The Georgia-South Carolina Junior Challenge Match is an annual competition between male amateur junior golfers representing the GSGA and the South Carolina Golf Association. 2000 marked the 25th anniversary of these matches, the first interstate junior matches to be held in the country when they started in 1976. They were initiated to promote junior golf and camaraderie between the two states.
Over the years a veritable Who's Who's of golf have competed. PGA Professionals Davis Love III, Gene Sauers and Larry Mize and many former State Amateur champions have competed for Georgia including Bill Bergin (1981), Carter Mize (1993-94), and Jack Croyle (2000). Three-time Junior champion Scott Volpitto of Augusta competed and many college standouts have played, including Nick Cassini (Georgia), Wes Latimer (Georgia Tech), John Engler (Clemson) and Brian Harman (Georgia). Players qualify for the team by finishing in the top eight at their state's Junior Championship.
|
Year
|
Champion |
Score |
Site |
|
1976
|
Georgia |
|
Houndslake Country Club, Aiken, SC |
|
1977
|
Georgia |
|
Goshen Plantation, Augusta |
|
1978
|
South Carolina |
|
Country Club of Lexington, Lexington, SC |
|
1979
|
Georgia |
|
Augusta Country Club |
|
1980
|
South Carolina |
|
Houndslake Country Club, Aiken, SC |
|
1981
|
Georgia |
|
Houndslake Country Club, Aiken, SC |
|
1982
|
Georgia |
918 - 926 |
Brunswick Country Club |
|
1983
|
Georgia |
889 - 919 |
Country Club of Orangeburg, Orangeburg, SC |
|
1984
|
South Carolina |
|
Atlanta Athletic Club |
|
1985
|
Georgia |
|
Greenville Country Club, Greenville, SC |
|
1986
|
Georgia |
893 - 965 |
Atlanta Athletic Club |
|
1987
|
Georgia |
|
Country Club of Orangeburg, Orangeburg, SC |
|
1988
|
Georgia |
|
Atlanta Country Club, Marietta |
|
1989
|
Georgia |
921 - 945 |
Haig Point Club, Daufuskie Island, SC |
|
1990
|
South Carolina |
|
Country Club of the South, Alpharetta |
|
1991
|
South Carolina |
890 - 911 |
Woodside Plantation, Aiken, SC |
|
1992
|
Georgia |
|
St. Ives Country Club, Duluth |
|
1993
|
Georgia |
914 - 921 |
Wild Dunes Resort, Isle of Palms, SC |
|
1994
|
Georgia |
875 - 884 |
Augusta Country Club |
|
1995: Switched to Match Play format
|
|
1995
|
South Carolina |
8 1/2 - 7 1/2 |
Thornblade Club, Greenville, SC |
|
1996
|
Georgia |
11 1/2 - 4 1/2 |
The Savannah Golf Club |
|
1997
|
South Carolina |
9 1/2 - 6 1/2 |
The Country Club of Charleston, Charleston, SC |
|
1998
|
South Carolina |
11 - 5 |
Idle Hour Club, Macon |
|
1999
|
South Carolina |
8 1/2 - 7 1/2 |
Secession Golf Club, Beaufort, SC |
|
|
Georgia |
10 - 6 |
The Farm Golf Club, Rocky Face |
|
|
Georiga |
9 1/2 - 6 1/2 |
Palmetto Golf Club, Aiken, SC |
|
|
South Carolina |
8 1/2 - 7 1/2 |
Peachtree Golf Club, Atlanta |
|
|
South Carolina |
9 - 7 |
Harbour Town Golf Links, Hilton Head, SC |
|
|
Georgia |
12 1/2 - 3 1/2 |
Sea Island Golf Club, St. Simons Island |
|
|
Georgia |
9 1/2 - 6 1/2 |
Yeaman's Hall, Hanahan, SC |
|
|
Georgia |
9 - 7 |
East Lake Golf Club, Atlanta |
| 2007 |
South Carolina |
9 1/2 - 6 1/2 |
Sage Valley Golf Club, Graniteville, SC |
| 2008 |
Georgia |
11 1/2 - 4 1/2 |
Hawks Ridge Golf Club, Ball Ground |
| 2009 |
South Carolina |
11 1/2 - 4 1/2 |
The Reserve at Lake Keowee, Sunset, SC |
| 2010 |
Tie |
8 - 8 |
Atlanta Country Club, Marietta |
Overall Record: Georgia leads South Carolina 21-13-1
|
Most Appearances
|
|
Four
|
Tripp Davis (GA) 1982-85 |
|
|
Chan Reeves (GA) 1983-86 |
|
|
Tommy Biershenk, Jr. (SC) 1988-91 |
|
|
Scott Volpitto (GA) 1993-96 |
|
|
|
|
Three
|
Chip Whitt (SC) 1985-87 |
|
|
Rob McKelvey (GA) 1985-87 |
|
|
Derek Jackson (GA) 1990-92 |
|
|
Jamie Stanley (SC) 1990-92 |
|
|
Brent Roof (SC) 1994-96 |
|
|
Michael Maness (SC) 1995, 1997-98 |
|
|
Matthew Avinger (SC) 1995-97 |
| |
Brian Harman (GA) 2001-03 |
| |
Russell Henley (GA) 2004-06 |
| |
Jacob Burger (SC) 2005-07 |
|
Medalist (Stroke Play Format from 1976 to 1994)
|
|
Year
|
Player |
Score |
|
1976
|
Bob Tway, Atlanta |
69 |
|
1977
|
David Usry, Augusta & Carter Mize, Columbus |
73 |
|
1978
|
Jack Larkin, Atlanta |
71 |
|
1979
|
Roger Keller, Atlanta & Bobby Baughn, Spartanburg, SC |
71 |
|
1980
|
Chris Sipe, Aiken, SC |
68 |
|
1981
|
Beau Fields, Marietta |
74 |
|
1982
|
Michael Thigpen, Bishopville, SC |
164 |
|
1983
|
Bill McDonald, Dalton |
139 |
|
1984
|
Matt Boepple, Columbia, SC |
72 |
|
1985
|
Rob McKelvey, Lawrenceville & Ray Franz, Mt. Pleasant, SC |
149 |
|
1986
|
Chan Reeves, Americus |
144 |
|
1987
|
Neil Hendee, Duluth |
144 |
|
1988
|
Michael Cross, Marietta |
144 |
|
1989
|
Zan Banks, Rome & Jeff Jordan, Jonesboro |
149 |
|
1990
|
Mike Byce, Spartanburg, SC |
146 |
|
1991
|
Tommy Biershenk, Jr., Spartanburg, SC |
139 |
|
1992
|
Maury Beasley, Dublin |
139 |
|
1993
|
Scott Volpitto, Augusta |
137 |
|
1994
|
Scott Volpitto, Augusta |
140 |
|
Most Points Earned (Match Play Format from 1994 to present)
|
|
5 1/2
|
2001-03: Brian Harman, Ga. (5-0-1) |
|
|
2004-06: Russell Henley, Ga. (5-0-1) |
|
|
|
|
4
|
1996-97: Travis Mobley, Ga. (4-0) |
|
|
1995, 1997-98: Michael Maness, S.C.(4-2) |
|
|
2000, 2002: Hogan Kaney, Ga. (4-0) |
|
|
2005-06: Josh Gallman, S.C. (4-0) |
|
|
|
|
3 1/2
|
1995-97: Matthew Avinger, S.C. (3-0-1) |
|
|
1996, 1998: Jimmy Garren, Ga. (3-0-1) |
|
|
|
|
3
|
1995-96: Rob Simmons, S.C. (3-1) |
|
|
1996-97: Ben Duncan, S.C. (3-1) |
| |
2000-01: Joe Morton, Ga. (3-1) |
| |
2003-04: Seth McCain, Ga. (3-1) |
|
|
2005-07: Jacob Burger, S.C. (2-2-2) |
| |
2006-07: James White Jr., Ga. (2-0-2) |
| |
2006-07: Harris English, Ga. (2-0-2) |
| |
|
|
2 1/2
|
1998-99: Jack Ferguson, S.C. (2-1-1) |
|
|
2006-07: Wesley Bryan, S.C. (2-1-1) |
| |
2006-07: Crawford Reeves, S.C. (2-1-1) |
| |
|
|
Largest Margin of Victory (Individual)
|
|
1995
|
D.J. Trahan (SC) 9 & 8 |
|
|
|
Largest Margin of Victory (Team)
|
|
2004
|
Georgia 12 1/2 to 3 1/2 |
|
|
|
|
