Strong Wilmington representation at Carolinas Junior PGA

CONWAY, SC (CAROLINAS PGA) – Smith Knaffle of Murrels Inlet, SC and Zack Gordon of Gaffney, SC won the 2016 Carolinas Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks on Sunday, June 26, 2016 at The Hackler Course at Coastal Carolina University in Conway, SC.

By winning the overall girls and overall boys divisions respectively, Knaffle and Gordon qualified for the 41st Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks, Aug. 9-12 at Wannamoisett Country Club in Rumford, Rhode Island.

Gordon, also winning the boys 16-18 age group, finished just ahead of Levi Moody of Greenville, SC by two strokes. In the boys 13-15 division, Nicklaus Sutton of Matthews, NC and Holden Grigg of Myrtle Beach, SC tied for first place at 144. Honorable mention of the second round goes to Blake Taylor of Atkinson, NC who fired a 5-under par 67 for the low round of the tournament.

Knaffle, coming from four back after round 1, finished with a stellar 3-under 69 to win not only the girls 13-15 age group, but the overall girls division as well. Elle Johnson of Inman, SC and Kathleen Sumner of Charleston, SC finished just one back of Knaffle. Sumner finished first in the girls 16-18 age group.

In the boys 12 & under division, Tyler Jones of Jacksonville, NC held on for the victory by three shots. Jones completed the back nine of The Hackler Course Sunday with a 37 for a total 71 for the tournament. Abby Franks of Roebuck, SC shot 93 to take the girls 12 & under division. All 12 & under competitors played nine holes each day for a total of 18.

The 41st Junior PGA Championship presented by Under Armour and Genesis Networks, is open to one boy and one girl champion from each of the 41 PGA Sections, champions of the eight PGA Junior Series events, select national junior tournaments conducted throughout the year and special invitees who have not reached their 19th birthdays as of the final round of the championship.

The Junior PGA Championship has traditionally been a stepping-stone for many of today’s PGA and LPGA Tour professionals, as well as current collegiate stars. Past Junior PGA Championship competitors who have gone on to successful professional careers on tour include: Inbee Park, Luke Guthrie, Trevor Immelman, Cristie Kerr, Justin Leonard, Hunter Mahan, Phil Mickelson, Grace Park, Dottie Pepper, Jordan Spieth, Lexi Thompson, David Toms, Michelle Wie and Tiger Woods.

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Results for contest Overall Boys:

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1 Zack Gordon Gaffney, SC 68-68–136 -8
2 Levi Moody Greenville, SC 70-68–138 -6
3 Joey Funderburg Wilmington, NC 68-71–139 -5
T4 Blake Taylor Atkinson, NC 73-67–140 -4
T4 Zakariya Butt Summerville, SC 71-69–140 -4
T4 George Eubank Spartanburg, SC 70-70–140 -4
7 Patrick Golden Murrells Inlet, SC 71-70–141 -3
T8 Grant Sellers McBee, SC 74-68–142 -2
T8 Haydon Norwood Hartsville, SC 73-69–142 -2
T8 Tyler Gray Lugoff, SC 73-69–142 -2
T8 Jackson Tyler Wilmington, NC 72-70–142 -2
T8 Alex Scott Raleigh, NC 69-73–142 -2

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Results for contest Overall Girls:
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1 Smith Knaffle Murrells Inlet, SC 76-69–145 +1
T2 Elle Johnson Inman, SC 73-73–146 +2
T2 Kathleen Sumner Charleston, SC 72-74–146 +2
T4 Madison Isaacson Greensboro, NC 74-73–147 +3
T4 Jodee Tindal Rock Hill, SC 72-75–147 +3
T6 Jensen Castle West Columbia, SC 75-76–151 +7
T6 Madison Elliott Little River, SC 76-75–151 +7
T6 Keri Kenkel Charlotte, NC 75-76–151 +7
9 Carly Lyvers Simpsonville, SC 74-78–152 +8
10 Sarah Funderburg Wilmington, NC 80-73–153 +9