- Carolinas Golf Association photo

Anna Morgan of Spartanburg, S.C. has captured the 12th Carolinas Young Amateur title after winning in a playoff against her Furman University teammate and close friend Sophia Burnett of Bluffton, S.C..

Morgan came into the final round leading by one stroke and had a plan to widen that lead throughout the day. Hitting nearly every fairway she was able to stay in position and give herself many birdie looks. It wasn’t until Burnett’s game changing birdie on No. 14 that Morgan felt the pressure.

“When I realized we were tied I was a little nervous, but at the same time I feel like I’ve been able to put myself in this position a few times before and I have decent experience doing that,” said the 2020 Carolinas Women’s Amateur Champion. “I knew I had to focus on what I was doing then just let her (Burnett) come to me.”

Morgan birdied No. 16 to take back her lead, but Burnett answered back with a birdie on No. 17 to tie it up. With matching pars on No. 18, the pair finished at 1-under-par, 143 overall and headed back to the first tee.

This morning Morgan started her round with a birdie on No. 1 so she stepped up to the first playoff hole feeling confident. The Furman University sophomore said, “I know I can’t reach it in two, so my plan was just to get myself a good yardage. My favorite yardage is 80 and I gave myself 79 yards in. I was able to hit a good wedge from there and then made the putt.”

This is Morgan’s second CGA championship including the 2020 Carolinas Women’s Amateur. The gracious champion remarked, “I never had a CGA win up until last summer. Then I was able to win and now getting to do it again is pretty cool.”

Kelley Topiwala of Pinehurst, N.C. earned third place after a 2-over-par, 146 total finish. The 10th Carolinas Young Amateur Champion Jessica Spicer of Bahama, N.C. claimed fourth place in a tie with Nicole Adam of Pinehurst, N.C. at 4-over-par, 148 overall.

Men's Division

Garrett Cooper of Cowpens, S.C. fired off a 3-under-par, 69 for the second day in a row to claim the 12th Carolinas Young Amateur title. However, Cooper’s first CGA championship title was no easy feat as he started the day three shots back from the lead.

The Coastal Carolina University sophomore knew that he would have to climb his way to the top, but he kept his game plan simple: stay in the fairway and out of trouble. Cooper used the tough weather to his advantage today remarking, “I don’t mind playing in the rain, it is just the wind that affects me.”

Cooper made the turn at four-under and was tied for the lead with three other players. That is when he separated himself from the pack hitting nearly every green and playing a bogey-free back nine.

It all boiled down to No. 18 as Austin Duncan of York, S.C. was just one shot off of Cooper’s lead. “I hit it to the right so I wasn't really in position to make birdie, but I hit a good shot up into the green,” said Cooper. “That is when I saw Austin (Duncan) had a good look at eagle so I knew I had to make my birdie putt.”

Cooper was able to sink the five-footer for birdie and take home the title. Duncan carded a birdie on No. 18 to claim runner-up at 5-under-par, 139 overall.

“Being in the winner’s circle feels really good,” said Cooper. “I have had a lot of second place finishes in CGA events, but this is my first win. It is especially great to come into 2021 and the season with a win.”

Nicholas Mayfield of Rock Hill, S.C. captured third place finishing at 4-under-par, 140 overall. Fourth place was staked by a three-way-tie at 3-under-par, 141 total. Round 1 leader Grant Sellers of McBee, S.C., Evans Lewis of Sumter, S.C. and Patrick Stephenson of Four Oaks, N.C. hold fourth place.

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