Linville Cup 2022: Mentor Coaches Spotlight

Suzy Ellison played golf for the University of South Carolina graduating in 1983 with a degree in Broadcast Journalism-Production and Programming. She pursued a career in the golf industry, building, owning and operating practice facilities and a par three course. Suzy has an extensive background in teaching and club fitting and was a Ping Fitter of the Year in 2000. She is a retired Class A PGA/LPGA Professional and now chairs the Women’s South Carolina Junior Golf Foundation Board.

Alice Hewson played golf for Clemson University graduating in 2019 with a degree in Accounting. During her time at Clemson, Hewson was the only Women’s Golf team member to earn First-team All-ACC honors for all four years she was there. Among many of her accomplishments, Alice won the 2020 Investec South African Women’s Open and the 2020 Rose Ladies Series Grand Final. She currently plays in both the Ladies European Tour and the LPGA Symetra Tour and is currently ranked 124 on the ROLEX Women’s World Golf Rankings.

A honors graduate of Indiana University Bloomington with a degree in Journalism, French & Psychology, Abby has set her sights on changing the face of golf. The founder of non-profit Fore the Ladies, a female-based community introducing scores of women to the game thru accessibility and approachability, much like the PKBGT. She is currently the Senior Manager of Fan Engagement for the U.S. Open.

A 9-time PKBGT Champion, Perry attended UNC-Chapel Hill and played collegiately for the Tar Heels from 2010-2014. After an All-America career in Chapel Hill, she competed for 2 years on the LPGA Symetra Tour.  Following LPGA Q-School in 2016, Perry gained LPGA status and will be entering her 5th season on the LPGA Tour. Perry serves as an ambassador of the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour and will host the Katherine Perry Hamski Girls Tradition in March at UNC Finley Golf Club. Katherine and her husband welcomed their first child, John, in September of 2020.

A native of Gastonia, North Carolina, Lelia is a graduate of Clemson University in the Professional Golf Management program. A Class A Professional in the PGA, Leila served as the PGA Reach Director for the Philadelphia PGA Section and is currently a Career Services Recruiting Specialist with the PGA of America and a Board Member with Women Golfers Give Back. 

A 3-time PKBGT Champion, Kirk attended East Carolina University and played collegiately for the Pirates from 2011-2015. During her time at ECU, Kirk was selected by the LPGA Foundation as the 2015 Dinah Shore Trophy recipient. In addition, Kirk held the PKBGT Invitational scoring record from her win in 2011 with a 2 day total of 5-under (66-71) until last year. She is currently working in analytics as a Decision Sciences Team Lead for Truist Financial Corporation, which is the merged bank of BB&T and SunTrust and continuing to play amateur golf.

Originally from Baltimore, MD, Anne attended Trinity University, where she was a 4-year starter on the Tigers Women’s Golf team and Captain her senior year. Anne was a former Tournament Director for the PKB Girls’ Golf Tour before going back to school to study Nursing at Duke University.  She has been a labor and delivery nurse at UNC REX Hospital in Raleigh, NC, for the past 4 years. In addition to being a nurse, Anne is a member of the North Carolina Golf Panel, where she ranks golf courses for playability across the state.

Originally from Liberty, North Carolina, Jess attended nearby High Point University, where she was a 4-year starter on the Women‘s Golf team. A decorated junior golfer, the former Jessica Neese was the 2009 North Carolina Junior Girls champion and a member of the PKBGT. Jess is a former Tournament Director for the PKB Girls‘ Golf Tour before returning to High Point University where she currently is the Assistant Director of Housing Operations.

A Women‘s Western Golf Foundation scholar, Peggy graduated from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She served as a university intramural sports director while earning her Masters in Quantative Management. Returning to golf after raising a family, she returned to Argyle Country Club where she was a club champion in her youth and is an active player and volunteer. 

Anna started playing golf at age 10.  She was a multi-sport athlete until solely focusing on her golf career in high school. A PKBGT Alumna, Anna was the 2014 Bell National Order of Merit champion.  Anna graduated from the University of Virginia in 2019, where she was a member of the 2016 ACC Championship team. Anna just finished her first season on the Symetra Tour finishing in the top-five three times. Redding finished tenth in the 2019-2020 Volvik Race for the Card Money List and has full status on the Symetra Tour for 2021. Also, Anna was the first woman to ever hit a competitive shot at Augusta National in the inaugural Augusta National Women’s Amateur in 2019.

A graduate of Wake Forest University, Charlene retired after 36 years in commercial banking with Wachovia and First Tennessee banks. Charlene also volunteers for the Carolina’s Golf Association as a rules official and is the Finance Chair of the Appalachian State University Foundation Board. 

Originally from High Point, North Carolina, Cecily was a standout junior golf in the Carolinas and the PKBGT. Cecily became the 10th player in North Carolina State University Women‘s Golf history to play 100 collegiate rounds for the Wolfpack program and graduated with a Business management Degree. Cecily is currently a professional golfer on the WAPT & LPGA Symetra Tour.