2009 GA-SC Girls’ Junior Challenge Match

Georgia Falls to South Carolina in Girls' Junior Challenge Match
Palmetto State posts 19 ½ - 4 ½ victory in fourth annual event

OKATIE, S.C. – Georgia picked up three points on Sunday, but could not overcome its large opening-round deficit and lost the fourth annual Girls' Junior Challenge Match to South Carolina by a score of 19 ½ to 4 ½. The event took place at Oldfield Golf Club, August 8-9.

South Carolina came into the final round needing just two points to clinch the Match after jumping out to a nine-point lead, 10 ½ to 1 ½, in the opening round. They took care of that early, as Maureen Dunnagan of Lexington won all three points over Jessica Welch of Lavonia with a 3-and-1 victory in the first match of the day. South Carolina also got a second shutout victory as McKenzie Talbert of North Augusta posted a 6-and-4 win over Caitlin Watts of LaGrange.

Sloan Shanahan of Suwanee was the only Georgia player to win a match in either day of the competition, as she topped Collins Bradshaw of Columbia, 4 and 3, in the final round to earn 2 ½ points. Bradshaw took an early 2-up lead, but Shanahan got it back to All Square at the turn to split the front nine point. She then won four of the next five holes to secure the back nine point as well as the overall match.

In a matchup between the two states' current Girls' Champions, Katie Rose Higgins of Charleston defeated Carrie Metz of Carnesville, 3 and 1. The match was tight throughout the opening nine, as the two players were All Square at the turn and split the front nine point. But Higgins won holes 10, 11 and 12 to get to 3 up, then held on for the victory.

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 are awarded for matches that are All Square after each nine and overall.

In the fourth year of this competition, Georgia (2007, 08) and South Carolina (2006, '09) each own two wins in the series.

Teams are composed of the top four finishers from each state's 2009 Girls' Championship, provided they are at least13 years old. Any necessary player substitutions follow the order of finish.

Final ResultsSouth Carolina 19 1/2, Georgia 4 1/2

 

Day Two ResultsPoints: South Carolina 9, Georgia 3
Maureen Dunnagan, Lexington vs. Jessica Welch, Lavonia; Dunnagan, 3 and 1; SC 3, GA 0
Collins Bradshaw, Columbia vs. Sloan Shanahan, Suwanee; Shanahan, 4 and 3; GA 2 ½, SC ½
McKenzie Talbert, North Augusta vs. Caitlin Watts, LaGrange; Talbert, 6 and 4; SC 3, GA 0
Katie Rose Higgins, Charleston vs. Carrie Metz, Carnesville; Higgins, 3 and 1; SC 2 ½, GA ½

Day One ResultsPoints: South Carolina 10 1/2, Georgia 1 1/2
Katie Rose Higgins, Charleston vs. Caitlin Watts, LaGrange; Higgins, 5 and 4; SC 3, GA 0
McKenzie Talbert, North Augusta vs. Carrie Metz, Carnesville; Talbert, 1 up; SC 2, GA 1
Collins Bradshaw, Columbia vs. Jessica Welch, Lavonia; Bradshaw, 3 and 2; SC 2½, GA ½
Maureen Dunnagan, Lexington vs. Sloan Shanahan, Suwanee; Dunnagan, 7 and 6; SC 3, GA 0