2020 GA-SC Team Matches – First Round Results
Event: 45th Annual Georgia-South Carolina Junior Team Matches
Playing dates: July 31-August 1, 2020
Tournament site: The Farm Golf Club - Rocky Face, GA
45th Edition of the GA-SC Team Challenge Matches Tied After Day One
Rocky Face, GA – The first round results of the 45th annual Georgia-South Carolina Junior Team Matches were a little deceiving when you look at the overall outcome – Team Georgia with four (4) points and Team South Carolina with four (4) points. The majority of the matches were not as close when looking at individual results from a warm and muggy day at The Farm Golf Club in Rocky Face, Georgia. The lopsided matches and a couple of tight finishes were welcomed by players and a few spectators to continue the longest running interstate junior matches in the country.
The lead-off match was the most closely contested with Jonathan Brennan (Taylors, SC) making birdies on two of the final three holes to earn a point over the hot putting Steve Kibare (Canton, GA). Eric Nord (Blythewood, SC) and the recent Carolina Junior Champion, William Jennings (Greenville) followed suite both closing out their matches early and earning another two points for the Sandlappers. Reigning SCGA Junior Champion Trey Crenshaw (Lancaster) closed out his match 5&4 to give South Carolina the early four-point cushion.
From that point on, team Georgia rallied with Brantley Baker (Leesburg, GA) defeating Griffin Tarver (Tega Cay, SC) 4&2. The final three matches still on the golf course all went by the way of 4&3 victories for the Peach Staters when Jackson Buchanan (Dacula), Luke Dasher (Macon) and GSGA Junior Champion Hogan Ingram (Rome). For the first time in a couple of years, the Matches stand tied or All Square headed into the final day.
Forty-five years ago, Pete Cox of the Georgia State Golf Association and Charles Rountree, Jr. of the South Carolina Golf Association formalized the idea of the GA - SC team matches. The winning team has their victory inscribed on the beautiful Rountree - Cox trophy that was donated by the Rountree family. Every junior golfer that has participated in the 45-year-old competition will find his name on the trophy with his teammates. The Georgia teams have produced 24 victories as compared to the 16 for the SC teams and four ties. Last year’s event held at the Country Club of Spartanburg in Spartanburg, SC saw the South Carolina squad earn their third straight victory.
Teams from both states were selected by accepting the top eight finishers at each state's Junior Championship. Friday's matches started at 11:00 a.m. and will begin at 8:00 a.m. on Saturday morning. It should also be noted that the Carolina’s Golf Course Superintendents Association, the Georgia Chapter of the Golf Course Superintendents Association, Titleist and Elliot Bag Company are proud supporters of the Georgia- South Carolina Junior Challenge Matches.
Pairings:
First Round - Friday, July 31
Team SC – 4, Team GA – 4
11:00 a.m. – Jonathan Brennan (Taylors, SC) 1Up Steve Kibare (Canton, GA)
11:09 a.m. – Eric Nord (Blythewood, SC) 2&1 Marcus Reynolds (Watkinsville, GA)
11:18 a.m. – William Jennings (Greenville, SC) 3&2 Bo Blanchard (Columbus, GA)
11:27 a.m. – Brantley Baker (Leesville, GA) 4&2 Griffin Tarver (Tega Cay, SC)
11:36 a.m. – Jackson Buchanan (Dacula, GA) 4&3 Luke Walmet (Mt. Pleasant, SC)
11:45 a.m. – Luke Dasher (Macon, GA) 4&3 Jerry Bruns (Beaufort, SC)
11:54 a.m. – Hogan Ingram (Rome, GA) 4&3 Waymon Thomas (Mt. Pleasant, SC)
12:03 a.m. – Trey Crenshaw (Lancaster, SC) 5&4 Parker Highsmith (Valdosta, GA)
Second Round - Saturday, July 20
8:00 a.m. – Jonathan Brennan (Taylors, SC) v. Marcus Reynolds (Watkinsville, GA)
8:09 a.m. – Eric Nord (Blythewood, SC) v. Steve Kibare (Canton, GA)
8:18 a.m. – William Jennings (Greenville, SC) v. Brantley Baker (Leesville, GA)
8:27 a.m. – Griffin Tarver (Tega Cay, SC) v. Bo Blanchard (Columbus, GA)
8:36 a.m. – Luke Walmet (Mt. Pleasant, SC) v. Luke Dasher (Macon, GA)
8:45 a.m. – Jerry Bruns (Beaufort, SC) v. Jackson Buchanan (Dacula, GA)
8:54 a.m. – Waymon Thomas (Mt. Pleasant, SC) v. Parker Highsmith (Valdosta, GA)
9:03 a.m. – Trey Crenshaw (Lancaster, SC) v. Hogan Ingram (Rome, GA)
