PINEHURST, N.C. – Jenny Chang fought off a valiant effort by Charlotte Catholic’s Keri Kenkel to dethrone the reigning 4A women’s golf champion at the 2016 North Carolina High School Athletic Association 4A Women’s Golf State Championships at Pinehurst No. 5.
The day one leader by a single shot, Chang, carded a pair of identical 1-under par 71’s on her way to a 2-under, 142 tournament finish. Her second round was highlighted by three birdies, one on the par three 6th hole, one on the par four 11th, and one on the par five 17th. Her lone blemishes on the round were a pair of par fours, the 12th and 16th.
Kenkel made things interesting after an even-par 72 score on day one left her one shot off the pace set by Chang. Kenkel fired a 2-under 34 on the front-nine with birdies on the 2nd and 3rd holes, and made the turn without a bogey. However, she went 1-over par on the back-nine with a bogey on the par four 16th, and finished the tournament at 1-under 143
Pinecrest held on to capture their third team championship in the sport and their first since 2001. The Patriots held a nine-shot advantage over Cardinal Gibbons heading into the final round of the tournament.
Mackenzie Battle carded a 5-over 77 on day two to finish at 6-over par 150 for the tournament powering the Pinecrest lineup by her 5th place finish. Her teammate Elizabeth Nguyen fired a 5-over 77 as well on day two putting her at 12-over par 156 for the tournament, good enough for 11th place. Mara Hirtle rounded out the three counting scores for the Patriots with an 18-over par 162 total.
Cardinal Gibbons, last year’s champions, finished ten shots behind Pinecrest on the tournament with Wakefield (506, 74-over) edging out Charlotte Catholic for third by three shots.
Congratulations to Page and Coach Debbie Jones for a 7th place finish in the state championships.