On Monday, July 1, the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour played the first round of the 2019 PKBGT Irish Creek Girls Classic at the Club at Irish Creek in Kannapolis, NC.
The Kannapolis sky resembled the aftermath of a July 4th fireworks extravaganza early Monday morning. Three days early to the festivities, the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls Golf Tour kicked off the month of July with a weekday national test at the Club at Irish Creek.
Check-in commenced at the crack of dawn. Nighttime darkness shifted to soft lavender while orange rays of light poked out from behind the treetops, creating a soothing reflection along
Kannapolis Lake and welcoming the field of 27 to the Club at Irish Creek. A meteorological clash between opposing forces: stifling summer heat bashing its way to the morning surface while the crisp overnight reprieve lingers around as long as possible.
One by one, competitors marched to the practice facilities, a ripple effect of junior girls golfers mimicking the miniature waves that crashed along the coastal boundary off the ninth fairway. Each player eternally grateful for the tournament’s early morning start, begging the refreshing purple breeze to remain for the duration of their round.
The inevitable blazing heat worked its way forward along with crystal clear blue skies. Fortunately, a serene breeze resonated off the water, softening the blow of July’s first scorcher. On the course, scores replicated the conditions: blazing hot. The girls took control of the Club at Irish Creek as they marched their way around the course.
With 18 holes in the books and a final round to be played Tuesday morning, let’s take a look at where the leaderboard stands at the 2019 PKBGT Irish Creek Girls Classic!
Bell National
Jumping out to an early first-round lead after posting an even-par 72 on Monday, Cindy Song (Waxhaw, NC 2023) stands alone atop the Bell National leaderboard. Song made four birdies in her round and capped off the day with a birdie on the par-three 18th green.
A similar tune to her round on Monday, Emily Song (Waxhaw, NC 2019) sits one stroke behind her sister on the leaderboard after a first-round 73 (+1). In second place, Song made the turn at even par riding a birdie into the back nine. She made par on all but one hole on the back and looks to make a surge toward her sister in tomorrow’s final round.
Dropping two birdies on her first three holes, Isabella Adkins (Bristol, TN 2021) wasted no time climbing the leaderboard in her first round. Adkins closed out the afternoon with a score of 74 (+2) and is well in the hunt for the championship trophy on Tuesday. After a bogey on hole 10, Adkins made eight pars in a row to complete her day on the course.
Macy Pate (Boone, NC 2024) joins a top five all with an opportunity to strike on Tuesday, finishing Monday’s first round in fourth place. Pate finished with a 75 (+3) on the day and made a birdie on the par-four fifth hole.
Included in the top five, each separated by one stroke, is Emma Landis (Virginia Beach, VA 2020). Currently in fifth place, Landis closed out her first round with a score of 76 (+4). She made two birdies on the day, one on the front nine and another on the back.
Futures National
Elizabeth Lohbauer (Huntersville, NC 2021) rode a wild roller coaster on her front nine Monday morning. Lohbauer hit a few bumps but evened out her scorecard with three birdies. She finished the first round tied at the top of the Futures National leaderboard after posting a 76 (+4).
Matching Lohabuer with a 76 (+4) of her own, Maya Beasely (Croton on Hudson, NY 2023) takes a share of the lead entering Tuesday’s final round. Beasely closed out her front nine with birdie, kickstarting an even-par back nine run to hold on to her spot atop the leaderboard. Back-to-back birdies between holes 13 and 14 were the highlight of her round and she hopes to channel that success tomorrow.
Finishing the first round with a score of 78 (+6), Ellen Yu (High Point, NC 2026) holds down the fort in the third place. Yu made a birdie on both her front and back nine, departing the Club at Irish Creek with two birdies in total.
Rounding out the top five, tied for fourth place after the first round of play, Emma Spurber (Waxhaw, NC 2023) and Elizabeth Rudisill (Charlotte, NC 2025) each finished the day with scores of 81 (+9). Spurber made one birdie in her PKBGT debut while Rudisill closed out the round with two birdies!
Looking Forward
The field returns for a follow up to their first round of July. Starting times are set to begin bright and early, with the hopes of beating the heat on day two. One round separates two individuals from the inaugural Irish Creek Girls Classic championship trophy and it is anyones for the taking! Be sure to follow live scoring to see who comes out on top!
Live Scoring
About the PKBGT
Founded in 2007 by the Triad Youth Golf Foundation, a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, as a local girls’ golf tour in the Triad region of North Carolina, the tour began as a simple concept: create more effective competitive playing opportunities for girls. By utilizing innovative yardage-based divisions instead of the traditional age-based format, the tour focused on developing tournament experience at the player’s pace. The 2019 season will feature over 90 tournaments in 9 states on the East Coast and with over 900 members, the PKBGT is the largest girl’s only tour in the country. Learn more about the PKBGT at http://www.pkbgt.org/.
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