Insurance Office of America Links the Generations of the PKBGT
It has been an exciting year for the PKBGT in Central FL! This spring, the tour kicked off our inaugural Central Florida regional series, bringing 1-day developmental level competition to young girls around the Central Florida area.
This past weekend, the PKBGT hosted the IOA Golf Classic Junior Qualifier, an exclusive, 36-hole qualifying event in which the winner earned an exemption into the Symetra Tour’s IOA Golf Classic played at Alaqua Country Club in Longwood, FL. The qualifier, also hosted at Alaqua, featured 18 of the top junior golfers from FL and beyond.
Taking home the exemption and title of the inaugural qualifier was Sophie Guo (Orlando, FL 2019) after posting two, under-par rounds of 69 (-4, 69-69=138) to win by 4 shots. Over the weekend, Sophie had 8 birdies and just 4 bogeys in her debut PKBGT event. Sophie will join several PKBGT alumni now competing on the LPGA Symetra Tour in the 2018 IOA Golf Classic played September 28-30.
Finishing in tie for second place was Lauren Clark (Orlando, FL 2021) after posting a final round of 69 (73-69=142) and Meiyi Yan (Windermere, FL 2019) who posted consistent rounds of 70 and 72 for a total of 142. In a three way tie for fourth place at +4 (146) were Melanie Green (Medina, NY 2020), Karoline Tuttle (Lake Mary, FL 2022) and Rory Weinfurther (Midlothian, VA 2019).
We are extremely grateful for our partner, Insurance Office of America and the host club, Alaqua Country Club, for this incredible opportunity for a PKBGT member to compete in a professional event! We look forward to following Sophie at the IOA Golf Classic at the end of the month!
Our Partnership with Insurance Office of America
We are proud to have our partner, Insurance Office of America (IOA), investing in all levels of women’s golf. The title sponsor of three Symetra Tour events in 2018 – The IOA Championship, IOA Invitational and the IOA Golf Classic- and now the presenting sponsor of the PKBGT Central Florida Regional Series and the PKBGT IOA Jr Golf Classic, IOA has had a large impact on all levels of women’s golf.
Viewed as the “missing link” in the girl’s golf developmental pathway, the PKBGT aims to offer affordable, girls-only competitions to middle and high school aged girls of all skill levels in order to provide a space for them to develop their games and get ranked both regionally and nationally. The introduction of the Central Florida Regional Series this past spring marked the beginning of the 4th PKBGT regional development series, in addition the North Carolina, Southeast and Middle Atlantic series.
Guo, the exemption winner, will join several PKBGT alumni in the field of the Symetra Tour IOA Golf Classic, including past champions like Lori Beth Adams (’10), Laura Wearn (’09), Lucia Polo (’13) and Jillian Hollis (’14).
In addition, PKBGT alumni, including now LPGA touring professionals Katherine Perry, Lauren Coughlin, Allison Emrey and Katelyn Dambaugh, are products of the LPGA’s Symetra Tour.
We are grateful for organizations like Insurance Office of America that link the generations of the PKBGT- from their investments in the early development of competitive junior girls to their support of those just steps away from achieving their dreams of playing on the LPGA Tour.
Thank you to all who participated this weekend and we look forward to growing opportunities for junior girls to play in girls-only competitions in FL and beyond!
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