This past weekend, the Middle Atlantic Series completed its Series Finale marking the end of the 2018 season, right? Think again! Due to weather issues along the east coast and the lasting effects of Hurricane Florence, two of the final Middle Atlantic One-Day Series events were postponed to after the Series Finale. That means two more chances to improve your Storie Order of Merit ranking and compete in the 2018 Middle Atlantic Series.
On Saturday, October 6, the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour in partnership with the Middle Atlantic PGA plays the first of the final two Middle Atlantic One-Day Series events at Pendleton Golf Course in Ruther Glen, VA.
The Middle Atlantic One-Day Series included 6 One-Day tournaments in the Middle Atlantic region and the two-day Series Finale played last week. With two remaining dates, these events offer innovative yardage-based divisions to girls aged 9-17. The PKBGT Series Progression allows players to progress towards playing collegiate golf by playing yardage/skill appropriate tournaments as they develop their game.
Though the design of one-day tournaments is for golfers of all skill levels, they are a great place for development golfers to “get into the swing of things” playing tournament golf. The goal of the regional events, offered from Central FL to the Middle Atlantic, is to provide a fun and friendly tournament on a premium golf course. The Middle Atlantic One-Day Series event at Pendleton Golf Club features a field of 41 players from the PKB Girls’ Golf Tour, the nation’s largest “girls’ only” junior tour.
Prep Division
The race for the Prep Middle Atlantic Order of Merit is tight, and the 14 player Prep Series features the top-3! Currently sitting atop the Prep Middle Atlantic Order of Meric, Tatum Walsh (Midlothian, VA 2021) enters the event two and a half points ahead of Vynie Chen (Centreville, VA 2020).
Tatum comes into this week fresh off of a T10 finish in the Series Finale last weekend in Spotsylvania. Her 2018 Middle Atlantic Series season includes three first place finishes including a 72 (E) at Shenandoah Valley GC back in June. With a solid year that includes four top-5 finishes, Vynie looks to make a late season push at Pendleton. She brought home a trophy after an impressive outing at Bowling Green CC where she won by three strokes.
Rounding out the top-3 is Sue Lee (Lorton, VA 2022) who moved up one spot following her T3 finish in the Middle Atlantic Series Finale at Fawn Lake CC.
Following the completion of the 2018 Middle Atlantic Regional Series, the top 3 finishers of the Storie Apparel Middle Atlantic Prep Regional Order of Merit will punch their ticket into the prestigious 2018 PKBGT Invitational.
Futures Division
Featured in the 14 player Futures Series is Josephine Nguyen (Springfield, VA 2024), Taylor Park (Fairfax, VA 2022) and Catherine Qiu (Great Falls, VA 2024). Josephine ranks 1st on the Futures Middle Atlantic Order of Merit following 2nd place finishes in her last two events at Fawn Lake CC and Hobbit’s Glenn GC.
Close behind in 2nd on the Futures Middle Atlantic Order of Merit, Taylor has yet to finish outside of the top-5 when competing in the Futures Division. Her season includes a small taste of the Prep Series with a 9th place finish at the Hollows and a 2rd place finish in the Futures Division of the Series Finale.
Jumping three spots into the top-3, Catherine comes into the event at Pendleton riding a hot streak with back-to-back wins at the Series Finale and Hobbit’s Glen.
Discovery Division
Closing out the event at Pendleton Golf Club is the Discovery Series. This talented group of 13 golfers between the ages of 9-12 includes Madison Lehr (Mechanicsville, VA 2024), Sydney Neou (Leesburg, VA 2027) and Cailyn Park (Fairfax, VA 2025).
Madison leads the Discovery Middle Atlantic Order of Merit and has two wins on the year. She looks to build off of a 2nd place finish at the Series Finale last weekend. Sydney’s has two 1st place finishes this season including a phenomenal 31 (-4) at Bowling Green CC (South). She trails Madison in 2nd place on the Middle Atlantic Order of Merit by six points.
Final Remarks
Order of Merit
The winners of the Prep and Futures Divisions of the Storie Apparel Middle Atlantic Order of Merit will earn an invitation to the PKBGT Tournament of Champions at Pinehurst No. 8 in December. Additionally, the top three finishers in the Prep and Futures Order of Merit will a spot on Team Middle Atlantic in the 2019 PKBGT Linville Cup at Mid Pines Inn and GC.
Everyone looks to continue their success this weekend at the Middle Atlantic One-Day Series event at Pendleton Golf Club! We will present awards to the top-4 finishers in the Prep and Futures Series, and the top-3 finishers in the Discovery Series. 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 affordable, high-quality nationally ranked girls’ golf tournaments designed to prepare junior girls’ golfers for high school and collegiate golf. The PKBGT is the nation’s largest “girls’ only” junior tour with over 700 members in 2018 and 750 girls playing in or committed to 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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