2020 Charlotte-area private school girls golf preview: Best players and predictions
Last week, the N.C. Independent Schools Board of Trustees voted to move ahead with fall sports.
High school football practice will begin next week and games will begin Sept. 25.
Cross-country, girls tennis and girls golf will begin the week of Sept. 8. The following week, field hockey, volleyball and boys soccer return.
The Observer continues its season previews today with girls golf.
Girls Golf Teams to Watch
Cannon School: The three-time NCISAA Division I state champions have the best player in the state in Amanda Sambach, who will try to win her third straight individual state title. Can Cannon’s team win four in a row? Seniors Izzy Gosling, Molly Morrison and freshman Ashmi Trivedi will have a lot to say about that.
Carmel Christian: The NCISAA Division II runner-up will have to reload with two sophomores, Leighton Ford and Bethany Welch, and two freshmen, Maddie Dale and Kalista Pressley.
Charlotte Country Day: The Buccaneers return four starters from a team that was the CISAA runner-up, with the junior quartet of Sarah Beth Harner, Zoe Mantooth, May McDonnell and Annabelle Thomas leading the way. Charlotte Country Day, which finished seventh at the NCISAA Division I state championships last year, has the experience to move inside the top five this season.
Girls Golfers to Watch
May McDonnell, Charlotte Country Day, Jr.: The top returning player (average 44 per nine holes) on her team looks to improve on a 13th-place finish at states last year.
Molly Morrison, Cannon School, Sr.: If Cannon School is going to win a fourth straight state title, Morrison will play a key role as the Cougars’ No. 2 player.
Sarah Picciola, Charlotte Latin, Jr.: Hawks’ all-conference performer was third in the CISAA tournament as a sophomore.
Amanda Sambach, Cannon School, Sr.: University of Virginia commit is a two-time defending state individual champion is one of the best players in the country, ranked No. 6 nationally, according to the American Junior Golf Association (AJGA).
Bethany Welch, Carmel Christian, So.: Two-time all-state performer now becomes the top player for a Carmel Christian team with a tradition of success, winning it all in 2018, and was state runner-up last year.
Girls Golf Players on the Rise
Sarah Reid Baker/Mattie Jane Moore, Westminster Catawba: The Indians’ senior duo return to lead a Westminster Catawba team that was Metrolina Athletic Conference (MAC) runner-up in 2019.
Chandler Brooks (So.)/Jillian Marino, Providence Day, Fr.: The Chargers’ duo will be a part at Providence Day team that looks to rebuild with younger players.
Sarah Blair Harner/Annabelle Thomas, Charlotte Country Day, Juniors: The Country Day junior duo provides depth and experience to the Bucs’ lineup.
Gracie Redmond, Davidson Day, Fr.: The Patriots’ freshman showed a lot of potential as an 8th grader on varsity last year and has the experience to be improved in 2020.
Interesting Notes
Cannon School senior Amanda Sambach will play in the Augusta National Women’s Invitational Mar. 31-April 3, 2021, the week before the Masters. The final round will be played at Augusta National on April 3.
The Carmel Christian girls’ golf team is in only its third year of existence, but the program is off to a great start. Carmel won the NCISAA Division II state title in 2018 and was runner-up in 2019.
The Charlotte Country Day girls’ golf team’s trio of juniors — Sarah Blair Harner, Zoe Mantooth and Annabelle Thomas — have played together for five straight seasons, beginning in middle school.
Conference Predictions
CISAA Conference
Cannon School: 2. Charlotte Country Day; 3. Charlotte Latin; 4. Providence Day.