Jackson Spires and Jessica Spicer lead their respective divisions
(Photos Courtesy of East Carolina and Virginia Tech)
PINEHURST, NC (December 28, 2016) -- East
Carolina University redshirt junior Jackson Spires of
Fayetteville, N.C. began the Carolinas Young
Amateur by recording seven birdies enroute to a 6-
under 66 and will carry a one-stroke lead into
Thursday's final round. Spires game has been
trending upward. After placing fifth at the Eastern
Amateur this summer, last week he finished tied for
third at the Country Club of North Carolina Amateur.
Starting on hole No. 13, Spires reached the par-
5 in two shots for a two-putt birdie. His seventh and
final birdie came on the 189-yard par-3 seventh
hole, by virtue of hitting a six-iron to four-feet. "I
was knocking it close all day," said 22-year-old
Spires. "It was nice, there wasn't too much stress."
Elon University senior Troy Beaver of Salisbury,
N.C. is alone is second place at 5-under 67. Twelve
total men posted under-par rounds on Wednesday.
WOMEN'S DIVISION
Jessica Spicer of Durham, N.C., a freshman at
Virginia Tech University, mixed two birdies and two
bogeys to card an even-par 72 to lead the Women's
Division. Playing in her first Carolinas Young
Amateur, it took awhile for Spicer's putter to get
used to the Magnolia Course. On No. 10, a 25-foot
par putt added to her confidence. "It's nice to play
again with girls I grew up playing junior golf
against," said 19-year-old Spicer, who was the 2014
Carolinas Junior Girls' Player of the Year.
2013 and 2015 Women's Division champion
Sarah Bae of Pinehurst, N.C. trails Spicer by one-
stroke along with 2014 South Carolina Junior Match
Play champ Morgan Cox of Easley, S.C. and Reona
Hirai of Summerville, S.C. at 1-over-par 73.
Thursday's final round will begin with a 11:00
a.m. shotgun start. The tournament format is 36-
holes of stroke play for male and female amateur
golfers ages 18 to 25 from North Carolina or South
Carolina who have finished high school and have a
current USGA handicap Index at a CGA member
club.
View results for Carolinas Young Amateur
ABOUT THE
Carolinas Young Amateur
Entry is open to any male or female
amateur
golfer between the ages of 18 and 25
who
have finished high school who is a legal
resident of
North or South Carolina, is a member in
good
standing of a club which is a member of
the
Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has a
current
USGA handicap index at a CGA member
club.
The championship format is 36 holes of
stroke
play.
View Complete Tournament Information