Chesnee Eagles Win Palmetto Preview: Building Momentum for Championship Run

By golfclubsc on September 4, 2024 • ( Leave a comment )

The Chesnee Eagles have started the defense of their three straight state championships with three straight early season wins including the Palmetto Preview. The Eagles are (l-r) Olivia Shields, Addy Parker, Olivia Roberts, Abigail Watson and Abby Herrington. (Chesnee Photo)

The Chesnee Eagles always have a state championship as a goal, but it takes an entire season to put a check mark next to that one on the list.

This year the three-time defending state champions have added a couple of in-season goals that could help set the stage for another championship run.

The Eagles got to put a mark next to their first of two in season goals when they finished on top of the Palmetto Preview.

Olivia Roberts made the all tournament team and Olivia Shields made a pair of critical putts late in the round to help the Eagles to the victory.

The tournament is much like the boys Southern Cross event. It features most if not all the best teams in the state and the winner can use the victory to build momentum early in the new season.

“We had not won it before and it was a goal,” said Chesnee coach Kyle Scruggs. “We may have finished third once, but even with the state championships we have won, getting this win was big for us,” he said.

The Eagles returned a team that dominated the state AA Classification last year to run away with the championship tournament.

So far this year the Eagles have won the Lady Blue Jacket and the Lady Rebel over good fields, but every top team in the state last year, was in this year’s preview and that makes it a win just a little above some of the others.

“The only state champion from last year that wasn’t here was Waccamaw. When you get teams from all the classifications together and you win, you accomplished something,” said the Chesnee coach.

The Eagles returned everyone from last year’s third straight state championship team. Led by medalist and future Anderson University golfer Olivia Roberts, Chesnee has the kind of team that could win a fourth straight title, even if they are not sure what classification they may compete in.

Palmetto Preview
Chesnee 321
Dorman 322
May River 324
Chapin 330
Lexington 331
Individually, Ansley Bryson from Seneca shot 71 (-2) to claim medalist honors.
All-Tournament team Claire Green, May River 73,
Caroline Hawkins, Blythewood 74 Bendicta Pollard, Swansea 74,
Marissa Scaletta, TL Hanna 75
Oliva Roberts, Chesnee 75
Ella Kate Barnett, Aynor 75

“With all the realignment I think the High School league is still trying to get a handle on who has teams and who doesn’t. At first we heard we would have to play in AAA, but lately there may be enough AA teams to have a tournament,” said Skruggs.

Regardless of the classification, with a championship team returning and some real competition for playing time, Skruggs has a much deeper team this year.

“Jada Flynn has come on and is battling for a playing spot. We have 16 girls on our JV team so we have a lot of competition in practice and that is going to make us better in tournaments,” added the coach/

In addition to Roberts, Olivia Shields, Addy Parker, Abigail Watson and Abby Herrington all bring state championship experience with them into the new season and it has paid off with three wins.

Two of the wins have come over the defending AAAAA champions from Dorman. The Eagles topped the Cavaliers at the Byrnes tournament by two-shots and by one-shot at the Preview.

LPGA Legend and Moss Creek resident Rosie Jones joined with the WSCGA Foundation to present the High School Invitational and mentoring session.

“We love competition with those girls. We have so much respect for them and it makes both of us better,” said Skruggs.

With one goal accomplished and another way off at the end of the season the Eagles have another goal that could be accomplished in a few weeks.

“We have never won the High School Invitational. It is another goal we have for the year.” said Skruggs.

The tournament will be played at Moss Creek Plantation on September 28-29th and include arguably the 15 best teams in the state and a number of top individuals.

It is presented by the Women’s South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation in association with 13 time LPGA Tour champion Rosie Jones, a resident at Moss Creek.

A number of LPGA Tour Legends will play in a fund raising pro-am and spend time mentoring the high school players.

Clemson golf coach Kelley Hester is scheduled to be the key-note speaker and offer a clinic for the competitors before the Sunday round.

Net proceeds from the tournament support the Rosie Jones Mentoring Fund that distributes grants to help prepare student-athletes for success on and off the course. This one-on-one, mentor-to-mentee program provides scholarships to South Carolina’s top high school girl golfers to achieve their goals of playing in college and beyond. The girls are paired with current and former women’s golf coaches, tour members and professional instructors who serve as role models and resources for South Carolina’s young girl golfers beyond the golf course, paving the way for future success.

According to Jones, the fund’s namesake, “The program’s mission is to help prepare student-athletes for success on and off the course while helping them become more effective players as well as positive, confident and productive adults.”

This weekend the Eagles will be around Hilton Head playing in a tournament presented by May River High School, which is also expected to draw a very good field.

“It is great we won the Preview. It was a big goal and a great start to our season, but to reach our final goal we need to keep practicing and competing the entire year,” said Skruggs.