Release courtesy of the Carolinas Golf Association
SUNSET BEACH, N.C. (July 21, 2021) -- Final results of the 64th Virginias-Carolinas Women’s Team Matches at Thistle Golf Club in Sunset Beach, N.C. from July 19 - 21, 2021. The Amateur Division competed at 6,169 yards and the Senior Division competed at 5,383 yards (par 35-36--71).
Related: Championship Website | Full Field | Starting Times | Scoring | History | Photos
With the 2020 playing of this event canceled due to COVID-19, the 64th Virginias-Carolinas Women’s Team Matches was a highly anticipated event. With a total of 93.5 points out of a possible 144 points, the Carolinas team won for the ninth time in the last 10 years and holds the overall series lead at 40 wins to the Virginias’ 24.
The annual team match event pits some of the best golfers from North Carolina and South Carolina against their Virginia and West Virginia counterparts. The championship consists of four-ball match play, Pinehurst modified alternate shot four-ball match play and singles matches. In the format, a point is scored for winning the outward half, the inward nine and the overall match. The Carolinas team consists of 24 total players: 14 amateur players (ages 18+), eight senior players (ages 50+) and two super senior players (ages 60+). The matches are invitation only.
The opening round format was four-ball match play with 36 points up for grabs. The Carolinas took a strong early lead by earning 25.5 out of the 36 available points. The large point margin lit a fire within the Virginias team entering the second round of Pinehurst modified alternate shot. They made up ground from the first round by winning 18 points on Tuesday to trail the Carolinas by only 15 points heading into the final round.
The final round is a singles match play format, which offers exciting head-to-head competition and the most points. In each of the 24 matches, three points were available, one each to the front-nine winner, back-nine winner and overall match winner for a total of 72 points available. As the reigning champions, the Carolinas only needed 72 points in total to retain the trophy, whereas the Virginias needed 72.5 to win back the title for the first time since 2017.
Kathy Binkley of Cornelius, N.C. won her match with the largest margin of 6 and 5 against Lisa Younis of Shepherdstown, W. Va. However, Younis didn’t give up without a fight and won the back-nine point, 1 up. Brooke Hutto of Aiken, S.C. tied her match with Diana Domenech of Henrico, Va., but made her first hole-in-one on the par-3, No. 15.
University of Virginia teammates Riley Smyth of Cary, N.C. and Sky Sload of Keswick, Va. played one of the most exciting matches of the day with Smyth carding three birdies and an eagle on the day and Sload making five birdies and an eagle as well. Sload took the overall match and back-nine match both 1 up and the opponents split the front-nine match points.
The Carolinas ultimately captured the title with a total of 93.5 points to the Virginias team’s 50.5 points. One of the two Carolinas Captains, Patty Moore of Pinehurst, N.C. remarked on the win, “Being a captain after playing on this Carolinas team for 25 to 30 years means a whole lot to me. To see all of the young golfers coming up is amazing. It was a really enjoyable week so I want to thank all of the girls young and old that made it a special week.”
Pam Prescott of Piedmont, S.C., the reigning Carolinas Senior Women’s Amateur Champion, also captained the Carolinas Team and reflected on the big win. “To be here with some of the best women in four different states and be one of those women and yet to be a captain of them; it almost brings me to tears to think that little old me is doing that,” said Prescott. “I am so proud of these girls and how they pulled through today and dominated in the singles. We pulled it way out and I’m very proud of them.”
Becca DiNunzio of Virginia Beach, Va., and Amy Ellertson of Free Union, Va., led the Virginias team with six points each over the three days.
The Carolinas Golf Association would like to thank the West Virginia Golf Association and the Virginia State Golf Association for participating and help coordinating the team matches. The CGA would also like to thank the members and staff of Thistle Golf Club for their hospitality in hosting the 64th Virginias-Carolinas Women’s Team Matches.
To view the full results from four-ball match play, Pinehurst alternate shot and singles match play, as well as the team points summary, click this link.