THE
CAROLINAS - GEORGIA
JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP
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SCHLOTTMAN AND HIRAI
CAPTURE 2014 TITLES AT MOUNT VINTAGE
CAPTURE 2014 TITLES AT MOUNT VINTAGE
Ben Schlottman needed to get home so he could complete some statistics homework due Tuesday morning. He just needed to do one more thing before leaving Mount Vintage. He needed to finish a battle that began earlier that day with his playing partner RJ Keur. The two began the day tied for the lead after opening rounds of 71. Keur, a Charleston Southern signee, took a two shot lead over Schlottman heading to the back nine after firing a one-under par 35. A bogie by Keur on the par 3 eleventh hole and a birdie by Schlottman on the par 5 twelfth tied the two at one-under with six holes to play. Schlottman grabbed the lead with a birdie on the par 5 sixteenth hole but followed the birdie up with a bogie on the difficult par 4 seventeenth hole. Both players made par on the final hole to end tied in regulation. The first playoff in tournament history began on the par 4 first hole. Both players would par the first hole and head to the par 5 ninth. Schlottman, an Auburn signee, found the green with his second shot to set up an eagle putt. Keur’s second shot found the front fringe, leaving him a difficult up and down. His chip came up short, leaving him 10 feet from the hole. Schlottman’s eagle putt came up a couple feet short, leaving Keur with his putt to tie. He calmly knocked it home to send the playoff back to the first hole. Both players were able to make par, forcing a fourth playoff hole. With the darkness approaching, Schlottman again found the green with his second shot. Keur was unable to reach the green in two and watched as his rival lipped out for eagle. When Keur was unable to convert his birdie putt, Ben Schlottman had captured the Carolinas Georgia Junior Championship. North Carolina’s Eric Bae and Georgia’s Jake Fendt finished in a tie for third place, posting a two-day total of 2-over par 146. Finishing in a three way tie for fifth place after posting 3-over par 147 were Will Chandler, David Kocher, and Josh Martin. Martin followed an opening round 77 with a one-under par 71, the low round of the day.
Playoff Decides Boy’s Division
Hirai’s Redemption
First round leader, Reona Hirai, knew first hand that this tournament would always come down to being able to finish strong on the final nine. After having the lead last year with nine holes to play, she was unable to close the deal. After a 2-over 38 on her first nine Monday, Hirai knew she was again in the driver’s seat with nine holes to play. Four bogies in a row beginning on the eleventh hole had her fighting to keep her lead. Playing even par over the last four holes preserved her lead over runner-up, Diane Lim, of Norcross, Georgia. Hard charging Auburn signee, Kelli Murphy, finished in third place after firing a tournament low 73 on Monday. Hirai will be heading to Furman University in the fall after completing a fantastic junior career, which includes being named the SCJGA Player of the Year the last two years.
North Carolina Captures Team Competition
After capturing the inaugural team title in 2009, North Carolina’s team had come close, but had not been able to claim the title until this year. The North Carolina team, led by the boy’s champion, Ben Schlottman, built a 12 shot lead after day one over the SC team and a 13 shot lead over the Georgia team. North Carolina held off a charge by the SC team on day 2 to capture the team title by 6 shots over the SC team and 13 shots over the Georgia team.
Awards and Recognition
Prior to the start of the first round on Sunday, the tournament committee and the Mount Vintage Ladies Golf Association recognized Isabella Skinner for her performance in the last round of the 2012 tournament. Isabella accomplished the rare feat of making two hole-in-ones in one round of golf. She will be taking her golfing talent to the University of Georgia in the fall of 2014.
Each of our champions this year was presented with an engraved Scotty Cameron putter and a framed document with the signatures of all participants in the 2014 event.
The tournament committee would like to thank Ryan Mulvey for his tireless efforts this year making sure the event would be a success and to all of our volunteers, rules officials, host families, sponsors, and families we cannot thank you enough.
Each of our champions this year was presented with an engraved Scotty Cameron putter and a framed document with the signatures of all participants in the 2014 event.
The tournament committee would like to thank Ryan Mulvey for his tireless efforts this year making sure the event would be a success and to all of our volunteers, rules officials, host families, sponsors, and families we cannot thank you enough.
2014 Tournament Day 1