2006 Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match

Georgia Comes From Behind to Win Junior Challenge Match for Third-Consecutive Year

ATLANTA, Ga. - Georgia's juniors fought back from a one-point deficit to defeat their South Carolina counterparts and claim victory, 9 to 7, at the Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match, which took place at East Lake Golf Club, July 29-30. The two teams split the opening two matches but Georgia would then rattle off wins in each of the next three to move ahead of the South Carolina squad. A dominating win in match number eight by Macon's Russell Henley put Georgia on top and would carry them to a two-point win.

Trailing by a single point going into the final round (4 1/2-3 1/2), Georgia needed to tally five points to clinch the overall match. The first match of the day, between Roswell's Sam Braver and Austin Reeves of Greenville, finished resulted in a 1-up victory for Braver. South Carolina countered with a point when Josh Gallman of Gaffney sank a 50-foot putt on number 18 to hold off Will Jones of Rome, 1 up.

Georgia climbed back into the overall match tallying points from Savannah's Brendan Gillins, who lost his match in round one, and Alex Boyd of Augusta. Boyd, who defeated Spartanburg's Clint Tolleson in his first round, found his way to another match win on the second day over Wesley Bryan of Chapin, 1 up. Gillins picked up his game in the second round winning his match over Tolleson, 1 up.

As Gillins' and Boyd's matches were finishing, Russell Henley, the 2006 Georgia Junior Champion, closed out the South Carolina Junior Champion, Jacob Burger of Orangeburg, 5 and 4. With that victory, Henley tied the record for career points earned in the Challenge Match at 5 1/2. Henley shares the record with Brian Harman, who represented the Peach State from 2001-2003.

James White Jr. of Acworth claimed a 3 and 2 victory over Crawford Reeves of Greenville to give team Georgia all they needed to finish off the Palmetto State. White captured two convincing matches in the event, which included a first-round win over Austin Cody of North Charleston, 6 and 5. McCuen Elmore of Cheraw added a late point to the South Carolina total with a win of 3 and 1 over Matt Nagy of Buena Vista.

Harris English was unable to compete, due to injury, in his match with Cody in round two. Before the start of play on day two, both state's officials agreed that the match would be halved with each state receiving a half point.

 

This was the 31st 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 20-11 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) and Jonathan Shiflet (2002). The 2005 Georgia Amateur Champion, Brian Harman, who was also the nation's top-ranked junior player and two-time Georgia Junior Champion, competed for Team Georgia from 2001-03.

Final Results
Final Score: Georgia 9, South Carolina 7

Round One Results: South Carolina 4 1/2, Georgia 3 1/2
Josh Gallman, Gaffney def. Sam Braver, Roswell, 2 and 1
Austin Reeves, Greenville def. Will Jones, Rome, 6 and 5
Alex Boyd, Augusta def. Clint Tolleson, Spartanburg, 2 and 1
Wesley Bryan, Chapin def. Brendan Gillins, Savannah, 6 and 4
Crawford Reeves, Greenville vs Harris English, Thomasville, All Square
James White Jr., Acworth def. Austin Cody, N. Charleston, 6 and 5
Russell Henley, Macon def. McCuen Elmore, Cherew, 2 and 1
Jacob Burger, Orangeburg def. Matt Nagy, Buena Vista, 4 and 2

Round Two Results: Georgia 5 1/2, South Carolina 2 1/2
Braver, Ga. def. A. Reeves, S.C., 1 up
Gallman, S.C. def. Jones, Ga., 1 up
Gillins, Ga. def. Tolleson, S.C., 1 up
Boyd, Ga. def. Bryan, S.C., 1 up
White, Ga. def. C. Reeves, S.C., 3 and 2
Cody, S.C. vs. English, Ga., All Square
Elmore, S.C. def. Nagy, Ga., 3 and 1
Henley, Ga. def. Burger, S.C., 5 and 4