On Saturday-Sunday, September 21-22, the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour played the 2019 PKBGT North Carolina Series Finale at Colonial Country Club in Thomasville, NC.
Over the past seven months, 15 single and multi-day events took place across the Tarheel state while players competed to earn a top spot on the coveted North Carolina Regional Order of Merit– presented by Storie Apparel. Serving as the largest and one of the most competitive regional series on the PKBGT schedule, the series featured over 280 unique participants from North Carolina and beyond.
These PKBGT regional 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.
What was at stake?
Along with the Order of Merit honors, the 2019 North Carolina Prep and Futures champions have earned their spot in the 2019 PKBGT Tournament of Champions.
In addition, both players will have the opportunity to compete in the inaugural PKBGT Regional Invitational, to be held at Carolina National Golf Club in Bolivia, NC. This invitation-only event was started in 2019 to bring together the top competitors across the PKBGT’s six regional series spanning from Orlando, FL to Philadelphia, PA.
An exciting carrot for the Prep competitors, the top three finishers of the Prep Invitational will earn their spot in the 11th annual PKBGT Invitational this November – an event whose past champions include numerous NCAA All-Americans and LPGA Tour Professionals.
To add to the fun, players will be recognized for their 2019 North Carolina Order of Merit titles at the Storie Apparel Awards banquet, held at Carolina National on Saturday, October 26th.
For Discovery players the top 33% of the North Carolina Discovery Order of Merit have earned their spot in addition to all event champions to play in the prestigious (and fun!) Discovery Invitational played on Hilton Head Island this November.
Prep Division
Claiming the first place spot in the Prep division was Cindy Song (Waxhaw, NC 2023) with impressive rounds of 71-67 to finish the tournament at six-under-par. Song carded 11 birdies over the two rounds – which led to her climb of 57 spots to finish inside the top 10 of the season-long order of merit.
Finishing in second place with rounds of 73-68 was Emily Mathews (Mebane, NC 2023). She finished the tournament three-under-par after posting a stellar second round – the second lowest of the day.
Morgan Ketchum (Winston-Salem, NC 2022), Halynn Lee (Cary, NC 2021), and Mary Hunt Murray (Augusta, GA 2020) all finished in a three-way-tie for third place with a two day total of 146.
Halynn Lee (Cary, NC 2021) was also the North Carolina Prep Division Order of Merit Champion. By winning this title she has earned herself an invite to the PKBGT Regional Invitational, Tournament of Champions at Pinehurst No 8 in December, and to represent her region at Linville Cup in January at Mid Pines.
To view the full Storie Apparel Prep North Carolina Order of Merit standings, click here.
Futures Division
Kathryn Ha (Roanoke, VA 2025) claimed her spot in the inaugural PKBGT Regional Invitational on October 26th and 27th at Carolina National Golf Club with her win today. Kathryn fired 5 over this weekend with rounds of 75-72. She had four birdies throughout the weekend.
Finishing just two strokes back in second place was Saia Rampersaud (Durham, NC 2025) with rounds of 76-73. She had 5 birdies across her two rounds. Emerson Dever (Durham, NC 2025) finished in third place with rounds of 74-77 to finishing with a two-day total of 151.
Rounding out the top five finishers was Tyla McAffity (Raleigh, NC 2021) finishing in fourth place with rounds of 74-78 two day total of 152 and Leah Edwards (Greensboro, NC 2025) finished in fifth place with rounds of 79-74 two day total of 153.
Leah Edwards (Greensboro, NC 2025) was also the North Carolina Futures Division Order of Merit Champion. By winning this title she has earned herself an invite to the PKBGT Regional Invitational, Tournament of Champions at Pinehurst No 8 in December, and to represent her region at Linville Cup in January at Mid Pines.
To view the full Storie Apparel Futures North Carolina Order of Merit standings, click here.
Discovery Division
Claiming her second PKBGT victory this season with an impressive 8 under par Honorine Nobuta-Ferry (Pinehurst, NC 2028) carded rounds of 31-31. During her two rounds of play she had 8 birdies and 10 pars. She has already claimed her spot in the Discovery Invitational played on Hilton Head Island in November!
Sitting in second place with rounds of 36-34 to shoot a 2 under par 70 was Elle Crichton (Cary, NC 2026). She carded 3 birdies and an eagle throughout her two rounds.
Finishing in third place was Riley Grimm (Pinehurst, NC 2028) with rounds of 34-37 to shoot a 1 under par two day total of 70. Riley had five birdies in the two rounds play.
Rounding out the top four finishers in the Discovery Division was Alicia Fang (Waxhaw, NC 2026). She finished with consistent rounds of 38-39 to finish with a two day total of 77.
To view the full Storie Apparel Discovery North Carolina Order of Merit standings, click here.
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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