Kirk Eyes Carolinas Women's Am 3-Peat

Greenville, NC's Katie Kirk Tries for Three Straight Titles

SOUTHERN PINES, N.C. (May 12, 2016) -- The Carolinas Golf Association will conduct the 90^th Carolinas Women's Amateur Championship at The Reserve Club in Pawleys Island, SC on May 16-18. 

 

Katie Kirk of Greenville, N.C. enters the championship looking to become just the sixth woman to win three consecutive Women's Amateur titles. Kirk won last year by two strokes at Treyburn Country Club and by one stroke in 2014 over Bailey Cocca of Myrtle Beach, S.C. and Tiffany Robbins of Fort Mill, S.C. at Wachesaw Plantation Club.

Kirk was the recipient of the 2015 Dinah Shore Trophy, administered by the LPGA Foundation. The award recognizes female collegiate golfers who excel in both academics and athletics. In addition, nominees must demonstrate outstanding leadership skills and community service. Kirk graduated last year from East Carolina University with a Master of Science in Economics and Master of Arts in Mathematics and a 3.99 (undergraduate) /4.0 (graduate) grade point average.

"I've been looking forward to this event since the start of the year," said Kirk of the Carolinas Women's Amateur. "Since last year's event, I've been finishing up my Master's degree. With that, and being out of college golf for a year, I've only played in one tournament since the U.S. Women's Amateur in August . I've really missed the competition, so more than anything I'm just ready to play in a tournament again! I'm going into this event with no expectations, but I definitely have my eye on a third win."

Being out of college golf is not the only setback in regards to Kirk's practice time; she has been battling a recent injury. "I have been having some hip problems and found out I might have a labrum tear in one or both hips," Kirk elaborated. "It has been frustrating that my body hasn't let me practice or play as much as I'd like."

Kirk is making the most of what her body does allow. "It has made me make the most of my practice and put in quality time," she said. "The biggest thing I've been working on is full swing and ball striking. I'm trying to have better angles and width in my downswing and impact positions. If my preparation pays off, I hope to hit lots of greens and take advantage of birdie opportunities!"

85 players are expected to compete in the 90^th edition of the longest running women's championship in the Carolinas. Notable players in the field include:

• Kim Briele, 55, of New Bern, N.C. Briele is the 2015 North Carolina Women's Senior champion.
• Lea Anne Brown, 56, of Mount Pleasant, S.C. Brown earned her second consecutive Women's South Carolina Golf Association Senior Player of the Year award in 2015. The Director of Membership at Bulls Bay won the WSCGA Senior and placed runner-up at the WSCGA/SCGA Mixed Team Championship.
• Mallory Hetzel, 29, of Waynesville, N.C. - Hetzel is a seven-time CGA champion, including back-to-back Carolinas Women's Match Play titles. She is currently ranked 7th of Carolinas women.
• Patty Moore, 66, of Charlotte, N.C. The 18-time CGA champion seeks her first Carolinas Women's Amateur title since 2007.
• Ashley Sloup, 20, of Southport, N.C. Sloup is ranked 12th among Carolinas women. A rising junior at Winthrop University, she finished T-5 at last year's championship.
• Angela Stewart, 61, of Greenville, N.C. Stewart, the 2011 N.C. Women's Senior champion, won last year's Senior division of this championship.
• Lea Venable, 42, of Simpsonville, SC. Venable is a three-time CGA champion.

 

This will be the fourth CGA championship held at The Reserve Club. Most recently, Matt Crenshaw of Burlington, NC won the 34^th Carolinas Mid-Amateur in 2014. The Reserve is a private golf club located on the coast of South Carolina 65 miles north of Charleston and 20 miles south of Myrtle Beach. It features the fifth ranked course on the Grand Strand according to the South Carolina Golf Panel. This Greg Norman design is a fit for golfers of all handicaps. This visually stunning low-country land, with its abundance of wildlife and wetlands, inspired the creation of this natural course. Since the club's opening in 1998, players and course evaluators nationwide have raved about the course's unique natural design. Greg Norman's 350 acre tract borders protected conservation areas and embraces 160 acres of natural wetlands with charming wooden bridges linking fairways.

Related: Tee times & Pairings | Hole-by-hole scoring | Championship History

Scoring will be provided by the CGA throughout the championship, offering 9 and 18-hole updates. Live updates will also be available on the CGA’s official Twitter, @cgagolf1909. Continue to visit the CGA website throughout this championship and all year long for complete championship coverage including scores, interviews, photos, and recaps.

The championship is conducted at 54 holes of stroke play (no cut). All players, regardless of Handicap Index, have the option to play in the Championship Division or the Carolinas Division. The Overall Champion will be determined from the contestants playing in the Championship Division. Awards will also be given for the low senior in the Championship and Carolinas divisions (age 50-64), the low Super Senior in the Carolinas Division (ages 65 and older), and the medalist in the Championship Division (low score after 36 holes). A tie for Overall Champion is determined by an on-course playoff. Low senior and low super-senior awards will be split. A tie for medalist after 36 holes will be split. All other ties for merchandise will be broken by scorecard playoff.

Entry is open to any female amateur golfer who has reached her 13th birthday by May 16, 2016, is a legal resident of North Carolina or South Carolina, is a member in good standing of a club which is a member of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA) and has an active GHIN USGA Handicap Index at a CGA member club that does not exceed 40.4.

 

Defending Champions:
Champion: Katie Kirk of Greenville, N.C.
Senior Champion: Dr. Angela Stewart of Greenville, N.C.
Super Senior Champion: Carole Jones of Hillsborough, N.C.

 

Championship Schedule
Monday, May 16
Round 1 – 18 holes stroke play
(tee times begin 8:00 a.m.)
Lunch immediately following play for players
Monday, May 17
Round 2 – 18 holes stroke play
(tee times begin 8:00 a.m.)
Lunch immediately following play for players
Monday, May 18
Round 3 – 18 holes stroke play
(shotgun start at 9:00 a.m.)
Lunch and awards immediately following play for players

                

About the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA)

The CGA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit educational organization that was founded in 1909 to promote and to protect the game of golf in the Carolinas by providing competitions, education, support and benefits to golf clubs and golfers. The CGA is the second largest golf association in the country with over 700 member clubs represented by nearly 150,000 individuals.

The CGA annually conducts 43 championships and five team match competitions for men, women, juniors, and seniors. It also runs over 140 One-Day (net and gross) events and qualifying for USGA national championships. The CGA serves golf in the Carolinas with numerous programs such as: the USGA Handicap System; tournament management software and support; course measuring and course/slope ratings; agronomy consultation; answers about the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, and Handicapping; Carolinas Golf Magazine; Interclub series; Tarheel Youth Golf Association; Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame; expense assistance for USGA Junior and Girls' Junior qualifiers from the Carolinas; and the Carolinas Golf Foundation (CGF). The CGF has distributed more than $1,500,000 since 1977 to benefit Carolinas' golf initiatives including junior and women's programs. For more information about the CGA, visit our website.

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