Local golfer and Fannin County resident Lainey Panter recently competed in the 2020 Georgia Junior PGA Championship, finishing in a tie for second in the tournament. The event was held at Sea Palms Golf Club in St. Simons, Georgia, December 5 and 6.
Panter, a senior at Fannin County High School, shot a total score of 160 on the par 71 course, which was good enough for a second place finish in her age division.
Panter had to both earn her way in by finishing in the top 15 in the State of Georgia in her age division, and then was one of only 15 players invited to play, so it was quite the accomplishment just to be able to compete in the event.
On a very windy day Saturday, under very tough conditions, Panter shot a 12-over par 83, making pars on holes three, four, ten, and 12, while ending her round with a nice birdie on hole 18, which is a long, tough par 4 that has water along the entire left-hand side of the fairway and the putting green.
Panter stuck a five-wood to within six feet from the flag and poured the birdie putt in to finish the round on a high note, also giving her some momentum for Sunday’s final round. “I was not striking the ball bad on Saturday, the biggest issue for me was my putting. I’m not sure I dropped anything outside of six feet all day,” Panter said.
On Sunday, Panter got off to a great start on the front nine as she made pars on holes one, three, five, six, seven and eight for a front nine score of 39.
She kept that streak going on the back nine as she parred holes 10, 13, 14, 15, 17, and then finishing off her round and the tournament with another birdie on the tough 18th hole, as she hit a laser-like five iron to within five feet, again making the putt.
Panter said, “The second day I felt a lot more comfortable as the conditions were better. I got up and down on the first hole to save par and everything began to flow after that. I felt a lot more confident on the greens and was able to roll more in. I birdied a tough 18th hole both days sticking long irons within six feet which was a great way to finish.
“I only missed two fairways all weekend being the first hole both days. My ball striking certainly could have been better, but there were a lot of thin lies.”
Panter has multiple offers to play golf at the college level and is just taking her time making the best decision that fits what she wants to do academically, as well as on the golf course.