by Jed Blackwell, Associate Editor-Publisher

Back-nine birdies propelled both the girls and boys champions in the final round at the Greenville County Junior Championship at Holly Tree on Tuesday afternoon.

Spencer Harvey shot a two-day total of 19-over par to outdistance Isabella Poore by two strokes to win the title.

Poore actually got the better of Harvey in the second round, shooting 11-over to Harvey’s plus-14. But a couple of clutch shots on the back nine helped Harvey’s first-day lead stand up. After a shaky start to the back nine, a clutch birdie at 16, her seventh hole of the day, helped her retain control of the match.

“My irons were really working,” she said. “Putting was a little off for me today, but we just went with it.”

Bella Grey Baker was third, with Katie Culp fourth and Julia Conroy winning a scorecard playoff over Zuri Ruiz for fifth place.

Hadleigh Hoyle won the girls 10-12 division.

While Harvey was making her first-round co-lead stand up, Preston White was taking a two-shot win of his own in the boys 15-18 division, shooting a 71-71-142, two under par for the tournament. He made three birdies on the back nine on Tuesday, including a crucial one at the Par-5 18th, to secure the win. He made six birdies on the day, and credited his wedge play and his putter for his strong performance.

“I was putting very good, and the greens were rolling nicely,” he said. “And I was very fortunate that my wedge game was very good. On several holes, I hit it to one or two feet so that was a couple of automatic birdies. And my driver pretty much found the fairway every time.”

White said the tournament was the closest thing to a normal round with friends.

“I play with them all the time, and we put ourselves in those scenarios so we’re ready for them,” he said of his strong play down the stretch. 

Ryder Seppala finished second in the event at even par for the tournament. Jacob Perry finished third, with Evan Eassy edging out Evan Cheek on a scorecard playoff for fourth.

Heyward Jennings won the boys 13-14 division, while Jonas Maryniuk won the boys 10-12 division and Kyrie Maryniuk won the boys 7-9 division.