2005 Junior Sectional Challenge Match

Southwest Section Secures Win at GSGA Junior Sectional Challenge Match

ALBANY, Ga. - The Southwest section won both the girls 14-17 division and the boys 12-13 age division and collected a tournament total of 19 points to edge the Southeast section by one point at the GSGA Junior Sectional Challenge Match, which was played at Doublegate Country Club in Albany, July 19-20. The Northwest section finished in third place with 15 points.

The Southwest's Abby Fitzgerald of Leesburg, a member of Doublegate Country Club, shot a 77 in the competition's opening round and picked up six points for her team by capturing the girls 14-17 age division with a final round score of 77, giving her a 154 total. Rochelle's John Gordon, also of the Southwest section, finished at the top of the boys 12-13 division (73-74-147) and earned six points. Others receiving points credited towards the Southwest's total were: Aaron Elrod (3) and Evan Hanna (1), both playing in the boys 16-17 age division; Ashton Pellicano (2) of the boys 14-15 group; and Kelly Pearce (1) who was playing in the girls 13 and under division.

The Southeast Section was the only other team to have two of its members finish at the top of their divisions. Blaine Bunch fired rounds of 71 and 74 to capture the boys 14-15 division and tally six points for the Southeast. Also collecting six points by winning the boys 11 and under group was Billy Shuman. Shuman won the division in a scorecard playoff over Jimmy Beck of the West's team. Shuman's birdie on number 16 sealed the victory. Matt Deal, and Katie Burnett also collected points towards the Southeast's total.

Robert Andrews of Woodstock, who captured the boys 16-17 age division last year, finished one stroke ahead of the field after firing a final-round 73. He tallied six points for the Northwest section and finished the tournament one shot under par with a 143 total. Andrews was the only player from the Northwest to win his division but the team had three other members contribute to the team total. They were Timothy Kim (boys 14-15), Susan Martin (girls 14-17), and Amira Alexander (girls 13 and under).

Proceeding play on Tuesday afternoon, the contestants competed in long drive and putting competitions within each age division. The long drive of the day came from Mark Rocker of the East section, playing out of the boys 14-15 age division, with a drive of 293 yards. The Northeast's Tyler Cashbough had a 291-yard drive to take the title in the boys 16-17 division. Layton Traux out drove the boys 12-13 division with a 260-yard drive. The boys 11 and under group was won with a 250-yard drive by Jordan Byrd. The 14-17 girls division was won by Susan Martin with 248 yards and Mariah Stackhouse drove the ball 227 yards to take the girls 13 and under group.

The putting competition took place on a nine-hole putting course setup on the Doublegate practice green. Scott Bell, representing the Northwest section in the boys 12-13 division, and Bayley Craig of the Middle, playing out of the boys 14-15, won their divisions and posted the low scores of the day with 17 each. Ryan Steelman took the boys 16-17 group with a 19. Jake Flynt shot a 21 to win the boys 11 and under division. Mariah Stackhouse rolled the ball 26 times to take the girls 13 and under group.

The Junior Sectional Challenge Match is a statewide competition that brings together the top performers from the summer-long GSGA Junior Sectional Program, which was founded in 1974. Participants earned the opportunity to compete and represent their section in the tournament by accumulating points in their section's four qualifying events. Each of the seven geographic sections sends their top four point earners from each boys age division and the top two from each girls division to the Challenge Match. The Junior Sectional Program was established by the Georgia State Golf Association as a grassroots effort to provide juniors across the state with the opportunity to experience competitive golf. The Southeast team won by 24 points in 2002.

Final Results

 
Team Points
Southwest 19
Southeast 18
Northwest 15
West 13
Middle 13
East 10
Northeast 8