, ,
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012
About This Issue Cover Design: Martha J. Henderson, Special Sections Editor Cover Photography: O’Brien Taylor Supplement Design/Layout: Hunter Chase, Sports Editor Contributing Writers: Andrew Soboiero, Norma Stilwell Contributing Photographers: Hannah Sharpe, O’Brien Taylor and Norma Stilwell For advertising information, contact Pat Taylor at (910) 693-2505 or email advertise@thepilot.com
145 W. Pennsylvania Ave., Southern Pines, NC 28387 (910) 692-7271 • thepilot.com
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
PAGE 3
U.S. Kids Golf Back Home For the seventh consecutive year, the village of Pinehurst and the Sandhills of North Carolina will be at the center of the world’s largest and most prestigious kids golf tournament as the 13th annual U.S. Kids Golf World Championship returns, bringing over 1,300 kids from 40 countries here. The World Championship and Teen World Championship are hosted by the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, headquartered in Atlanta. Dan Van Horn, U.S. Kids Golf founder and president, is excited about coming back to Pinehurst. “We are delighted to again be hosting this premier junior golf event at the home of American golf,” Van Horn said. “This unique event allows families to share special memories that will last a lifetime. It is inspiring to watch such high level competition among these youngsters.” Host courses include Pinehurst Nos. 2, 3, 4, 6 and 8; Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club; HANNAH SHARPE/The Pilot
see HOME, page 4 These participants in last year’s championship showed their delight in being here.
PAGE 4
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012
Chen Earns 2012 Peggy Kirk Bell Award BY NORMA STILWELL Special to The Pilot
Eleven-year-old Grace Chen of Sunnyvale, Calif., doesn’t just play golf for recreation. She regards playing golf as a vehicle to help her peers who have suffered from debilitating diseases. She sees golf as a way to help free them from the isolation and loneliness encountered during a sometimes difficult recovery. Diagnosed with acute lymphocytic leukemia at age 2, Grace discovered the game of golf four years later, benefitting from the activity both mentally and physically. She seemed to be a natural and picked up the game very quickly. Grace grew from just “playing” golf to winning local, regional and world junior golf titles. Her father, Weixing Chen, says, “Grace not only sees golf as such a great sport, but also an effective recovery sport. Because of what she has been through, she is more aware of how children with cancer and their families feel.” In 2009 this young lady wanted to help other kids who were cancer victims, and her own charity initiative called “Birdie for ALL” (acute lymphocytic leukemia) was created. Initially, the charity began with “supporters” donating money for every birdie or better that Grace carded at a world championship. During the first year, Grace was able to raise $3,000, which she donated to the Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford University for leukemia research and treatment. The effort has since expanded to a “Birdie for ALL” team, featuring other junior golfers. Each member of
the team contributes to the fundraising and other charity efforts. Notable team members include high-achieving Eddy Lai, winner of her division during the 2010 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship, and 14-year-old Hannah O’Sullivan who qualified for the 2012 U.S. Women’s Open. For her outstanding determination and good works, Grace will receive the sixth annual Peggy Kirk Bell Award, given each year at the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst. The presentation of the award, named after the woman many consider to be one of the founders and catalyst for women’s golf in America, is always a special moment for Dan Van Horn, founder of U.S. Kids Golf. “It is such a privilege for the world championship to have Mrs. Bell to recognize our winners,” Van Horn said. “Her lifelong efforts to celebrate the game of golf are an inspiration Grace Chen for all of us, and she is an icon for women’s golf in America.” Grace will be playing in her fifth U.S. Kids Golf World Championship this year, and her hope is to make more
friends in junior golf, so that more young golfers can use their talents to help other less fortunate young cancer patients just as she did with her “Birdie for ALL” initiative. The charity has involved several golf professionals in her area to create events and perform clinics for young cancer patients. “Birdie for ALL” has brought nine-hole putting greens to the Stanford Children’s Hospital, an area Ronald McDonald House, and also several camps for cancer patients, including Camp Okizu, a camp in northern California for children with childhood cancer. These events have entertained 50 to 200 young patients and their families. Grace has received several recognitions for her courageous battle to change the lives of kids with cancer through her love of golf. Her “Gracious Life Foundation” can be followed at www.birdieforall.org. Grace’s winning attitude has not been forgotten in the Sandhills of North Carolina. Her award presentation will take place during the closing ceremonies on Saturday, Aug. 4.
Home From Page 3 Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club; Talamore Golf Resort; Southern Pines Country Club; Midland Country Club; Little River Golf Resort and Longleaf Golf and Country Club. On each course, the young golfers are encouraged to use a caddie to help them play their best. “Our foundation’s goal is to grow the game of golf amongst our youngest generation, and we are able to see the benefit of this effort through this event,” Van Horn said. “To see parents pass along their love of golf to their children is very rewarding.” The seventh annual U.S. Kids Golf Teen World Championship (ages 13-18) took place July 26-July 28 with nearly 525 players from 40 countries. The Teen World Cup is going on today, starting at 7:30 a.m. The event is an opportunity for boys and girls in each age group to play in a Ryder Cup-style match play competition. The top four boys and top two girls from the United States faced off against the top four boys and the top two girls from the rest of the world.
The competition is taking place on the famed Pinehurst No. 2 Course. The U.S. Kids Golf World Championship (ages 512) will take place Aug. 2-4. Upon completion, the top 18 finishing 12-year-old boys and girls will form two teams (U.S. and International) for the U.S. Kids Golf World Cup on Aug. 5, also on Pinehurst No. 2. With this world championship attracting over 5,000 people from each of the 50 states and over three dozen countries, the host area annually sees an enormous economic impact for Moore County. According to statistics furnished by the Convention and Visitors Bureau for the Pinehurst, Southern Pines and Aberdeen Area, the local economy felt a $6.4 million boost in 2011. “We are proud to be a corporate partner with Pinehurst and appreciate the economic impact that the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship brings to this community,” said Van Horn. “This event would not be possible without the great numbers of local volunteers who continue to support us each year.” The U.S. Kids Golf World Championship also offers other family opportunities: the second annual parent/child competition on Aug. 1, the opening ceremonies grand parade in the village of Pinehurst on Tuesday, July 31, and U.S. Kids Golf Club Fitting and Demo opportunities.
welcomes
U.S. Kids Golf
Pinehurst has been instructing champions for decades. Seven-year-old Jack Lewis sits at the base of the original Putter Boy statue studying the Rules of Golf (c. 1954). Lewis continued his career in golf, winning the Men’s North and South Amateur in 1968.
PAGE 6
U.S. Kids Golf Promotes Game U.S. Kids Golf LLC is based in Atlanta, and manufactures equipment and related golf products made especially for kids. In addition to more than 4,000 golf shops and retail locations in the U.S., the company’s products also are available in over 75 countries worldwide. The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation, a Georgia nonprofit recognized as a 501(c)(3) charity, was created in 2001 and provides services that include competition and instruction. The foundation organizes more than 600 golf tournaments for kids each year including state championships and local tours in more than 40 cities, 10 qualifiers across the nation, eight regional championships, two international championships, a European championship, the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship and Teen World Championship, which are held each year in Pinehurst. In partnership with the PGA of America, the foundation also supports the U.S. Kids Golf Family Course program, which provides guidelines that help courses make the game easier to learn and more fun for kids and their families.
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012
Schedule of Events Monday, July 30 World Championship Parent/Child Tournament 9 a.m. Shotgun start Pinehurst No. 6 and Pinehurst No. 8 Tuesday, July 31 Registration 8 a.m. -– 5 p.m. Pinehurst Clubhouse, St. Andrews Room
Registration 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Pinehurst Clubhouse, St. Andrews Room Club Fitting and Demo Day 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Pinehurst Resort Driving Range
Thursday, Aug. 2 Round One Tee times begin at 7 a.m.
Club Fitting and Demo Day 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Pinehurst Resort Driving Range
Friday, Aug. 3 Round Two Tee times begin at 7 a.m.
Opening Ceremony Pinehurst Village 6:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Saturday, Aug. 4 Round Three Tee times begin at 7 a.m.
Family Dance Grand Ballroom, Carolina Hotel 8 p.m. to 11 p.m.
Closing Ceremony 8:30 p.m. Pinecrest High School Auditorium
Wednesday, Aug. 1 Official Practice Round 7:30 a.m.
Sunday, Aug. 5 U.S. Kids Golf World Cup 7:30 a.m. Pinehurst No. 2
DIAL 2-1-1 OR TOLL FREE 888-892-1162 TO SPEAK WITH ONE OF OUR SPECIALISTS.
the pilot .com
Keep Cool...
w with Boomer’s Boo mer’s s selec selection tion o of f
Travel Tra avel GAMES, GA AMES, MAGAZINES MAGAZINES
& GREETIN GREETING GC CARDS! ARDS!
Now Open on Sundays:1pm-4pm • now available: New York York Times Times Sunda Sundayy paper
RELAX YOUR GRIP. You know what the golf pros say: You’ll get better results if you loosen up. Good advice off the course, too, which is why we suggest you consider a few days in the Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area of North Carolina to reconnect with your spouse, your family and your inner self. Our charming resorts and spas will take you a world away from your day-to-day stress. Our unique shops, potteries and galleries will offer a little retail therapy for those in need. And then, of course, there are our famous championship golf courses to simultaneously calm the mind and reinvigorate the spirit. We’ll return you to your life with a relaxed outlook and a new grip on your priorities.
LET GO. LOOSEN UP AT THE HOME OF AMERICAN GOLF®. VISIT WWW.HOMEOFGOLF.COM TO PLAN YOUR STAY.
WELCOME U.S. KIDS GOLF! TALAMORE GOLF RESORT Southern Pines, NC 800.552.6292 www.TalamoreGolfResort.com
PINE NEEDLES LODGE & GOLF CLUB Southern Pines, NC 910.692.7111 www.pineneedles-midpines.com
MAPLES GOLF PACKAGES Village of Pinehurst, NC 800.889.5323 www.MaplesGolf.com
PAGE 8
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012
HANNAH SHARPE/The Pilot
Sir Purr, the mascot for the Carolina Panthers, leads the Parade of Nations portion of last year’s opening ceremonies into Pinehurst.
Parade Highlights Opening Ceremonies One of the more entertaining aspects of the U.S. Kids Golf World Championships is the annual opening ceremony parade. This year’s spectacle is taking place in the village of Pinehurst on Tuesday, July 31, at 6:30 p.m. Highlights include an appearance by the 82nd Airborne Division Band from Ft. Bragg and the participants in the tournament joining in the World Championship Parade of Nations. This year more than 1,300 young golfers from all 50 states and 40 countries will be the focal point of this annual event which involves a staging route of Carolina Vista and Ritter Road, leading to Chinquapin Road, with a grand arrival at the Village Green. The U.S. Kids Golf participants will pre-assemble along Carolina Vista.
Motorcycles driven by members of the Pinehurst police force will lead a USMC League Color Guard (Sandhills Detachment) and the Ft. Bragg Band. A Pinehurst balloon will serve as the escort for Parade Grand Marshall and avid golf enthusiast Blaise McNair, 10, of West End, who is fighting a serious illness. Blaise will be joined in the Grand Marshall car by UNC mascot, Rameses. U.S. Kids Golf Founder Dan Van Horn and his wife, Jennifer, are also in a featured car, in addition to the Peggy Kirk Bell Award winner, Grace Chen of Sunnyvale, Calif. Arlie Honeycutt, the 2012 Miss North Carolina, will be preceded by the Pinehurst Putterboy float. The 2012 Miss Greater Sandhills Kensley
Leonard and her Carolina Princess Karsen Corbett will lead other local queens and princesses including Rachel Brittain, Claire Sutton, Kenleigh Parker, Emma Harrison, Madison Hadaway and Ashley Lafell. Bagpiper Peter McArthur, Pinehurst Mayor Nancy Fiorillo, the Pinehurst Fire Department, Sparky and the robotic fire truck will also be included. The Carolina Panthers mascot, Sir Purr, will greet viewers along the parade route, in addition to the Sand Ts of Moore County Miniature Model Ts. With an entrance reminiscent of the Olympic Games, all young world championship participants will enter the Village Green proudly carrying the flags of their
various countries. This parade of nationsstyle entrance will follow behind the drum line from the award-winning Union Pines High School Band. A short program is scheduled after the arrival of all parade participants. Pinehurst police will be providing assistance in traffic checkpoints around the main entrances to the Pinehurst Resort and Village Green along areas adjacent to N.C. 2 prior to the parade. Cherokee Road, Chinquapin Road and Village Green W roads will remain closed to traffic until 8 p.m. People wishing to park and walk to the parade are encouraged to use lots at village churches. Concessions tents sponsored by local groups will be available.
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
PAGE 9
Results from the 2011 World Championship The 2011 championship featured 1,208 youngsters from 39 countries and 48 states. Players were divided into 13 age groups over nine courses in the Pinehurst and Southern Pines areas in North Carolina. The following are the results of the various age groups from last year’s tournament.
challenge came from Monet Chun of Canada, who cut the deficit to four strokes after nine holes. But Ku was able to post a back-nine 35, erasing any doubt that she would take home the title. Chun claims second place for herself at 6-under-par for the tournament. Samantha Marie Bruce of the Philippines followed closely behind with a final-round 69 to get her to 5-underpar for the tournament. Catherine Lau of South Africa and Isabella Fierro of Mexico tied for fourth at 1-under-par 215.
Girls 7 & Under Alexa Pano of Lake Worth, Fla., came from behind to claim the title. She entered the final round two strokes behind Sky Sudberry of Spring, Texas, but made up the deficit after the first hole. Pano and Sudberry matched one another shot-for-shot over the next six holes, until Pano pulled away at the end to win by three. She closed it off with a birdie at the last hole, as she bookended her round with birdies, and parred the other seven holes. It is Pano’s first world championship victory. Sudberry finished the tournament at even-par 108, three behind Pano. Amari Avery of Riverside, Calif., finished in third place after shooting her second-consecutive even-par 36. Sophia Louis of Boca Raton, Fla., finished fourth at 4-over-par 112, while Airi Sugiura of Japan finished fifth at 5-over-par 113.
Girls 11 Elizabeth Moon of Forrest City, Ark., completed a final-round comeback to claim the title. Trailing by two headed to the final round, she was 3-under-par on her round through 14 holes, opening up a five-stroke lead with four to play. Late birdies by Youngin Chun of South Korea threatened Moon’s lead, but she hung on to win by one stroke. Chun finished alone in second place. Gina Kim of nearby Chapel Hill, carded the only final round in the 60s and finished in third place at 1under-par 215. Vanessa Manrique of Colombia finished fourth at even-par, while Hailey Jones of Dallas finished fifth at 4-over-par 220.
Girls 8
Girls 12
Romina Villanueva of Mexico completed an impressive comeback to win at Longleaf Golf and Country Club. She began the round two strokes behind second-round leader Mimi Chen of China. Villanueva came up with birdies on Nos. 6 and 7 when Chen came up with bogies, creating a four-shot swing. It was just enough to separate the two by one stroke at the finish, as Villanueva claimed the narrow victory. Chen took home the second-place trophy after closing with a final-round 1-over-par 37 and finishing at 2-over-par 110 for the tournament. Firstround leader Elle Nachmann of Boca Raton, Fla., finished in third place after a final-round 1-over-par 37. She parred eight of her nine holes to earn one of the most consistent rounds of the tournament. Aishvarya Bedi of San Jose, Calif., and Alyssa Dimarcantonio of Canada tied for fourth position at 7-over-par 115.
Clare Amelia Legaspi of the Philippines recorded her record-tying fifth world championship Saturday, closing with a 1under-par 71 to finish the tournament at 4under-par 212. She ties Marijosse Navarro in the all-time U.S. Kids Golf record books with five championship victories. Four players have recorded four such victories. Legaspi finished three strokes clear of Kayley Marschke of Suwanee, Ga., who gave Legaspi a challenge all week. Marschke carded a final-round 72 to wind up at 1-under-par 215 for the tournament. Three players tied for third place, as Muni He of Canada, Jacinta Pikunas of Youngstown, Ohio, and Haley Moore of Escondido, Calif., all finished at 1-over-par 217.
Girls 9 Karah Sanford of Escondido, Calif., took nothing for granted in the final round, as she fired a 4-under-par 32 to win the world championship by eight strokes. She entered the final round with an eight-shot lead and continued to solidify her position
NORMA STILWELL/Special to The Pilot
A.J. Beechler of Pinehurst celebrates his victory in the boys 11 division at Talamore Golf Resort last year. Beechler returns this year to compete in the boys 12 division.
Boys 6 & Under on top, as she was 3-under-par through three holes and finished the tournament at 12-under-par 96. Emilie Alba Paltrinieri made a charge with a final-round 32 of her own, but Sanford never gave an inch. Paltrinieri finished alone in second at 4under-par 104. Christine Wang of Houston finished under-par as well, 10 strokes back of Sanford. Mogan Du of China, Michaela Morard of Huntsville, Ala., and
Suzuka Yagi of Japan tied for fourth place at 1-over-par 109.
Girls 10 Anina Ku of Basking Ridge, N.J., held onto her substantial second-round lead to claim her spot atop the leaderboard at 12under-par 204. She posted a steady evenpar 72, which was all she needed to hold her lead of seven shots. Ku’s strongest
Allan Kournikova of Palm Beach, Fla., cruised to a victory in the division, as he continued his mastery of Midland Country Club. Kournikova, who entered the round with a two-stroke lead, made an eagle on No. 3 and never looked back, shooting 4under-par 32 Saturday and getting to 10under-par 98 for the tournament. He finished six strokes ahead of his nearest
see RESULTS, page 10
PAGE 10
Results From Page 9
competitor, Kuranosuke Shimzu of Japan. Shimzu posted an impressive bogey-free 3under-par 33 to leap into second place. Treed Huang of Katy, Texas, finished third at 2-under-par 106. First-round leader Conner Ritter of East Sparta, Ohio, finished fourth at 1-under-par 107, while Justin Sui of Lake Orion, Mich., finished fifth at 1-over-par 109.
Boys 7
Jed Dy of the Philippines created some distance from the rest of the field Saturday, increasing his lead and winning the division by four strokes. Dy made three final-round birdies on his card of 2under-par 34, and finished 7-under-par 101 for the event. Jeevan Sihota of Canada kept it close, but could not keep up with the pace set by Dy, as he finished the tournament 4-under-par. Sihota shot a bogeyfree 35 in the final round to claim second place honors. Jackson Van Paris of Lake Forest, Ill., took home sole possession of third place, as he finished the tournament
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. at even-par 108. Logan Paczewski of Dallas, Pa., and Aaron Zhang of Lake Mary, Fla., finished in a tie for fifth at 2over-par 110.
Boys 8 Nicklas Staub of Boynton Beach, Fla., came from behind to win the division in a thrilling finish. Staub went to a playoff with Benjamin James of Waterbury, Conn., and clinched the tournament on the first playoff hole. After shooting the only under-par final round on the back nine at Mid Pines, Staub drained a seven-foot birdie putt to clinch the victory. James opened his final round with a bogey, but battled to stay in contention all day, finishing tied with Staub at even-par 108. Jackson Rivera of Rossmoor, Calif., was also in it until the last minute, as he finished one-stroke behind at 1-over-par 109. Juan Camilo Vesga Solano of Colombia finished fourth at 4-over-par 112, while a host of players tied for fifth. Liam Shinn of Norcross, Ga., Jordan Duminy of South Africa, Jose Cristobal Islas of Mexico, Torin Dezzani of Honolulu and Narayan Nanu Mohan of Charlotte, finished at 7over-par 115.
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012
Boys 9 Karl Vilips of Australia capped off a remarkable comeback to claim the division in exciting fashion on Pinehurst No. 8. Vilips began the day three strokes behind the leader, but did all in his power to come out on top, carding a final-round 5-underpar 67 to come out on top by a single stroke. He recorded a birdie on No. 18 to edge David Hu of Canada by the slimmest of margins. Hu did all he could to catch Vilips, as he birdied Nos. 17 and 18, but still came up one stroke shy at 5-under-par 211. Nicholas Gabrelcik of Trinity, Fla., finished third at 3-under-par 213. Michael Thorbjornsen of Wellesley, Mass., finished fourth, while Xiang Rui Bai of China finished in fifth.
Boys 10 Wen Liang Xie of China won one of the closest competitions of the 2011 World Championship. Xie and Ricky Castillo of Yorba Linda, Calif., nearly matched one another shot-for-shot all tournament, but Xie finished one stroke clear of Castillo. They shot matching 70s on Thursday and 71s Saturday, but Xie’s second-round 66
see RESULTS, page 14
O’BRIEN TAYLOR/Special to The Pilot
Ethan Crabb watches his chip shot during last year’s play.
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
A L OOK Nine area courses will host the competitors in the 2012 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship this year. Below is a list of the courses that will be participating.
Pinehurst No. 3 Girls 12 Yardage: 5,400. Holes: 18. Designed by Donald Ross in 1910, Pinehurst No. 3 is a rolling, short course that will test the game of any golfer. Renovated greens put more of a premium on putting accuracy. “I just don’t think people understand how good those holes are,” said Ben Crenshaw of the course. “They’re filled with interest. They’re shorter, but there’s plenty of character to them.”
Pinehurst No. 4 Boys 12 Yardage: 6,000. Holes: 18. Designed in 1919 by Donald Ross and redesigned by Tom Fazio in 2000, this course offers a championship challenge to those who dare, including more than 140 pot bunkers. The course also offers some of the most picturesque scenes in Pinehurst, including the 13th
AT THE
PAGE 11
N INE A REA C OURSES
and 14th water holes.
Pinehurst No. 8 Boys 9 Yardage: 4,800. Holes: 18. Designed by Tom Fazio, No. 8 opened in 1996 to commemorate Pinehurst’s centennial year. Fazio incorporated signature Donald Ross features into the design, including dips and swales around the greens, sloping greens and false fronts.
Talamore Boys 11 Yardage: 5,600. Holes: 18. Designed by Rees Jones, Talamore has been considered one of the country’s finest courses since opening in 1991. Position and strategy are at a premium on this course, as Jones said, “What I’m trying to do is require thinking.”
Mid Pines Golf Club Boys 7 Yardage: 1,700. Holes: 9 (Front). Boys 8 Yardage: 2,100. Holes: 9 (Back). A course many have characterized as “pure
Donald Ross,” Mid Pines was designed by Ross in 1921 and still boasts the same layout as it did when it opened. It utilizes the land it was built on to create a fun yet challenging test for any golfer.
Midland Country Club Girls 7 and under Yardage: 1,500. Holes: 9. Boys 6 Yardage: 1,300. Holes: 9. Designed by Tom Jackson, the nine-hole course opened in 1977 and caters to seniors, women and juniors as well as experienced players. It is a challenging yet enjoyable and friendly layout that will leave golfers wanting more.
Longleaf Golf Club Girls 8 Yardage: 1,800. Holes: 9 (Front). Girls 9 Yardage: 2,100. Holes: 9 (Back). Girls 10 Yardage: 4,600. Holes: 18. Designed by Dan Maples and opened in 1988, Longleaf has been called “the most playable course in the Sandhills.” The course features two distinct layouts. The front nine is more of a links-style layout, featuring many of the horse track’s original features — white fences, rail posts and hedgerows. The back nine, in contrast, is heavily tree-lined with dramatic elevation changes.
Southern Pines Golf Club
Little River Golf Club Boys 10 Yardage: 5,200. Holes: 18. Designed by Dan Maples, Little River opened in 1996. The oft-honored course is sculptured from 450 acres of rolling hills and features nearly 200 feet in elevation and changes. It is sure to test even the most skilled golfer.
Girls 11 Yardage: 5,000. Holes: 18. Named to Golfweek’s Best Courses You Can Play in 2010, this classic Donald Ross design has been called “a true shotmaker’s golf course,” giving players options. While not as long as many of today’s courses, this rewarding track offers a variety of shots from the tee and even more challenges into the greens.
Welcome < : 20+: Join us for amazing specials every night.
TUESDAY $24.99
LOBSTER NIGHT
4HY[PUPZ
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
:\ZOP 9VSSZ :WYPUN 9VSSZ 4HY[PUPZ
MUSSEL NIGHT
ASIAN FLAIR NIGHT
$8
4HY[PUPZ
-90+(@ :(;<9+(@ PRIME RIB NIGHT ,(93@ )09+! WT WT
PAGE 12
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012
Area’s Economy Benefits from Kids Championship BY ANDREW SOBOEIRO Staff Writer
Through Aug. 5, Moore County will host the U.S. Kids Golf World Championsip and Teen World Championship for the seventh year in a row. The tournament has a powerful impact on the area’s economy. Peter Stilwell, one of the owners of Tarheel Communications Solutions who is working with Pinehurst Resort during the championships, believes the event comes at a good time for the area. “It’s a great benefit at a time when a lot of businesses really need business,” says Stilwell. “The restaurants and hotels will probably be full the next couple of weeks. Before U.S. Kids came here, you could shoot a cannon through the town this time of year and not hit anybody.” According to a 2010 study by the CVB, U.S. Kids Golf brings over 7,000 visitors to Moore County. They come from the United States and 26 countries, including Mexico, Germany, China, India and the Czech Republic. This makes the tourna-
ment particularly profitable for Moore The area’s business owners feel this County. impact directly: “For other events, 85 percent of the peo“We always love to see new faces in ple coming to Moore County drive,” says town,” says Anthony Parks of the Ice Caleb Miles, president Cream Parlor in and CEO of the Southern Pines. “You see Convention and Visitors a few more each year, Bureau (CVB). “For this and you can tell they’re tournament, 52% fly. here for the tournament This means they stay by how they’re dressed. longer: 6.1 nights, com… It’s gotten better pared to 3.3 nights for every year.” the average leisure trip. “Everyone gets excited Peter Stilwell Most of them get rental when [the kid golfers] cars, and their party come here,” says sizes are larger. That Stilwell. “It’s our goal to obviously increases keep U.S. Kids here as spending. … The average party that travlong as we can. We’re currently working els for leisure spends $935 on the trip. The on a campaign to extend the champiaverage spend for a US Kids Golf group is onships here until 2016.” $2,697.” Molly Menard of the Aberdeen Bead All told, visitors spend $4.2 million durCompany, which caters specifically to ing the tournament. This money generates kids, sees this as a particularly lucrative an additional $2 million in economic opportunity: growth, for an overall impact of $6.2 mil“Our business has really jumped,” she lion. says. “We have a lot of people coming in
“It’s not as big as the U.S. Open, but for these kids it is the U.S. Open.”
Our good ood finds f ds become
t ly great truly g att grea in your our home. h
Located in the Villag Village e of Pinehurst nehurst (above (abo ve Cool Sweats) Sw weats)
910-420-1076 910-420-10 076
with kids. … We’re definitely family-oriented. We offer classes for kids, camps, birthday parties, you can walk in and make a project, and all sorts of stuff.” The tournament not only brings great wealth to the community, but also spreads that wealth across all industries. Visitors spend over a $1 million on housing alone, split among hotels, resorts and condominiums. Additional hundreds of thousands go to the food, beverage, retail, transport, golf, and entertainment industries. Finally, the tournament reflects well on the Moore County community, improving the image of the county and of North Carolina as a whole worldwide. “We do a satisfaction survey after the tournament,” says Miles. “People rate their experience on a scale of one to five, five being excellent. Last time, the average rating was 4.51, between very good and excellent.” “It’s been good for the area,” says Stilwell. “Really there are no negatives. It’s not as big as the U.S. Open, but for these kids it is the U.S. Open.”
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
This young competitor uses a little body language as she tries to will her ball into the cup during last year’s U.S. Kids Golf World Championship.
PAGE 13
O’BRIEN TAYLOR/Special to The Pilot
PAGE 14
THE PILOT — SOUTHERN PINES, N.C.
Results
U LTIMATE G OAL
From Page 10 bested Castillo’s 67 as both went low on Friday. Xie finished the tournament at 9under-par 207. Mason Nome of Houston also remained in contention throughout the tournament, finishing third at 4-underpar 212. Christo Lamprecht of South Africa finished in fourth position at 1-overpar 217, while Max Peerbooms of the Netherlands and Nicolas Cassidy of Alpharetta, Ga., tied for fifth at 4-over-par.
SUNDAY, JULY 29, 2012 the low final round with a 4-under-par 68, which gave him sole possession of third at 1-under-par 215. Trent Phillips, also of Inman, S.C., finished fourth ahead of a group of five tied for fifth. Galven Green of Malaysia, Patrick Welch of Providence, R.I., Benjamin Wong of China, Robert Hollembaek of Crofton, Md., and Frankie Capan of St. Paul, Minn., all finished at 1over-par 217.
Boy 12
This division went right down to the wire, as Koichiro Ishika of Japan claimed the title by one shot. Ishika entered the final hole tied with Eddy Lai of San Jose, Calif., who earned a world champion title Boys 11 in 2010. Lai missed a six-foot par putt just Pinehurst native A.J. Beechler was the wide on No. 18, and Ishika slammed home story at Talamore Golf Resort, shooting all a par putt to win. Ishika pointed to a tough four rounds in the 60s and winning by a up-and-down on the par-3 12th as the turnremarkable eight strokes. Beechler fining point in his round. He totalled a 3ished the tournament with a 3-under-par under-par 69 for his final round, earning 69 to get his three-day total to 10-underan impressive tournament total of 13par. It was the first world championship under-par 203. WonJun Lee of South Korea title for Beechler, who has four U.S. Kids also gave an impressive showing, finishing Golf Regional Championship titles. at 7-under-par and in third place. Ben Harrison Corbin of Inman, S.C., shot all Fuller of Birmingham, Ala., Daniel three rounds at even-par or better to finish Martinez of Austin, Texas, and ShuoHarry second at 2-under-par 214 for the event. Huang of Canada finished in a tie for third Brian Terlesky of Youngstown, Ohio, shot at 2-under-par 214.
O’BRIEN TAYLOR/Special to The Pilot
Suneil Peruvemba, like most of the competitors in the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship, reaches his destination — getting the ball out of the cup after making a putt.
The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation is very fortunate to have so
many loyal Pinehurst community volunteers. We thank you for welcoming our participants
and their families from across the world through your hard work and dedication.
THANK YOU to these wonderful local golf courses:
Pinehurst (2,3,4,6,8), Mid Pines, Longleaf, Pine Needles, Southern Pines Country Club, Little River, Talamore, and Midland County Club.
The U.S. Kids Golf Foundation hosts the World Championship at Pinehurst and operates as a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization. The Foundation was created in 2001 with the vision of providing kids and their families the opportunity to participate in the game of golf through instruction and competition.Today, the U.S. Kids Golf Foundation conducts over 500 local, regional, national, and international events.
Your belly was once flatter, but then so was your life. Who would have thought youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d be having the time of your life . . . now? But with wellness, arts and educational opportunities at Belle Meade and Pine Knoll, youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll continue to enjoy a full and active lifestyle, with the added security of the St. Joseph of the Pines continuum of care should you ever need it. Join us.
Call 910.246.1008. Schedule a visit today.
Where life just keeps getting better.
Southern Pines, North Carolina
s
www.sjp.org
s
910.246.1008
A member of the St. Joseph of the Pines Aging Services Network sponsored by the Sisters of Providence.