Some wins are the completion of a goal while others can be the start of a journey.
Hugh Lemonds win at the CGA South Carolina Junior Match Play championship at the Cherokee National Golf Club was a little of both.
The Spartanburg High School golfer rallied from two-down on the back nine to top Dorman golfer Will Ruth to win his first CGA Major championship.
“Its been a long time coming,” said Lemonds, “I’ve had a lot of really good rounds I didn’t follow up so its good to get this one in the bag,”he said.
Last month Lemonds flirted with the lead at the Carolina Junior for the first two rounds. His second round 68 gave him a chance, before dropping back in the final round,
In Gaffney, Lemonds started Match Play as the second seed after shooting a 2-under par 70 in stroke play qualifying.
In the round of 64 Lemonds coasted to an 8&6 victory, but the rest of his matches were close and tight.
In the quarter-finals he needed 19 holes to top Greenville’s Beau Lewis.
Lemonds finished his semi-final match with a 2 up victory over Aiken’s Richard Anaclerio to set up the final match with Ruth.
“The pressure was greater in the semi-final round to make it to the final. There wasn’t any pressure in the final,” said Lemonds.
Ruth took the lead on the first hole to start a very competitive final round.
Both golfers took turns holding the lead until Ruth went 2-up with a win on number 12, but his lead did not last long.’
Lemonds won two of the next three holes to even the match with two holes to play.
“I made a lot of putts. I think I made everything I looked at,” said Lemonds.
Both golfers parred number 17. The match was decided on the 18 tee box.
Lemonds tee shot was in good position, but Ruth pulled his drive into an out of bounds area and was not found.
When Ruth had to play a second ball it just about assured Lemonds the win.
“It wasn’t nerves or pressure,” said Ruth. ‘I used a different way to play the hole the last couple of times and it worked fine. I just missed,”. he said.
Lemonds had a 15 foot birdie putt that slipped by the hole, but was close enough Ruth conceded the hole and the match.
“I got a nice trophy and I finished one place better than last year (Ruth lost in the semi-final round). I’ve got a couple of years left to play in this tournament and maybe I can get one place better next time,” said Ruth.
The victory allowed Lemonds not only to accomplish a goal, but also will help the rising high school senior going forward.
“It really feels good to win and now I know I can do it and it gives me confidence for the next one,” he concluded,.
Scores from the CGA SC Match Play Championship https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/4032111
Williams advances to PGA Junior
Connor Williams. from Spartanburg, will play in the PGA Junior National Championship,.
Williams, a Viking golfer, shot a second round 5-under par 66 at Colonial Country Club in Trinity, NC.
Williams finished in a three way tie for second place and won the playoff with a birdie on the second hole.
The playoff win sends Williams to the PGA Junior championship which begins on August 1st at the Hot Springs Country Club in Arkansas.
Scores from the Carolinas PGA Junior Championship https://carpga.bluegolf.com/bluegolf/carpga23/event/carpga238/contest/1/leaderboard.htm
Categories: Junior Golf
