Staff report

CONCORD — Michael Childress of Salisbury finished in a sixth-place tie after shooting a 1-over par 73 at Cabarrus Country Club on Thursday 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, after a 4-under par 68 on Tuesday. He shot a 75 on Wednesday and then yesterday’s 73 kept him within the top 10 with a three-day tournament score of 216.

Fulton Smith of Pinehurst, who trailed Childress after the first round, won the tournament with a total of 209, firing a 71 on Thursday, following two straight rounds of 69.

Childress had exactly the same amount of birdies as bogeys — 13 — during the tournament.

Matthew Sharpstene of Asheville, who had a tournament-best 66 on Wednesday, entered Thursday in second place behind Smith and stayed there, with a 73 for the final round and a 212 total score.

There was a three-way tie for third place at 214, scored by Bryson Boyette of Wilson, Viraj Garewal of Raleigh and Walker Cress of Concord.

The Dogwood State Junior Championship was 54 holes of stroke play and 129 of the top junior golfers from around the state began the event on Tuesday. After Wednesday’s 36 holes, a cut lowered the field to 60 players and ties.

There were only nine rounds total under 70 during the three days, two by Smith. Childress’ 68 on Tuesday was one of the four lowest rounds during the event. After Sharpstene’s 66 came a 67 from Boyette on Thursday, and 68s from Childress and Alex Goff of Kings Mountain.

Salisbury’s Logan Shuping and Charlie Barr failed to make the cut, finishing 77th and 101st, respectively.

On the women’s side, Natalie Petersen of Holly Springs held on to win the tournament at 223, despite a 76 on Thursday.

Petersen opened the door, but Emily Hawkins of Lexington and Rachel Kuehn of Asheville shots 74s to finish tied for second place at 224. Mooresville’s Kathryn Carson followed in fourth place with a 225.