Trey Crenshaw finished third in the last two SCGA Junior Championships. The Lancaster golfer shot a final round 3-under par 69 to win the title by 1-shot at The Tradition Golf Club on Pawleys Island. (SCJGA Photo)

Trey Crenshaw had been in this situation before.

In each of the last two years the Lancaster junior had the South Carolina Golf Association championship within reach.

In 2018 he led the tournament going into the final round, but finished in third place.

In 2019 Crenshaw finished the rain shortened championship one shot short of making it into a playoff for the championship and was third again.

This year, Crenshaw opened the tournament tied for the lead. Stayed within a shot of the three leaders after the second round and finally won the state championship with a 3-under par 69 in the final round.

” I’ve worked so hard and been so close over the past couple of years,” he said. “It’s pretty special,” said the new champion.

William Jennings from Greenville, Matthew Hutto from Blythewood and Waymon Thomas from Mt Pleasant held a one shot lead over Crenshaw to start the final round.

Trey Crenshaw’s three straight birdies on the back nine earned the Lancaster golfer the 2020 SCGA Junior Championship. (SCJGA Photo)

The three co-leaders all found trouble on the first nine holes at the Tradition Golf Club.

Jennings and Hutto carded a pair of double bogeys each to fall well back in the field, while Thomas stumbled on his second hole to open the door for Crenshaw and one other golfer.

Jerry Bruns started his final round 3-shots behind the leaders, but birdies on two of his first three holes turned the final round into a three-way battle.

Thomas tried to pull away from the other two with birdies on three of his final four front nine holes. Thomas made the turn at 9-under par and held a two shot lead over Crenshaw and Bruns.

Crenshaw got even with Thomas by making three birdies in a row on 12, 13 and 14.  Thomas also birdied the 14th hole and the two stood at 10-under par with four holes to play.

Bruns got into bogey trouble on 11 and 12 before making an eagle on the 14th hole, but by that time Crenshaw and Thomas had pulled away from the Beaufort golfer.

Crenshaw parred the next three holes while Thomas suffered a pair of bogeys giving Crenshaw a two shot lead with one to play.

Trey Crenshaw shot a final round 3-under par 69 to win the SCGA Junior championship. Photo from SCGA)

The first round leader bogeyed the final hole while Thomas made a par.

Crenshaw shot a 3-under par 69 in the final round for a 207 total. Thomas was 1-shot back at 208 and Bruns, who matched Crenshaw’s 69 was third at 209.

“This is one you want to check off the list. I’m going to enjoy not only the win but all the perks that come along with winning,’ Crenshaw said.

The best round of the day  was turned in by Daniel Brasington. The Woodruff golfer shot a final round 6-under par 66 to move up into a 10th place tie.

The lowest round of the tournament was posted by Jonathan Brennan from Taylors, who made seven birdies in a bogey free round to shoot a 65. Brennan finished in a tie for eighth.

William Jennings won the 13-14 year old championship at the SCGA Junior. (SCJGA Photo)

The 13-14 year old championship was won by William Jennings from Greenville. Jennings topped fellow Greenville golfer Tip Price by 3 shots for the age group title.

The 2020 championship did not set any scoring records, but it may have set a record for the number of golfers shooting par or better for the event.

In the final round 14 golfers were under par and another 3 were even.

The 13-14 age group Division was won by Walter Jennings from Greenville. He finished 3-shots in front of another Greenville golfer Tip Price.

The tournament is presented by the Heritage Classic Foundation

Complete scores are available for the championship played at The Tradition Golf Club at Pawleys Island. https://scjga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scjga20/event/scjga207/contest/9/leaderboard.htm

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