There are some golfers who just have a knack to shine when the spotlight is on them and it is looking more and more Dawson Szabo is one of them.

The Blue Ridge High School student added another “major” win to a resume crowded with big time victories when he won the Carolinas Golf Association South Carolina Junior Match Play title 3&1 over Tyler Tabor of Mount Pleasant..

Szabo battled back from two down early in the final round at the Wildwood Club In Columbia to claim the win.

“I really just knew that if I played consistently, it was all going to pan out,” said Szabo about his slow start..

But it didn’t last.

“I had a stretch from the fourth hole to the eleventh hole I hit really good shots. Sometimes after you hit that many you are going to miss one. I did, but it wasn’t going to ruin my round,” Szabo said.

Tabor played steady par golf while Szabo lost the 12th and15th hole, but still had a one hole lead going to the sixteenth hole.

Both golfers parred the 16th and the match would be decided on the seventeenth hole.

Szabo rolled in a long birdie putt to claim the championship with a 3 & 1 victory.

In the semi final round Szabo advanced to the final when he took a 3 & 1 victory over Owen Atkinson of Columbia with a birdie on the same 17th hole.

On his way to the championship final Szabo won seven matches and only played the 18th hole once when he started on the back nine.

“I feel great, it was a really good battle, and Tyler gave me a really great fight. It was just fun, really fun,” said the winner.

As a member of the Class of “27 ” Szabo in addition to the AAA high school championship, in the last year, won The Blade, The Orange Jacket and The Greenville Junior Am. He tied for second at the recent Grant Bennett to headline his handful of top-10 finishes.

With a growing list of accomplishments Szabo hasn’t spent any time trying to decide which of his impressive wins has been the most important.

“They are all the same. I had to work hard and play well to win each one so one isn’t more important or bigger than the others, They all have helped me get the confidence you need to win. I’ve won enough to know how good it feels and how much I want to win again’.” he said.

Szabo will get his chance to defend the title he won last year at Thornblade.

“I really would like to defend at The Blade. Winning two in a row would be pretty special,” said Szabo.

CGA South Carolina Junior Match Play scoring https://www.golfgenius.com/pages/4895286

Mia was Marvelous

Winning one match play championship is a big accomplishment, but going back to back is amazing.

Clinton’s Mia Carles pulled off the repeat with a 3 & 2 victory over Marrisa Scaletta of Belton.

The final two matchups were Marissa Scaletta of Belton, SC, versus Annabel Carman of Summerville, SC, and Mia Carles versus Akiera Sanchez of Charleston, SC.

Scaletta ultimately won her match 4 & 3, and Carles won her match on the other side of the bracket, 3 & 1.

Carles took the lead early on the first hole of the final round, and never looked back as she found herself leading by four at the turn.

Scaletta didn’t lose her competitive edge on the back nine, as she cut Carles’ lead to three on the 13th hole. Although she wasn’t able to claw back any further as Carles sealed her win on the 16th green..

Extremely high temperatures where as much of a problem as the competitors and Carles believes some of her concern about conditions helped her win as much as a hot putter.

“I carried my bag during the first round, then switched to my push cart the past two days to conserve my energy. I’ve also been staying hydrated, and getting great sleep at home,” said the repeat winner.

Thanks to the CGA with help for this story.

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