2003 Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match

South Carolina Juniors Overtake Georgia, Win Annual Match

HILTON HEAD, S.C. - South Carolina won five out of eight matches and halved another on the final day to overtake Georgia 9 to 7 at the 28th Annual Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match held at Harbor Town Golf Links. Georgia's top juniors held a narrow 4 ½-3 ½ lead after the first round but failed to hold off a final charge from South Carolina for the second-straight year.

Two matches came down to the final holes, with Michael Green of Augusta falling to Fielder Huntley of Columbia 1 up and Seth Brandon of Dalton losing 2 up to Timothy Tang of North Charleston.

Winning matches for Georgia were two-time state champion Brian Harman of Savannah, who defeated South Carolina's champion Mark Anderson of Beaufort 2 and 1. Seth McCain of Comer won his match over Allen Koon of Bamberg 2 up. Troy Bartkowicz of Sharpsburg halved his match with Soonam Kang of Goose Creek.

Harman, a quarterfinalist in the 2002 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship and the nation's number-one ranked junior, earned a record fifth win and stands at 5-0-1 in his three appearances. Harman, 16, and his Savannah Christian teammate, Chase MacFarland, were the only returning players from the 2002 team.  MacFarland, who along with Harman will compete in next week's U.S. Junior, was 1-1 in the 2003 event, losing Saturday to South Carolina's Junior Match Play Champion Vince Hatfield of Greenwood, 3 and 2. MacFarland is 2-2 overall.

 

This was the 28th 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 still holds the edge in this event, with 17 wins to South Carolina's 11. South Carolina won 8 ½ - 7 ½ last year at Peachtree Golf Club in Atlanta.

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, Bill Bergin (1981), Carter Mize (1993-1994), Jack Croyle (2000); and Jonathan Shiflet (2002).

Final Results
Final Points: South Carolina - 9, Georgia - 7

 

Round Two Results: South Carolina - 5 ½, Georgia 2 1/2
Brian Harman, Savannah, Ga. def. Mark Anderson, Beaufort, S.C., 2 and 1
Vince Hatfield, Greenwood, S.C. def. Chase MacFarland, Savannah, Ga., 3 and 2
Spencer Cole, Greer, S.C. def. Bryan Miller, Rocky Face, Ga., 5 and 4
Fielder Huntley, Columbia, S.C. def. Michael Green, Augusta, Ga., 1 up
Seth McCain, Comer, Ga. def. Allen Koon, Bamberg, S.C., 2 up
Timothy Tang, N. Charleston, S.C. def. Seth Brandon, Dalton, Ga., 2 up
Soonam Kim, Goose Creek, S.C. vs. Troy Bartkowicz, Sharpsburg, Ga, All Square
Phillip Mollica, Anderson, S.C. def. Wallace Palmer, Augusta, Ga., 8 and 6

 

Round One Results: Georgia - 4 1/2; South Carolina 3 1/2
Fielder Huntley, Columbia, S.C. def. Bryan Miller, Rocky Face, Ga., 2 up
Michael Green, Augusta, Ga. def. Spencer Cole, Greer, S.C., 1 up
Seth McCain, Comer, Ga. def. Timothy Tang, N. Charleston, S.C., 2 and 1
Seth Brandon, Dalton, Ga. def. Allen Koon, Bamberg, S.C., 5 and 4
Phillip Mollica, Anderson, S.C. def. Troy Bartkowicz, Sharpsburg, Ga., 2 and 1
Soonam Kim, Goose Creek, S.C. def. Wallace Palmer, Augusta, Ga., 3 and 2
Chase MacFarland, Savannah, Ga. def. Mark Anderson, S.C., Beaufort, 2 and 1
Vince Hatfield, Greenwood, S.C. vs. Brian Harman, Savannah, Ga., All Square