The PKBGT returns to action on December 28-29 with the PKB Junior presented by the Peggy Kirk Bell Foundation. The popular event will take place at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club and will feature players from the Bell and Futures Series. We hope that the warm temperatures that we’ve been enjoying this December in North Carolina will stick around for our tournament!
Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, the host of the Peggy Kirk Bell Junior, was also host to the US Women’s Open in 1996, 2001, and 2007. The strong history of women’s golf at Pine Needles combined with a championship-level course make it the ideal location for the further development of the game and the unofficial home of the PKB Girls’ Golf Tour. 48 players of the PKB Girls’ Golf Tour, the largest “girls-only” junior golf tour in the country, will tackle the classic Donald Ross course at 5,745 yards in the Bell Series and 5,004 yards in the Futures Series.
The Bell Series features a strong field of 25 players from 6 different states. Nicole Adam, (Pinehurst, NC 2020) is ranked 27th on the Bell Series Order of Merit for the 2017 season. She is also the reigning 2015 Futures Series Champion of the Peggy Kirk Bell Junior at Pine Needles. Another player featured in the Bell Series is Callista Rice (Mars Hill, NC 2017). At the end of the 2016 she was ranked 21th on the Bell Series Order of Merit. She has committed to play college golf at Clemson and is a major Champion on the PKBGT Tour with a win at the PKBGT MASTERS this past April. Also in the Bell Series this week is Keri Kenkel (Charlotte, NC 2017) who has committed to play for UNC Greensboro. In her most recent event, The PKBGT INVITATIONAL she placed in tie for fifth place.
The Futures Series features 23 players from 6 different states. Playing in the Futures Series is Elizabeth Coffren (Owings, MD 2020), Maria Atwood (Holly Springs, NC 2022), and Alexia Siehl (Fort Mill, SC 2022). Elizabeth Coffren most recently finished runner-up at the PKBGT Tournament of Champions at Pinehurst No. 8 in December and looks to improve on her fifth place finish from this event last year. Maria Atwood also found success on the links this year. She ended the 2016 season ranked in the 8 spot on the Futures Series Order of Merit and finished inside the top-five in two tournaments, one being her runner up finish at the Tar-Heel Classic at UNC Finley. Alexia Siehl was ranked 7th on the Futures Series Order of Merit for 2016 and she also finished in second place in the Wolfpack Classic event in June at NC State’s home course.
The PKB Junior will take place on Wednesday-Thursday the 28-29 of December with 10:00 am shotgun starts on both days. As always, we look forward to a great event!
The Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour is an initiative of the Triad Youth Golf Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation aimed at increasing learning and playing opportunities for youth golfers. Based out of Greensboro, North Carolina, the PKBGT offers low cost, nationally ranked girls’ golf tournaments designed to prepare junior girls’ golfers for high school and collegiate golf. Learn more about the tour at pkbgt.org or by contacting Tour Director Mike Parker at mparker@pkbgt.org or 336-347-8537.
Leave a Reply