Troy Beaver and Sarah Bae claim Carolinas Young Am titles

PINEHURST, NC (December 29, 2016) -- One and a half inches of rain swept through the Sandhills Thursday prior to the final round of the 8th Carolinas Young Amateur Championship held on the Magnolia Course at Pinewild Country Club. Sitting on one-stroke leads, Jackson Spires of Fayetteville, N.C. and Jessica Spicer of Bahama, N.C. could not hold on for victory.

Defending Carolinas Young Am champion Sarah Bae of Pinehurst, N.C. rose to the occasion. Five birdies in her outward nine holes catapulted her into the lead. Bae posted the round of the day, five-under 67, to claim a three stroke win over Spicer and a record third Carolinas Young Amateur title (2013, 2015, 2016).

"I actually hit it a little bit better yesterday," said Bae, after her two-day total of four-under 140. "But I putted better today." Bae enjoys the camaraderie of the event, "It's like a reunion of junior golf," said the senior at NC State University. "It's great to see the people again that you grew up playing against."

Spicer improved upon her opening round 72 with a one-under 71. Three closing birdies on her final six holes were not enough to catch Bae. "Yesterday I made all my putts within five feet," said the Virginia Tech freshman. "Today I missed a few of those. Sarah played great."

Playing in his final amateur tournament before turning professional next month, recent Elon University graduate Troy Beaver of Salisbury, N.C. started Thursday one stroke back of Spires. While Spires fell back with a final round 80 to finish T-10, Beaver's even par 72 was enough to capture his first CGA title. "I grew up playing in all CGA and Tarheel Youth Golf Association events," said the 22-year-old. "It was good to play alongside guys I grew up playing with and it was exciting to get the win."

Beaver twice rebounded from bogeys with birdies on his inward nine. "Those comeback birdies were key," said the 22-year-old. "I wasn't quite sure where I stood so I just kept it in front of me and made good par putts coming in." Although he was not aware, Beaver's five- under 139 was enough to clear the field by three strokes. Greensboro College junior Levi Grogan of Canton, N.C. finished alone in second at one-under-par 143.

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.