Event: 44th Carolinas-Virginias Junior Boys’ Team Matches
Host Site: Benvenue Country Club, Rocky Mount, N.C.
Playing Dates: August 8-9, 2026
Social Media: @CGAgolf1909

Related: Scoring | Photos

 

By Jackson Sveen

ROCKY MOUNT, N.C. (August 10, 2026) – Team Carolinas took control early and never relinquished it, defeating Team Virginias 11-5 to win the 44th Carolinas-Virginias Junior Boys’ Team Matches at Benvenue Country Club in Rocky Mount, N.C.. The victory improved the Carolinas’ all-time record in the series to 24-18-2.

After sweeping both Saturday sessions by 3-1 margins to build a commanding 6-2 advantage, the Carolinas needed just 2.5 points from Sunday’s eight singles matches to secure the victory. They got exactly what they needed and more, earning five points in singles to close out the 11-5 win.

The eight-player Team Carolinas featured Noah Fry of Waxhaw, N.C., Will Ruth of Moore, S.C., Brady Senn of Gilbert, S.C., Sam Terry of Thomasville, N.C., Erik Erlenkeuser of Anderson, S.C., Drew Mercer of Cramerton, N.C., Connor Wolfe of Blythewood, S.C., and Landry Williams of Bluffton, S.C.

Team Virginias featured Luca Rinaldi of Midlothian, Va., Jake Lopes of Vienna, Va., Colton Rodgers of Great Falls, Va., Tommy Evans of Charles Town, W.Va., Owen Love of Alexandria, Va., Ethan Evans of Fairfax Station, Va., Liam Maclauchian of Moseley, Va., and Isaac Hayes of Hurricane, W.Va.

Team Carolinas set the tone Saturday morning in the four-ball format, winning three of the four matches. Senn and Erlenkeuser opened with a 3-and-2 victory over Tommy Evans and Rodgers, while Mercer and Williams cruised to a 5-and-4 win over Hayes and Love.

Terry and Fry provided the most dominant result of the session, defeating Lopes and Maclauchian 6 and 4. Ethan Evans and Rinaldi earned the Virginias’ lone point with a 2-and-1 victory over Ruth and Wolfe.

The afternoon foursomes session produced the same 3-1 result for Team Carolinas.

Mercer and Williams continued their strong play with a 1-up victory over Lopes and Maclauchian, while Fry and Senn also went the distance before earning a 1-up win against Love and Hayes. Erlenkeuser and Ruth added a 3-and-1 victory over Ethan Evans and Rinaldi.

With Benvenue’s small greens placing a premium on approach shots and putting, Team Carolinas consistently converted opportunities throughout Saturday to take a 6-2 advantage into the final day.

That left Team Carolinas needing only 2.5 points from Sunday’s eight singles matches, but the outcome was far from decided as the matches reached the back nine. At one point, four matches were tied, with neither side able to establish a decisive advantage.

 

Williams quickly began to change that.

After teaming with Mercer for two victories Saturday, Williams continued his unbeaten weekend with a dominant performance in singles against Tommy Evans. Williams won five consecutive holes during his round and closed out a 5-and-4 victory to earn the Carolinas’ first point of the morning.

The Virginias answered when Rinaldi held off Fry in one of the day’s tightest matches. The two arrived at the 18th with Rinaldi 1-up. Fry converted a lengthy putt to keep his hopes alive, but Rinaldi answered with a putt of his own to finish the 1-up victory.

Rodgers also earned a point for the Virginias with a 4-and-3 victory over Mercer, but Ruth delivered another important point for the Carolinas, defeating Love 4 and 3. With Williams and Ruth both winning, the Carolinas were guaranteed two of the 2.5 points they needed entering Sunday.

That put the focus on Senn’s back-and-forth match against Lopes. Neither player could create much separation, and the match arrived at the 18th hole tied.

Knowing a half point would secure the team victory, Senn found trouble off the tee when his drive finished in the trees left of the fairway. Facing a difficult approach, Senn aimed toward the clubhouse awning and produced one of the shots of the weekend, escaping the trees and finding the green.

From there, Senn two-putted for the halve, earning the half point the Carolinas needed to officially secure the victory.

With the outcome decided, the Carolinas continued adding to their total. Terry defeated Ethan Evans 1-up, Wolfe earned a 4-and-3 victory over Hayes and Erlenkeuser halved his match against Maclauchian to complete a 5-3 singles session and the 11-5 overall victory.

 

The Carolinas Golf Association extends its sincere appreciation to the members and staff of Benvenue Country Club for their hospitality and support of the 44th Carolinas-Virginias Junior Boys’ Team Matches.