The MGA and Baltusrol ushered in a new era for the Carter Cup on July 29, as the invitational welcomed a junior girls’ division for the first time. After playing the famed Lower Course at the historic Springfield, N.J., club in the morning, the junior boys and girls moved to the Upper Course in the afternoon, experiencing the course’s Gil Hanse renovation that debuted this season. Amelie Phung of Forest Hills, N.Y., captured the girls’ title, carding rounds of 76-74 for the commanding victory.
Meanwhile, Lucas Rizo-Patron of Rye, N.Y., captured the boys’ title, making a lengthy par putt to complete an up-and-down from behind the green of the par-4 closer of the Upper Course to secure the one-shot victory. Patron posted scores of 69-73.
The Carter Cup was first played in 2003 and is named in honor of Michael P. Carter, an accomplished junior player at Baltusrol and standout golf team member at New Jersey’s Delbarton School, who passed in a car accident in 2002. Carter had won the junior club championships at both Baltusrol and Winged Foot and played for Penn State at the time of his death.