Round 1 of the inaugural Linville Cup Team Challenge and Leadership Retreat is in the books! The Linville Cup is designed to reward and enrich the lives of the top finishers of the 2017 Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour with a weekend of team golf and leadership seminars. Building on our motto of “more than a golf tournament”, this special weekend will bring together players who have excelled in the past year to Pinehurst, the home of American golf and at Pine Needles/Mid Pines GC, the home of our tour namesake.
Round 1 Recap
After round 1 of the inaugural Linville Cup Team Challenge, Middle Atlantic takes the lead after a 4-1 victory over Team NC West. Leading the team as the first match in were Discovery players Amelia Cho and Emily Wang with a 3 and 2 victory. Another dynamic duo were Josephine Nguyen and Sue Lee who had a 2 and 1 victory in Match 2. Hannah Jonely and Julie Shin also were a strong pair today with a 3 and 2 victory in match 3. In Match 4, Jessica Rathbone and Paris Fielding also had a 2 and 1 victory over NC West. In the final pair, Tatum Walsh and Elizabeth Coffren lost a hard fought match on the 18th hole after overcoming a 4 down deficit to stretch the match to the 18th, but will be the anchor match in tomorrow’s Championship round. “My team did a really good job of working together and hit great shots in pressure situations,” said Coach and former PKBGT champion Katie Kirk. “I’m excited to watch them fight for the inaugural Linville Cup title tomorrow.”
In the battle of the East, NC East was victorious over the Southeast team with a final score of 4-1. In match 1, Kayla Dowell and Grace Holcomb won 3 and 2. In match 2, Anika Bhatnagar and Erin Singleton won 6 and 4 In Matches 3, Halynn Lee and Katelyn Kenthack halved their match and Megan Kanaby and Maria Atwood won 6 and 5. Rounding out the pack was a comeback by Discovery pair Lily Kate Watson and Sanaa Carter who came back from a 2 hole deficit to half the match and earn half a point. “Our girls played well today in strong winds,” said Coach and EWGA Raleigh/Triangle Board member Julie Shore. “We’re looking forward to a good test tomorrow.”
In the championship match, Team Middle Atlantic and Team NC East will face off for the 2018 Linville Cup title. Team
About the Coaches
Team North Carolina East
Julie Shore – Retired from IBM, EWGA of Raleigh Board Member
Katherine Perry – Graduate of UNC Chapel Hill, PKBGT Alumna & LPGA Tour Member
Team North Carolina West
Shonda Jones – Associate Dean at Wake Forest, Executive Women’s Golf Assoc. Board Member
Allison Emrey – Graduate of Wake Forest Univ., PKBGT Alumna & 2018 LPGA Tour Member
Team Middle Atlantic
Bonnie McGowan – Golfer Director and Daughter of Tour Matriarch Peggy Kirk Bell
Katie Kirk – Graduate of East Carolina Univ. & former PKBGT Order of Merit Champion
Team Southeast
Kristen Rooke – Board Member, WSCGA Junior Golf Foundation
Allyson Markiewicz – Business Economics graduate of Wofford Univ. & PKBGT Alumna
Each team consists of 10 players who excelled on the PKBGT in 2017; and therefore, have been chosen to represent their region at the inaugural Linville Cup.
The Linville Cup features multiple opportunities for players to interact with the coaches and staff. Mentorship is a big component of this event and we hope the players take away many life lessons, confidence and friendships to build their golfing careers on.
Our coaches are ex-collegiate golfers as well as women business leaders who will share their experiences with the girls. This event provides a unique experience for players to compete and develop in a team environment.
Event Namesake
The Linville Cup is named for PKBGT Tour Founder Robert Linville. Robert is the owner/founder of Robert Linville’s Precision Golf School and co-founder of the PKBGT’s parent foundation, the Triad Youth Golf Foundation. A PGA member for over 30 years, Robert has a passion for developing players and has taught some of the top players to come out of North Carolina in last 20 years, including current LPGA Tour rookie & PKBGT Alumnus Katherine Perry. Robert’s passion and energy for developing equity for girls in golf is why the PKBGT has grown to where it is today.
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.
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