Event: 70th Carolinas Junior Girls' Championship
Host Site: Jamestown Park Golf Course, Jamestown, N.C.
Playing Dates: July 1–3, 2026
Social Media: @CGAGolf1909

Related: Championship Website | Final Leaderboard | Photos

By Mae O'Neill

GREENSBORO, N.C. (July 3, 2026) — Mia Carles of Clinton, S.C., dominated the field in central North Carolina this past week, fighting through extreme temperatures and tough greens to win the 70th Carolinas Junior Girls' Championship. Carles shot rounds of 71, 67 and 69 to finish at 9-under-par 207, eight shots clear of the field.

Carles was the only player to shoot all three rounds under par and also recorded the low round of the championship with a second-round 67 (-5) that included eight birdies. Her final round also stood out, featuring eagles on holes No. 6 and No. 12, the 15th- and 16th-hardest holes on the course, respectively.

"My approach shots were very good, and I got to make a few putts. On 18 I had that putt for par, and I just really wanted to go out of here with a good score, and the par was like a sigh of relief."

This is Carles' first victory since the 2024 Twin States Junior Girls' Championship, and she credits the CGA's competitive fields with helping her development as a player.

"The girls in the Carolinas are really good, so getting to play against them definitely pushes me to get better."

Mallory Pitts of Greensboro, N.C., and Ella Spence of Waxhaw, N.C., tied for second at 1-under-par. Pitts played the steadiest golf of the week, making just eight bogeys all championship, the fewest in the field. Spence climbed the leaderboard after the opening round and was one of only three players to post multiple rounds under par. Five of the top eight finishers are members of the inaugural U.S. South Carolina or U.S. North Carolina National Development Teams.

With the victory, Carles earned an exemption into the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at Old Chatham Club in Durham, N.C., later this month. Carles, who is committed to the College of Charleston, will enter her senior year of high school this fall.

"I'm so excited to go to College of Charleston. They have an incredible program, and the coaching staff is amazing, so I'm really excited to go play there."

The Cougars' coaching staff features Jamie Futrell, a seven-time CAA Coach of the Year who will begin his 30th season as head coach this fall, along with assistant coach Kendall Turner, a former standout at James Madison University who earned back-to-back NCAA Championship at-large individual bids during her collegiate career.

The Carolinas Golf Association wishes to thank the staff of Jamestown Park Golf Club for their support and hospitality throughout the week. Special thanks to Superintendent Justin May, Golf Professional Marcy Newton and the entire team for helping host this year's championship.

The Carolinas Golf Association is one of the nation's oldest and largest amateur golf associations and has promoted and protected the game in the Carolinas since 1909. With more than 240,000 members, the CGA conducts championships, one-day tournaments, play days and USGA qualifiers across North and South Carolina.