2008 Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match

Georgia's Junior Players Run Away With Challenge Match Victory
Peach State holds South Carolina to a single point on the final day

BALL GROUND, Ga. – Georgia's juniors won six and halved two matches to defeat their South Carolina counterparts and claim victory, 11 1/2 to 4 1/2, at the Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match, which took place at Hawks Ridge Golf Club, July 18-19. Georgia charted wins in each of their first four matches to close the door on the South Carolina squad. A dominating performance in match number eight by Augusta's Lee Knox put Georgia on top for good and would carry them to a seven-point victory.

Leading by a single point going into the final round (4 1/2 - 3 1/2), Georgia needed to tally four points to clinch the overall match. Team Georgia wasted no time as Augusta's Clark Palmer dropped Mark Joye of Columbia, 8 and 7. Dykes Harbin, Also of Augusta, then dispatched his opponent, Shane Rogan of Columbia, by a score of 5 and 3. Gainesville's Grant Cagle and Miller Capps of Seneca played in match three, which resulted in a 2 and 1 victory for Cagle. The match-clinching point came via the eighth match of the day where Lee Knox of Augusta finished off Sumter's Hayden Letien, 5 and 4.

Match five, featuring the states' 2008 Junior Champions, saw Augusta's Chase Parker win the 18th hole to halve his overall match with Thomas Bradshaw of Columbia. Georgia and South Carolina each received a half point for the all square match.

Georgia lengthened the margin of victory in the overall match tallying points from Cameron Simmons of Acworth, who defeated Greenville's Crawford Reeves, and Blake Soni of Bogart. Soni defeated Kamito Harai of Summervile in his match, 3 and 2. Simmons also won his second day match 3 and 2. Georgia picked up another half point when Valdosta's Trey McQuaig concluded his match with Caleb Sturgeon of Laurens, all square.

This was the 33rd playing of the Georgia-South Carolina Challenge Match, which brings together the top junior golfers in the two neighboring states. Teams are composed of the top eight finishers from each state's Junior Championship. Georgia now owns a 21-12 lead in the all-time series.

Many notable players have represented Georgia in this competition over the years, including PGA Tour Professionals Davis Love III, Gene Sauers, Bob Tway and Larry Mize and several Georgia Amateur Champions, including Bill Bergin (1981), Carter Mize (1993-1994), Jack Croyle (2000), Jonathan Shiflet (2002), Brian Harman (2005), Harris English (2007) and Russell Henley (2008).

Final Results
Georgia - 11 1/2, South Carolina - 4 1/2

Round One - Friday, July 18
Georgia - 4 1/2, South Carolina - 3 1/2

 

Match 1: Shane Rogan, Columbia def. Grant Cagle, Gainesville 1 up
Match 2: Miller Capps, Seneca def. Dykes Harbin, Augusta 4 & 3
Match 3: Crawford Reeves, Greenville def. Clark Palmer, Augusta 2 & 1
Match 4: Cameron Simmons, Acworth def. Mark Joye, Columbia 1 up
Match 5: Trey McQuaig, Valdosta def. Kamito Hirai, Summerville 3 & 2
Match 6: Blake Soni, Bogart def. Caleb Sturgeon, Laurens 2 & 1
Match 7: Thomas Bradshaw, Columbia vs. Lee Knox, Augusta All Square
Match 8: Chase Parker, Augusta def. Hayden Letien, Sumter 3 & 2

 

Round Two - Saturday, July 19
Georgia - 7, South Carolina - 1

 

Match 1: Clark Palmer, Augusta def. Mark Joye, Columbia 8 & 7
Match 2: Thomas Bradshaw, Columbia vs. Chase Parker, Augusta All Square
Match 3: Grant Cagle, Gainesville def. Miller Capps, Seneca 2 & 1
Match 4: Dykes Harbin, Augusta def. Shane Rogan, Columbia 5 & 3
Match 5: Cameron Simmons, Acworth def. Crawford Reeves, Greenville 3 & 2
Match 6: Caleb Sturgeon, Laurens vs. Trey McQuaig, Valdosta All Square
Match 7: Blake Soni, Bogart def. Kamito Hirai, Summerville 3 & 2
Match 8: Lee Knox, Augusta def. Hayden Letien, Sumter 5 & 4