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Gray Holds Slim Lead at SC Jr Match Play
Tyler Gray shoots four-under-par on his back nine to hold a one-shot advantage
GAFFNEY, S.C. (July 11, 2017) -- First round results of the 40th South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship at Cherokee National Golf Club in Gaffney, S.C. on Tuesday, July 11th (6,943 yards, Par 36-36--72, Course Rating 73.4/146).
Related: Championship Web Site | Starting Times | Scoring | History - Girls | History - Boys | Photos
Tyler Gray of Lugoff recorded eagles on back-to-back holes to open up a one-shot lead at four-under-par 68 in the first round of stroke play qualifying at the 40th South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship at Cherokee National Golf Club in Gaffney, S.C.
After hitting the ball down the middle of the fairway on the par-5 18th, Gray faced 207 yards to the flag. After assessing his approach, he chose a 5-iron to drop the ball 15 feet from the hole, sinking the eagle putt. As he made the turn at even par and hit his tee shot, Gray felt a sense of déjà vu. Seeing 210 yards to the hole, he opted to go with the 5-iron a second straight time to place the ball, once again, within 15 feet for another eagle. "I struggled with the putter early," said Gray. "I eventually got it hot and going. I shot four-under on the back [nine], hitting a bunch of greens, but it was all the putter."
Walker Jones of Sumter remains just one-shot back of Gray at three-under-par 69. After pars on his first two holes, Jones hit a wedge shot to about two feet on the par-4 3rd that swung his momentum. "That is where I really started to take advantage of the course," said Jones. "You do not have to hit it too long out here, but it is really crucial to be in the fairway and just have a wedge in your hands when you can." Jones also noted that he plans to "play [his] game" and not worry what others are doing heading into tomorrow.
Last year's runner-up Manning Sloop of Rock Hill, Keegan Vaugh of Myrtle Beach, and Garrett Cooper of Cowpens also finished at three-under-par 69.
Drew Weary of Bluffton made his first-career hole-in-one from 200 yards using a 6-iron on the par-3 13th. "I don't want to say it was lucky, but it was a good shot," joked Weary.
In the girls' division, Emily Dunlap of Greenville leads, finishing the day two-over-par 74. "These greens can be tough to putt on," said Dunlap. "I hit a lot of greens and putted really well, so it was a good day." Heading into the final day of stroke play qualifying, Dunlap aims to play consistently to give herself the best chance to earn a high seed for match play. "If I can hit some good putts and keep it around par, I think I will be good."
Baylee Evans of Lancaster and Phoebe Carles of Clinton finished one-shot back of Dunlap at three-over-par 75.
Match play will begin roughly 30 minutes after the conclusion of the final round of stroke play qualifying. All girls will make match play, but the lowest two seeds will play to determine who faces the number one seed on Thursday.
Entry is open to any male or female amateur golfer who has not reached their 19th birthday by July 14, 2017, who has not started college, is a legal resident of South Carolina, is a member or their parent is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has a current USGA handicap index® at a CGA member club that does not exceed 18.4.
Scoring will be provided by the CGA throughout the championship, offering 9 and 18-hole updates. Live updates will also be available on the CGA’s official Twitter, @CarolinasJunior. Continue to visit the CGA website throughout this championship and all year long for complete championship coverage including scores, interviews, photos, and recaps.
40th South Carolina Junior Match Play
Cherokee National Golf Club, Gaffney, S.C.
First Round Results
| Girls' Division (5973 yards, par 72, 73.2/127) | |||
| Place | Name | Score | |
| 1 | Emily Dunlap (2019), Greenville, SC | 37-37--74 | |
| T2 | Baylee Evans (2018), Lancaster, SC | 34-41--75 | |
| Phoebe Carles (2020), Clinton, SC | 35-40--75 | ||
| T4 | Katie Whitfield (2018), Clemson, SC | 39-38--77 | |
| Kennedy Carroll (2019), Mt. Pleasant, SC | 37-40--77 | ||
| T6 | Jensen Castle (2019), West Columbia, SC | 42-36--78 | |
| Kerington Lamb (2018), Easley, SC | 38-40--78 | ||
| T8 | Elle Johnson (2019), Inman, SC | 37-42--79 | |
| Jalen Castle (2020), West Columbia, SC | 40-39--79 | ||
| 10 | Chloe Grace Holder (2021), Williamston, | 37-43--80 | |
| T11 | Anna Grace Brock (2019), Greenwood, SC | 38-43--81 | |
| Beth Ann Townsend (2017), Greenville, SC | 39-42--81 | ||
| T13 | Ashlee Richardson (2017), Simpsonville, SC | 40-42--82 | |
| Lillie Smith (2018), Fort Mill, SC | 42-40--82 | ||
| 15 | Kayla Bartemeyer (2020), Mount Pleasant, SC | 44-45--89 | |
| 16 | Sarah Smith (2018), York, SC | 45-46--91 | |
| Boys' Division (6943 yards, par 72, 73.4/128) | |||
| Place | Name | Score | |
| 1 | Tyler Gray (2018), Lugoff, SC | 32-36--68 | |
| T2 | Garrett Cooper (2019), Cowpens, SC | 33-36--69 | |
| Keegan Vaugh (2020), Myrtle Beach , SC | 33-36--69 | ||
| Manning Sloop (2020), Rock Hill, SC | 36-33--69 | ||
| Walker Jones (2018), Sumter, SC | 34-35--69 | ||
| T6 | Austin Scott (2021), Charleston, SC | 34-37--71 | |
| Cody Transou (2018), Gaffney, SC | 32-39--71 | ||
| Connor Fahey (2018), Greenville, SC | 35-36--71 | ||
| Reed Bentley (2017), Wellford, SC | 35-36--71 | ||
| Zack Gordon (2018), Gaffney, SC | 34-37--71 | ||
| T11 | Caleb Henson (2019), Lancaster, SC | 37-35--72 | |
| Connor Moore (2018), Bluffton, SC | 35-37--72 | ||
| Parker Lewis (2018), Spartanburg, SC | 38-34--72 | ||
| T14 | Benjamin Loudermilk (2018), Anderson, SC | 36-38--74 | |
| Ian Faulconer (2019), Simpsonville, SC | 37-37--74 | ||
| Micah Westermeyer (2017), Chapin, SC | 36-38--74 | ||
| Zach Reuland (2020), Rock Hill, SC | 37-37--74 | ||
| T18 | Elliott Pope (2021), Lugoff, SC | 37-38--75 | |
| Levi Moody (2018), Greenville, SC | 35-40--75 | ||
| Mason Tucker (2021), Lancaster, SC | 37-38--75 | ||
| Onterio Jones (2018), Simpsonville, SC | 36-39--75 | ||
| Trevor Gerard (2019), Hartsville, SC | 38-37--75 | ||
| T23 | Andrew Rose (2018), Greer, SC | 33-43--76 | |
| Brandon McBride (2018), Bluffton, SC | 37-39--76 | ||
| Daniel Brasington (2021), Woodruff, SC | 36-40--76 | ||
| Hinson Perry (2020), Rock Hill, SC | 37-39--76 | ||
| Nicholas Mayfield (2019), Rock Hill, SC | 35-41--76 | ||
| Rafe Reynolds (2020), Greenville, SC | 36-40--76 | ||
| Zach Phillips (2021), Inman , SC | 37-39--76 | ||
| Zander Briggs (2020), Simpsonville, SC | 36-40--76 | ||
| T31 | Palmer Mason (2020), Irmo, SC | 36-41--77 | |
| Thomas Hollingsworth III (2019), Spartanburg, SC | 38-39--77 | ||
| T33 | Carlos Garre (2019), Myrtle Beach, SC | 37-41--78 | |
| Drew Weary (2018), Bluffton, SC | 39-39--78 | ||
| Graham Corbin (2018), Inman, SC | 35-43--78 | ||
| John Fahey (2020), Fort Mill, SC | 40-38--78 | ||
| John Hunter (2020), Simpsonville, SC | 38-40--78 | ||
| Johnny Velasquez (2020), Mt. Pleasant, SC | 40-38--78 | ||
| Lleyton Renner (2020), Simpsonville , SC | 40-38--78 | ||
| Payne Gettys (2020), Rock Hill, SC | 37-41--78 | ||
| Seth Taylor (2019), Gaffney, SC | 41-37--78 | ||
| T42 | Austin Mosher (2020), Mt Pleasant, SC | 37-42--79 | |
| Drew Mullen (2019), Pawleys Island, SC | 38-41--79 | ||
| Ford Reynolds (2020), Columbia, SC | 41-38--79 | ||
| Guy Buffum (2021), Columbia, SC | 39-40--79 | ||
| Jack Wofford (2021), Greenville, SC | 39-40--79 | ||
| Logan Hawkins (2020), Williamston , SC | 37-42--79 | ||
| Nathan Franks (2021), Roebuck, SC | 38-41--79 | ||
| Rence O'Connor (2020), Columbia, SC | 41-38--79 | ||
| T50 | Blake Weinbach (2021), Columbia, SC | 39-41--80 | |
| Marshall Douglas (2020), Columbia, SC | 40-40--80 | ||
| Miller Jones (2021), Sumter, SC | 39-41--80 | ||
| Ryan Pitts (2018), Mount Pleasant, SC | 39-41--80 | ||
| T54 | Barrett Josey (2020), Moore, SC | 41-40--81 | |
| Luke Sullivan (2022), Columbia, SC | 39-42--81 | ||
| Rafferty Hall (2021), Aiken, SC | 39-42--81 | ||
| William Phipps (2020), Florence, SC | 38-43--81 | ||
| 58 | Tyler Patterson (2018), Tega Cay, SC | 40-42--82 | |
| T59 | Drayton Stewart (2019), Charleston, SC | 43-40--83 | |
| Willis Rogers (2019), Charleston, SC | 35-48--83 | ||
| Zach Adams (2022), Charleston, SC | 41-42--83 | ||
| T62 | Jake Vaughan (2019), Chesnee, SC | 42-42--84 | |
| Jd Patterson (2019), Bluffton, SC | 42-42--84 | ||
| T64 | Andrew Kaslick (2020), Summerville, SC | 43-42--85 | |
| Blake Rogers (2018), Westminster, SC | 39-46--85 | ||
| John Thomas Verner III (2018), Mount Pleasant, SC | 43-42--85 | ||
| Tommy Holloway (2018), Fripp Island , SC | 40-45--85 | ||
| 68 | Evan Greenplate (2018), Hilton Head Island, SC | 39-48--87 | |
| 69 | Michael McMurray (2018), Greer, SC | 45-48--93 | |
| T70 | Bennett Rhame (2019), Chapin, SC | WD-WD--WD | |
| Jenkins Dwight (2019), Sumter, SC | WD-WD--WD | ||
Championship Facts
Event: 40th South Carolina Junior Match Play
Playing Dates: July 11-14
Host Site: Cherokee National Golf Club, Gaffney, S.C..
Boys - 6,943 yards, par 72, Girls - 5,800 yards, par 72.
Defending Champion: Brady Hinkle, Lancaster - Alyssa Campbell, Lake Wylie
Format: 36 holes stroke play qualifying (July 11-12) for all divisions. The boys' division will be cut to the low 31 for match play. The girls’ division will be cut to the low 15 for match play. Defending champions Brady Hinkle and Alyssa Campbell will be the #1 seeds.
Schedule of rounds:
Tuesday, July 11
8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Stroke play qualifying round 1
12:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Player lunch
Wednesday, July 12
8:00 a.m. - 9:45 a.m. Stroke play qualifying round 2
12:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. Player lunch
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Boys’ Round 1 matches
Thursday, July 13
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m. Boys’ Round 2 matches
9:15 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Girls’ Round 1 matches
12:30 p.m. -1:30 p.m. Boys’ Quarterfinal matches
2:00 p.m. - 2:30 p.m. Girls’ Quarterfinal matches
Friday, July 14
8:00 a.m. - 8:10 a.m. Boys’ Semifinal matches
8:20 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. Girls’ Semifinal matches
12:30 p.m. Boys’ Championship match
12:40 p.m. Girls’ Championship match
About the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)
The CGA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization that was founded in 1909 to promote and to protect the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support and benefits to golf clubs and golfers. The CGA is the second largest golf association in the country with over 700 member clubs represented by nearly 150,000 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 as well as 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 nearly $2,000,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives including junior and women's programs.
For more information about the CGA, visit our website.
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