If you're a golfer, one of the greatest things about living in North Carolina is having year-round golf on legendary golf courses. Another great thing for golfers is the proliferation of golf leagues - golfers of all ages and skill levels can find competition virtually year-round, too.
Pinehurst Resort's Winternational Junior Series provides tournament play for high school-age competitors, including many from the Triangle. Steve Johnson of Raleigh took the Junior/Senior Boys championship of the tournament held Dec. 6-7. Cary's Andrew Fowler was the runner-up in the Freshman/Sophomore Boys Division, losing in a playoff to Concord's Trev Cone. Albemarle's Sarah Almond won her third straight Girls Division title. (COMPLETE RESULTS ARE BELOW.)
If you're looking for golf instruction or competition at any level, contact the Carolinas Golf Association.
**** Below is the text of the Winternational news release from Pinehurst, followed by the list of scores. ****
Johnson and Cone Win Winternational Titles at Pinehurst
VILLAGE OF PINEHURST - The Winternational Junior Series at Pinehurst held its third event of the 2008-2009 season this weekend Pinehurst No.1 and No.4. Forty-eight high school aged boys and girls who hold membership in this series competed over the two days. Both Saturday and Sunday saw brisk winter temperatures and sunny skies at the historic Pinehurst Resort.
In the Junior/Senior Boys Division, Steve Johnson, of Raleigh, NC, used his one under par 69 in the first round as a springboard to the championship. His 149 total was good enough for a three shot cushion over former Winternational All American and ‘07-‘08 Player of the Year (freshman/sophomore division) Beau Cutts, of Henderson, NC. Johnson’s margin of victory was actually not as close as the score indicated as he finished four-over par in his last six holes; his first round 69 gave him a 1 shot margin over Aaron Klimchuk, from White Plains, NY, who subsequently finished tied for fifth. In a tie for third with identical 76-78=154 totals were Wil Langemeyer, from Greensboro, NC, and Carter Davis, of Spartanburg, SC. Sunday’s final round was highlighted by Mark Wright who shot the low round of the tournament with his two under-par 70. Wright of Tabor City, NC, recorded six birdies on the day.
The Freshman/Sophomore Boys Division ended in a deadlock between Trev Cone, from Concord, NC, and Andrew Fowler, of Cary, NC with matching two-day totals of 148. On the first extra hole both competitors drove the ball onto the fairway, but after Cone’s second shot landed 12 feet past the cup Fowler’s second trickled off the back of the green some 20 yards from the cup. Andrew then proceeded to loft his pitch, hit the pin, and stopped four feet from the cup. Cone two putted for par and when Fowler missed the remaining putt for par, the tournament was over. Cone, the 2008 Western North Carolina Junior Champion, won his first Winternational event in two years. In third place from Mt. Pleasant, SC, with a score of 71-78=149 was Charles Valluzzo. Tyler Hoshimoto, of Marvin, NC, and winner of event #1 of this series, was solo fourth place with a pair of 77’s. Tied for fifth were Damon Goin, of Westfield, NC, and Spencer Harris, Fayetteville, NC.
Sarah Almond, of Albemarle, NC, won her third straight event shooting 73-82=155.
The Winternational Junior Series will hold its fourth event on Dec. 20-21 on the famed Donald Ross designed Pinehurst No. 2 and No. 5.
Winternational Junior Series Event No. 3
Dec. 6-7, 2008
Individual stroke play
Junior/Senior Boys Division
1.Steve Johnson Raleigh 69-80--149
2. Beau Cutts Henderson 73-79--152
3. Carter Davis Spartanburg, S.C. 76-78--154
Will Langmeyer Greensboro 76-78--154
5. Aaron Klimchuk White Plains, N.Y. 70-85--155
Mark A. Wright Tabor City 85-70--155
7. Jay Brown Stoneville 73-83--156
George Whiting Charlotte 73-83--156
Scott Hellmuth Charlotte 74-82--156
10. Lee Ramsey Charlotte 72-87--159
11. Stratten Waldt Durham 75-85--160
12. Matt Weinberger Charlotte 76-86--162
13. Adam Kersey Sophia 78-87--165
Jaycob Mann Mebane 80-85--165
15. Jack Keefe Fayetteville 80-86--166
Austin Dunlap Pinehurst 84-82--166
17. Joe Harney West Roxbury, MA 76-93--169
18. Bryan Rainey Henderson 79-93--172
Drew Bell Rosewell, Ga. 80-92--172
20. Keith LeGrone, Greensboro 84-89--173
21. Kevin Dearth, Twinsburg, OH 81-102--183
22. David Nenon Charlotte 91-94--185
Freshman/Sophomore Boys Division
1. Andrew Fowler Cary 73-75--148
Trev Cone Concord 70-78--148
3. Charles Valluzzo Mt. Pleasant, S.C. 71-78--149
4. Tyler Hashimoto Marvin 77-77--154
5. Damon Goin Westfield 78-78--156
Spencer Harris Fayetteville 74-82--156
7. Tyler Kolb Columbia, MO 75-82--157
8. Ben O'Geary Henderson 75-84--159
Stanhope Johnson Jr. Greensboro 72-87--159
10. Sam Kosich Pinehurst 80-83--163
Noah Walker Norwell, MA 79-84--163
12. Tripp Watkins Henderson 77-87--164
13. David M. Kostyal II Wilmington 80-85--165
Will Thomas Cary 80-85--165
15. Ty Palmer Kernersville 80-86--166
Nathan Sessions Winston-Salem 83-83--166
17. Rudy DiBridge Greenville, S.C. 79-89--168
18. Russ Boyd Henderson 84-88--172
19. Chase Almond Albemarle 86-93--179
20. Brian Donaldson Clinton 81-99--180
21. Paul DeForest Winston-Salem 84-97--181
22. Chris Noonan Durham 86-104--190
23. Brennan Carpenter Matthews 91-107--198
24. Ben Fister Lexington, KY 87-WD
Girls Division
1. Sarah Almond Albemarle 73-82--155
