Matthews claims one of two girls spots in AJGA tournament

~ The Cape Girardeau golfer qualified with a 95; Connell finds boys field through alternate route.

Emily Matthews knew she could have played better Sunday.

But the Cape Girardeau resident was not about to complain after she did well enough to earn a spot in this week's American Junior Golf Association's Dalhousie Junior Championship.

Matthews, despite shooting a 23-over-par 95, earned one of two tournament berths for the 36-player girls division from Sunday's Srixon Qualifier at Dalhousie.

"I'm excited," said Matthews, who will be entering her senior year at Notre Dame Regional High School. "I didn't play very well. I didn't have that good a day.

Alex Reid of Jackson chipped from the apron onto the 12th green in the AJGA junior championship qualifier Sunday at Dalhousie Golf Club. (Fred Lynch)

"But it was good enough, so I'm not going to complain."

Matthews competed against six other girls in Sunday's qualifier.

Courtney McKim of Raleigh, N.C., posted a 6-over 78 to take the top spot.

Brooke Bettis of St. Charles, Ill., and Amanda Martin of Memphis, Tenn., also finished ahead of Matthews as they shot 81 and 86, respectively.

But Bettis and Martin are not able to play in this week's tournament because of other obligations, so they were simply using the qualifier to improve their ranking for future AJGA events.

Brett Slaten of Kelso hit off the 14th tee in the AJGA junior championship qualifier Sunday at Dalhousie Golf Club. (Fred Lynch)

So Matthews, who plays on the boys golf team at Notre Dame, knew nabbing one of the two qualifying spots was realistic.

"I knew about those other girls not being able to play, so I thought I had a chance to make it in," she said.

Although Matthews knows she will be among the lowest-rated players in the Dalhousie Junior Championship that features many of the nation's premier golfers ages 12 through 18, she's still looking forward to testing herself against such an elite field.

"I feel like I can drop my score this week," Matthews said. "And just to play against some of these girls from all over the country, with my family and friends rooting for me, it's going to be really fun and exciting."

Sunday's qualifier, which featured players from by 13 states, included 52 boys. Ten earned spots in the tournament that will be held Tuesday through Thursday.

Jack Connell Jr. watched his chip shot onto the 18th green which he birdie putted in the AJGA junior championship qualifier Sunday at Dalhousie Golf Club. (Fred Lynch)

Robert Kirby of Bowling Green, Ky., carded an even-par 72 to earn medalist honors.

Jackson's Alex Reid tied for third at 75 and would have easily qualified, but he is not able to play this week and will use that impressive score to improve his ranking for future AJGA events.

Another local golfer, Cape Girardeau's Jack Connell Jr., will get to compete in the tournament even though his 84 had him behind 15 other players who failed to qualify.

But those 15 were using the qualifier to improve their ranking for future AJGA events.

That meant Connell Jr. became the first alternate -- and late Sunday night was notified he had a spot in the field because of another player's withdrawal.

The Dalhousie Junior Championship, in addition to having a 36-player girls field, will have 108 boys competing. Twenty-seven states and Canada will be represented.

Having previously secured spots in the tournament are Jackson's T.J. Smith and two Poplar Bluff golfers -- Trent Hillis and Danner McCauley.

Smith and Hillis earned their berths from the SEMO Conference high school tournament while McCauley made it in through a recent qualifier from which Dalhousie awarded exemptions.

A Junior-Am Fundraising Tournament, along with practice rounds, will take place today.