000. The course will play at 6,606 yards for the 14-15 and 16-18 age divisions, at 5,549 yards for the 12-13 age bracket and at 4,895 yards for the 11-and-under group. The club has previously hosted two CGA championships -- the 2003 Carolinas Amateur and the 2004 Carolinas Mid-Amateur.

This year's winner gets possession of the M.K. Jeffords Trophy for the ensuing year, while the top two finishers in the older division are invited to play on the Carolinas team that will compete against a similar team from the Virginias in their annual matches. The matches will be played Aug. 9-10 at The Club at Irish Creek in Kannapolis, NC.

The CGA received 286 applications for the championship.

ADDITIONAL MEDIA INFORMATION

59th Carolinas Junior Championship of the Carolinas Golf Association July 29-31, 2008 Chechessee Creek Club

18 Chechessee Creek Dr.

Okatie, SC 29909

2007 CHAMPION

Lee Bedford, Cary, NC

FORMAT

The championship is conducted at 54 holes of stroke play for the 12-13, 14-15, and 16-18 divisions and 27 holes of stroke play for the 11 and under division. The 12-13 and 11-and-under divisions play shortened courses. The champion is the low scorer in the two upper age groups. After 36 holes, the field is cut to the low half and ties in each age division. All 11-and-under players qualify for the final round.

ELIGIBILITY

Entry is open to any male amateur golfer who has not reached his 19th birthday by the last day of the championship, has not started college, is a legal resident of one of the Carolinas, and the junior golfer, parent or guardian is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association.

SCHEDULE OF ROUNDS

Monday, July 28

Course open for practice.

Tuesday, July 29

First round: 18 holes of stroke play for older divisions.

Nine holes for 11 and under age divisions.

Wednesday, July 30

Second round: 18 holes of stroke play for older divisions. Field cut in half.

Nine holes for 11 and under age divisions.

Thursday, July 31

Final round. (All age divisions)

PRIZES

The M.K. Jeffords Trophy is held by the winner of the boys 14-18 division for the ensuing year. Trophies are awarded to the winners, second-place and third-place finishers in each division.

The low two scorers in the 14-18 division qualify to represent the CGA in the Carolinas-Virginias Junior Team Matches, August 9-10 at The Club at Irish Creek in Kannapolis, NC. An on-course playoff Is used to break a tie for the overall championship and a tie for a position on the Carolinas junior team.

PAST CHAMPIONS

Date Winner Score Site

1949 William Parker, Charlotte, NC, 148, Charlotte CC 1950 No championship

1951 Lester Ward, Badin, NC, 2 up, Charlotte CC

1952 Eric Jonas, Charlotte, NC 5 & 4 Myers Park CC

1953 George Warren III, Hampton, SC, 2 & 1, Charlotte CC

1954 Bobby McCarty, Camden, SC, 3 & 2, Myers Park CC

1955 Larry Beck, Kinston, NC, 2 & 1, Charlotte CC

1956 Larry Beck, Kinston, NC, 2 up, Myers Park CC

1957 Larry Beck, Kinston, NC, 4 & 2, Charlotte CC

1958 Don Hedrick, Lexington, NC, 5 & 3, CC of Salisbury

1959 Buddy Baker, Florence, SC, 5 & 4, CC of Salisbury 1960 Bobby Thomas, Greenville, NC, 2 & 1, UNC Finley GC

1961 Jay Langston, Rock Hill, SC, 5 & 4, UNC Finley GC

1962 Leonard Thompson, Laurinburg, NC, 4 & 3, Forest Lake Club

1963 Jack Lewis Jr., Florence, SC, 3 & 2, UNC Finley GC

1964 Jack Lewis Jr., Florence, SC, 5 & 3, Mimosa Hills G&CC

1965 Jack Lewis Jr., Florence, SC, 2 up, CC of Orangeburg

1966 Mike Kallam, Winston-Salem, NC, 7 & 6, Duke University GC

1967 Billy Wilkins, Chapel Hill, NC, 4 & 3, Lan-Yair CC

1968 Mike Crowley, Spartanburg, SC, 5 & 4, CC of Salisbury

1969 David Thore, Reidsville, NC, 4 & 3, Florence CC 1970 David Thore, Reidsville, NC, 20 holes, UNC Finley GC

1971 Kenneth Dye Jr., Fayetteville, NC, 2 up, Greenville CC

1972 Chip Beck, Fayetteville, NC, 4 & 2, CC of Salisbury

1973 Chip Beck, Fayetteville, NC, 1 up, Florence CC

1974 Tom Reynolds, Raleigh, NC, 3 & 2, Duke University GC

1975 Jim McNair Jr., Aiken, SC, 3 & 1, CC of Salisbury

1976 Bob Aydelette, Greensboro, NC, 217, Midland Valley CC

1977 Tom Knox, Greensboro, NC, 217, Catawba CC*

1978 Troy Haynes, Raleigh, NC, 212, Rolling Hills CC

1979 Dillard Pruitt, Greenville, SC, 218, Santee Cooper CC 1980 Dennis Hart, Charlotte, NC, 222, Rolling Hills CC

1981 Dink Wannamaker, Georgetown, SC, 211, Florence CC

1982 Francis Ciucevich, Charlotte, NC, 216, Rolling Hills CC

1983 Mike Thigpen, Bishopville, SC, 208, Greensboro CC

1984 Mitchell Perry, Spring Lake, NC, 213, Cobb's Glen CC

1985 Randy Adams, Rock Hill, SC, 214, Rolling Hills CC

1986 Brian Craig, Gastonia, NC, 218, Lake Marion GC

1987 Jason Widener, Greensboro, NC, 208, Greensboro CC Farm Course

1988 Jason Widener, Greensboro, NC, 140, Rolling Hills CC#

1989 Mike Byce, Spartanburg, SC, 212, Florence CC 1990 Alex Hooper, Reidsville, NC, 220, Sedgefield CC

1991 Tommy Biershenk, Inman, SC, 216, Keith Hills CC

1992 Scott Newton, High Point, NC, 222, Carmel CC*

1993 Frankie Hamer, Moncks Corner, SC, 215, CC of Charleston

1994 Rob Simmons, Walterboro, SC, 212, Carolina CC

1995 Jonathan Byrd, Columbia, SC, 212, High Point CC-Willow Creek

1996 Kyle Thompson, Easley, SC, 216, Woodside Plantation-Wisteria

1997 Edward Moseley, Spartanburg, SC, 212, Pinehurst Plantation

GC*

1998 Brent DelaHoussaye, Greer, SC, 217, Santee Cooper Resort

1999 Bill Haas, Greer, SC, 204, Birkdale GC 2000 Brian Duncan, Greenville, SC, 204, Green Valley CC

2001 Weston Way, Liberty, NC, 208, Greensboro CC, Irving Park

2002 Sean Moore, Marshville, NC, 209, CC of South Carolina

2003 Zack Byrd, Calabash, NC, 209, Greenville G&CC*

2004 Vince Hatfield, Greenwood, SC, 133, Pebble Creek Golf Club#

2005 Vince Hatfield, Greenwood, SC, 199, Greensboro CC (Irving

Park)*

2006 Will Ovenden, Spartanburg, SC, 204, Colleton River (Dye

Course)

2007 Lee Bedford, Cary, NC, 202, Hope Valley, Durham, NC

* Won in playoff. # Rain shortened. Stroke play in 1949 and since 1976.

CHECHESSEE CREEK CLUB INFORMATION

HEAD PROFESSIONAL: Franklin Newell

COURSE SUPERINTENDENT: Jay Gratton, Bill Kennedy COURSE DESCRIPTION: The classical, strategic-style design is in keeping with the goal of creating a traditional, old-fashioned club. It's one of those courses that, though short by today's standards, can be deceptively difficult. Bad shots can put a player in some very awkward positions, particularly around the greens. The low-profile course takes full advantage of the tall pines, ancient live oaks and the waters of the Chechessee Creek.

It has gentle doglegs, mature trees, ragged bunkering, and old-style push-up greens. The greens are very small and most slope substantially from back to front.

ARICHITECTS: Ben Crenshaw & Bill Coore

OPENED: 2000

TYPE COURSE: Private

YARDAGE & PAR:

Boys Ages 14-15 and 16-18: 6,606 yards, par 70

Rating/Slope: 72.5/133

Boys Ages 12-13: 5,549 yards, par 70

Rating/Slope: 69.0/125

Boys 11 and Under: 4,895 yards, par 70

FAIRWAYS & TEES: Bermuda grass

GREENS: Tifdwarf bermuda

CGA CHAMPIONSHIPS AT CHECHESSEE CREEK: 2003 Carolinas Amateur,

2004 Carolinas Mid-Amateur

DIRECTIONS: From Interstate 95 Heading South:

Take Exit 28 (exit reads "Coosawhatchie-Hilton Head"). Continue east on Hwy. 462 toward Hilton Head. You will pick up 278, so the road signs will read 462/278. In approx. 18 miles, turn left onto Hwy. 170 toward Beaufort. Follow 170 East for about 4.4 miles to the traffic light at the Callawassie General Store. Turn right at the store onto Callawassie Drive, go straight about .9 mile, and Chechessee Creek Club entrance will be on your left.