Recap: PKBGT/NB3 National Championship at Koasati Pines

Greensboro, NC – On Saturday, November 5, the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour played the final round of PKBGT/Notah Begay III Girls Golf National Championship at Koasati Pines at Coushatta in Kinder, LA.

Following the first two rounds, players were ready to take on the course, determined to do even better. Tee times for the final round of the PKBGT/NB3 National Championship were set to commence at 7:15 AM off. Players arrived at the practice facilities eager to get the round started and potentially win the National Championship!

First place was open for the taking following the first two rounds and at the end of the day, four girls stood atop the leaderboards, each winning the first-ever all-girls National Championship!

Girls 16-18

Gracie McGovern (Scottsdale, AZ 2024) held the overnight lead entering the final round opening the tournament with rounds of 68 and 69. McGovern was able to withstand any pressure her competitors put on her by playing her final nine holes bogey-free and in 2-under to secure the title. Kate Pickrell (Austin, TX 2023) and Natachanok Tunwannarux (Bangkok, INT 2023) both played well over the three-day event and would tie for second place. Pickrell played each round in under par and Tunwannarux birdied her final two holes to share the runner-up spot. PKB Member Karsyn Roberts (Pikeville, NC 2024) finished in solo fourth in Louisiana. Roberts round of the week was her opening 68 (-4) which included four birdies and zero bogeys!

1. Gracie McGovern (Scottsdale, AZ 2024)  68, 69, 69 = 206 (-10)
T2. Kate Pickrell (Austin, TX 2023)   69, 71, 70 = 210 (-6)
T2. Natachanok Tunwannarux (Bangkok, INT 2023)  68, 72, 70 = 210 (-6)
4. Karsyn Roberts (Pikeville, NC 2024)  68, 74, 72 = 214 (-2)

 

Girls 14-15

PKB member Avery McCrery (Wilmington, DE 2025) held a four shot lead entering the final round after making nine birdies and only one bogey in her first 36 holes. After starting her round 2-over through 6 holes, McCrery turned it around and played the rest of her round in 4-under. This included a birdie and eagle on 17 and 18, respectively.  Bella Dovhey (Oviedo, FL 2026) was the only other 14-15 player to shoot three rounds under par. Dovhey birdied three of her final four holes to claim second place. Anya Mathur (Scottsdale, AZ 2025) opened the tournament with a round of three-under. Her round was highlighted by five birdies in her final seven holes. Mathur would finish in third place for the week.

1. Avery McCrery (Wilmington, DE 2025)   67, 69, 70 = 206 (-10)
2. Bella Dovhey (Oviedo, FL 2026)   69, 71, 69 = 209 (-7)
3. Anya Mathur (Scottsdale, AZ 2025)   69, 72, 72 = 213 (-3)
T4. Blayne Brown (Riverside, CA 2025)   72, 71, 73 = 216 (E)
T4. Dakota Tallent (Las Vegas, NV 2024)   69, 76, 71 = 216 (E)
T4. Swetha Sathish (Oakville, INT 2025)   70, 71, 75 = 216 (E)

 

Girls 12-13

Ziyi Zhao (Irvine, CA 2027) opened with a record-setting 63 and never looked back. Over her 54 holes, Zhao made 22 birdies and one eagle. A very impressive week for the 13-year-old. Angela Zhang (Bellevue, WA 2027) played well as well with three rounds in the 60’s. Her bogey-free 68 on Saturday was enough to secure second place. PKB member Gia Ahlowalia (Southlake, GA 2027) and Krishny Elwin (Dorado Beach, INT 2027) both scored 11-under for the week and shared third place.

1. Ziyi Zhao (Irvine, CA 2027)   63, 64, 66 = 193 (-23)
2. Angela Zhang (Bellevue, WA 2027)   69, 66, 68 = 203 (-13)
T3. Gia Ahlowalia (Southlake, GA 2027)   66, 67, 72 = 205 (-11)
T3. Krishny Elwin (Dorado Beach, INT 2027)  68, 68, 69 = 205 (-11)

 

 

Girls 10-11

Grace Carter (Jupiter, FL 2029) started the day one shot behind Amber Lee (Alta Loma, CA 2029). Carter and Lee would battle it out during a back and forth round on Saturday. It seemed as if Lee had secured the championship with her bogey-free, one-under back nine until Carter birdied her final two holes to come from behind and win the title. Jodie Han (Lewis Center, OH 2028) and Alexandra Snyder (Orlando, FL 2028) both had two rounds under-par during the week and would share third place. 

1. Grace Carter (Jupiter, FL 2029)   67, 70, 72 = 209 (-7)
2. Amber Lee (Alta Loma, CA 2029)   68, 68, 74 = 210 (-6)
T3. Jodie Han (Lewis Center, OH 2028)   68, 71, 74 = 213 (-3)
T3. Alexandra Snyder (Orlando, FL 2028)   70, 72, 71 = 213 (-3)

 

 

Closing Remarks

We would like to extend our greatest thanks to the entire staff at Koasati Pines for their incredible hospitality throughout the week. Thank you to all the competitors and families who played in the local and regional qualifiers over the last six months to make this great week possible. The tournament will be aired on the Golf Channel on December 8th. Congratulations to everyone who qualified and we look forward to watching you on the Golf Channel!

Final Scoreboard

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 2022 season will feature over 138 tournaments in 12+ states and with over 1,000 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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