Wotnosky and Pritchard become State Champions

 

Playing in perfect conditions of sunny blue skies, Haeley Wotnosky of Wake Forest, N.C. and Joey Pritchard of Whispering Pines, N.C. each became state champions winning their division in the TYGA State Championship on the Orange and Black nines at Keith Hills Golf Club in Buies Creek, N.C.

 

Wotnosky, the first round leader, followed her first round of two under par 70 with a final round of 74 and finished with a two day total of even par 144.  Wotnosky's round was a bit of a roller coaster ride.  Through seven holes, Wotnosky was one under for the day and three under for the tournament, but a double bogey on the converted par five ninth gave her a front nine of 37.  Back to back birdies on twelve and thirteen, Wotnosky moved back under par for the day, but three bogeys on fifteen, sixteen and seventeen and final par on eighteen gave Wotnosky a five shot victory.  Victoria Ladd of Greensboro, N.C. shot a final round of two under par 70 to finish in second place with a score of 149.  Michelle Harn of Charlotte, N.C. placed third at 153.

 

In the boys' division, Pritchard started the final round two shots back of first round leader Jake Herring of Wilson, N.C.  After Sunday's first nine holes, Pritchard took a one shot lead after an opening front nine of 37.  Herring retook the lead after Pritchard bogeyed the tenth hole and Herring birdied the eleventh hole. But a birdie by Pritchard on the par five fourteenth hole and a Herring bogey on fifteen gave Pritchard a one shot lead with three holes to play.  A closing birdie on the eighteenth hole sealed the victory and a two shot win for Pritchard.  Thomas Deal of Cornelius, N.C. finished in third place at 147 and Charlie Tate of Greensboro, N.C. and Luke Gossert of Matthews, N.C. tied for fifth place at 148.

 

This annual state junior tournament is conducted by the Tarheel Youth Golf Association, a division of the Carolinas Golf Association.