In one of the craziest weather weekends, the Carolina’s has experienced in quite some time with severe thunderstorms, flash flooding, and hail. Through all of the madness, both of our National Series events went on without a hitch!
Eastern NC Girls Classic
Making its debut to the schedule, the Eastern NC Girls Classic, contested at Benvenue Country Club in Rocky Mount, NC, was the final Prep Preview event before the Finale at Wachesaw Plantation two weeks’ time.
Anne-Lea Lavoie (Quebec, Canada 2023) captured her second Prep Preview title with rounds of 77 (+5) and 76 (+4) at the Donald Ross designed Benvenue Country Club. Lavoie began round two in second place, two shots off the overnight leader Justine Pennycooke (Cary, NC 2023). Lavoie handled the weather delay and 20 mph wind gusts better than the rest of the field on Sunday, going out in 39 (+3) and home in 37 (+1) to win by seven strokes. Lavoie won her maiden event at the Campbell Girls Classic just three weeks ago and has moved all the way to #80 on the current PKBGT Performance Index.
Two of our youngsters battled it out on day two for the Futures National title. Ella June Hannant (Pikeville, NC 2027), the Katherine Perry-Hamski Girls Tradition winner, took the early clubhouse lead on Saturday after her round of 73 (+1). Jenna Kim (Raleigh, NC 2027), her nearest competitor, had to wait until Sunday morning to complete her round due to thunderstorms pausing her first round on Saturday evening. Kim completed her round with dew still on the ground, finishing at (+2). Due to the delayed completion of round one, the Futures National field was not reshuffled. This meant that Hannant, the leader, would be teeing off in the first half of the tee block. Ella June was hit by the bogey train on the front nine making four consecutive bogeys, and couldn’t recover. The Pikeville, NC native waited anxiously for nearly an hour and a half for Kim to complete her round. As Jenna’s putt dropped on the eighteenth hole, Hannant knew it would be time for a playoff. Jenna ultimately took the title after the first playoff hole. Jenna’s win brings her win total to two on the season.
PKBGT Spring Bell Invitational
The PKBGT anxiously awaited Birdwood Golf Course’s return to the PKBGT National schedule since the Boar’s Head Resort completed lengthy course renovations over the past two years. The wait is finally over as the best of the best battled it out at the home of UVA Women’s golf this past weekend.
Sydney Yermish (Wynnewood, PA 2023) sparked quite an opening round which included four birdies and two eagles. She finished round one with a 1 shot lead over the Lydic Sisters. On a much more difficult day two, Yermish and the rest of the field saw almost a completely different golf course thanks to wind gusts of up to 40 mph. The reigning PKBGT Invitational champion shined on Sunday, tying the low round of the day to capture her second major championship event in a row. Adrian Anderson (Murrels Inlet, SC 2022) began the final round three shots off the leader. By the turn, Anderson held the solo lead and never let go of that position. The Murrels Inlet, SC native, carded a final round 71 (-1) to close the 36 hole championship event at even par. Just enough to defeat Maria Atwood (Holly Springs, NC 2022) at (+1). Anderson’s victory was enough to take over the #1 position in the PKBGT Performance Index from Sara Im (Duluth, GA 2023), who elected not to participate in the Spring Invitational. Anderson has now won the PKBGT National Tournament of Champions, the PKBGT Invitational, and the PKBGT Spring Bell Invitational!
Two PKBGT Regional Series were in action this weekend. Check out the Regional Review for a full recap being released on Wednesday!
Ashnoor Kaur (Roanoke, VA 2027) getting in her final weekend of preparation before the Drive, Chip, and Putt National Finals at Augusta National Golf Club next weekend.
The PKBGT has the weekend off before we are right back at it with two more championship events at the Mid-Atlantic Girls Championship and the Spring Prep Invitational on April 10-11.
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