The Second Annual Robert Trent Jones Junior Championship teed off on April 24-25 at Carolina Trace Country Club in Sanford with an international field that included players from the United States, Canada and South Africa. The hilly, heavily treed and water protected Carolina Trace Lake Course proved to be a worthy challenge. On Sunday characteristically strong winds added an additional challenge to players, especially on the last nine where 7 of 9 holes have multiple water hazards to manage.

Matthew NeSmith (2012) of North Augusta, SC took the boys high school division title by five strokes over Carter Jenkins (2013), of Raleigh, NC with a four under par score of 140, 69-71. Jenkins scored 70-75. Tied for third were Alex Ehlert (2011) of Raleigh, NC and Patrick Morris (2011) of Hampstead, NC who finished at four over par, 148.

The girls division was won by Kaitlin Matheson (2012) of Easley, SC whose five over par score of 149, 73-76, was three strokes better than Jacqueline Shelly of Fernandina Beach, Florida and seven strokes ahead of Evelyn Dole of Cary, NC.

Benjamin Griffin of Chapel Hill, NC continued his string of sub par scoring, 70-66=136, in the Boys Middle School Division and won by eight strokes over Danny Gleeson of Raleigh, NC who shot event par 144. Third place went to Tristen Strydom of Pretoria, South Africa who completed the weekend at three over par 147.

This event, like most Tarheel Golf Foundation events, had a full field that left many anxious players on the alternated list. The field limit of 72 players made this one of the smaller Tarheel Golf Foundation events of the season. The field played in foursomes and completed their daily rounds at an average pace of 4 hours and 15 minutes. The next open Tarheel Golf Foundation event is the Junior Memorial at National Golf Club in Pinehurst, NC on May 29-30, 2010.

The Tarheel Golf Foundation hosts nationally-ranked junior golf tournaments. With over 1,000 members it s Tarheel Junior Golf Tour is one of the largest and fastest growing junior tours in the United States. Members hail from 26 states and 5 countries and compete over high quality golf courses against strong fields. The organizations mission is to provide these events at a low total cost of participation.

For more information contact: info@tarheelgolf.org
www.tarheelgolf.org