Recap: 2019 Linville Cup at Mid Pines Inn and GC

On Sunday, January 20, the Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour played both rounds of the 2nd Annual Linville Cup at Mid Pines Inn and GC in Southern Pines, NC.

The teams congregated in the Mid Pines clubhouse early in the morning for the opening round of the 2019 Linville Cup. Each region, led by their coaches, were introduced in the opening ceremony. Following the ceremony, players were shuttled to their respective holes for the shotgun start.

Semifinal Round

NC East vs. NC West

In the first of the two matchups in the nine-hole Semifinal round, it was a battle of North Carolina between the defending champion Team North Carolina East and Team North Carolina West.

NC East jumped out to an early lead after Anna Claire Bridge (Raleigh, NC 2021) and Megan Morris (Cary, NC 2021) defeated Amber Capote (Waxhaw, NC 2020) and Hailey Ellis (Huntersville, NC 2020) in Match #1. Kayla Dowell (Mebane, NC 2021) and Heather Appelson (Wake Forest, NC 2023) followed suit, defeating Gabriella Cruz (High Point, NC 2021) and Anna Howerton (Kernersville, NC 2023) in Match #2 to give NC East a 2-0 lead.

NC West rallied back, taking the next three matches. In Match #3, NC West’s Kyleigh Harnsberger (Advance, NC 2021) and Alyssa Cox (Mount Airy, NC 2019) defeated Ava Lucas (Raleigh, NC 2021) and Carson Jenkins (Raleigh, NC 2019). West’s “Team Victoria”, Victoria Cook (Reidsville, NC 2020) and Victoria Ladd (Greensboro, NC 2019), defeated McKenzie Daffin (Fort Bragg, NC 2021) and Halynn Lee (Cary, NC 2021) in Match #4.

In the Discovery match, Madison Dial (High Point, NC 2025) and Ashnoor Kaur (Draper, VA 2024) defeated Leah Edwards (Greensboro, NC 2025) and Sanaa Carter (Jacksonville, NC 2025) to secure Team NC West’s berth in the Championship Round!

Middle Atlantic vs. Southeast

Last year’s runner up, Team Middle Atlantic, looked for a return to the finals in the second nine-hole Semifinal round against Team Southeast.

Izzy Stone (Beaufort, SC 2020) and Bethany Welch (Matthews, NC 2023) gave the Southeast their first point, defeating Josephine Nguyen (Springfield, VA 2024) and Catherine Qiu (Great Falls, VA 2024)

Team Middle Atlantic stepped on the gas in the following matches. Sydney Hackett (Ashburn, VA 2022) and Melanie Walker (Burke, VA 2022) defeated Regan Clifford (Mount Pleasant, SC 2020) and Lilia Joyce (Mount Pleasant, SC 2019). Amber Mackiewicz (Virginia Beach, VA 2023) and Emily Wang (Mclean, VA 2024) defeated Ella Drew Dodd (Mount Pleasant, SC 2022) and Chloe Pittman (Davidson, NC 2020).

Abby Hunter (Blacksburg, VA 2021) and Emma Chen (Derwood, MD 2022) halved with Cindy Song (Charlotte, NC 2023) and Emily Song (Charlotte, NC 2019), giving Team Southeast another half point.

Team Middle Atlantic secured their second straight appearance in the Championship Match after Madison Lehr (Mechanicsville, VA 2024) and Sydney Neou (Leesburg, VA 2027) defeated Gracie Song (Waxhaw, NC 2026) and Darby Hancock (Sorrento, FL 2025).

Championship Round

Team Middle Atlantic vs. Team North Carolina West

In the first 18-hole Championship Round match, Amber Capote and Hailey Ellis defeated Josephine Nguyen and Catherine Qiu to give NC West and early lead. Amber Mackiewicz and Emily Wang defeated Gabriella Cruz and Anna Howerton in the next match to bring the Middle Atlantic back.

The teams split the next two matches. In the Discovery match, NC West’s Ashnoor Kaur and Madison Dial defeated Madison Lehr and Sydney Neou. In the final group to tee off, Abby Hunter and Emma Chen gave Middle Atlantic a fighting chance, defeating Victoria Cook and Victoria Ladd.

The Championship came down to Match #4: Team NC West’s Kyleigh Harnsberger and Alyssa Cox versus Team Middle Atlantic’s Sydney Hackett and Melanie Walker. The match was neck and neck for the majority of the afternoon until Team NC West sank a clutch putt on Hole 15 to go 2 up. After splitting the next hole, Team Middle Atlantic needed to win the last two holes to send the tournament into a playoff.

After NC West sent their drive into the fairway bunker, Middle Atlantic sat pretty in the middle of the fairway. Their second shot sailed over the green leaving the door open for NC West. From the bunker, Harnsberger took control of the situation, landing her shot within two feet of the cup.

Needing to chip in from off the green to extend the contest, Team Middle Atlantic fell just short. In a display of good sportsmanship, they conceded the hole, giving Team NC West the match and the Championship.

At the evening banquet following play, Team North Carolina West, led by coaches Allison Emrey and Charlene Johnson, was officially named champions of the 2nd Annual Linville Cup!

Third-Place Round

Team North Carolina East vs. Team Southeast

In the 18-hole third-place round, Team NC East defeated Team Southeast 3-2. The matches concluded as followed:

Match #1: SE’s Regan Clifford and Chloe Pittman defeated NC East’s Ava Lucas and Carson Jenkins

Match #2: NC East’s McKenzie Daffin and Halynn Lee defeated SE’s Lilia Joyce and Ella Drew Dodd

Match #3: NC East’s Kayla Dowell and Heather Appelson defeated SE’s Izzy Stone and Bethany Welch

Match #4: NC East’s Anna Claire Bridge and Megan Morris defeated SE’s Cindy Song and Emily Song

Match #5: SE’s Gracie Song and Darby Hancock defeated NC East’s Leah Edwards and Sanaa Carter

Closing Remarks

Congratulations to the champions of the 2019 Linville Cup, Team NC West! All of the players on each team came to play and the competition was heated. Additional congratulations to each player who earned their spot in this weekend’s events. The PKBGT would like to thank all of the staff at Mid Pines Inn and GC for a phenomenal weekend at their state-of-the-art facilities. The tour continues next week in Pinehurst with the PKB Foundation Classic at Country Club of North Carolina (Cardinal).

Final Leaderboard

View Event Photos

About the PKBGT 

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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