2001 Junior Sectional Challenge Match

Northeast Team Emerges Victorious at GSGA Junior Sectional Challenge Match

PERRY, GA - In one of the closest finishes in the event's recent history, the Northeast Section edged out the Northwest and Middle Sections by one point to win this year's GSGA Junior Sectional Challenge Match, which was played at Perry Country Club, July 25-26.

Six sudden-death playoffs were needed in five of the six age groups to determine finishing order and thus overall team point totals. Points were awarded for the top five places in each division. First place was worth six points, second was worth four, third was worth three, fourth was worth two and fifth was worth one point. Adding to the tight race, six different sections each took one of the six division titles.

The Northeast's 18 points were bolstered by a playoff win for first in the Boys 14-15 Division. Matt Dale of Gillsville, who shot even par Thursday for a 75-71-146, defeated the Middle's Ben Lee of Milledgeville, who shot 74-72-146. The Northwest team's hopes were dashed by playoff losses for second place in the Boys 12-13 and third place in the Boys 16-17, which denied them the two points they needed for a victory.

The West's Adam Cooper shot two-under par Thursday to finish 74-69-143 and win the Boys 16-17 Division by three strokes. The Northeast's Taylor Crosby of Athens finished second and also shot 69, tying Cooper for the low round of the tournament. The Southeast's Garrett Phillips won the Girls' 14-17 by four strokes with an 81-82-163. Middle Section's Ryan Steelman bettered his first round score of 82 by eight strokes and vaulted up eight spots to take the Boys 12-13 Division. Northwest's Jade Bollinger Alpharetta shot a two-day total of 48-42-90 to take the Girls' 13 and Under. The Boys 11 and Under winner was the Southwest's Harris English of Moultrie who finished four-over with scores of 37-39-76.

 

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 sent 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 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.

Final Results

1 - Northeast - 18
2 - Middle - 17
3 - Northwest - 17
4 - West - 15
5 - East - 11
6 - Southeast - 9
7 - Southwest - 9 points