Golf notebook: Jr. Heritage local qualifier approaching

One week remains for Lowcountry juniors to register for the Sea Pines Junior Heritage local qualifier, offering two boys and two girls entry into the invitation-only tournament.

The qualifier, open to Beaufort County residents in grades 8-12, will be played Jan. 23 at Sea Pines' Heron Point layout. Any alternates for the Junior Heritage also will be taken from results of local qualifying.

A $60 entry fee applies, and entries must be received at the South Carolina Junior Golf Association by 5 p.m. next Thursday. Applications can be found at JuniorHeritage.com/event-information.

FURYK SITS OUT 2016 OPENER

One notable absence as the PGA Tour returns to action this week is Jim Furyk, whose victory at the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing booked a return to the Hyundai Tournament of Champions but finds himself still waiting for an injured left wrist to fully heal.

A stubborn bone bruise has prevented Furyk from hitting a competitive shot since cutting short his FedExCup pursuit in September. The injury also kept him from competing at the Presidents Cup in South Korea.

"I thought it would be healed by now," Furyk told Golfweek, "but the doctors did say it can take a while."

Furyk now will point toward the Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in five weeks, his usual starting point when he doesn't qualify for the winners-only Kapalua stop.

IJGA ADDS MENTAL COACH

The Hilton Head Island-based International Junior Golf Academy has expanded its staff with the appointment of Iain Highfield as director of mental training.

Highfield, a native of Leeds, England, comes to the IJGA from Bishops Gate Golf Academy near Orlando, Fla. Certified in sport psychology, he has worked with a handful of European Tour pros in addition to junior golfers.

ACES & ALBATROSSES

This story was originally published January 6, 2016 at 7:05 PM with the headline "Golf notebook: Jr. Heritage local qualifier approaching."