2007 Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match

South Carolina Juniors Overtake Georgia in Annual Junior Challenge Match

GRANITEVILLE, S.C. – Georgia's juniors fought back to within a single point but South Carolina's late charge helped them claim victory, 9 1/2 to 6 1/2, at the 32nd annual Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match, which took place at Sage Valley Golf and Hunt Club, July 19-20. Georgia won two early matches but South Carolina then took wins in three of the next four to pull away from the Georgia squad. A convincing win in match number seven by Orangeburg's Jacob Burger, over Augusta's Clark Palmer, put South Carolina on top and gave the Palmetto State its first win since 2003.

Trailing by a two points going into the final round (5-3), Georgia needed to tally five and a half points to clinch the overall match. The first match of the day, between Ollie Schneiderjans of Powder Springs and Corbin Mills of Easley, resulted in a 4 and 3 victory for Mills. A few holes behind them, Georgia countered with two dominating points of its own as Augusta's Chase Parker and Thomasville's Harris English dispatched each of their opponents. Parker defeated Stephen Behr of Florence, 6 and 5, while English, the 2007 Georgia Amateur Champion, defeated Newberry's Martin Summer, 6 and 4.

South Carolina rallied in the next two matches though. Crawford Reeves of Greenville played his first twelve holes at a six-under clip and posted an 8 and 6 win over Marietta's Brent Whitehead as Corbin Mills of Easley closed down his match with Collin Ho of Albany, 2 up, on No. 18.

Needing to win all three remaining matches, Team Georgia would tally just one more point from Macon's Taylor Floyd, who defeated Logan Daber of Hilton Head, 4 and 3. South Carolina closed out hopes for Georgia as Orangeburg's Jacob Burger, playing in his third GA-SC Junior Challenge Match, tallied South Carolina's ninth point of the competition with a 4 and 3 win over Clark Palmer of Augsta. The final match of the day between Acworth's James White Jr. and Chapin's Wesley Bryan, the states' respective Junior Champions, ended all square, adding a half point to each team's total score.

South Carolina's victory is their first in this event since the 2003 contest. Since the event switched to its current format in 1995, the Palmetto State holds a 7-6 advantage in the series. Georgia is now 2-5 – in match play – when South Carolina hosts.

This was the 32nd 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 20-12 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) and Brian Harman (2005). Harris English is the first player to have won the Georgia Amateur title prior to competing in the Challenge Match.

Final Results
South Carolina 9 1/2, Georgia 6 1/2

 

Round One Results: South Carolina 5, Georgia 3
Brad Sill, Spartanburg def. Ollie Schniederjans, Powder Springs, 1 up
Corbin Mills, Easley def. Collin Ho, Albany, 3 and 2
Chase Parker, Augusta vs. Martin Summer, Newberry, All Square
Harris English, Thomasville def. Stephen Behr, Florence, 4 and 3
Crawford Reeves, Greenville def. Taylor Floyd, Macon, 3 and 2
Brent Whitehead, Marietta def. Logan Daber, Hilton Head, 5 and 4
Wesley Bryan, Chapin def. Clark Palmer, Augusta, 5 and 4
James White Jr., Acworth vs. Jacob Burger, Orangeburg, All Square

Round Two Results: South Carolina 4 1/2, Georgia 3 1/2
Mills, S.C. def. Schniederjans, Ga., 4 and 3
Sill, S.C. def. Ho. Ga., 2 up
Parker, Ga. def. Behr, S.C., 6 and 5
English, Ga. def. Summer, S.C., 6 and 4
Floyd, Ga. def. Daber, S.C., 4 and 3
Reeves, S.C. def. Whitehead, Ga., 8 and 6
Burger, S.C. def. Palmer, Ga., 4 and 3
White, Ga. vs. Bryan, S.C., All Square