COLUMBIA, SC-- 83 junior golfers descended upon Fort Jackson Golf Club's Wildcat Course on Saturday morning for the opening round of the Players Series at Fort Jackson. Low scoring was the theme of the day as 10 players carded rounds of even par (72) or better.
Championship Links: Boys 13-18 Leaderboard | Girls 13-18 Leaderboard | Final Round Pairings & Tee Times
Fripp Island Junior Challenge champion Luke Johnson (North Augusta), Erik Erlenkeuser (Anderson), and Garrett Gillespie (Anderson) all carded four-under par rounds of 68 to sit in a tie for the lead in the Boys 13-18 division. An exciting final round is sure to be in store as eight players sit within three strokes of the lead after round one.
In the Girls 13-18 contest, Myrtle Beach native Savannah Sansom carded a round of even-par (72) to take a five-stroke advantage into Sunday's final round. Graniteville's Karsyn Herron will look for her second Players Series victory of 2023 on Sunday, as she sits alone in second place. 2022 Orange Jacket Classic Champion Marissa Scaletta (Belton) and 2022 Players Series Champion Ella Kate Barnett (Galivants Ferry) are currently in a tie third place, six strokes back of Sansom's lead.
Final round tee times are set to begin on Holes #1 and #10 at 8:00 a.m. on Sunday morning.
About the SCJGA Players Series
In February of 2022, the South Carolina Junior Golf Association announced a brand-new tournament series called the Players Series that is designed to give junior golfers from South Carolina the opportunity to develop their skills and earn exemptions into future Major Championships hosted by the SCJGA. The Players Series schedule begins with the Fripp Island Junior Challenge in early February and consists of 15 different tournaments by the end of 2023.
All Players Series events are included in the Heritage Classic Foundation Rankings, as well as the year-long Players Series points standings, which will reward players with exemptions into future SCJGA Major Championships based on the standings at the conclusion of the year. All Players Series events are included in the year-long points race, as well as all statewide SCJGA One-Days such as the President’s Day One Day.
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 .
