Midlands sisters finish 1-2 in Sonic Columbia City Women’s Golf Championship

The golf roots run deep in the Stalvey family, a fact on display in the Sonic Columbia City Women’s Golf Championship at Columbia Country Club.

Ella Stalvey, a member of Blythewood High’s state championship teams who will play at East Carolina University this fall, ran away with the title. She lapped the field with rounds of 66 and 70, and her two-day total of 8-under-par 136 earned the championship by 16 strokes.

Older sister Parker Stalvey, who won the city championship in 2017, finished second in her first competition since undergoing wrist surgery in December.

“I’m thrilled for Ella,” said 2022 champion Catherine Shealy, who tied for third. “She played awesome golf.”

Ella’s opening 6-under 66 created a seven-shot advantage over Parker, and the younger Stalvey maintained command over the final round with a 2-under 70.

“I played well, even though I missed some short putts (in the second round),” Ella Stalvey said. “I had a big advantage playing on my home course where I knew the speed and lines on the greens.”

Ryan Stalvey introduced his daughters to the game, and they thrived. Parker set a high bar, advancing to the Drive, Chip and Putt finals at Augusta National Golf Club at age 13 in 2015. She played at Blythewood High and North Greenville University.

Ella followed in her sister’s footsteps, taking the game seriously “when I was 8 or 9,” she said. “I became pretty competitive in the eighth grade and worked at the game.”

She earned all-state honors at Blythewood and helped the Bengals to back-to-back state championships. She and Parker also engaged in some spirited on-course duels, too.

“We went back and forth,” Ella said.

The sisters played in the same pairings in the city tournament. Ella, with a comfortable lead, found herself concentrating on both her game and Parker’s.

“Her first tournament after surgery . . . I wanted to play well, but I wanted her to play well, too,” Ella said. “I’m so proud of the way she played after having surgery.”

Parker opened with a 1-over 73, then shot 79 in the final round. Her 152 total edged Shealy and Emily Ann Beiers by two shots for second. Cathy Hill, Lextyn Petz and Clara Rodrigues rounded out the top seven.

Polly Paton won the City Division, and Nancy Dodge claimed the tournament’s senior division for the ninth time.

Ella Stalvey heads to East Carolina in August, but she has other tournaments on her summer schedule, including the North and South Amateur in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

Chip shots. USC’s Hannah Darling earned a first-team All-American berth, and teammates Mathilde Claisse and Louise Rydqvist received honorable mention honors on the 50-player All-American teams selected by the Women’s Golf Coaches Association. The Gamecocks tied for fifth in the national championship. ... Rowan Sullivan (Charleston), who has signed to play at Vanderbilt, is off to a sizzling start on the summer circuit. First, he won the SCJGA Match-Play title with a 4 and 2 decision over Gabe Schmitz (Okatie) at Congaree GC in Ridgeland. Then, he earned a berth in the U.S. Junior Amateur in qualifying at Daniel Island. ... In the girls’ division of the SCJGA Match-Play, Caroline Hawkins (Columbia) claimed the title by edging Bridget Wilkie (Bluffton) in 19 holes. ... Davis Neal (North Augusta) joined Sullivan in advancing to the U.S. Junior Amatuer at the Daniel Island qualifier. The national event will be played at Daniel Island in late July. ... Garland Ferrell and Robbie Biershenk defeated Duane Burkhart and Jonathan Brazeal 3 and 2 to win the SCGA Four-Ball title at Musgrove Mill GC in Clinton. ... Alice Hewson, who set 49 school during her Clemson career (2015-19) earned a berth in the U.S. Women’s Open in qualifying in Belgium. She is 12th in the Ladies’ European Tour standings.