Schofill defends and Andress wins at Piney Woods Junior
Glen Arven Country Club played host to the SJGT Piney Woods Junior, this weekend. The course was in fantastic condition, over the two rounds, and the weather stayed fine for our players. As always, the rough was thick at Glen Arven CC – especially with the wet morning grass. The 2017 Piney Woods Junior saw a field of 84 players, with several low scores. Our two overall champions were Megan Schofill and Wilson Andress – both finishing with under-par totals.
In the female 12-14 division, Katherine Cook came away as the comfortable winner. Cook, a member at Glen Arven CC, shot 75 and 72 for her 147 total. The 12-14 female winner started her final round with three consecutive birdies and made eight birdies in total over the weekend. Rounding out the female 12-14 division awards was Sally Powell. Also a Thomasville native, Powell picked up the second-place award.
Taking the female 15-19 division first-place award, and our overall female champion, was Megan Schofill. The Glen Arven CC member shot back-to-back scores of 71 for a 142 total. Schofill also won the Piney Woods Junior in 2016 and she made 10 birdies in this year’s contest. Coming in second-place, as a result of a great second round comeback, was Mary Mac Trammell. Rounds of 80 and 73 were good enough for Trammell to sit six shots clear of third place. Taking third place, winning on a card playoff over Sarah-Beth Scarborough and Morgan Jones, was Anna Padgett Chitty. A final nine of 39 was good enough to give Chitty the award, in her 159 total.
John Daniel Culbreth won the male 12-13 division. Culbreth carded rounds of 75 and 75 for his 150 total. Culbreth, a local player, picked up the division win by a single stroke. Coming in second place, with a 151 total was McCord Grice. A final round 73, to add to his first round 78, proved good enough for Grice to climb the leaderboard into second place. Closing out the male 12-13 division awards was Shaun Cook. Even with a triple bogey on hole 18, Cook came in with a final-round 76. Added to his first round 77, Cook finished with a 153 total.
The male 14-15 division came down to the wire, with the eventual winner being Ryan Eshleman. Consistent rounds of 71 and 72 were good enough for Eshleman to win the division by two strokes. The Vestavia Hills, AL native carded eight birdies over the two rounds. Parker Bell finished second in the division, thanks to a tournament-low score of 68. Bell came back from his first-round 77, with six birdies in the final-round 68. Bell also left shots out on the golf course, having made a double-bogey six on the short par-four 14th. Putting in a strong performance, and picking up the division third-place award was Maxwell Ford. Rounds of 74 and 73 gave Ford a 147 total and a two-shot cushion over fourth place.
Back-to-back rounds of 69 gave Wilson Andress the male 16-19 division and the overall male championship. The Macon, GA native made 12 birdies in the 36 holes and finished at six-under par; 138. The 2017 Piney Woods Junior was the first SJGT win for Andress and means he will be competing in the Tournament of Champions. Coming in second place, with two rounds of even-par 72, was Mathew Larkin. The 144 total by Larkin included just six bogeys and left him one shot ahead of third place. Taking the third-place award, after a card playoff with Jordan Plunkett and Bailey Means, was Dustin Demersseman. His final round 69 featured a 32 back nine and gave him a 145 total. Demersseman’s final round was helped significantly by a hole-out eagle on hole 12.
All of us at the SJGT would like to thank the players, family, friends, and spectators for their support and cooperation during the 2017 Piney Woods Junior. We would also like to thank Glen Arven CC for their fantastic hosting and course conditions. As always, check our social media for more tournament updates.
