When Caroline Hawkins driver is dialed in she is pretty hard to beat.

This week at the Women’s South Carolina Golf Association Junior championship Hawkins wasn’t perfect off the tee, but was more than adequate to finish the state championship at 7-under par and 13 shots in front of the field.

“I had not been hitting my driver very well and my coach, Puggy Blackmon (former USC Men’s Golf Coach) had me make a really small change that made a big difference,” said the new state champion.

Hawkins opened the 54 hole championship at the Arcadian Shores Golf Club in Myrtle Beach with 1-under par 71. She birdied her first three holes and finished the first day tied with Claire Greene from Okati.

In the second round Hawkins pulled away from the field carding a 4-under par 68 to open an 8 shot lead over Green and Olivia Roberts from Chesnee. Hawkins didn’t have a bogey on her second round card to help her pull away.

“I try m y hardest to win and even with a big lead some things could happen and I didn’t want to take a chance,
she said.

In the final round Hawkins added to her lead with 2-under par 70 to make her final victory margin 13 shots.

“My goal at every tournment is to win. I want to try the best and play the best I can and the scores they take care of themselves,” she added.

Green finished at 222 to be the runner-up while Roberts and Lina Poleraitas from Florence tied for third place a shot back,

Three golfers tied from fifth place and joined the other top finishes on the team to play Georgia in the annual All-Star event.

Roberts, Mia Carles from Clinton and Robbin Zetrouer from Florence each finished at 226.

With the win Hawkins earned South Carolina’s entry into the USGA Junior Girls championship to be played at El Caballero Country Club in Tarzana, Calif., from July 15-20.

This is the first year the state champion will represent South Carolina in the national championship. In the past a one day 18 hole qualifying event was held to idngtify the junior who would advance to the national championship,

“”I’m super-excited to be able to play in such a big event. I’ve played in some other national tournaments like the PGA Junior, but this is a really big tournament,” she said.

In addition to the trip to California just a few days after her return Hawkins expects to be hearing from a number of college coaches as recruting for the Class of 2026 gets started.

“This is going to be all new to me. I’ts exciting to think about picking a place to spend my next four years. I’m just going to take it a day at a time,” said Hawkins.

Scores from the WSCGA Junior Girls Championship https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/9688345871602730705

Pictures from the Women’s South Carolina Golf Association Junior Championship at Arcadian Shores Golf Club in Myrtle Beach.