2012 Georgia-South Carolina Girls’ Challenge Match

Georgia Team (L-R): Ji Eun Baik, Rachel Dai, Captain Liz Butler, Haley Austin, Jordan Daniel

Georgia Takes Girls’ Junior Challenge Match over South Carolina
Peach State wins third-straight in interstate competition

EVANS, Ga. – Georgia fought off a second-round charge from South Carolina, winning 14 ½ to 9 ½ in the  Georgia-South Carolina Girls’ Junior Challenge Match, which took place at Champions Retreat Golf Club in Evans, August 4-5.

South Carolina scored 6 ½ points to Georgia’s 5 ½ points in the second round, winning two of the four matches and finishing All Square in another.  But Georgia, which jumped out a 9-3 advantage in Saturday’s opening round, earned points in all four matches and had enough cushion to withstand the charge. The Match was scored in Nassau format, which awards one point to the winner of each nine and one point to the overall match winner.

Georgia’s Ji Eun Baik of Newnan posted the state’s only victory in the final round, winning 2 up and earning two points over Kelli Murphy of Elgin, S.C.  Jordan Daniel, also of Newnan, scored two points while finishing All Square in her match with Blythewood, S.C.’s Kelsey Badmauv.

Georgia’s other team members didn’t win their matches, but each contributed points toward the team total.  The reigning Girls’ Champion, Rachel Dai of Milton, fell 1 up to Cayla Smith of Easley, S.C., but picked up one point.  Haley Austin of McDonough added a half-point in a 4-and-3 loss to Lauren Stephenson of Lexington, S.C.

This was the seventh playing of the Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match, which brings together the top girl golfers from the two neighboring states.  Teams are composed of the top four finishers from each state’s Girls’ Championship.  Georgia now leads the series, 5-2, and has won three straight.