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On Friday, the top eight ranked male and female junior golfers from South Carolina and top eight ranked male and female junior golfers from the Golf Association of Ontario arrived at Wachesaw Plantation Club in Murrells Inlet, SC to compete in the 2024 Can-Am Junior Team-Matches.
Saturday's four ball matches began with an early American lead. The team of Grace Lindsey and Matt Moloney dominated the front and back nine earning the first three points of the weekend. Hannah Lowery and Chase Cline followed the pair earning two and a half points for their match, along with Bridget Wilkie and Jack Crousore earning the same. Team Madison Messimer and Bennett Scaletta also finished 18 holes claiming two and a half points for Team USA. By Saturday's end, Team Canada held a three point lead over Team USA going into the final round.
Sunday’s singles matches started off closely competitive, but strong performances from South Carolina’s Cade Kriscunas, Grace Lindsey, Matt Moloney, Jack Crousore, Hannah Lowery, and Thomas Lamar each securing three points for team USA. In the closing stretches, it was Bridget Wilkie who secured a half point with an 18 foot putt for birdie to earn the cup. Following Wilkie was Bennett Scaletta who earned one and a half points over Canada's Luke Smith, vaulting the American team to a two point victory over team Canada.
This year’s American team victory of the Matches puts the record at 20-4 in the win-loss column in the 25-year history of the event in favor of the U.S. (the Can-Am Matches were not contested in 2020 & 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic).
The Can-Am Junior Team Matches were created to allow junior golfers the opportunity to build new relationships, experience a new level of fun competition and celebrate the growth of junior golf in both Ontario and South Carolina.
The Wachesaw Plantation Club membership and staff have continued to make this a truly unique event and the relationships that have been built between the two countries, as well as the membership, is the perfect representation of the impact the game of golf can make on people of all ages.
The Can-Am Junior Team Matches would not be possible without the continued support from Wachesaw Plantation Club, multiple individual sponsors, and more specifically, a group of members who help fund this event, appropriately named the “Wachesaw Warriors.” To date, the Wachesaw Plantation Club membership has generated over $600,000 for this event and SC Junior Golf since they began hosting the matches in 2002. Also, a special thanks to all the host families that housed a portion of the players this year.
The matches were contested over the 6,853 (boys) / 5,940 (girls) yard par 72 Wachesaw Plantation Club in Murrells Inlet, SC. Wachesaw Plantation has hosted the matches since 2002 and has recently agreed to extend hosting the event through 2028. The team from South Carolina is selected by using the Heritage Classic Foundation Rankings from the previous December’s point standings. The top eight ranked male and female players are invited.
About the South Carolina Junior Golf Association
The purpose of the South Carolina Junior Golf Association is to continue the history and traditions of the ancient game of golf through its members and an active outreach to the youth of our state.
Established in 1990 by community leaders with a love for the game and a commitment to passing on golf’s heritage to the youth of South Carolina, the SCJGA is committed to meeting the needs of all young people in the state and providing playing opportunities to boys and girls that might not otherwise have the chance to experience golf and its many benefits. Through affordable opportunities of play, instruction and competition, juniors of all ages, walks of life and skill levels will be touched by the character of the game. It helps to teach them honor, sportsmanship and respect and makes them better prepared to face the challenges ahead in life.
For more information about the South Carolina Junior Golf Association, visit
www.scjga.org
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