Staff report

CONCORD — Michael Childress of Salisbury shot a 3-over par 75 at Cabarrus Country Club on Wednesday and fell into a tie for fourth place in the 12th Dogwood State Junior Golf Championship.

Childress, a rising junior at Cannon School, led the tournament after the first round by one stroke, thanks to his 4-under par 68 on Tuesday.

Fulton Smith of Pinehurst, who trailed Childress after the first round, duplicated his 69 from Tuesday and leads by one stroke over Matthew Sharpstene of Asheville, who had a tournament-best 66 yesterday.

The Dogwood State Junior Championship is 54 holes of stroke play.  After Wednesday’s 36 holes, a cut lowered the field to 60 players and ties, and the tournament concludes today.

Walker Cress of Concord is in third place at a 70 on Wednesday. He shot a 72 on Tuesday and has a two-day score of 142, four strokes behind Smith.

Then comes a group of four golfers, including Childress, who are at 143, five shots back. Tied with Childress are Viraj Garewal of Raleigh, Lansdon Robbins of Davidson and Zack Swanson of Waxhaw.

Two other Salisbury junior golfers were playing in the event, but missed the cut.

East Carolina-bound Logan Shuping, an East Rowan High School graduate, rebounded with a 74 on Wednesday, following an uncharacteristic 83 on Tuesday. He tied for 77th place.

Eight-grader Charlie Barr, recent junior club champion at the Country Club of Salisbury, shot a 79 on Tuesday but had an 84 yesterday to tie for 101st place.

A total of 129 top junior golfers from around the state began the event on Tuesday.

On the women’s side, Kathryn Carson of Mooresville is in second place at 148 (76-72), one stroke behind leader Natalie Peterson of Holly Springs. Emily Hawkins of Lexington is tied for third place at 150 (73-77).