If you had any questions as to how many outstanding junior golfers are in South Carolina or how competitive junior events are in the Palmetto State look no further than The Players Championship.
Three of the four boys and girls age group titles up for grabs were decided in playoffs.
Throw in a tournament record and a double eagle on the final hole as South Carolina Juniors put on a show in Hartsville.
M K Talledo from Inman trailed first round leader Isabella Rawl from Lexington by 7 shots after the first round.
The Boiling Springs High School golfer started her final round with 5 straight birdies.
The 2019 Beth Daniel Player of the Year finished her front nine marking a 30 on her scorecard.
Her 7 birdies a bogey and a par got her within 2-shots of Rawl and Sydney Roberts from Chesnee.
The future College of Charleston golfer, playing in front of the leaders, birdied her final hole to finish with a record setting 9-under par 63 and the clubhouse lead.
On the course Roberts had edged ahead of Rawl and came to the final hole at 10-under par.
However, a bogey on her last hole dropped her back into a tie with Talledo.
Roberts made up for the bogey with a birdie on the playoff hole to claim the victory.
Since the start of October, Roberts has notched 7 wins, a second and a fourth place finish.
Roberts won the Lady Rebel, the CGA Jimmy Anderson, the Smith Memorial, the Region II high school tournament, The Ponderosa Classic and the AAA Upper State High School championship.
The Chesnee High School junior finished second in the High School State championship and added a fourth place finish at the SCGA Girl’s Fall Challenge.
The boys championship needed a three-way playoff to identify a winner afer some end of the round heroics just to make the playoff.
Boiling Springs High School golfer Zach Phillips had the first round lead by a shot, but in the second round Gene Zeigler from Florence and Waymon Thomas from Mount Pleasant would find a way to catch Phillips.
Zeigler, last year’s Jay Haas Player of the Year, birdied his last two holes to finish at 3-under par 141 with Phillips.
Thomas hit what may be the shot of the year in South Carolina Junior golf as he holed-out from 240 yards on 18 for a double eagle and a spot in the playoff.
After the first two playoff holes Thomas was eliminated when Phillips and Zeigler made birdies.
On the third playoff hole Phillips tee shot ended up out of bounds.
The errant drive opened the door for Zeigler to claim the win when he rolled in a 20-foot birdie putt to wrap up the victory.
The boys 10-13 year old title was decided between Greenville golfers Hugh Faulkner and Tip Price.
Price needed a birdie on the final hole to force the playoff.
On the second playoff hole the 2020 Greenville County Junior Champion was able to land a wedge within 4 feet of the pin and convert his birdie putt for the victory.
Luke Parsons from Salley shot a 5-under par 67 to win the 10-12 year old age group title. Will Ruth from Moore was the runner-up.
Ella Kate Barnet from Galivants Ferry finished 1-shot in front of Summer Carey from Manning for the girls 10-12 age group title.
Complete scores available at https://scjga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scjga20/event/scjga2015/contest/17/leaderboard.htm
Thanks to the SCJGA for the photos.
Categories: High School Golf, Junior Golf, USGA SCGA CGA WSCGA
scgolfclub.com 