On Saturday December 29, 2018, the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour completed the final round of the Peggy Kirk Bell Junior at Pine Needles Lodge and GC in Southern Pines, NC. Conditions were ideal with sunny skies and warm temperatures throughout the grounds.
75 competitors came together in both the Bell National and Futures National Divisions over two days at the home course of our tour matriarch, Peggy Kirk Bell. The first round was suspended on Friday afternoon due to heavy rain and unplayable conditions.
At 8:30AM on Saturday morning, a shotgun start took players back to the hole they finished on to complete their first round. Immediately following the completion of the first round, final round play commenced.
In an exciting and tight race to the championship, several players were in contention to take home the trophy. Awards were given to the top five finishers in each division.
Bell National
In the 35 player Bell National field, the winner of the 2018 Peggy Kirk Bell Junior was future North Carolina Tar Heel Nicole Adam (Pinehurst, NC 2020) with a final score of 7, 72=142 (-2). Adam sank four birdies in the first round and followed that with another three birdies in the final round.
Runner up with a final score of 78, 70=148 (+4) was Muskan Uppal (Cornelius, NC 2019). Uppal fired a strong two-under par round on Saturday to catapult towards the top of the leaderboard.
Maria Atwood (Holly Springs, NC 2022) finished in third with a final score of 75, 73=148 (+4). Atwood remained consistent throughout the weekend and started her tournament strong with a four birdie first round.
In fourth place with a final score of 76, 74=150 (+6) was Emma Chen (Derwood, MD 2022). The highlight of Chen’s tournament was a hole-in-one on the third hole on Friday.
Rounding out the top five with a final score of 74, 76=150 (+6) was Rebecca DiNunzio (Norfolk, VA 2019). DiNunzio also started hot with four birdies in her first round on Friday, and continued her success into Saturday’s final round.
Futures National
In the 40 player Futures National field, the winner of the 2018 Peggy Kirk Bell Junior was Abby Hunter (Blacksburg, VA 2021) with a final score of 87, 76= 163 (+19). Hunter’s strong finish in the final round included an eagle on the 10th hole.
Finishing in second place was Megan Morris (Cary, NC 2021) with a final score of 83, 81= 164 (+20). Morris eagled the 10th hole in her first round on Friday along with two birdies.
Claire Lu (Edison, NJ 2024) finished in third place with a final score of 82, 82=164 (+20). Consistency was key for Lu who kept a level head posting identical scores in both rounds of the tournament.
Finishing in fourth place with a score of 83, 82=165 (+21) was Katerina Klein (Charleston, SC 2020). Klein earned her position after winning a scorecard playoff.
In fifth place, closing out the Futures top five was Sarah Shao (Green Brook, NJ 2024) who scored 83, 82=165 (+21). Shao started out strong with two birdies in her first round of play on Friday.
Closing Remarks
The Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour would like to thank the entire staff at Pine Needles Lodge and GC for their hospitality in hosting this year’s Peggy Kirk Bell Junior. The event would not be possible without them.
Despite Mother Nature’s best attempt to spoil the party, Ms. Bell was looking out for the tour at her home course. We thank everyone for competing in the event and look forward to our next event, the 2018 Tournament of Champions at Pinehurst No. 8 on January 5-6.
View the Final Scores!
The Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour is an initiative of the Triad Youth Golf Foundation, a 501(c)3 non-profit foundation aimed at increasing learning and playing opportunities for youth golfers. Based out of Greensboro, North Carolina, the PKBGT offers affordable, high-quality nationally ranked girls’ golf tournaments designed to prepare junior girls’ golfers for high school and collegiate golf. The PKBGT is the nation’s largest “girls’ only” junior tour with over 700 members in 2018 and 800+ girls having played, playing in or committed to playing collegiate golf. Learn more about the tour at pkbgt.org or by contacting Tour Director Mike Parker at mparker@pkbgt.org or 336-347-8537.
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