Perry, a 17 year old high school senior at Athens Drive High School, had one of the most successful summers for a junior golfer winning the NC Women’s Amateur Championship and competing in the US Women’s Open. In the past year, Perry has won the NC High School Athletic Association’s 4A Girls’ Championship while leading her team to a second straight state championship, the CGA’s Vicki DiSantis Girls’ Championship, the Precision Golf Girls’ Championship, the Peggy Kirk Bell Tour Invitational along with four Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Tour events.  Perry also competed in the US Junior Girls’ Amateur where she finished 31^st in the stroke play qualifier and reached the match play portion of the national championship.  Of the 19 events used for the NC Junior Rankings, Perry finished in the top ten 16 times with eight first place finishes.  Perry represented the Carolinas in the Mid-Atlantic Girls’ Challenge Junior Team Matches at Mid Pines Inn and GC.   In September, Perry was awarded the WRAL Extra Effort Award for her efforts on the golf course and in the classroom.  Katherine has signed to play collegiate golf for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Harrell, an 18 year old high school senior at Hopewell High School, placed in the top 10 ten times out of the 13 events he competed in that are used for the NC junior rankings.  In the US Junior Amateur Championship, Harrell was the sectional qualifying medalist and reached the semifinals of match play in the national championship.  Along with playing in the US Junior, Harrell also qualified for and competed in the US Men’s Amateur.  In the Carolinas Men’s Amateur Championship, Harrell reached match play and advanced to the round of 16.  Harrell also finished tied for second in the AJGA Cliff’s Championship, finished fourth in the Carolinas-Georgia Junior Championship, seventh in the Donald Ross Junior Championship and tied for ninth in the AJGA Foot Joy Invitational.  Harrell represented the Carolinas in the Carolinas-Virginias Men’s Team Matches.  Logan has signed to play collegiate golf for the University of South Carolina.

The Player of the Year awards were determined by a combination of each player’s tournament scoring differential and the total points earned in the TYGA NC rankings events from December 1, 2008 through November 30, 2009. These outstanding juniors, along with the 2009 All-State Girls’ and Boys’ teams, will be honored at the N.C. Junior Golf Night Awards Banquet on Saturday, December 26, 2009 at Little River Golf and Resort in Carthage, NC.

The Pit: 2 days of unlimited golf and a night lodging, $119…see details

Pinehurst Resort: Play Pinehurst No. 2, accomodations and breakfast, $222…see details

Sandhills Golf Association: Specials at 13 different courses starting at $29…see details

The Inn at Hyland Hills: Winter Special two rounds of golf and one night lodging at $102…see details

Legacy Golf Links: Winter Special two rounds of golf at Legacy and one night lodging at $99…see details

Tobacco Road Golf and Travel: Winter Special two rounds of golf and two night lodging at $169…see details

Pine Needles and Mid Pines: Golf Lovers Package unlimited golf and accomodations at $135…see details

        To play for pay … or teach and stay?  That’s the decision two Southern Pines golfers faced at critical junctures in their careers and both are convinced their choices were professionally and realistically sound.

          LPGA stalwart Donna Andrews made her move in 2006 when she was appointed head golf instructor at Pine Needles Resort and Lodge in Southern Pines, turning her back on lucrative playing and television analyst careers. 

          And Pat McGowan, the PGA’s Rookie of the Year fresh out of college in 1978, made a similar decision in 1993 after 15 years on the play-for-pay circuit when he took the position of director of instruction at Pine Needles….read more

            The Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour will play its season opener at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club this weekend with a full field of 60 players.   Donna Andrews, successful LPGA player and well-known golf instructor, will be a featured speaker at a round table forum to be held on Saturday night from 7-8:30pm following the first round of play.

Andrews was an outstanding junior and amateur golfer, capturing numerous championship titles, and played collegiate golf at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill.  She is a six-time winner on the LPGA, two-time member of the U.S. Solheim Cup Team, and Captained the 2007 U.S. PING Junior Solheim Cup Team in Sweden.  Andrews now resides in Pinehurst, NC where she has been the head golf instructor for Pine Needles since 2006.

Andrews will lead the forum by speaking about her experiences through the different stages of her career to inform the audience about what great opportunities can arise through the game of golf.  Other forum speakers at the event include:

·         Robert Linville, Two time National Collegiate Coach of the Year and Director of Instruction at Precision Golf School

·         Chris Haarlow, US Kids Golf Top 50 Kids Teacher in America and Director Instructor for Precision Golf School

·         Ellen Lapierre, LPGA Professional, former Head Coach of Women’s Golf at UNCG & Recruitgolf.net Coordinator

·         Ted Bonham, Certified Titleist Performance Institute Instructor with Precision Golf School

·         Jonathan Dudley, former All-American collegiate golfer at Greensboro College and PKB Tour Director

·         Jessica Hauser, former Academic All-American at East Carolina University and Lead Instructor with the LPGA/USGA Girls Golf of Winston-Salem

The event promises to be very informative through participant driven discussion and the presence of a very successful and experienced panel.  Cost of the event is $5 per person, which includes pizza and beverages.  For more information, please visit http://www.tygf.org or call (336) 510-4653.

Patty Moore of Charlotte, NC sweeps the women’s awards for the second consecutive year. The 58-year old wins her third Carolinas Women’s Player of the Year title and fifth consecutive Carolinas Senior Women’s Player of the Year honor. Her 2008 season included three victories and participation in two USGA national championships. Her three victories were at the Carolinas Women’s Senior Championship, Carolinas Women’s Match Play Championship and North Carolina Women’s Senior Championship. Moore advanced to the round of 32 at the U.S. Senior Women’s Amateur Championship and qualified for the U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Other top finishes included a second place showing at the Women’s Carolinas Amateur Championship and a seventh place finish at the North Carolina Women’s Amateur Championship.

Haley Stephens, an 18-year-old high school senior from Greer, SC, captures her second-straight Carolinas Junior Girls Player of the Year award. Stephens’ 2008 tournament highlights include victories at the Carolinas Junior Girls’ Championship, South Carolina Junior Match Play Championship and Joe Cheves Junior Invitational. She finished second at the Vicki DiSantis Junior Girls’ Championship, third at the Twin States Junior Girls’ Championship and a T3 at The Blade Junior. Stephens will attend the University of Texas this fall on a golf scholarship.

Mark Joye, an 18-year-old high school senior from Columbia, SC, is the 2008 Carolinas Junior Boys Player of the Year. Joye’s 2008 tournament season includes a victory at the Carolinas PGA Junior Championship, second at the Carolinas Junior Championship, third at the CPGA Charles Tilghman, T6 at the SCGA South Carolina Junior Championship, T10 at the Bobby Chapman Invitational and qualified for the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship.  He has signed a letter of intent with Wofford College to play collegiate golf this fall.

In order to present a more accurate rankings system, the Tarheel Youth Golf Association will be altering the North Carolina junior rankings beginning January 1, 2009.  Under the new system, players will be ranked based on a combination of the total points earned in rankings events and tournament scoring differential for the ranking events.  Under the current system, players are ranked on a total number of points earned, which can unfairly favor juniors who are able to play in numerous events.  “The junior rankings committee wants to identify the best players, not just the ones who play in the most rankings events” Director of Junior Golf Jason Cox said.  Cox added, “Last year we asked college coaches what was more important to them, scores or place in an event.  Half said they wanted to see scores, while the other half said how the player placed in the events.  This new method will be based equally on tournament scores and how each player places in the events.  The rankings committee believes this system will be more accurate for all players.”  Below is a list of additional changes that will go into effect the first of year.  If you have any questions, please contact Jason Cox at 910-673-1000.

1. Use pre-designated regional and national events set by the TYGA rankings committee.
2. Use all junior boys’ events conducted in NC with 25 or more boys playing from the longest yardage in that event.
3. Use all junior girls’ events conducted in NC with 8 or more girls playing from the longest girls’ yardage in that event.
4. Award points in reverse order based on the size of field that finish each event with the overall winner receiving 5 bonus points for winning (example below).
5. To calculate rankings, tournament scoring differential (tournament stroke average – tournament course rating average) and total points earned each count for 50% of rankings calculation.
6. Must play in a minimum of five events to be ranked.
7. A player will be deleted from the rankings if they have more than 1 unjustified withdrawal after beginning a junior event.

All changes will go into effect January 1, 2009.  The first update to show changes will be the February 2009 update.  Total points changes will not be retroactive.

Point awarding example:

10 players in the event

1^st place                10 points + 5 bonus points = 15 points

2^nd place              9 points

3^rd place               8 points

4^th place               7 points

5^th place               6 points

6^th place               5 points

7^th place               4 points

8^th place               3 points

9^th place               2 points

10^th place             1 point

Posted by Jay Allred

The Wyndham Championship earned the award for “Most Improved Event” for its seamless transition to Sedgefield Country Club. Despite the challenges of moving to a new course, the Wyndham Championship put on a first-class presentation for players, spectators and sponsors. Players heaped praise on the Donald Ross-designed Sedgefield Country Club and spectators were treated to convenient parking, improved on-site experiences and enhanced fan viewing areas. The title sponsor exposure and product display at the Wyndham Championship was also cited as a top reason for the “Most Improved Event” award. …

Jessica Neese of Southeastern Guilford High School has signed a letter of intent to play golf for High Point University for the year 2009. …

Josh Nichols of Salem Baptist has signed a letter of intent to play golf for Appalachian State University for the year 2009. …