
Sydney Roberts has been turning in low scores all year, but her win at the Ponderosa Classic was something more than just a win, it was a new record.
Roberts set a new record at the course in Leesville by shooting a 10-under par 62, which by the way included a bogey on her second hole.
“When I made that bogey I thought this is just going to be another round in the 70s,” Roberts recalled. “I didn’t putt very well at the Foundation tournament last weekend and I wasn’t expecting much,” she said.
Roberts finished fourth at the tournament sponsored by the South Carolina Women’s Golf Association.
The tournament included the best high school teams in the state and her fourth place finish was her lowest this year.
There was one difference between the play at the Foundation High School championship and the Ponderosa Shoot-Out.
Roberts found her putting stroke again.
“I made a change and I started making putts. The more putts I made the more confidence I got,” she said.
Most of the birdies were from around 10 to 12 feet, but Roberts rolled in a bomb or two including a 35 footer.
“I wasn’t firing darts at the pins, but I was close enough to feel good about making the putts. I made the eagle on kind of a short hole from about 12 feet. I was just 3-under par when I made it and that really got me going,” she said.
Roberts strung together three more birdies on holes 11, 12 and 13 and added a couple more to finish with the 10-under par 62.
She won the tournament by 6-shots over Gilbert’s Kennedy Gooding who carded a 4-under par 68.
Gilbert got the best of the Eagles in the team competition on their home course.


The two teams have battled each other all through the season. Last year Gilbert topped Chesnee for the AAA-AA-A State Championship and the two could be headed for a rematch this year.
The score at Ponderosa was Roberts best round by 3-shots. It was her fourth win this high school season to go along with a pair of runner-up finishes.
Roberts stroke average is an amazing 68.6.
Last month the Chesnee senior made a verbal commitment to play college golf at Clemson.
“I took an unofficial visit there and fell in love with Clemson. After the dead period I made another visit and got to spend time with the coaches and knew it was where I wanted to go,” she said.
There are still some important tournaments on the schedule before Region and the Upper and Lower State playoffs begin.
The next big test for Roberts and the Eagles will be at the Smith Memorial scheduled for October 5th at Newberry Country Club.
Categories: High School Golf, Junior Golf