Golf notes, Sept. 24: 2 Bluffton girls advance to Drive, Chip & Putt national finals
can't wait to set foot where so many champions have walked.
Augusta National's 18th green was the final steps for Jordan Spieth's command performance just five months ago. Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus completed wins for the ages. Phil Mickelson did his little half-leap in capturing his first green jacket.
And it's where everyone gets to putt at the Drive, Chip & Putt national finals.
"It's like a dream come true," said Burnett, one of two Bluffton girls who will put the Lowcountry in the spotlight during the third edition of a fast-rising Masters Week tradition. "I watched it last year and (thought) it would be so cool to be in that position."
Burnett ran away with the Girls 12-13 division at the Florida regionals at TPC Sawgrass outside Jacksonville. Sophie Guo added her name to the roster last weekend, topping the Girls 14-15 division at the East Coast regionals at Congressional Country Club in Maryland.
"It was a relief. Maybe more happy and excited because it was my last chance," said Guo, a John Paul II freshman who qualified in her final year of eligibility.
The national finals will be contested April 3, in what has become a celebratory kickoff to Masters Week. The first two editions have seen cameo appearance from several Masters champions, including Adam Scott, Bubba Watson and Hall of Famer Gary Player.
Guo said she thinks about Augusta National "all the time. I want to see all the tour players -- and I want to win."
Guo took control of her division from the outset at Congressional, tallying 59 points in the driving competition that was 11 better than her nearest rival. She also posted the top putting score with 55 points.
Burnett finished top-3 in all three disciplines, including a 55-point score at the chipping station, where competitors faced a shot about four paces off the green, with the hole another 15 feet away.
"It's a little different," Burnett said. "You get up on the course, and this is the chip you have. Just get it up there (like you would) have a putt for par."
It was a far better outcome than Burnett's first attempt to get to Augusta, which ended at second-stage qualifying last year.
She was first on the tee in the driving competition, only to discover the landing area was slanted and her drives bounced out of the scoring area.
"Only one of my drives stayed in," she lamented. "Everybody else noticed they had to aim farther left."
STANLEY EYES PGA TOUR RETURN
Kyle Stanley can plan a full PGA Tour schedule for next season, essentially locking up his card with a second consecutive top-12 finish in as many starts in the Web.com Tour Finals series.
Stanley, formerly of Bluffton, now stands eighth on the Finals money list following Sunday's tie for seventh at the Small Business Connection Championship outside Charlotte. In each of the past two years, his total of $46,750 has been good enough to earn a PGA Tour card.
Cards won't officially be awarded for another two weeks, after the conclusion of the Web.com Tour Championship at TPC Sawgrass.
GO FOURTH AT BOBBY CHAPMAN
Hilton Head Island's Shiso Go carded a pair of 3-under-par 68s to claim a share of fourth place at last weekend's Bobby Chapman Junior Invitational in Spartanburg.
Davis Shore (Knoxville, Tenn.) was the runaway winner, using an opening 61 to take a five-shot lead into the final round at the Country Club of Spartanburg. He finished at 16-under 126, two shots ahead of fast-closing S.M. Lee (Buford, Ga.).
Andrew Orischak, the U.S. Junior Amateur runner-up from Hilton Head, never found his rhythm in posting a pair of 72s. Bluffton's Alec Weary (69-74) finished one shot better.
HUNTER CAPTURES HHI PGA
A 2-under-par 70 propelled Scott Hunter (Wexford) to the championship of the PGA of America's Hilton Head Island chapter, using a little home advantage to emerge with a three-shot victory over Mark Teed (Sea Pines).
Hunter began the final round one shot behind Haig Point's Matt Bova, holding firm while Bova struggled to a 78.
TRANSPLANT FUNDRAISER
A handful of openings remain to play in Saturday's 11th annual Laura Gage memorial fundraiser at Pinecrest GC, with proceeds benefitting the Children's Organ Transplant Association.
Entry fees are $75, with teams playing a scramble format utilizing handicaps. Prizes will be awarded to top teams and individuals. Call 843-298-1190 for more information or email grygielf@gmail.com.
ACES & ALBATROSSES
This story was originally published September 23, 2015 at 7:38 PM with the headline "Golf notes, Sept. 24: 2 Bluffton girls advance to Drive, Chip & Putt national finals."