Armistead, Sumner pull through for Tilghman tourney titles
Connor Armistead and Kathleen Sumner overcame a strong field and blustery weather to win titles at the 27th annual Charles Tilghman CPGA Junior Championship.
Armistead, of Charlotte, N.C., played two nearly error-free rounds for a tournament best 4-under 138. He made only one bogey during the two-round event.
“I didn’t make too many birdies, but I was definitely consistent,” said Armistead. “I was getting it up to the green and making the putts.”
Frosty weather pushed back tee times, but it didn’t seem to phase Armistead as he birdied his third hole and remained steady the rest of the way on Saturday, making par on every hole on the back nine.
“Today it was chilly and windy early, so it was tough to get off to a fast start,” he said. “I was just able to avoid any mistakes.”
Armistead finished with a one-stroke advantage over Stephen Carroll of Concord, N.C., and Drew Weary of Bluffton, who finished tied for second at 3-under-par 139. Nicholas Lyerly of Salisbury, N.C., was the only other player to finish the two-round tournament under par with a 2-under 140.
On the girls’ side, Sumner, of Charleston, brought home the title on the second playoff hole after missing a putt on the final green of regulation that dropped her into an even-par tie with Gracyn Burgess.
I actually hit my best drive of the tournament, and it was at the right time.
Kathleen Sumner
Sumner and Burgess, who won the George Holliday Memorial Junior in Myrtle Beach in November, started the playoff on the 10th hole and remained deadlocked heading to 11.
“I actually hit my best drive of the tournament, and it was at the right time,” Sumner said.
But then she said she misjudged the distance on her second shot because of the wind. After a decent chip, Sumner had to make a six-foot putt to take the title.
“I just had a feeling I was going to make it,” she said. “I picked out a spot, and I put it right there.”
Sumner, ranked No. 2 in the Carolinas Golf Association rankings, has committed to play at Florida State.
Last year’s girls champion, Smith Knaffle of Murrells Inlet, finished in third with a 6-over 148.
Other local boys included Patrick Golden of Murrells Inlet (73-72 — 145), Jackson Cole of Pawleys Island (73-76 — 149), Kevin Burris of Conway (74-76 — 150), McClure Thompson of Little River (76-76 — 152), Trey Salley of Pawley’s Island (77-77 — 154), Keegan Vaugh of Myrtle Beach (77-77 — 154), Zary Gouin of Pawley’s Island (83-80 — 163), Andrew Mullen of Pawleys Island (80-84 — 164) and Coleman Bess of Murrells Inlet (86-80 — 166).
Other local girls included Mary Kate Richardson of Galivants Ferry (87-88 — 175), Andrian Anderson of Murrells Inlet (91-90 — 181) and Rachel Wilkerson of Galivants Ferry (113-90 — 203).
The Grande Dunes Members Club hosted the tournament on Saturday and Sunday as it took a one-year hiatus from its normal home, Surf Golf and Beach Club.
This story was originally published December 11, 2016 at 6:33 PM with the headline "Armistead, Sumner pull through for Tilghman tourney titles."