TheSunNews.com: Myrtle Beach Golf

McPherson opens up about commish, season's third major

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 23:18 EDT

Conway native Kristy McPherson wasn't at a dinner of LPGA Tour heavyweights last week that resulted in a letter calling for tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens' resignation, but she agrees with the message.

``I just want to play golf next year,'' McPher son said Wednesday. ``I want to make sure we have tournaments, and if that means we have somebody else lead us then that's what I want. If she can't get it done and can't get us back tournaments we've had for years, then some one else needs to.''

As McPherson tees off today in her second U.S. Open at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa., the fate of the tour's commissioner apparently hangs in the balance. Though McPherson said most of the tour's players were caught off- guard by the letter and she learned of it through media reports, she believes most players support it.

Golf tip with Brad Redding

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 23:47 EDT

GOLF TIP

Investigate your game
When it comes to practice, you need to investigate your golf game. What part is keeping you from breaking a scoring barrier? Honest evaluation is what you need. I have developed a testing program where I use these Player Development Scorecards. I have one for each part of the golf game: putting, chipping, pitching, iron shots and tee shots. On each scorecard you have the date, how many shots accomplish the goal out of 20 shots and then the percentage of times the goal was obtained. These tests give a good indication of the weaknesses and strengths in your game. These are also a great practice aid. Taking the test twice a month can help you track your improvement. You can take this one step farther and do the same thing on the golf course. On all tee shots, find out how many hit the fairway, then write down how many you missed left and how many right. Write down how many greens you hit in regulation, then write down how many you missed left, right, short and long. Do the same thing with pitching, chipping and putting. Once again a clear assessment of your game will help you focus on the part of your game that needs the most attention.

BRAD REDDING is director of instruction at Grande Dunes Golf Academy and is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. He can be reached at 843-315-0332 or brad.redding@burroughs-chapin.com.

General Electric bids highest for Myrtle Beach's Legends courses

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:30 EDT

Lienholder General Electric Capital Corp. was the highest bidder in foreclosure sales Monday for the four Grand Strand golf courses formerly owned by Legends Group, which likely means few changes for the courses.

GE is expected to retain Century Golf Partners to manage Heritage Club in Pawleys Island and the Heathland, Moorland and Parkland courses at Legends Resort in Myrtle Beach.

The Dallas-based company has been managing the layouts since June 1 after GE foreclosed on them from the Young family's Legends Group. Century Golf owns Arnold Palmer Golf Management and operates numerous golf clubs throughout the U.S.

Cyndi Evans Graham: Women in golf

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:23 EDT

CYNDI EVANS GRAHAM

I hope that everyone had a safe and happy Fourth of July. I actually made it through the long weekend without getting hurt. In the past six weeks, I have managed to blow out my right knee and break my right wrist. All of this has me thinking about a couple of things:

1. It is terrible to get old; 2. Physical therapy for rehabbing my knee is similar to taking golf lessons.

Area pros on tour

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:23 EDT

Katie Allison
Residence | Little River

Tour | Duramed Futures Tour

Last event | June 19-21, tied for 20th at the Duramed Championship with a three-day total of 214, earning $1,024

Getting to Willbrook Plantation

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:31 EDT

Willbrook Plantation

426 Tidewater Circle

Pawleys Island, SC 29585

Alan Blondin on Grand Strand Golf: Organizers hope best-ball summer event catches fire

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 22:47 EDT

Organizers of the Coastal Carolina Amateur Four-Ball have seen how the Mayor's Cup stroke-play tournaments have displayed the staying power to become a staple of the fall golf season on the Grand Strand, and they are trying to solidify their event as a mainstay of the summer.

The second Four-Ball two-person team tournament will take place July 25-26 at Quail Creek Golf Club at Coastal Carolina, with a practice round on July 24.

The inaugural event last August attracted more than 100 players to the best-ball tournament, including several low handicappers.

Ask for a golf ruling with a Cory Armstrong

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:28 EDT

ASK FOR A RULING

QThe other day, a few of us at the golf course were talking about addressing the ball and "fairly taking your stance." What does that term mean?

In brief, Rule 13-2 states that a player must not improve the position or lie of his ball, the area of his intended stance or swing, or his line of play by moving, bending, or breaking anything growing or fixed. However, one exception permits a player to do so in fairly taking his stance.

Bradley wins Hooters golf event

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:28 EDT

Kyle Bradley of North Augusta carded a 4-under-par 68 in Thursday's final round to win a $25,245 NGA Hooters Tour Carolina Series event at the 6,787-yard Black Bear Golf Club.

The former College of Charleston golfer's 12-under 204 was a stroke better than Yoshio Yamamoto of Clarksville, Tenn., and Jimmie Brandt of Montgomery, Ala., and he earned $4,694.50 for the victory.

Ryan Tyndall of Murrells Inlet shot a 67 to tie for fourth at 10-under 206 and earn $1,415, Tony Parrish of North Myrtle Beach shot 72 to tie for ninth at 210 and earn $973, Kellen Altman shot 70 to tie for 14th at 213 and earn $815, amateur Christopher Marsh of Georgetown and Coker College shot 73 to tie for 15th at 214, and Patrick Lundy of Little River shot 74 to tie for 17th at 215 and earn $685.

Golf: Parrish tied for fourth at Hooters event

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:11 EDT

Tony Parrish of North Myrtle Beach shot his second consecutive 3-under-par 69 Wednesday and is tied for fourth and four shots off the lead entering today's final round of an NGA Hooters Tour Carolina Series event at Black Bear Golf Club.

Scott Usher of Bennettsville has a two-shot lead at 134 over Kyle Bradley of North Augusta.

Ryan Tyndall of Murrells Inlet shot a 68 and is tied for seventh at 5-under 139, Patrick Lundy of Little River (71) and amateur Christopher Marsh of Georgetown (67) are tied for 15th at 141, and Kellen Altman of Myrtle Beach (68) is tied for 18th at 143. Missing the cut were Aaron Motok of Myrtle Beach and Jared Taylor of Little River at 145, and Eddie Heiner of Murrells Inlet at 163.

Brad Redding's weekly golf tip

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:22 EDT

GOLF TIP

Finishing the swing
The first thing you want to have when you practice your golf game is a plan. If you think about it, it is only logical to have a clear strategy and purpose for your practice sessions. Most people really don't practice, they just go to the range and hit balls and based on the ball flight will try every tip they have heard of, no clear design or diagram just ball after ball always compensating for the previous shot. I have a very large binder that has countless pieces of paper where I have written down what I wanted to work on, how it went, and what I needed to do the next session. I actually have a file on my computer that holds these. Here is a great way to do this: Put a small notebook or tablet in your golf bag, and when you go to practice, write down the date and what you are going to work on that day. If you are going to practice your putting, write down what in particular you are going to work on an example would be improving your distance control. You hit putts from various distances and get every ball to roll past the hole but no more than 17 inches beyond it. This would be your goal the entire session. Then write down how it went and what helped you accomplish the goal. Now write down what you want to work on the next practice session. Having a precise, clear plan in your practice sessions will facilitate improvement in your game.

BRAD REDDING is director of instruction at Grande Dunes Golf Academy and is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. He can be reached at 843-315-0332 or brad.redding@burroughs-chapin.com.

Parrish tied for third at NGA Hooters Tour Carolina Series event

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 23:19 EDT

LONGS -- Tony Parrish of North Myrtle Beach is one of five players tied for third at 3-under-par 69 after the first round of a 54-hole NGA Hooters Tour Carolina Series event at Black Bear Golf Club. Scott Usher of Bennettsville leads Andrew Byrd of Henderson, N.C., by two shots after a 6-under 66.

Patrick Lundy of Little River is tied for eighth at 70, Ryan Tyndall of Murrells Inlet shot 71 (T14), Jared Taylor of Little River shot 73 (T24), Aaron Motok of Myrtle Beach and amateur Christopher Marsh of Georgetown shot 74 (T28), Kellen Altman of Myrtle Beach shot 75 (T36), and Eddie Heiner of Murrells Inlet shot 82 (53) in the 54-player event.

Area golf touring pros

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:00 EDT

Katie Allison

Residence | Little River

Tour | Duramed Futures Tour

Heyward column: Ignoring lightning like playing with fire on golf course

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 23:02 EDT

What you should know about golf's killer hazard lightning.

True, lightning is and can be a real killer. During the years from 1960 through 2006, over 220 golfers were killed on golf courses by lightning, and over 500 were injured.

Yes, lightning is a hazard in Myrtle Beach. Looking at preventive measures to be prepared may just help. Check the latest weather forecast before beginning any outdoor activity. It is not advisable to begin a round of golf if there are severe weather watches or warnings posted. There are signs to watch for that indicate an electrical storm is approaching and may indicate an immediate need to seek shelter. Don't ignore very dark clouds, thunderheads and occasional flashes of lightning in the distance they all signal an approaching storm.

McPherson ties for 2nd at Wegmans; Shin wins

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 22:28 EDT

Conway native Kristy McPherson can make a good argument for the distinction of being the best player on the LPGA Tour who has yet to win.

She added to her body of work Sunday with a tie for second in the Wegmans LPGA at Locust Hill in Rochester, N.Y. McPherson and Yani Tseng each shot the day's best score of 66 to surge into a second-place tie at 10-under-par 278 behind South Korean star Jiyai Shin, who won by seven shots.

It is McPherson's second runner-up this year. She tied for second in the Kraft Nabisco Championship in April and has finished in the top five in each of the season's first two majors.

Stuck in fight, Wright kept on swinging

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:03 EDT

Mark Wright seemed destined to follow his big brother into a baseball career, at least to the collegiate level.

Jacob Wright, five years Mark's elder, pitched on a scholarship for Campbell University, and Mark tended to gravitate toward his admired brother's activities. He was a catcher and feared hitter who helped Columbus County win the North Carolina state championship and reach the Dixie Boys World Series in consecutive years when he was 13 and 14.

That was also about the period of time he inexplicably dropped a pencil while taking notes in a seventh-grade history class.

Watson finishes tied for 20th at eGolf tournament

Sat, 27 Jun 2009 22:56 EDT

GORDONSVILLE, Va. -- Murrells Inlet's Derek Watson shot a final-round even-par 72 to finish tied for 20th in the eGolf Professional Golf Tour's Spring Creek Championship at Spring Creek Golf Club.

Watson finished with a four-round total of 6-under 282 and earned $3,850. Roberto Castro (68) won the tournament at 16-under 272 and earned $50,000.

Hurst, Hoang win titles at Carolinas Junior Championship

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:12 EDT

Tommy Hurst heard the rumblings from a few parents and competitors as he was accepting the Carolinas Junior PGA Championship trophy Friday at Whispering Pines Golf Club.

Hurst lives in the Miami area, but for several years he's spent a month or so each summer in Camden with his uncle. "I just love hanging out up here," Hurst said. "It's different. Miami is busy and I like coming up here hanging out in the woods and playing golf all summer."

Hurst wasn't about to let the insinuation that he poached the title - and the automatic berth into the 34th Junior PGA Championship in Ohio next month that comes with it - sour his victory. Especially considering the 16-year-old shot the second best round of his life to claim it.

Alan Blondin on golf: All Barefoot courses open Wednesday

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:07 EDT

Barefoot Resort and Golf will have all four courses open to the public on Wednesday for the first time since wildfires in late April burned approximately 20,000 acres.

The Fazio Course will be the final course to reopen when it hosts play Wednesday.

"It feels like we're whole again," Barefoot head pro Mike Ross said. "Since those fires our equilibrium was off somewhat. We're looking forward to being full strength again."

Shin opens three-shot lead at Wegmans; McPherson in contention

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 23:14 EDT

South Korean star Jiyai Shin, seeking her fifth win in 11 months, shot a 4-under 68 on Friday to vault into a three-stroke lead at the storm-plagued Wegmans LPGA.

"I really am happy with my putter - it's really good," the 21-year-old Shin said after moving to 11-under 133, a record low at the demanding Locust Hill course in suburban Rochester. "I would like to keep this feeling through tomorrow and the final round."

Play was interrupted by thunderstorms for nearly five hours, then called off at 8:37 p.m. as darkness fell. In all, 71 players will complete their second round Saturday morning, including Tiger Woods' niece, Cheyenne, who was battling to make the cut.