Hilton Head Golf News

ISLE OF PALMS, S.C. - It’s a guy’s dream weekend at Wild Dunes Golf Resort: great golf … football …wings … beer… and more. They can leave work behind and relax with friends in luxurious accommodations, play a couple rounds of award-winning golf and then veg out during the big game with Wild Dunes Resort’s “Fazio Football Spectacular.”

The newest package just for the boys from Wild Dunes Resort includes two rounds of golf on the Resort’s two championship golf courses designed by Tom Fazio himself. The Links and Harbor courses include 36 distinct holes of golf featuring amazing waterfront views and challenging shots. Guys can show off their skills before heading back to their home or villa.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – The eighth cycle of 35 PGA Growth of the Game grants totaling $228,516 has been awarded from The PGA of America’s Growth of the Game Grant program. The Kiawah/ Sea Island Youth Golf Program, which offers children in the Sea sland schools access to local golf courses as well as personal instruction, received a $10,800 grant for their golf program.

The PGA Growth of The Game Grant Programs, which touch 19 states, involve juniors, inner-city young adults, college students, the physically challenged and veterans. The program highlights The PGA of America’s commitment to partner with its PGA Professionals to grow participation in golf.

These funds combine with grants awarded from 2001 through this month bring the total donation from The PGA Growth of the Game Grant Program to more than $4.8 million for a combined 447 grants.

BLUFFTON, S.C. – Sam Braver of Roswell, Ga., carded an 8-under-par 208 tournament total, winning the Heritage Junior Championship in a sudden-death playoff. Rebecca Durham of St. Simons Island, Ga., fired a 2-under-par final-round score to finish atop the Girls leaderboard at 1-under-par 215.

Conducted by the American Junior Golf Association, the Heritage Junior Championship was a 54-hole stroke play event held at Hampton Hall Club. The 84-player field featured juniors from 15 states. The course played at 7,180 yards in the Boys Division and 6,090 yards in the Girls Division.

Braver, 17, started with a bogey on No. 1, but later made consecutive birdies on Nos. 7, 8 and 9 to sit at 2-under-par 34 on the front nine. On the par-5 15th hole, Braver hit a hybrid within three feet of the hole and made eagle. Braver finished strong on No. 18 with another birdie to finish with a final-round score of 5-under-par 67.

BRASELTON, Ga. — For the 14th consecutive year, the American Junior Golf Association will bring the best junior golfers in the country to Bluffton, S.C., for the Heritage Junior Championship July 24-27. The 54-hole event will be played at the Hampton Hall Golf Club and feature a field of 84 boy and girl junior golfers ages 12-18.

The Heritage Classic Foundation, which conducts the PGA TOUR’s Verizon Heritage, is in its first year of a three-year sponsorship of this long-standing Hilton Head Island-area event.

In 2006, Spencer Cole of Greer, S.C., and Dolores White of Lakeland, Fla., took home their respective division titles. Cole fired a final-round 3-under-par 69 to win by one stroke. The event was his third AJGA win and he has since won the 2007 Mizuno Junior at Chateau Elan. Cole earned Rolex Junior All-America honors in 2005 and 2006 and will be a member of the University of Alabama golf team in the fall. White won the tournament by one stroke with an even-par 72-72-72-216 tournament total. She went on to earn Rolex Junior All-America honors last season and is now a member of the golf team at Wake Forest University.

The Sea Pines Resort and Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa were each named among the “Top 100 Golf Resorts” in the 2007 Conde Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Poll. More than 4,000 of the magazine’s readers evaluated 339 golf resorts they had visited during the past three years. Out of the 339 courses, the magazine chose the top 100 with the highest scores. Sea Pines tied for 61st while Daufuskie Island Resort & Breathe Spa was ranked 64th. The rankings were calculated based on seven criteria: Course Design, Speed of Play, Pro Staff, Accommodations, Service, Food/Dining and Facilities.

The Sea Pines Resort features the famed Harbour Town Golf Links, host annually to the Verizon Heritage PGA TOUR event. Many visitors rave about the quality of the Sea Pines Ocean Course and Sea Marsh courses that are also within the 5,000-acre plantation with both Atlantic Ocean and Calibogue Sound views.

BRASELTON, GA — Because of Sergio Franky’s participation in the eighth annual Thunderbird International Junior in Scottsdale, Ariz., May 25-28, The Thunderbirds – tournament title sponsor and Phoenix-area civic organization – contributed $1,000 to Santa Maria del Camino, his church in Bogota, Colombia.

This innovative and unique concept is taking place for the fourth consecutive year. Once again, the Thunderbird International Junior tournament committee asked participants to name their favorite charity. This year, it is estimated that 43 charities will receive a combined $47,000 from The Thunderbirds. Over the course of the four years, more than $170,000 has been distributed worldwide.

“With this initiative, we hope to cultivate junior golfers’ awareness of their community and social obligations, an awareness that we anticipate will carry forward through their professional careers,” said Michael Kennedy, tournament chairman for the Thunderbird International Junior and a member of The Thunderbirds.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC - Three PGA TOUR standouts, Stephen Ames, Chad Campbell and Fred Funk, have all committed to the 39th annual Verizon Heritage taking place over the Harbour Town Golf Links, April 9-15th.

They join a select field that already includes Defending Champion Aaron Baddeley, Ernie Els, Jim Furyk, Chris DiMarco, Davis Love III, John Daly and Stewart Cink. All will be shooting for the record winner’s prize of $972,000 from the tournament’s largest purse of $5.4 million.

Stephen won THE PLAYERS Championship last year by blowing away the competition with a 5-under 67 in the final round to win by six shots. He has already carded two top ten finishes in the 2007 season. Stephen is making his sixth Harbour Town appearance.

HILTON HEAD ISLAND, SC - Two outstanding veteran golfers, Jim Furyk and Davis Love III, plus a rising young star, Justin Rose, have just committed to play in the 39th annual Verizon Heritage at the Harbour Town Golf Links, April 9-15.

“This is a formidable trio joining our field,” said Tournament Director Steve Wilmot. “Furyk and Love are two of the most recognizable golfers on the PGA TOUR, while Rose has been threatening to crack the winner’s circle recently.”

This threesome joins a field that already includes Ernie Els, Chris DiMarco, Nick O’Hern, Zach Johnson and J.B. Holmes. All will be shooting for a record winner’s check of $972,000 from the tournament’s largest purse, $5.4 million.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – Kiawah Island Golf Resort's Director of Golf, Brian Gerard, was recently named PGA Merchandiser of The Year (Resort Facilities) -- one of the highest annual honors bestowed by the PGA of America on a PGA Professional -- heading a list of 13 recipients who were honored at the 2006 PGA of America Awards ceremony at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.

Gerard, 42, is in his 20th season at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Kiawah Island, S.C., and is the PGA Director of Golf, overseeing the operations of five courses at one of the world’s high-profile golf destinations. A native of Eureka, Ill., and a 1986 graduate of Western Illinois University, Gerard was elected to PGA membership in 1989. He has been a member of the Kiawah Island Golf Resort staff since 1986. He served as PGA assistant professional at Turtle Point @ Kiawah Island until 1990, then as PGA head professional at Turtle Point through 1995. He became head professional in 1995 at the Ocean Course, site of the 2007 Senior PGA Championship and the 2012 PGA Championship. He was named director of golf for the resort this month. Golf World Business recognized Ocean Course @ Kiawah Island as one of the 100 best golf shops in the country in listings from 1997-2001, and from 2003 through 2005.

PALM BEACH GARDENS, FL – Secession Golf Club Director of Golf Michael Harmon has been named the 2006 PGA Bill Strausbaugh Award winner -- one of the highest annual honors bestowed by the PGA of America on a PGA Professional -- heading a list of 13 awrad recipients.

Michael Harmon never got to meet Bill Strausbaugh, the namesake for the national award for PGA Professionals who distinguish themselves by mentoring their fellow professionals and improving employment situations. But, Harmon heard much about Strausbaugh through his members at Secession Golf Club, several of whom had taken lessons from the man they called “The Coach,” and who inspired many to become the best that they could be in golf. Harmon, in his 20th season at Secession Golf Club, and is the third Carolinas PGA Section member to be honored with the Bill Strausbaugh Award. Elected to PGA membership in 1986, the 52-year-old Harmon also received national recognition in 2004 as the PGA Merchandiser of the Year for private facilities.