Jumping into June, and right back into the swing of things, the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour’s National Series cruised to the Carolina coast for a weekend in Conway! The Central Florida Regional Series played the first of two final multi-day events at the scenic LPGA International in Daytona Beach. In the northern regions, the Middle Atlantic Regional Series took to Pendleton Golf Club for Saturday action in Ruther Glen. While we tear off another page in the 2019 calendar, settle into the summer season with this edition of The PKBGT Weekend Review!
2019 PKBGT Coastal Carolina Classic at the Hackler Golf Course
Close your eyes and imagine the ideal summer day. Had you opened your eyes on Saturday afternoon at the first round of the 2019 PKBGT Coastal Carolina Classic, you would have been placed in the heart of the most perfect representation your mind could muster up.
Wicked storms brewed throughout the Myrtle Beach area on Friday, exploding in the darkness of night with an epic show of flashing lightning strikes and earthshattering clasps of thunder, shaking the coastline to its core.
Mother Nature’s theatrics made way for pristine conditions through the duration of Saturday’s shotgun start at the Hackler Course. The first of a two-day test at the home course of the Coastal Carolina University Women’s Golf Team may as well have been considered a day in paradise.
Surging storms pushed out the stifling humidity of previous days in the week, ending a near 30-day dry period in Conway, and added much-needed life to the Hackler Course. Brilliant blue skies illuminated by glaring sunlight emitted a warming glow along the fairways and cart paths. Players and spectators alike were blanketed with comfortable heat, sans the suffocating stagnant air, thanks to the crisp coastal breeze swirling off the shoreline and onto the course.
Though Sunday’s final round commenced near the crack of dawn, the PKBGT teeing off into a course coated by dew, muggy moisture returned to the atmosphere causing real-feel temperatures to skyrocket.
As sweltering as the summer heat felt on Sunday, the final scores of our champions in both the Bell National and Futures National divisions may have shattered any thermometer within reach of the Hackler Course!
Anderson all the way in the Bell National Division
Departing University Drive on Saturday evening, there was a two-way tie for first place in the Bell National division. The field of 21 transitioned into a two-horse race, with Napat Rattanaprakarn (Kenly, NC 2020) and Adrian Anderson (Murrells Inlet, SC 2022) locked in a dead heat after posting first-round scores of 71 (-1).
Set to battle it out on Sunday for the championship trophy, the duo were paired in the final grouping. Neither opponent was willing to budge through six holes, remaining even-par through that period of time.
The competition was all but decided at the par-three seventh hole, where Anderson capitalized with a birdie while Rattanaprakarn made a double-bogey. This created a level of separation that Rattanaprakarn was never able to make up. At the turn, Anderson held a three-stroke lead after posting a one-under-par 35 on the front nine.
Rattanaprakarn closed the gap in the opening stages of the back nine. An Anderson bogey on the par-five 11th hole paired with Rattanaprakarn’s birdie on hole 14 cut the lead to one stroke. Just as it seemed that the contest may come down to the daunting 18th green, Rattanaprakarn made double-bogey on the par-three 15th hole.
With breathing room once again, Anderson birdied the 16th hole and created a four-stroke cushion which she would maintain for the remainder of the round. She finished the round with her second under-par performance in as many days, closing out the weekend in the red with a two-day total score of 71, 71 = 142 (-2).
Anderson made the brief trip back to Murrells Inlet with the newfound title of 2019 PKBGT Coastal Carolina Classic champion and the first win of her PKBGT career!
Daffin dominates the Futures National division
While the Bell National division came down to the wire, the Futures National field of 24 was in McKenzie Daffin’s (Fayetteville, NC 2021) control from the get-go. Like the Bell National duo, Daffin completed the shotgun start on Saturday with a one-under-par score of 71. She conquered the back nine with a two-under-par 34, capped off with back-to-back birdies on holes 17 and 18.
Daffin entered Sunday’s final round with a three-stroke lead and wasted no time extending that, making the turn with a front-nine score of 34 (-2). She went on a tear, ripping off three birdies in a row from holes four through six. Daffin (barely) returned to earth on the back nine, posting a one-over par score of 37 and closing out her final round in identical fashion to Anderson in the Bell National division – with a second under-par performance in as many days.
Daffin stole the show – and the 2019 PKBGT Coastal Carolina Classic championship in the Futures National division – with her two-day total score of 71, 71 = 142 (-2). She took home first-place honors by double-digits, a ten stroke cushion between herself and the next closest competitor.
After frequenting the top ten often, Daffin’s win in Conway is her first of the 2019 season on tour!
Can’t get enough of the Coastal Carolina coverage? Check out the complete, in-depth event recap HERE!
2019 PKBGT Central Florida Series Girls Classic at LPGA International (Jones)
While the National Series enters the summer season, the PKBGT Central Florida Regional Series is winding down to its final days of the 2019 schedule. The first of two multi-day events to close out the year took place this past weekend in Daytona Beach, FL.
The 2019 PKBGT Central Florida Series Girls Classic was one of the final opportunities for members to earn their spot in several PKBGT Invitational events and to move up in the Central Florida Order of Merit rankings, presented by Storie Apparel.
Mozingo marches to the title in the Prep division
Annabelle Mozingo (Jacksonville, FL 2022) outlasted Hannah Jonely (Ashburn, VA 2020) in a two-day showdown in the Prep division, taking the title by one stroked. Both players posted first-round scores of 83 (+11). Eighteen holes would decide a champion and Mozingo held off Jonely’s late surge on the back nine of Sunday’s final round. The PKBGT 2019 Central Florida Series Girls Classic was Mozingo’s first win on the tour!
Fernadez’s fifth victory in the Futures division
A first-round 83 gave Abigail Fernandez (Windermere, FL 2023) a three-stroke cushion atop the leaderboard heading into the final round of play in Daytona Beach. Fernandez bested her day one score by one stroke, posting a final-round 82 on the way to her fifth win on the Central Florida Series circuit this season! She closed out the weekend, and took home the 2019 PKBGT Central Florida Series Girls Classic, with a two-day total score of 83, 82 = 165 (+21).
Pressimone powers through to the Discovery division win
In a display of pure resilience, Kelsy Douglas (Orlando, FL 2027) fought back from a two-stroke deficit in Sunday’s final round to force a tiebreaker playoff against Brynn Pressimone (Longwood, FL 2026). Pressimone led for the majority of the weekend, but Douglas’ determination and unwillingness to give in left the two tied atop the Discovery division leaderboard at the end of regulation. Pressimone powered through in the tiebreaker playoff hole, defeating Douglas and taking home the 2019 PKBGT Central Florida Series Girls Classic championship! She closed out the weekend with a two-day total score of 41, 44 = 85 (+13).
Find complete coverage of the 2019 Central Florida Series Girls Classic at the event recap HERE!
2019 PKBGT Middle Atlantic Series at Pendleton Golf Club
The PKBGT Middle Atlantic Series returned to the course at Pendleton Golf Club in Ruther Glen, VA for the second event of the 2019 season. Jessica Rathbone (Montpelier, VA 2020) ran away with the first-place trophy in the Prep division after posting a three-under-par score of 69! She made six birdies in the Saturday afternoon performance.
In the Futures division, Cailyn Park (Fairfax, VA 2025) earned the first win of her PKBGT Futures career! Park posted a score of 83 (+11) in taking home the victory! Rounding out the champions in Ruther Glen, Sydney Neou (Leesburg, VA 2027) won the Discovery division with a score of 37 (+1)!
Want the full details of the day at Pendleton? Read the event recap HERE!
Movement Monday
A busy weekend around the tour shook up the rankings with movement across the board! Adrian Anderson (Murrells Inlet, SC 2022) moved up nine spots in the Bell National Order of Merit rankings, now in 21st place! Mckenzie Daffin (Fayetteville, NC 2021) jumped into the top ten of the Futures National Order of Merit, now in ninth place after her victory at the 2019 PKBGT Coastal Carolina Classic.
We shift our #MovementMonday focus to the Central Florida Regional Series where one event remains for players to make a surge in the Order of Merit rankings, presented by Storie Apparel. Here are where the rankings stand heading into the final event!
Prep Central Florida Order of Merit
1. Caroline McConnell (South Fayette, PA 2022)
2. Annabelle Mozingo (Jacksonville, FL 2022)
T3. Loa Johannsson (Champions Gate, FL 2024)
T3. Rayab Lee (Springfield, VA 2021)
5. Tiffany Colin (Wesley Chapel, FL 2023)
Futures Central Florida Order of Merit
1. Abigail Fernandez (Windermere, FL 2023)
2. Morgan Stephens (Sanford, FL 2020)
3. Darby Hancock (Lakeland, FL 2025)
4. Madison Garrett (Tampa, FL 2019)
5. Tiffany Colin (Wesley Chapel, FL 2023)
Discovery Central Florida Order of Merit
1. Bretton Mackiewicz (Longwood, FL 2025)
2. Brynn Pressimone (Longwood, FL 2026)
T3. Riley Fletcher (Winter Springs, FL 2025)
T3. Mara King (Longwood, FL 2025)
5. Kelsey Douglas (Orlando, FL 2027)
The Order of Merit comes to a close at the upcoming 2019 PKBGT Central Florida Series Finale at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, FL! Be sure to register for the event HERE and make one final surge in the standings!
Alumni Spotlight
Several PKBGT alumni shine at the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open
Just over a week after claiming the 2019 NCAA Women’s Golf team championship with her Duke Blue Devil teammates, Gina Kim (Class of 2018) shared the course at the greatest stage of women’s golf: The 2019 U.S. Women’s Open!
Kim found herself in a tie for second place following the first round of play. Continuing to battle for the remainder of the tournament, Kim finished in T12 overall, the best finish out of all amateurs in the field!
Jennifer Chang (Class of 2018) also competed in the event as an amateur! Chang made the cut, posting an under-par second round score of 70 (-1). She ended the weekend in a tie for 62nd place!
Congratulations to both alumni for making the PKBGT proud in their representation at one of the most prestigious events in all of women’s golf!
Around the Tour
The Week Ahead
It’s a regional weekend on the PKBGT in the upcoming days, with several one-day events on the schedule. The PKBGT North Carolina Regional Series returns to action on Saturday, June 8, at Sapona Golf, Swim & Tennis Club in Lexington, NC. Further south on Saturday, the PKBGT Southeast Regional Series competes at The Windermere Club in Blythewood, SC.
Kicking off its inaugural season, the PKBGT Kentucky Series Kickoff at World of Golf Executive Course in Florence, KY will be played on Sunday, June 9! The Kentucky Series event is held in partnership with the Kentucky PGA Junior Tour.
Upcoming Registration Deadlines
PKBGT North Carolina Series at Sapona Swim and Golf Club (TONIGHT; 12 a.m.)
PKBGT Southeast Series at the Windermere Club (TONIGHT; 12 a.m.)
2019 PKBGT Valley Junior Girls Open (TONIGHT; 12 a.m.)
PKBGT Central Florida Series Finale at Saddlebrook Resort (TONIGHT; 12 a.m.)
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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