2011 Georgia-South Carolina Girls’ Junior Challenge Match

Georgia Wins Girls' Junior Challenge Match, 19-5
Peach State goes 6-1-1 in matches over two days

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, S.C. ---- The girls' from Georgia are winners of the sixth annual Georgia-South Carolina Girls' Junior Challenge Match, which was played at Harbour Towne Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C., August 6-7. The 19-5 final score is the second-highest margin of victory produced in this event, and highest since 2009 when South Carolina won, 19 ½-4 ½.

After Team Georgia took a commanding lead after the opening round, 9 ½-2 ½, they never looked back as three of the four players won their matches in the final round, with the fourth match ending at all square. In the first match of the day, Sloan Shanahan of Suwanee tied Lauren Stephenson of Lexington, S.C., so each player earned half a point for their respective teams. From then on it was all Georgia.

So Jeong Lee of Duluth won her match over Sydney Legacy of Lexington, S.C., 2 and 1. Michaela Owen of Suwanee beat Mary Chandler Bryan of Chapin, S.C., 5 and 4, and finished the two-day event 2-0 in her matches. The Georgia girls' champion, Rachel Dai of Suwanee, topped South Carolina's girls' champion, Kelsey Badmauv of Blythewood, 5 and 3. Dai also won both her matches this weekend.

With the victory, the Peach State improves to 4-2 in the annual Georgia-South Carolina Girls' Junior Challenge Match, and has won back-to-back for the second time in five years.

South Carolina won the inaugural event in 2006 at The Landings Club (Plantation) in Savannah. Georgia won the next two, 2007 and 2008, at Berkeley Hall in Bluffton, S.C., and Sea Island Golf Club (Retreat) in St. Simons Island, respectively. South Carolina won in its home state at Oldfield Golf Club in Okatie in 2009, and last year Georgia won its 'home' match at Harbor Club in Greensboro.

The two teams competed using the Nassau format, which awards one point to the winner of each nine and one point to the overall match winner. Half-points were awarded for matches that are all square after each nine and overall.

Teams were composed of the top four finishers from each state's 2011 Girls' Championship, provided they are at least13 years old. Any necessary player substitutions follow the order of finish. Dai won the Georgia Girls' Championship, while Owen, Lee and Shanahan took second, third and fourth, respectively. The 2011 Georgia Girls' Championship took place June 20-22 at Piedmont Driving Club in Atlanta.

Final Points: Georgia 19, South Carolina 5

 

Second Round Results:Sunday, August 7
Sloan Shanahan, Suwanee vs. Lauren Stephenson, Lexington; All Square
So Jeong Lee, Duluth vs. Sydney Legacy, Lexgington; Lee, 2 and 1
Michaela Owen, Suwanee vs. Mary Chandler Bryan, Chapin; Owen, 5 and 4
Rachel Dai, Suwanee vs. Kelsey Badmauv, Blythewood; Dai, 5 and 3
Second Round Points: Georgia 9 ½, South Carolina 2 ½

 

First Round Results: Saturday, August 6
So Jeong Lee, Duluth vs. Lauren Stephenson, Lexington; Stephenson, 6 and 5
Sloan Shanahan, Suwanee vs. Sydney Legacy, Lexgington; Shanahan, 4 and 3
Rachel Dai, Suwanee vs. Mary Chandler Bryan, Chapin; Dai, 2 up
Michaela Owen, Suwanee vs. Kelsey Badmauv, Blythewood; Owen, 6 and 5
First Round Points: Georgia 9 ½, South Carolina 2 ½