On Saturday, July 27, the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour played the first round of the 2019 PKBGT Wolfpack Classic at Lonnie Poole Golf Course in Raleigh, NC.
The city skyline’s sharp peak pushes through the treetops overlooking the final green at Lonnie Poole Golf Course. Travel halfway down the cart path and campus emerges. Splitting the dichotomy of Lonnie Poole’s quaint, rustic layout nustled away in the shadows of the hustle-and-bustle in North Carolina’s state capital.
Though no mystic creatures emerged from the arboraceous boundaries, the Wolfpack came out strong. Spectators, players and the general public alike represented in NC State’s notable fire red from head to toe. Raleigh natives, passionate State fans or simply claiming a souvenir from the pro shop, the Wolfpack logo was splattered around the course in the form of memorabilia and merchandise.
Setting aside the anticipation and excitement of exploring campus and the city, the field of 49 locked in for 18 holes of Division I challenge at the first round of the 2019 PKBGT Wolfpack Classic. Play on the course matched NC State colors: red-hot. After one round of play, let’s take a look at where the leaderboard stands!
Bell National
Leading the pack in Raleigh, Ryann Sinclair (Mooresville, NC 2019) set a strong precedent at her future home course. Joining the Wolfpack women’s golf team in the fall, Sinclair dropped a one-under-par 71 as a preview of what’s to come. She jumped out to a strong start, making the turn at two-under-par.
One stroke behind Sinclair, Nicole Nash (Charlotte, NC 2023) posted a stifling 72 (E). She caught fire at the right time, closing out the afternoon with a two-under-par 34 on the back nine. She made two birdies, both during the back nine.
Rounding out the top five, in a three-way tie for third place are Alexia Siehl (Fort Mill, SC 2022), Macy Pate (Boone, NC 2024) and Grayson Warren (Washington, NC 2021). All three players posted scores of 75 (+3). Warren and Siehl found their stride early on, turning at one-under-par, both posting two birdies on the afternoon.
Futures National
Painting the leaderboard red, Grace Ridenour (Cary, NC 2025) and Ellen Yu (High Point, NC 2026) are locked in a dead-heat for first place, posting scores of 71 (-1).
Ridenour wasted no time, kicking off her afternoon with an eagle on the first hole, tacking on three more birdies before signing her scorecard. Yu made one birdie on the front nine prior to a back-nine tear, posting a one-under-par 35 with three birdies.
Enjoying the hometown hospitality, Sophie Lauture (Raleigh, NC 2024) sits two off the lead after a first-round score of 73 (+1). Lauture made two birdies in an even-par back nine to place herself in position to contend in Sunday’s final round.
Anna Howerton (Kernersville, NC 2023) sits in fourth place after the first round, having posted a score of 74 (+2). Howerton dropped two birdies on her front nine before unleashing an eagle in the middle of her closing nine.
Capping off the Futures National top five, in a two-way tie for fifth place is Anika Bhatnagar (Cary, NC 2020) and Kanchana Duangsam (Haymarket, VA 2026). Both players posted scores of 76 (+4) on Saturday.
Looking Forward
Sunday’s final round promises to provide an exhilarating finish to the weekend’s event! Will Sinclair defend her future home course and ride to victory? Who will prevail in the battle of the Futures? Find out and be sure to follow live scoring at the link below!
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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