Event: 65th North Carolina Amateur Championship
Host Site: The Cardinal by Pete Dye, Greensboro, N.C.
Playing Dates: June 11-14, 2025
Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

Related: Championship Home | Results | Photos

GREENSBORO, N.C. (June 16, 2025) – Jackson Spires of Apex, N.C. captured the 65th North Carolina Amateur Championship on Saturday at The Cardinal by Pete Dye in Greensboro, N.C. Spires posted rounds of 65–70–66–70 for a 9-under 271 total and a two-shot victory over Mykhailo (Misha) Golod of Chapel Hill, N.C.

Spires entered the final round with a slim lead but withstood a strong charge from Golod, who closed to within one shot after a birdie at the 14th hole. Spires finished strong shooting 2-under on his last four holes to capture his first CGA major championship victory.

"I just had to grind today. I had people chasing me and I knew it was going to be a tough day. I knew I had to play well," said Spires.

With the win, Spires earns an exemption into the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship at The Olympic Club in San Francisco, Calif. in August.

Golod finished runner-up at 7-under 273 total with rounds of 70–65–71–67.

Rounding out the top five were Colby Hutchens of Pinehurst, N.C. at 5-under 275 total (69–68–73–65), 2001 N.C. Amateur champion, Chad Wilfong of Charlotte, N.C. at 5-under 275 total (68–69–70–68) and Branden Boyce of Spring Lake, N.C. at 4-under 276 total (71–69–69–67).

Hutchens carded a final round 5-under 65, the low score of the final round. The low round of the championship belonged to Raleigh, N.C.’s Cyrus Stewart, who fired a 7-under 63 in Round 2. Stewart’s finished Tied for sixth at 2-under 278 total alongside Sam Davidson of Asheboro, N.C., Connor Brown of Pinehurst, N.C. and Jacob Golliday of Charlotte, N.C.

"I think I played amazing all four days. It was a real good test, especially the last two days," said Golod.

The Cardinal by Pete Dye, playing at 6,900 yards and a par 70, challenged many of the state’s top amateurs with firm, undulating Bentgrass greens rolling near 12 on the stimpmeter and steady winds throughout the week, providing a true championship test for one of the CGA’s most prestigious titles.

The Carolinas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to The Cardinal by Pete Dye staff and membership, including McConnell Golf Founder John McConnell, Director of Golf Chris Terry, Head Professional Jay Hill, and Golf Course Superintendent Ross Jernigan.

The Cardinal by Pete Dye, playing at 6,900 yards and a par 70, challenged many of the state’s top amateurs with firm, undulating Bentgrass greens rolling near 12 on the stimpmeter and steady winds throughout the week, providing a true championship test for one of the CGA’s most prestigious titles.

Event: 76th North Carolina Women’s Amateur

Host Site: Cutter Creek GC, Snow Hill, N.C

Playing Dates: June 10-12, 2025

Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

Related: Championship Website | Scoring | Photos

By Mae O'Neill, CGA Intern

SNOW HILL, N.C (June 13, 2025) -- After three long and humid rounds at Cutter Creek Golf Club in Snow Hill, N.C, Samantha Whateley of Charlotte, N.C was named the 76th North Carolina Women’s Amateur Champion.

Whateley shot scores of 71-71-66 to finish at 8-under 208 total for the Championship to win by two shots after some major changes in the leaderboard at the start of round 3.

Juno Taino of Pinehurst, N.C ended the first round in the lead after making 9 birdies in route to a 6-under, 66. Ellie Hildreth of Wrightsville Beach, N.C held solo second place at 3-under, 69, while Whateley and Sara Adams of Whispering Pines, N.C. rounded out the top four spots on the leaderboard at T3 after both shooting a 1-under, 71 their first round.

Round 2 differed very little from the first, as Taino again had a standout round: bogey free and sitting at a five-under par through the first 13 holes, she appeared to be unstoppable. She finished the day with a five-stroke lead at an 8-under, 136 through the first 36 holes. However, she struggled entering the final round after going double bogey, triple bogey and double bogey on holes No. 4, 5, and 6. This closed the gap on the leaderboard and allowed Hildreth and Whateley, along with Sophie Lauture of Concord, N.C., to move into the first place position. All three were tied atop the leaderboard at four-under as they approached the 9th hole of their final round.

Whateley and Hildreth continued to battle it out on the back nine, with Whateley taking a one-shot lead after a birdie on No. 10 and eventually, a two-shot lead after a birdie on No. 16. A bogey on No. 17 left it at a one-stroke margin on the 18th tee, but Whateley’s approach shot to the 18th green left her within three feet of the pin, after everyone else in her group fell short of the green.

“I knew that I had a one stroke lead and that a birdie would win, but I wasn’t trying to force that part because I knew a par might be okay,” Whateley recounts. Sure enough, her tap-in birdie secured her the win.

“Overall I was just trying to stay consistent,” she says. “[My goal was to] hit fairways, hit greens, and if the putts go in, they go in. I think I had a little bit of an aggressive mindset going into today, but I was still just trying to play and have fun.”

With her win at Cutter Creek, Whateley has also earned an exemption into the USGA U.S. Women’s Amateur at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort in Bandon, Oregon in August of this year.

The Carolinas Golf Association extends its appreciation to the staff and membership of Cutter Creek Golf Club for their support and hospitality throughout the week. Special thanks to Superintendent Nick Gibson, Head Golf Professional Mike Wesko, PGA, and the entire team and staff for helping host the 21st Senior and 3rd Super Senior Women’s Amateur Championships.

BEAUFORT, S.C. (June 13, 2025) – Two champions emerged from a week of intense match play battles at the South Carolina Junior Match Play Championships at Cat Island Club in Beaufort, S.C.. Marissa Scaletta of Belton, S.C. captured the 26th S.C. Junior Girls’ Match Play title, while Lane Wilson of Greer, S.C. claimed the 49th S.C. Junior Boys’ Match Play title.

Scaletta capped off a strong week with a dominant 6 & 5 victory over Robbin Zetrouer of Bluffton, S.C. in the championship match. The rising senior rebounded after an early loss to her good friend Serra Erlenkeuser of Anderson, S.C. who edged her 1 up in pool play. Scaletta later avenged that defeat, defeating Erlenkeuser 4 & 3 in the quarterfinals.

In the semifinals, Scaletta battled Brooke Niclause of Hilton Head Island, S.C. before advancing to her second consecutive championship final.

“I just tried to stick to my game plan and be patient,” Scaletta said. “I was put up against some tough matches this week and just had to persevere.” She credited her iron play and putting for keeping her in rhythm. “I was having a hard time with my tee shots, but I got them back on track.”

In the Boys’ Division, Wilson secured the title with a 3 & 2 victory over Sam Sprayberry of Mount Pleasant, S.C.. After a tight semifinal earlier in the day, Wilson was determined to take control early in the championship match.

“Besides the first day, I thought I drove it really well all week,” Wilson said. “I got my irons in good spots and didn’t make many mistakes.” Sprayberry made a birdie on No. 15 to apply some late pressure, but Wilson closed out the match two holes later to seal the win.

Both champions add their names to a distinguished list of South Carolina Junior Match Play winners. Cat Island Club provided a scenic and challenging test throughout the week, with firm greens, strategic bunkering, and shifting coastal winds that made for true match play drama.

The South Carolina Junior Golf Association extends its appreciation to the staff and membership at Cat Island Club for their hospitality and support in hosting this year’s championship.