Will McCraw will have some stories to tell about what he did on his summer vacation and instead of selfies McCraw is going to have trophies for “show and tell” time.

The young golfer from Inman, won his second major South Carolina Junior Golf Association championship this summer with a 2-shot victory at The Blade Junior being played at Thornblade Club.

The format for the youngest golfers at the tournament call for nine holes, followed by a two-hour break and then another nine holes to complete an 18 hole tournament.

The Blade this year, has an outstanding field for the 13-18 year old competition and the golfers in the 10 – 12 division are just about as strong.

After the first nine holes Connor Wolfe, from Columbia, last year’s runner-up, took the lead with a 1-under par 35.

The top of the leader board was crowded, reflecting the number of outstanding young juniors in the event.

McCraw from Inman, was a close second.

The 2022 SCJGA Pee Wee champion carded an even par 35 to trail Wolfe by a shot and lead Greenville’s Thomas DeMint by a shot.

After the break, on McCraw’s second hole, a 258 yard par 4, he drove the green and then made the putt for an eagle taking him from one behind to the lead and the 2 on his card turned out to be the difference.

McCraw, had the lead, but with the live-scoring being less than reliable he wasn’t 100% certain of what his lead actually was.

“My Dad told me to keep my mind in the game. You have to do that and play well so that is what I did,” he said.

After the eagle McCraw made a bogey, but he still took a two shot lead.

However, there were still some nervous moments before McCraw signed his final scorecard.

“On the last hole, I had about a 3-footer and the nerves were kicking in. When the putt fell, a relief sigh just came out and that was good,” he said.

Wolfe finished second for the second year in a row, one shot in front of three golfers who tied at 2-over par 73.

Ty Childers from Gaffney, Kingston Linder from Spartanburg and Jack Colman from Aiken all finished with a 2-over par 73.

When asked if his win at the Pee Wee or his win at The Blade meant more to him McCraw had the answer you might expect.

“They both feel really good. I love golf and this one is pretty big to win,” concluded McCraw.

10-12 scores from The Blade Junior https://scjga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scjga22/event/scjga2213/contest/13/leaderboard.htm

Kinley Brazell won the 10-12 year old girls championship. The Blythewood golfer shot an 81 to finish in front of AC Peake from Pauline.

“My putting was really good today,” said Brazell. “I was hitting nice stripes down the fairway and my mental game has gotten a lot better. This is a big win for me and it feels great.,” she said.

The Blade girls 10-12 year old scores https://scjga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scjga22/event/scjga2213/contest/9/leaderboard.htm

First Round 13-18 Boys and Girls

The big kids get to compete for their name on the big trophy and a pair of boys share the first round lead in the 54 hole championship.

Gage Gaskins from Leesville and Seamus Bogan from Clover each posted rounds of 2-under par 69 to lead at the end of the first day.

Boiling Springs’ Andrew Gregory and Grant Paolucci from Blythewood are tied for third place, one shot behind the leaders.

The Blade Boys 13-18 Scores https://scjga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scjga22/event/scjga2213/contest/1/leaderboard.htm

Anna Fernandez, from Hilton Head, has a six shot lead in the girls 13-18 year old division.

‘Fernandez, who won the Upstate Junior at Smithfields in June, shot an even par round of 71 with Abbey Franks from Roebuck in second place going into the second round.

13-18 year old Girl’s scores at The Blade https://scjga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/scjga22/event/scjga2213/contest/5/leaderboard.htm