Weekly golf notes: IJGA aligns with Nick Faldo’s global junior series

The International Junior Golf Academy has picked up Nick Faldo’s stamp of approval, reaching a partnership this month with the Hall of Famer’s global junior series.

The Faldo Series named the IJGA as its golf academy partner, offering a U.S. outlet for players on that circuit to continue developing as they explore college options.

“It’s just a natural fit,” said IJGA chief executive Ryley Hendry, noting that a handful of IJGA students have experience competing in Faldo Series events in their home countries.

The Faldo Series sponsors 40 tournaments worldwide, spread across 30 countries in Europe and Asia, along with Australia and New Zealand. Rory McIlroy and former women’s world No. 1 Yani Tseng are among its alumni.

Hendry and a few assistants recently attended the Faldo Series’ Asian grand finale at Mission Hills in China as they discussed a potential relationship. Faldo’s son, Matthew, visited the IJGA facilities in December and the Hall of Famer came out a month later.

“It’s an amazing place,” Faldo said in a statement. “I was impressed with the variety of countries sending students to the academy and the staff’s understanding of players from around the world. I would have enjoyed something like this when I was young!”

Faldo visited again a week ago as Heritage Week began, spending 2  1/2 hours offering instruction and a dose of his dry humor.

“We almost had to pull him away,” Hendry said, “he had such fun working with them.”

CAROLINAS MID-AMATEUR

Scott Harvey of Kernersville, N.C., captured his third Carolinas Mid-Amateur Championship crown last week at Dataw Island, building a five-shot lead through two rounds and cruising over the final 18 holes.

Harvey finished as the only player under par amid swirling winds on Dataw Island’s Cotton Dike layout, as his total of 5-under-par 211 was six shots better than Lionel Sutton (LaGrange, N.C.) and Steve Liebler (Irmo).

Beaufort’s Rob Simmons was the top Lowcountry finisher, tying for 15th.

BIG EAST DOUBLEHEADER

After two years of crowning its men’s champions at Callawassie Island, the Big East is doubling down by bringing its women’s tournament to the Lowcountry gem this weekend before the men follow for a third consecutive edition starting May 1.

Seton Hall has won the past two Big East women’s titles, edging Georgetown by a stroke a year ago. Marquette is the defending men’s champion, having rallied past DePaul on the final day.

ACES & ALBATROSSES

▪ Steve Weber recorded a hole-in-one April 15 at the second hole of Crescent Pointe Golf Club, using a 9-iron to hole out from 160 yards away. Witnesses were Geoffrey Drake and Don Winchester.

▪ Bob Nieberding posted a hole-in-one April 17 at the seventh hole of Moss Creek Golf Club’s South course, finding the cup from 140 yards with a 8-iron. Bob Fulton served as witness.

▪ Kimberly Hagenbach notched a hole-in-one April 18 on the 12th hole at Hidden Cypress Golf Club, using 3-wood to hole out from 115 yards. Witnesses were Larry Resnick and Grace Rivano.

This story was originally published April 20, 2016 at 11:50 PM with the headline "Weekly golf notes: IJGA aligns with Nick Faldo’s global junior series."