2002 Junior Sectional Challenge Match

Southeast Team Dominates, Wins GSGA Junior Sectional Challenge Match

 

MILLEDGEVILLE, GA - The Southeast Section dominated three of six age divisions on its way to a 24-point victory at the GSGA's Junior Sectional Challenge Match, which was played at Milledgeville Country Club, July 24-25.

The Southeast's Stacy Webb shot 73-76-149 to win the Boys 16-17 by three over teammate Robert Pence, while Ben Lee, Matt Deal and Mitch Baxley picked up six, four and three points respectively with their one-two-three finish for the Southeast in the Boys 14-15. Lee, who lost in a playoff in 2001, finished at six-over 150, one stroke ahead of Deal and two ahead of Baxley. Kevin Johnson earned the team's other first place finish, winning the Boys 12-13 by four strokes over the West's Michael Lee. Johnson carded 76-77-153. The Southeast team picked up another five points with Chad NeSmith and Chas Standridge finishing five back of Johnson.

The East team collected the top three spots in the Boys' 11 and under to finish second with 16 team points. John Keller shot a two-day total of one-under 71 to win by four over teammates Tom Hardy and Clark Palmer. The Southeast got two more of their 40 team points with a fourth place showing by Crawford Simmons, who finished at 77.

The Middle's Christina Wentworth shot 80-75-155 to win the Girls' 14-17 by two strokes over Katy Rogers of the Northeast (79-78-157). Anna Leigh Keith of the Southwest carded nine-hole scores of 41-39-80 to win the Girls 13 and under by five strokes over the Southeast's Alei Mitchell. Points were given for the top four finishers in the boys divisions (six, four, three, two), while the girls received points for first and second (six, four).

The Junior Sectional Challenge Match is a statewide competition that brings together the top performers from the summer-long GSGA Junior Sectional Program. 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 team winner, or winning section, is determined by cumulative points earned based on order of finish in the various age divisions.

The Junior Sectional Program began in 1974 and 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.

GSGA conducts 18 statewide competitions for men and women of all age groups, three interstate matches, one Atlanta-area competition and 17 USGA qualifying events each year. Other services include computerized handicapping, course rating and measuring, a summer-long junior sectional competitions program, Golf Georgia magazine and two college scholarship programs.

Final Results

Team Points
1. Southeast 40
2. East 16
3. Southwest 10
4. Middle 6
5. Northeast 4
6. West 4
7. Northwest 0