Recap: 2019 Cape Fear Classic presented by Evolve Golf

On Sunday, March 24, the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour played the final round of the 2019 Cape Fear Classic presented by Evolve Golf at the Country Club of Landfall in Wilmington, NC.

The piercing cry of seagull’s squeal filled in for the rooster’s crow early Sunday morning. Saturday’s first round spoiled players with extra time to sleep in, but the early tee times for the second round required an early rise for the final day of competition.

The dawn’s magenta glow transformed to burnt orange as players arrived at the Country Club of Landfall practice facilities. Blossoming trees and the brightening sky reflected off of the striking blue water lining the course.  

When players approached the tent on the first tee they were met by the starter for the day, Channing Garnett. Garnett, a current freshman on the UNC Wilmington Women’s Golf team, stood in the very same shoes as those at the first tee just one year prior. The former PKBGT member wanted an opportunity to give back to the Tour, and the event at her now home course was the perfect setting to do so.

Following the first round of play, the leader in each division finished with scores of 75 (+3). With 18 holes of golf left to make a move, the final round promised a valiant effort from those chasing the leaders. At the completion of the final round, here is how it all panned out.

Bell National

Entering the final round with a two-stroke lead, Kendall Turner (Chesapeake, VA 2019) turned on the jets, running away with the 2019 Cape Fear Classic Championship in the Bell National division. Turner was determined to break away from the rest of the pack from the get-go, making par on the first eight holes of her afternoon. She closed out the round with three birdies on the back nine for a two-day total score of 75, 72 = 147 (+3).

Making a day-two jump into second place, Caroline Crumrine (Wilmington, NC 2020) finished the tournament with back-to-back 79’s for a total of 158 (+14). It was a bumpy ride on the front nine for Crumrine, although she did make birdie on the fifth hole. She found her stride on the back with pars on all but two holes.

In third place with a two-day total score of 86, 76 = 162 (+18) was Megan Kanby (Chapel Hill, NC 2019). Kanby had back-to-back birdies on the second and third hole of her final round, kickstarting a ten-stroke improvement from the first round.

Jayla Rogers (Wilmington, NC 2019) was the second hometown player to finish in the Top Five, coming in fourth place. Rogers finished with a two-day total of 82, 81 = 163 (+19) and she had two birdies in her final round.

Rounding out the Top Five with a two-day total score of 81, 83 = 164 (+20) was Kaia Wu (Princeton, NJ 2022). Wu had a shaky final round but capitalized on her solid first-day performance to hold on to fifth place.

Futures National

Reagan Clifford (Mount Pleasant, SC 2020) entered the final round at Country Club of Landfall with a six-stroke lead but understood there was no room for complacency. Clifford fired her second consecutive sub-80 round, taking home the title. Her two-day score of 75, 78 = 153 (+9) came thanks to a solid back nine where she made par on all but two holes.

Shooting a final-round low 74 (+2) in the Futures National division, Paige Warren (Baltimore, MD 2021) was feeling it on Sunday. Warren swooped into second place thanks to a performance that included four birdies on the final day of competition for a final score of 83, 74 = 157 (+13).

Not to be outdone by Warren, Faith Garcia (Suffolk, VA 2023) fired four birdies in her final round as well, claiming sole possession of third place. She closed out the tournament with a two-day total score of 81, 77 = 158 (+14).

Closing out the top finishers at the 2019 Cape Fear Classic, Grace Ridenour (Cary, NC 2025) and Elizabeth Rudisill (Charlotte, NC 2025) tied for fourth place with final scores of 159 (+15). Ridenour finished with scores of 83 and 76 while Rudisill finished with scores of 82, 77.

Closing Remarks

We would like to extend our greatest thanks to the staff at Country Club of Landfall for their gracious hospitality with weekend’s event. An additional thank you to the UNC Wilmington Women’s Golf team for sharing their beautiful course with the PKBGT! Congratulations to all of our top finishers in the 2019 Cape Fear Classic.