Where Legends are Made: Shin wins in a playoff
The inaugural FCWT Pine Needles Jr. Golf Classic opened on Saturday after winter weather throughout the country forced some players to miss the event because of cancelled flights. The players who did attend waited to play on Saturday until 11am because of a frost delay. But it was worth it. The Pinehurst area of NC is synonymous with golf and the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club is no exception. Tour the Lodge and you are surrounded by golf history - photos of great players like Arnold Palmer and Tommy Armour and Mildred 'Babe' Didrikson Zaharias and Peggy Kirk Bell. Peggy Kirk Bell, owner of the Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club, is one of the legends of golf. Mrs. Bell, affectionately known as Ma Bell, is still considered one of the Top 100 teachers in the game. She was also one of the founding members of the LPGA. On Sunday, Ma Bell toured the course watching the 60 junior golfers playing her beloved course. The course that has been totally re-designed while keeping it's Donald Ross Classic look in preparation for the 2007 U.S. Women's Open. It was in fantastic shape!
On Saturday, sixteen year old Hunter Howell of Raeford, NC (2008) fired a round of 2 under par 69 to open the Pine Needles Jr. Golf Classic. Howell, who won at Duke over Thanksgiving, led fellow North Carolinian, Will Collins of Salisbury (2007) by 1 stroke. The highlight of Collins' first round was an eagle on the par 5 1st hole. He led another North Carolinian, senior Robert Womble of Raleigh going into the final round. As the young men teed it up on the first hole, several area coaches looked on. Ten college coaches attended this event including NC State, Wake Forest, UNCG, UNCW, Campbell, Appalachian State and Xavier. Starting the final round in fourth place was Donnie Shin of Columbia, MD, who was one stroke back of Womble. Shin was the winner of the FCWT Back Creek event in October and has two other top 5s since then at Bermuda Run and Duke. Sam Beach of Glen Allen, VA and Paul Shorkey of Charlotte, NC were at +2 and tied for 5th.
Shin carded 4 birdies on Sunday which was enough to bring him into a tie for the lead with Will Collins. They headed out to the first hole, a par 5, and Shin was able to earn his second FCWT victory with a par on that hole. Shin's second win will earn him a nomination for the FCWT first team All-American. Sam Beach of Glen Allen, VA, who led this division in birdies for the event with 8 finished tied with Robert Womble of Raleigh, NC, for third place. Amory Davis of Chadds Ford, PA, earned his first Top 5 of the season by finishing in 5th place. Overnight leader Hunter Howell of Raeford, NC, (2008) and Tripp Brizendine of Morrisville, NC, (2006) finished tied for 6th. North Carolinians finished out the top 10 with Rick Stout, III of Pollocksville, NC (2006) finishing 8th and triangle residents Chesson Hadley of Raleigh, NC (2006), Rob Kirkland of Durham, NC (2007), and Dana Spitz of Chapel Hill, NC (2008), finishing T9. |
