The 2012 Peggy Kirk Bell Girls’ Golf Tour tees off this weekend with the Peggy Kirk Bell Foundation Classic @ Pine Needles Lodge & GC. A favorite tour stop for the girl’s, Pine Needles is the owner by the tours Honorary Chairwoman Peggy Kirk Bell and has hosted 3 United States Women’s Open Championships. The event features a full field of 84 players from the PKB Girls’ Golf Tour, the nation’s largest “girls’ only” junior tour with over 400 members and 94 alumni in the collegiate ranks.
The Bell Division field is highlighted by top ranked players from near and far to the Sandhills. North Carolina’s number 1 ranked player Sarah Bae (2013, Raleigh, NC) makes her 2012 PKBGT debut along with Ohio’s top ranked player, Jessica Porvasnik (2013, Hinckley, OH) and Pennsylvania’s 2nd ranked Marissa DeCola (2012, Butler, PA). Other top-5 ranked players are Allyson Markiewicz (2013, Charlotte, NC), Lyberty Anderson (2014, Chesterfield, VA), and Stephanie Pribonic (2012, Wake Forest, NC) who all finished in a T-3rd last year, 3 shots back of 2011 champion Victoria Allred (2014, Pfafftown, NC). This years tournament champion will automatically qualify for the year-end Tour Championship in September.
The Futures Division field brings 33 players from 4 states to Pine Needles. PKBGT Kick-Off Classic champion Amy Wooten (2018, Clinton, NC) will look to make it two in a row on what may be the strongest Futures Division field in the tours history. Players to watch include a trio of 2018 graduates who have extensive tournament resumes, including 2011 Order of Merit runner-up and defending champion Jennifer Chang (2018, Cary, NC), Gina Kim (2018, Chapel Hill, NC) and Naomi Mitchell (2018, Norfolk, VA). Also, keep an eye on Grace Massengail (2016, Hickory, NC) and 2011 Pine Needles runner-up Haeley Wotnosky (2017, Wake Forest, NC).
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 low cost, nationally ranked girls’ golf tournaments designed to prepare junior girls’ golfers for high school and 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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