Junior Golfers converge on The Ridges

The Tri-County Junior Golf Association held another tournament. This fourth event was held at The Ridges Resort and Country Club and was sponsored by United Community Bank of Hayesville, NC. Glenda Cheeks from the bank was on hand to great the players before they took to the course. In appreciation of the bank's sponsorship, the event was titled "The United Community Bank Open". The tournament also brought all the junior players back together again playing on the same course on the same day. The course under the direction of Brett Beazley, Director of Golf Operations at The Ridges, was in excellent shape and challenged all the players except one from Fannin County..

In the boys 15-17 division, the top three finishers had outstanding play with all of them carding in the 30's. Pierce Markowitz from Fannin County conquered the course by carding the lowest score for nine holes for the whole season. Pierce shot a 34 for nine holes, four shots better than his closest competitor. Luke Crumley from White County continued his dominance in the boys 13-14 division by shooting a 42 for nine holes. The excitement in this division though came from Alex Hood, also from White County, who eagled the ninth hole. Alex will be inducted into the TCGJA's Eagle Club at this fall's golf banquet. He joins a select group of juniors who over the years have eagled a hole while playing on the junior tour. Congratulations Alex!! The girls 14 and under division saw some changes with two girls placing for the first time this year. Alice Thompson from Clay County placed first and Ansley Schoeffler from Union County placed second. Congratulations also to both girls.

Boys 13-14 Winners

For the county competition, Clay County took two first place finishes while Fannin, White, Union, Cherokee and Towns took one first place finish each. Total places for all the divisions had the following results: First place goes to Clay County with 11, Union County takes second with 8, White County takes third with 3, Towns and Cherokee Counties tie with 2 and Fannin County takes one.

The Tri-County Junior Golf Association appreciates all the support from the player's parents who make sure that their junior golfers are on time each week. For more information on the TCJGA, please contact Tsali Bentley at 706-745- 0001.

Boys 8 and Under Winners

United Community Bank Open Results:
Boys 15-17:
      First place   Pierce Markowitz (Fannin Co.)

      Second place           A n d r e w
Bateman (Cherokee Co.)
      Third place Jake Farner (Union
Co.)
Boys 13-14:
      First     place     Luke     Crumley
(White Co.)
      Second place Alex Hood (White
Co.)
      Third place Zach     Cox     (Clay
Co.)
Boys 11-12:

Boys 10 and Under Winners

      First place Clay Burnette (Union
Co.)
      Second place           E       l       i
Crumley (White Co.)
      Third place Blade   Szczepanski
(Union Co.)
      Fourth     place     James     Rowe
(Union Co.)
      Fifth place   Phillip   Stubblefield
(Union Co.)
Boys 10 and Under:
      First place   Isaac   Mills   (Clay
Co.)
      Second   place   Mclean   Hartz
(Clay Co.)
      Third place Chris     Rhinehardt

Boys 11-12 Winners

(Clay Co.)
      Fourth   place   Josh   Sprinkles
(Clay Co.)
      Fifth place   Alex   Walsh   (Clay
Co.)
      Sixth place Grant         Schuette
(Union Co.)

Boys 8 and under:
      First place   Colin Williams (Cherokee Co.)
      Second place           Dylan     Brown     (Clay
Co.)
      Third place Josh Cottrell (Clay Co.)
      Fourth   place   Kyle   Rhinehardt   (Clay
Co.)
      Fifth place   Corey Brown (Clay Co.)

Girls 14 and Under Winners

Girls 14 and under:
      First place Alice Thompson (Clay Co.)
      Second     place     Ansley     Schoeffler
(Union Co.)
Girls 10 and under:
      First place   Faithe   Robinson   (Towns
Co.)

Second place           Mia Manto (Towns Co.)
Third place Megan Rowe (Union Co.)

Girls 10 and Under Winners Boys 15-17 Winners