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July 12, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cartersville golfer R.B. Clyburn leads defending champion Jake Peacock of Milton (University of South Florida) and Cooper Tendick of Kennesaw (University of West Florida) by one shot at the midway point of the 103rd GSGA Georgia Amateur Golf Championship at the 6,950-yard, par-72 Augusta Country Club. Clyburn shot 69 on Thursday and 68 on Friday for the 36-hole lead in the 72-hole event. His round on Thursday included six birdies and three bogeys. On Friday he carded five more birdies with only one bogey. The starting field of 144 players was cut to the low 60 and ties after Friday’s round. Sixty-five players made the 4-over-par cut. Two other local players — Dalton Henson of Rydal and Jake Wehunt of Cartersville — failed to qualify for the final two rounds. Henson shot 77-79. Wehunt shot 76-81. The Georgia Amateur Championship began in 1916 when 14-year-old Bobby Jones captured the inaugural title. The tournament is open to male amateur golfers who are GSGA members and are residents of Georgia. The 103rd Georgia Amateur Championship is an official USGA Exemption Event, which carries an exemption into the 2024 U.S. Amateur Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club for the winner and an exemption into U.S. Amateur Final Qualifying for the remainder of the top five finishers.  The winner shall also receive an exemption into the 2025 Jones Cup Invitational at Ocean Forest Golf Club and an exemption into the final qualifying stage for the 2025 U.S. Amateur Championship.

July 11, 2024 A tough day for Cartersville’s Chad Branton brought his participation in the 2024 R&A British Senior Amateur Championship to a close on Thursday. The 55-year-old followed his first two rounds of 76 and 75 with an 82 and missed the tournament's second cut. The field was narrowed to 43 players following Thursday’s third round. Branton missed the final cut by one shot. Chris Dinsdale of Wales leads the Championship after 54 holes at 6-over-par. Dinsdale had recorded rounds of 71-73-75 and led England’s John Kemp by one shot. Brent Paterson of New Zealand is third and two shots back. Todd White (Spartanburg, SC), Paul Simson (Raleigh, NC), David Mulholland (England), and Paul Moultrie (Northern Ireland) are tied for fourth place at 9-over-par. Mark Strickland, a former Cartersville resident who now resides in the San Diego area, is tied for 26th place heading into Friday’s final round. Strickland, who now works for Yamaha Golf Car Company in southern California, has carded rounds of 76-76-77. The 2024 British Senior Amateur Championship is being contested in Saunton, England with the final 36 holes of the Championship on the 6,700-yard, par-71 Saunton-East Course.

July 11, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com The Bartow County Little League 14U baseball team won the 2024 Georgia Junior Little League state championship July 6-10 by going 4-0 in the double-elimination tournament hosted by Hamilton Crossing Park. Bartow County had wins over Peachtree City, Vine-Ingle, and two wins over Hart County to win the title. The local team outscored opponents 51-8 en route to the championship. Bartow advances to the Southeast Region Junior League tournament on July 19-23 in Bridgewater, Virginia. In last Saturday’s 12-1 win over Peachtree City, Hunter Dudley collected the pitching win by working into the fifth inning on the mound. He yielded just one, unearned run on two hits and three walks with three strikeouts. Darren Cole (1.1 IP, 2BB) and Nicholas Robinson pitched in relief. Robinson struck out the only batter he faced. The locals needed just seven hits in the opening round while taking advantage of 13 walks issued by Peachtree City pitchers and five errors. On Sunday, Bartow 14U was outhit by Vine-Ingle six to five, but a seven-run fifth inning helped lift the local team to a 10-5 victory. Elijah Bryant picked up the pitching win in relief of starting pitcher, Tyler Parker. Bryant entered in the third inning and went 3-⅓ innings while allowing just one earned run on three hits and two walks. He struck out three. Parker yielded three earned runs in the first two innings on two hits and five walks with two strikeouts. Bartow utilized three other pitchers to close out the victory — Landon Farmer (2BF, 2BB), Grayson Isham (1.1 IP, 1ER, 1H, 1BB, 2K), and Kasey Jacobs (0.1 IP, 2BB). Dustin Wallin tossed a four-inning, no-hitter on Monday as Bartow County blanked Hart County, 16-0. Wallin walked three and recorded five strikeouts, facing only 13 batters. Bartow outhit Hart 9-0. After Hart County won an elimination game on Tuesday to earn a rematch with Bartow on Wednesday, the locals completed their run to the state title with a 13-2 victory. Jacobs and Isham combined on the mound to limit Hart County to two runs on four hits and eight walks in six innings. Jacobs fanned three as Bartow outhit the visitors 12-4. In the four games of the state tournament, Isham and Wallin paced the Bartow County offense with six hits. Isham had five doubles and one triple with seven RBI. Wallin homered and doubled. He drove in nine runs. Robinson totaled five hits in the tournament with six RBI. David Vigil followed with four hits including a double and one RBI. Farmer collected three hits and three RBI. Parker (double, three RBI), Bryant (RBI), and Jarrett Jackson (four RBI) produced two hits in the tournament. Wyatt Garlin (double, three RBI), Cole (three RBI), Dudley (two RBI), and Jacobs (two RBI) added one hit each. Editor’s note: Game data provided by Bartow County Little League.

July 10, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Chad Branton of Cartersville shot 75 on Wednesday to move into the top 20 at the midway point of the 2024 R&A British Senior Amateur Championship. Combined with his opening round of 76 on Tuesday, Branton is tied for 19th place and trails tournament leader, George Wilson of England, by nine shots. The tournament is being held on the Saunton-East and Saunton-West courses in Saunton, England. Through 36 holes, Wilson (even par, 71-71) leads fellow countryman David Mulholland by one shot. Bob Royak (Alpharetta, GA), Chris Dinsdale (Wales), and Paul Moultrie (England) share third place at 2-over-par. Competitors played one round on each Saunton course during the first 36 holes of the Championship. The 168-player field was cut to the low 50 players and ties following 36 holes. 53 players advanced with scores of 13 over par and better. Branton, 55, is one of twenty Americans to make the first cut. The field will be trimmed to the low 40 players and ties following Thursday's round. The final 36 holes of the Championship will be conducted on the 6,700-yard, par-71 Saunton-East Course.

July 9, 2024 Cartersville’s R.B. Clyburn carded rounds of 65-67 — 132 (10-under-par) on Monday and Tuesday to win the Georgia PGA Section 2024 West Pines Classic in Douglasville. During Monday's round, Clyburn recorded one eagle, five birdies, and one bogey at the 6,673-yard, par-71 West Pines Golf Club. On Tuesday, he made five birdies with just one bogey to win by a single shot over another amateur, Rahul Rajendran, of Alpharetta. Todd Ormsby was the low professional with an 8-under-par total. BRANTON 4TH IN CANADA; COMPETING IN THE BRITISH SENIOR AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP At the 2024 Senior Friendship Cup on June 25-27, Cartersville’s Chad Branton fired rounds of 76-73-72 — 221 (5-over-par) to place fourth behind winner Neal Barfield (Dallas, TX) who finished 69-73-70 (4-under) to win by three strokes. Bryan Hancock (Hoschton, GA) was runner-up at 1-under par. Michael Arason (Auburn, AL) finished third at 3-under-par. The 54-hole tournament was contested over the 6,700-yard, par-72 Ussher’s Creek Course in Niagra Falls, Ontario, Canada. Branton competes this week at the R&A’s Senior Amateur Championship in Saunton, England. The 55-year-old opened the Championship with a 5-over-par 76 on the 6,759-yard, par-71 East Course. He is tied for 28th place following the first round. He moves to the Saunton-West Course on Wednesday. The 168-player field will be cut to the low 50 and ties following 36 holes. The field will be narrowed to the low 40 scores and ties after 54 holes. Todd White (Spartanburg, SC) leads the British Senior Amateur following an opening round 68. He is followed by Bob Royak (Alpharetta, GA) with a 70. Four players — Brent Patterson (New Zealand), George Wilson (England), Chris Dinsdale (Wales), and Miles McConnell (Canada) — shot 71 in the first round.

July 8, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com MiLB MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Texas League; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … received no decision in a five-inning pitching start last Friday that was an eventual 4-3 win for Northwest Arkansas at the Springfield Cardinals. The 23-year-old right-hander allowed two earned runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out eight of the 24 batters he faced. Barnett is 3-5 this season with a 5.79 ERA in 16 appearances covering 74-⅔ innings. He has made 15 starts and has recorded 90 strikeouts. The Naturals were 1-5 against Springfield last week and have a 5-7 record in the Texas League’s second-half schedule. Northwest Arkansas plays six games at the Frisco Rough Riders through Sunday. LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Carolina League; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … made a five-inning pitching start last Monday (July 1) and received no decision in an eventual 10-2 home loss to the Augusta GreenJackets. The 22-year-old righty allowed six earned runs (seven total) on eight hits and one walk. He fanned three. Martin is 1-2 with three saves this season in 15 appearances (10 starts) covering 59 innings. He has 54 strikeouts and a 3.66 ERA. The Fireflies have a 9-5 record in the Carolina League’s second half and play six games this week at the Charleston RiverDogs. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Eastern League; Cartersville HS) … in five starts last week against the Reading Fightin’ Phils, the second baseman was 7-for-17 at the plate including three walks, three doubles, and three RBI. He also stole three bases as Somerset went 4-2 for the week. Seigler has a .222 batting average this season in 207 official at-bats. The 25-year-old has seven homers, 29 RBI, and 16 stolen bases. Through the first dozen games of the Eastern League’s second half, the Patriots are 9-3 and leading the Northeast Division. They play a six-game series this week at the Erie SeaWolves.

July 2, 2024 Christina Surcey of Cartersville carded a 2-under-par 70 on Monday at The Farm in Rocky Face and survived a four-player playoff to earn one of three spots in the 2024 U.S. Woman’s Amateur Championship. The qualifier was conducted on The Farm’s 6,304-yard, par-72 layout near Dalton.   Siuue Wu shot 68 to capture medalist honors in the 67-player field. Four players — Surcey, Ga Eun Athena Yoo, Ava Merrill, and Madison Holmes shot 70 and went to a playoff for the final two qualifying spots. Surcey and Yoo earned the qualifying spots in the playoff. Merrill and Holmes collected alternate spots.  The three qualifiers advance to the 2024 U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship on August 5-11 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

July 1, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com MiLB MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Texas League; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … made two pitching starts last week but received no decision in either. On Tuesday (June 25) the righty allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks. He struck out four in an eventual 8-6 win at the Wichita Wind Surge. On Sunday at Wichita, he went five innings allowing just one unearned run on five hits and two walks. The Naturals eventually lost 7-3. Barnett is 3-5 this season in 15 appearances (14 starts) covering 69-⅔ innings. He has 82 strikeouts. Northwest Arkansas finished the first half of the Texas League schedule with a 35-34 record and finished third in the North Division. The Naturals were 4-2 last week as the second-half schedule began. It continues through September 15. Northwest has three home games with the Springfield Cardinals on Monday through Wednesday before playing three more at Springfield on Thursday through Saturday. LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Carolina League; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … made a brief pitching start last Wednesday (June 26) and worked two scoreless frames but received no decision. The right-hand hurler allowed two hits, no walks, and struck out three of the nine batters he faced. Columbia won 7-2 at the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers and five of six games in the series. Martin is 1-1 this season with three saves. He has appeared in 14 games (nine starts) covering 54 innings. He has recorded 51 strikeouts. The Fireflies have started the second half of the Carolina League slate with a 6-3 record after finishing the first half with a 35-30 record. They were second in the South Division. Columbia hosts six games this week with the Augusta GreenJackets. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Eastern League; Cartersville HS) … made five starts last week at the Richmond Flying Squirrels and went 6-for-19 at the plate as the Patriots won five of six games to begin the second half of the Eastern League slate. Seigler had two doubles, walked three times, scored six runs, drove in seven runs, and stole two bases. The 25-year-old lifted his season batting average to .205 in 190 official at-bats. He has seven homers and 26 RBI. Somerset finished the first half with a 32-37 record and was fourth in the Northeast Division. The Patriots play three games this week at the Bowie Baysox and will host Bowie on Thursday through Saturday.

June 30, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com Cartersville resident and Cartersville Country Club member, Christina Surcey, finished fourth this past weekend (June 28-30) at the 95th GSGA Georgia Women’s Amateur Championship held at Country Club of Columbus. Already a GHSA Class 2A champion this year competing for North Cobb Christian, Surcey carded rounds of 70-69-77— 216 (Even par) to finish four shots behind 2020 champion Sara Im of Duluth. Im shot 69-69-74—212 (4-under-par) in her victory on the par-72, 6,188-yard layout. Loralie Cowart of Douglasville finished second with rounds of 69-71-73—213 (3-under-par). Mary Miller of Savannah (71-70-74—215) finished third in the 93-player field.

June 25, 2024 R.B. Clyburn of Cartersville won the 2024 Coosa Country Club Invitational this past weekend carding rounds of 69-70 (5-under-par) on the 6,770-yard, par-72 layout. He finished two shots ahead of Toby Green (72-69). Other locals finishing in the top ten --- Greg Johnson (75-71) finished third; Lee Bowman tied for fourth (72-75); and Chanc Willis placed eighth (80-70).

June 25, 2024 Charles Wilson / BartowSportsZone.com MiLB MASON BARNETT — Northwest Arkansas Naturals (3rd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Double-A affiliate; Texas League; Auburn; Cartersville HS) … struggled in a rough start last Wednesday (June 19) as the Naturals lost 8-5 at home to the Tulsa Drillers. The 23-year-old only recorded five outs while allowing six earned runs on four hits and three walks. He left the game trailing 6-1. The pitching loss dropped his season mark to 3-5 in 13 appearances and 12 starts. He has 73 strikeouts and 48 walks in 59-⅔ innings with a 6.64 ERA. Northwest Arkansas (35-34) went 4-2 last week against Tulsa and has six games this week at the Wichita Wind Surge. LOGAN MARTIN — Columbia Fireflies (2nd-yr. pro; Kansas City Royals Single-A affiliate; Carolina League; Kentucky; Cartersville HS) … made a five-inning start last Thursday and was tagged with the pitching loss in the Fireflies’ 9-5 home loss to the Carolina Mudcats. The 22-year-old righty allowed three earned runs on four hits and two walks. He left the game with his team trailing 3-0. Martin is 1-1 for the season with a 3.12 ERA in 13 appearances (eight starts) covering 52 innings pitched. He has recorded three saves as a reliever and has 48 strikeouts and only 19 walks. Columbia (35-30) plays six games this week at the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers. ANTHONY SEIGLER — Somerset Patriots (7th-yr. pro; NY Yankees Double-A affiliate; Eastern League; Cartersville HS) … went 2-for-11 with four walks in four starts last week as the Patriots went 1-5 at home against the Erie Sea Wolves. The second baseman’s hits were last Thursday when he doubled and homered for three RBI. The 25-year-old has a .193 batting average in 171 official at-bats this season. He has seven homers and 19 RBI with 11 stolen bases. Somerset (32-37) plays six games this week at the Richmond Flying Squirrels.

June 25, 2024 Seven local high school baseball players received 2024 All-State recognition this week from the Georgia Dugout Club. Cartersville’s Caleb Daniel, Ryan Johnson, Luke Miller, Andrew Purdy, and Sawyer Wilson were named Class 5A First Team All-State.  Aiden Ray of Woodland and Chase Tatum of Cass were named to the Class 5A Second Team. Top (L-R), Aiden Ray, Chase Tatum, Luke Miller, Caleb Daniel Bottom (L-R), Andrew Purdy, Ryan Johnson, Sawyer Wilson The complete Class 5A First and Second Team is listed below: First Team Pitchers: Conrad Cason, Greater Atlanta Christian; Eli Hanna, Greater Atlanta Christian; Tucker Segars, Loganville; Kyle Adamec, Flowery Branch; Eston Simpson, Jefferson; Ty Beck, McIntosh; Evan Joiner, Ware County; Ryan Johnson, Cartersville; Sawyer Wilson, Cartersville; Catchers: Payton Bryant, Coffee; Chase Fralick, McIntosh; Jackson Freeman, Flowery Branch; Infielders: Jaylen Jones, Loganville; Seth Suess, Ware County; Jase Peeples, Jefferson; Johnson DuBose, Greater Atlanta Christian; Kane Moye, Union Grove; Andrew Purdy, Cartersville; Bryce Clavon, Kell; Tyler Bradford, Kell; Outfielders: Bruce Wyche, Union Grove; Logan Kimberl, Greater Atlanta Christian; David Ojeda, Flowery Branch; Jamie Daly, Greenbrier; Luke Miller, Cartersville; Caleb Daniel, Cartersville; Utility: Cole Cox, Ware County Second Team Pitchers: Michael Strickland, Coffee; Zach Grow, Jefferson; Ben Fussell, Coffee; Braden Pouron, Ola; Maddux Earls, Union Grove; Brady Cunningham, Ola; Catchers: James McGee, Ola; Nolan Keener, Loganville; Infielders: Landon Smallwood, Ware County; Maddux Earls, Union Grove; Ben Fussell, Coffee; Cannon Jones, Coffee; Aiden Ray, Woodland-Bartow; Outfielders: Chase Tatum, Cass; Noah Bunch, Ware County; Bryce Dixon, Ware County; Mason Olivarez, McIntosh; Rett Hemphill, Jefferson; Utility: Kanious Davis, Maynard Jackson