Golf Notes for Sept. 2

Mike Harmon, director of golf at Secession Golf Club on Lady's Island, has been selected for induction into the Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame.

He is the 41st golfer to receive the honor.

"Some of the absolute greatest people in the game are (in the Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame)," Harmon said in a release. "People like Donald Ross, Jim Ferree, one of my favorite designers, Ellis Maples, Gary Schaal, Terry Florence -- they're just huge people in our business. To be considered in their company is a phenomenal honor and something that I feel truly blessed by."

Harmon will be formally inducted at the Carolinas PGA awards and honors dinner, set for Feb. 20 at the Myrtle Beach Convention Center.

The honor was established to recognize PGA professionals for their significance, accomplishments and contributions to the sport and the Carolinas PGA association.

Harmon grew up in Atlanta and attended Middle Tennessee State on a golf scholarship. Heearned his PGA Tour card in 1980 and briefly played professionally.

He came to Hilton Head Island for a job as an assistant at Palmetto Dunes. He took over as director of golf at Secession in 1986, a job he has held for the past 24 years.

Carolinas PGA Hall of Fame members: 2009 -- Jim Westbrook; 2008 -- Terry Florence; 2007 -- Bob Boyd and Rod Myers; 2002 -- Bill Clemmer, Will Mann; 2001 -- Hamp Auld and Gene Hamm; 2000 -- D. Sherrill Austin and Norman Flynn; 1999 -- Henry Poe and Bruce Sudderth; 1998 -- Jim Ferree and Don Padgett; 1997 -- Joe Davis and Roger Watson; 1996 -- Buck Adams and E. Harvie Ward; 1995 -- Gary Schaal and Luke Veasey; 1994 -- Tommy Card , Joe Cheves and Palmer Maples; 1993 -- Ed Bullock, Charles Farlow, Al Goodrich and Melvin Hamphill; 1992 -- Aubrey Apple, Sr.; 1991 --Joe Ellis Maples; 1985 -- Grant Bennett, J. Fairley Clark and Orville White; 1984 -- Jimmy D'Angelo; 1983 -- Purvis Ferree and Clayton Heafner; 1982 -- Johnny Palmer; 1981-- Dugan Aycock, Henry Picard and Donald Ross.

DOLPHIN HEAD GOLF CLUB OPENS RENOVATED COURSE

More than 100 Dolphin Head Golf Club members and guests got their first chance to play the club's newly renovated golf course on Wednesday.

Course superintendent Larry Howze, head professional Burrell Williams and club manager Kristy Kumm were recognized for their efforts in a morning ribbon cutting ceremony on the first tee. Special guests at the ceremony were golf course architect Clyde Johnson, Hilton Head Plantation general manager Peter Kristian and several other Chamber of Commerce ambassadors.

The club began renovation of its 37-year-old course in June with the goal of providing better playing conditions. The tees and fairways of the course, originally designed by Gary Player and Ron Kirby, have been planted with Celebration Bermuda due to its denser growth patter and better shade tolerance.

The greens have been grassed with Mini-Verde Bermuda for its tight, upright growth pattern and quicker green speeds.

Find more information on Dolphin Head Golf Club online at www.dolphinheadgc.com.

DATAW HIRES ASSISTANT PROFESSIONAL

Koll Farman has been hired as an assistant golf professional at Dataw Island Club on St. Helena Island. Farman, a Class A professional, will assist the club with tournament operations, instruction and golf shop management.

Farman spent the past four years as general manager at Crowfield Golf and Country Club in Goose Creek.

LOCALS COMPETE IN YEAMANS HALL SENIOR OPEN

Bluffton's Doyle Ricks tied for 10th place in the Carolinas PGA Yeamans Hall Senior Open on Sunday and Monday at Yeamans Hall Club in Hanahan.

Ricks fired a 72-73 -- 145 to finish six strokes behind winner Todd Smith of Matthews, N.C.

Hilton Head Island's Barry Fleming and Robert Watson tied for 15th with a 146. Beaufort's Thad Vincent and Tim Boynton tied for 34th with a 149.

Hilton Head's Jim Magruder tied for 58th with a 154. Hilton Head's Jim Ferree tied for 68th with a 158. Beaufort's Belton McCarty tied for 81st with a 162.

Hilton Head's Jim Ferguson and Bluffton's Steve Johnson withdrew from the tournament.

LONG 2ND IN HJGT EVENT

Bluffton's Wesley Long finished second in the 13-15 flight of the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour's Athens Shootout on Saturday and Sunday at the Georgia Club in Statham, Ga.

Long fired a 1-under-par 71 in the final round for a total of 71-77 -- 148, one stroke behind winner Johnathan Hardee of Greer.

Bluffton's Zachary Boe finished seventh in the 16-19 flight with a 150.

WILSON TIES FOR 6TH IN ASSISTANT CHAMPIONSHIP

Robert Wilson, representing Callawassie Island Club, tied for sixth place in the Carolinas PGA Assistant Championship held Aug. 26-27 at Beacon Ridge Golf and Country Club in West End, N.C.

Wilson fired a 71-68 -- 139 to finish three strokes behind winner Mike Townsend of Eagle Point Golf Club.

The top four finishers in the tournament advance to compete in the 2010 Callaway Golf PGA Assistant Championship set for Nov. 11-14 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Wilson is the first alternate for that tournament.

Other local golfers in the field were Berkeley Hall's David Rogers (147) and Palmetto Dunes' Edward Sires (160).

IJGT EVENT COMING TO OLDFIELD

The International Junior Golf Tour will kick off its 16th season with a 54-hole event Sept. 4-6 at Oldfield Golf Club in Bluffton. The field of four divisions includes boys 15-19, boys 14 and younger, girls 15-19 and girls 14 and younger. Find more information online at www.IJGT.com.

LOCAL GOLFERS FAIL TO QUALIFY FOR USGA MID AMATEUR

Several local golfers competed in the USGA Mid Amateur Sectional Qualifying tournament on Wednesday at The Golf Club at Briars Creek.

Only the top five scores qualified for the tournament. The cutoff was 72. Locals that failed to qualify are Bluffton's Josh Lauener (80), Bluffton's Pratt Reed (81), Okatie's Chris Morris (84) and Bluffton's Bob Engler (85).