Tri-County Junior Golf

The Tri-County Junior Golf Association's annual summer event, The Summer Swing, got off to a great start on Saturday, August 19 at The Ridges Country Club in Hayesville, NC. The afternoon was perfect for golf and saw 37 junior players from the surrounding 7 counties play for this summer's championship. The tournament moved to Butternut Creek Golf Course for Sunday's round. Unfortunately Sunday's round involved the typical summer afternoon thunderstorms producing not only rain but lightning. For the safety of the players, the second round was cancelled.

The field of players ranged from a girls division of 10 years and under to a boys division of 15 to17. "Each year the players are better then the year before. They are developing the skills and knowledge of the game of golf, which is what junior golf is all about", said Steve Gonyea. Steve serves as

president of the Tri-County Junior Golf Association and is the Golf Course Superintendent at Brasstown Valley Resort. The set up for the tournament was for the older junior players to play 18 holes with the younger players playing 9 holes. One of the stand outs of the tournament was Parker Lewis, winner of the boys' 15-17 age group. Parker carded a 76 with birdies on # 2 and # 11 at The Ridges. It was with huge reluctance that Steve and Bret Beazley, Vice President of the TriCounty Junior Golf Association and Director of Golf at The Ridges, had to cancel the second round on Sunday. It ended up being the

right decision because as soon as trophies were presented the weather worsened. Using the scores from Saturday's round, the Summer Swing trophies were presented to the players.

The following players placed in the Summer Swing: Boys 15-17: Parker Lewis Andrew Bateman, Pierce Markowitz, Boys 13-14: Justin Gonyea, Evan Brakefield, Luke Crumley, Boys 11-12: Eli Crumley, James Rowe, Hunter Parker, Boys 10 and under: Isaac Mills, Colin Williams, Daniel Kumler, Girls 14 and under: Mirando Carballo, Girls 10 and under: Faith Robinson, Photos attached: Winners with Steve Gonyea and Brett Beazley,