KemperSports Golf Courses Earn Top Honors in Golfweek Rankings

Twenty KemperSports properties were named to Golfweek's most recent Best Courses You Can Play and Best Courses You Can Play By State lists, which were announced in the publication's June issue. 

 

The company's award-winning portfolio includes nationally-ranked courses, private clubs, municipal courses, and tournament venues.  And KemperSports has more managed properties ranked on these lists than any other management company. 

Golf Datatech Unveils Assessing the Pyramid 2019: A Comprehensive Investigation into the Pyramid of Influence

Golf Datatech is the industry's golf standard for accurate and timely information on the retail sales, inventory, pricing, and distribution of golf products through the on and off course channels. 

 

And they've unveiled the third edition of the Company’s comprehensive study, Assessing the Pyramid 2019, investigating the relevance of the "Pyramid of Influence," which for decades has formed the foundation upon which golf equipment companies marketed and sold their products. 

Sea Pines Country Club Announces Summer Preview Membership Opportunity

Sea Pines Country Club has debuted its 2019 summer preview trial memberships as the club celebrates the completion its multi-million dollar renovation and expansion project. 

 

Designed for new Hilton Head and Bluffton area residents and long-time locals interested in experiencing life as a Sea Pines Country Club member, the Summer Preview Trial Membership is an attractive way to make the most of summer by experiencing the first-hand modern amenities of Sea Pines Country Club. 

Bobby Weed Golf Design Commissioned to Update Ocean Course at Ponte Vedra Inn and Club

Bobby Weed Golf Design (BobbyWeed.com) has been commissioned to update the Ocean Course at Ponte Vedra Inn and Club, in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. 

 

The last restoration of the robust 1928 Herbert Strong design, completed by Bobby Weed Golf Design in 1998, returned the layout’s bold contours, brawny bunkering and wind-swept character. 

Keep Cool this Summer with Bag Boy’s Cart Fan, Cooler Bag, and Chiller Cart Bag Trio

Just in time for the dog days of summer. Bag Boy is releasing its "Keep Cool Trio," which a lot of golfers will want to check out.  The set includes a bag, fan, and cooler bag. 

 

The Bag Boy Chiller Cart Bag conveniently comes equipped with the removable, insulated cooler bag, and holds six 12-oz. cans.  The Chiller Bag includes TOP-LOK Technology, a patented bag-to-cart attachment system that secures the bag to the push cart and prevents the bag from twisting or turning, eliminating the need for cart straps.  And also features a 15-way organizer top with full-length individual dividers. 

Viktor Hovland Signs Equipment Deal With PING Golf

Viktor Hovland, the most recent World No. 1 Amateur, has signed an equipment contract with PING Golf, and will make his debut as a PING staff pro this week at the Travelers Championship. 

 

Hovland tied for 12th at last week'’s U.S. Open in setting the record for the lowest 72-hole score (280) by an amateur in the event's history, and was a decorated player for the Oklahoma State University Cowboys, where he was a three-time All-American, and won the 2018 U.S. Amateur at Pebble Beach, earning him an invitation to this year's Masters and U.S. Open. 

Want to Meet Jack Nicklaus and Play a Top Golf Course? Here's Your Chance Thanks to Reynolds Lake Oconee

Reynolds Lake Oconee is running a once-in-a-lifetime getaway right now that includes meeting Jack Nicklaus and playing the newly renovated Great Waters Golf Course at Reynolds Lake Oconee. 

 

When Nicklaus returns to Reynolds Lake Oconee in October to re-open the dramatically renovated Great Waters golf course, one lucky twosome will be there to share in the fun and excitement, and actually spend time with Jack, and maybe even get a few pointers. 

The 2019 Travelers Championship: Inside the Course (TPC River Highlands Review)

Trying to generate interest in a PGA Tour event the week after a major championship can be a struggle.  The tournament is perceived as a snooze-fest.  The world's top players often take much needed time off.  Even the fans need time to recuperate after a brutal post-major comedown. 

 

That is, unless we’re talking about the Traveler's Championship, which always attracts some of the biggest names in the game, and draws some of the largest crowds on Tour all year.  And the Pete Dye designed TPC River Highlands requires you to think your way around the course, utilizing narrow fairways, an abundance of bunkers, and firm, fast conditions to reward intelligence and precision more than brute force and strength. 

5 Things to Know about the 2019 Travelers Championship

With unforgettable images of Pebble Beach and another first time major champion still resonating in our U.S. Open rear-view mirror, the PGA Tour arrives to the birdie-friendly confines of TPC River Highlands this week for the Travelers Championship.  And this year’s star-studded field promises more excitement than ever. 

 

Five of the top-10 players in the OWGR are  in the field, including three of the top-10 in the FedExCup Playoff standings.  TPC River Highlands is a 6,841-yard, par-70 Pete Dye designed track overlooking the Connecticut River, and the routing on hole Nos. 15 through 18 provides the purest form of stadium golf on Tour. 

Gary Woodland WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment Woodland Used to Win the 2019 US Open at Pebble Beach

Father's Day couldn't have been any better this past Sunday for Gary Woodland.  Woodland won the US Open at Pebble Beach, capturing his first major championship, while his wife (who's pregnant with twins) and young son cheered dad on to victory back home. 

 

Woodland began the final round with the lead and came out charging with two birdies over the first three holes, and never lost a share of the lead.  Woodland held off a ferocious charge from defending champion Brooks Koepka, and finished 2-under, 69 for the day, and 13-under overall (topping Tiger Woods' mark of 12-under here in 2000). 

Gary Woodland and PUMA Golf's Patriot Volition America Collection Take Center Stage at the 2019 U.S. Open

Gary Woodland became a major champion last week at Pebble Beach, treating fans and spectators to an exciting finish on Sunday at U.S. Open.  Woodland held off a roster of impressive challengers to capture his first major, and was decked out in PUMA Golf's Patriot Volition America Collection for the win. 

 

PUMA announced a multi-year partnership with Woodland in January that has the celebrated pro wearing pieces from the brand's Volition America Collection, a patriotic ensemble of products to honor those who have made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. 

Golf Pride Wins Grip Count and the 2019 U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach

Golf Pride grips were the grips of choice for 83-percent players in the field last week at the U.S. Open, including the winner, Gary Woodland.  The win with Golf Pride makes six U.S. Open Championships in a row, and 9 out of the last 10, that have been won by players trusting their games to the #1 grip in golf. 

 

The 2019 U.S. Open saw nine players who finished in the top 10 trust their championship quests to Golf Pride, including Woodland's Golf Pride Tour Velvet Cord Midsize grips.  And beyond the pro ranks, this year 15 of the 16 amateurs that qualified for the event had Golf Pride in their hands during their U.S. Open pursuits. 

New Titleist T200 and T300 Irons to Debut at the Travelers Championship

Last week at the US Open, Titleist Tour players put the new T100, 620MB, and 620 CB irons into play for the first time as part of Titleist's validation process.  And this week at the Travelers Championship Titleist is rolling out two more new models for their staff. 

 

The new Titleist T200 and T300 irons look to be successors to the AP3 and AP1 irons that the world's best players have used, and based on Titleist's initial player testing and feedback, these new models are poised to continue Titleist's run as the most played iron on the PGA TOUR for each of the last five years and 14 of the last 15 seasons. 

2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach: Round 4 Recap

Gary Woodland no longer has to answer questions about an inability to close or win a major championship. 

 

Entering Sunday’s final round of the 119th U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links, the 35-year-old from Topeka, Kan., was 0-for-7 when holding a 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour, and he had never finished better than a tie for 23rd in eight previous U.S. Opens.  That's now all in the past. 

2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach: Round 3 Recap

Sunday's final round of the 119th U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links is resembling the start of a NASCAR race. 

 

You have a pacesetter in 54-hole leader Gary Woodland, the 35-year-old Kansas native who has never won a major nor played in the final group on Sunday.  The three-time PGA Tour winner escaped a few potential disastrous holes on the second nine on Saturday to post a 2-under-par 69 for a three-round total of 11-under 202. 

2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach: Round Two Recap

Mother Nature continued to provide a reprieve to the world's best golfers on Friday.  While the sun finally made an appearance at Pebble Beach Golf Links (brief as it was), the brisk winds that often define U.S. Open Championships contested on the iconic Monterey Peninsula layout continued to be kind and gentle. 

 

Even with the greens firming up a bit, Round 2 produced more under-par rounds (44) than Thursday (39), but a different person was holding the lead.  Gary Woodland (who has never finished better than a tie for 23rd in eight previous U.S. Open starts) carded a 6-under, bogey-free 65 for a two-stroke lead over 2013 champion Justin Rose. 

2019 US Open at Pebble Beach: Round One Recap

The skies above Pebble Beach Golf Links for most of Thursday's first round were gray, but the leader board featured a different hue, one players aren’t typically accustomed to seeing at the U.S. Open Championship: Red. 

 

On a day where the winds were relatively light and the mercury barely crossed the 60-degree mark, the world's best players took full advantage of their opportunity. 

The 2019 US Open GIVEAWAY: Cobra Golf MIM Wedge and Commemorative Pebble Beach Ball Markers

It's our  national championship.  It's being held on one of the most famous courses in the world.  And it's one of the strongest fields of any US Open in history.  I was out at Pebble to play the course before the tournament began, and have been showing you pictures and videos of this national treasure the past few weeks.  So of course I'm having a US Open GIVEAWAY for all of you! 

 

This year's marquee field includes the game's most talented players.  And this year's US Open giveaway includes some of the coolest swag you'll find anywhere on the planet.  Like a Cobra MIM 56 degree wedge, because the short game will be crucial this week at Pebble.  And two limited edition US Open Pebble Beach ball markers. 

Jordan Spieth Looks to Continue Strong Run at U.S. Open with Under Armour Golf Scripting Inspired by the Pacific

Following an impressive showing at the 2019 PGA Championship on Long Island, Jordan Spieth's focus will be shifting to the other coast, as he looks to capture his second U.S. Open title at Pebble Beach. 

 

Once again, Jordan will be relying upon Under Armour's innovative Iso-Chill technology to keep him cool on one of golf's biggest stages, wearing the groundbreaking apparel for three days at the national championship. 

Aerotech SteelFiber Shafts Collect Five Top-10s on Three Tours

Aerotech SteelFiber graphite iron shafts delivered five Top-10 last week on the PGA, LPGA, and Champion tours, including two T4's at the RBC Canadian Open, two T5's at the ShopRite LPGA Classic, and one T10 at the Mastercard Japan Championship. 

 

Brandt Snedeker played SteelFiber i95 graphite shafts in his irons, and the 2012 FedEx Cup champion shot 69 in three rounds, as well as a tournament low score of 60 for his T4 finish.  Last year Snedeker even bested that score when he blazed a 59 at the Wyndham Championship. 

Galvin Green 2019 Part 2 Collection Preview: Designed to Help Golfers Play More Often

The latest collection of golfwear from Galvin Green offers serious golfers a range of high-performance garments designed to help them perform at their best more often in the most demanding playing conditions. 

 

The new 2019 Part Two range available this month has been inspired by the harshest conditions at one of the most challenging links courses in the world, the Dunluce Links at Royal Portrush, soon to host the 148th Open Championship. 

Sights from the 2019 US Open Wednesday Practice Round at Pebble Beach

No more fine tuning.  No more practice.  Nothing more that can be done.  It's the eve of the 2019 U.S. Open, and all 156 players in the field are hoping they'll be the one's who take home this season's third major championship. 

 

The fog rolled in during Wednesday's practice round, as if to symbolize the transformation into the unreal that awaits the field tomorrow. 

Sights from the 2019 US Open Monday Practice Round at Pebble Beach

It was sunny and gorgeous day at Pebble Links golf course, and players were soaking in the coastal vibe on Monday's practice round for the U.S. Open.  Some players like Tiger Woods, had already practiced here in previous weeks.  While others like Justin Thomas didn't get out for their first practice round until later in the afternoon. 

 

I've been showing you pictures and videos on twitter and Instagram from my trip to Pebble Beach when I played the course as final preparations for the U.S. Open were being made.  And I'll have a full course review sometime later after the tournament finishes. 

PUMA Golf Unveils 2019 U.S. Open Scripts: What Fowler, DeChambeau, and Woodland Will Wear at Pebble Beach

As PUMA athletes Rickie Fowler, Bryson DeChambeau and Gary Woodland prepare to take on Pebble Beach Golf Links for the 119th U.S. Open Championship, they will be dressed to the nines each day in red, white, and blue inspired apparel from the brands new Autumn Winter 2019 Collection. 

 

Additionally, throughout the week, Rickie and Bryson will use a custom COBRA Golf & Vessel US Open Tour Staff Bag, inspired by the red, white, and blue color story, and the Stars & Stripes of the American flag. 

New Titleist Irons To Debut at U.S. Open

The new Titleist T100, 620 MB, and 620 CB irons will make their tour debut at this week's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, marking the first opportunity for players to use the new irons in competition. 

 

The three new iron models follow the successful introduction of the new TS2 and TS3 hybrids and U-500 and U-510 utility irons at the recent Memorial Tournament.  Validating product performance across the worldwide professional tours is a critical step in the development of all high performance Titleist golf equipment. 

Lexi Thompson And Bridgestone Golf are Big Winners in Atlantic City

Bridgestone Golf Tour team member Lexi Thompson continued one of the best Tour seasons in Bridgestone Golf's history, with a dramatic come-from-behind victory at the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic. 

 

Thompson finished with a clutch eagle on the 18th hole to garner her 11th career LPGA victory and the 6th win for Bridgestone this season, including 5 with the TOUR B X golf ball.  Thompson's victory vaults her to No. 1 on the U.S. Solheim Cup points list. 

Rory McIlroy WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment McIlroy Used to Win the 2019 RBC Canadian Open

So you think Rory McIlroy can't close a tournament?  McIroy didn't just break away from the three-way pack tied for the RBC Canadian Open lead when play began on Sunday.  He sent a message and thrashed the field with a dominating 9-under 61, to finish with a record setting 22-under, 258 in the victory. 

 

The win was Rory's second of the season (to go along with The PLAYERS Championship), and the 16th of his career.  And with the victory, he joined Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, and Tiger Woods as the only players since 1935 to win the U.S. Open, The Open Championship, and the Canadian Open. 

Jason Day Using Tiger Woods Former Caddie Steve Williams for the 2019 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach

Nineteen years after Steve Williams helped Tiger Woods win one of his greatest major championships, the New Zealander is back at Pebble Beach Golf Links.  Only this time Williams will be carrying the bag for another former World No. 1, Jason Day. 

 

Williams was on the bag for Tiger in 13 of his 15 majors, and most recently helped Adam Scott become the first Australian to win The Masters at Augusta National.  Day is hoping Williams can help him finally emerge victorious at a U.S. Open, where he's twice finished runner-up. 

119th U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach: Television Coverage, Live Streaming Coverage, Records, History, and Statistics

Pebble Beach Golf Links will be set up at 7,075 yards and will play to a par of 35-36 (71).  The yardage for each round of the championship will vary due to course setup and conditions. 

 

Jack Neville and Douglas S. Grant designed Pebble Beach Golf Links, which opened in 1919.  You can find the hole-by-hole look at the par and yardages here. 

USGA Announces Tee Times for 119th U.S. Open Championship

The United States Golf Association (USGA) today announced tee times for the first two rounds of the 2019 U.S. Open Championship, Thursday (June 13th) and Friday (June 14th), at 7,075-yard, par-71 Pebble Beach (Calif.) Golf Links. 

 

The U.S. Open is a 72-hole, stroke-play competition.  A field of 156 players will play 18 holes of stroke play on June 13th and 14th, after which the field will be reduced to the low 60 scores and ties. 

Buffalo Ridge Springs at Big Cedar Lodge Named Best Public Course in Missouri by Golfweek Magazine

Buffalo Ridge Springs at Big Cedar Lodge was named "Best Course You Can Play in Missouri: in Golfweek Magazine's Best of 2019 issue.  And for the first time, the course was also ranked among the "Top Courses You Can Play in America" at No. 89. 

 

An 18-hole marvel designed by renowned course architect Tom Fazio in collaboration with Johnny Morris, a noted conservationist, Buffalo Ridge winds throughout the beautiful Missouri Ozarks landscape with brilliantly-designed holes complemented by the area's extreme natural beauty. 

Bob Vokey Introduces New 54 and 56 Degree D Grind to WedgeWorks

Based on the incredible popularity and player adoption of the Vokey SM7 D Grind (the latest addition to the Vokey grind family), Master Craftsman Bob Vokey has been experimenting with extending the D Grind into lower-lofted models. 

 

The player's high bounce wedge, the D Grind offers high measured bounce with the crescent shape of Voke's popular M Grind for shot-making versatility.  And available today on www.Vokey.com, the new WedgeWorks 54.12 D and 56.12 D models align with Bob's long-held philosophy of building a higher bounce sand wedge and mid-to-low bounce lob wedge into your setup. 

Adidas Golf TOUR360 XT Parley Preview: Limted Edition Shoes Turning Waste into Treasure

Know that expression "someone's waste is someone else's treasure?"  Well Adidas Golf has made the first ever golf shoe, the TOUR360 XT Parley, with an entire upper made from upcycled plastic waste that promises to be everyone else's treasure. 

 

The TOUR360 XT Parley uses waste that was intercepted from beaches and coastal communities before reaching the ocean, and these new shoes will be worn by select Adidas athletes in next week's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. 

Titleist TS1 Driver Preview: Ultra-Lightweight Driver to Maximize Launch and Distance for Moderate Swing Speeds

The new ultra-lightweight Titleist TS1 driver is the fastest way for players with moderate swing speeds to experience the joy of effortless distance.  Available for fittings beginning June 20th (and in shops June 27th), the new TS1 offers the technologies developed through the Titleist Speed Project in an incredibly light 275-gram design. 

 

The weighting of TS1 has been strategically trimmed to maximize launch and distance at moderate swing speeds, while maintaining the precision fitting capabilities of Titleist's SureFit Hosel and a high MOI for stability and forgiveness. 

USGA and Deloitte Launch U.S. Open Augmented Reality App

The USGA today announced the launch of a new U.S. Open Augmented Reality (AR) App by Deloitte, designed to provide golf fans with an engaging and innovative digital experience for the 119th U.S. Open Championship at Pebble Beach Golf Links, June 10th to the 16th. 

 

Available in the Apple App and Google Play Stores, U.S. Open AR offers fans watching on-site at Pebble Beach or from elsewhere exclusive insights into player performance on the iconic 6th, 7th, and 18th holes, in 3-dimensional augmented reality.  Pebble Beach will come to life on users' mobile devices through a virtual map of the course, allowing fans to follow the action in real-time, compare player performance, and see how competitors performed on signature holes. 

Golf Pride was the Overwhelming Grip of Choice for 94-Percent of Players at the 2019 NCAA Men’s and Women’s Division I Golf Championships

Golf Pride Grips was the most used grip brand at both the 2019 NCAA Men's and Women’s Division I Championships.  By the numbers, 150 of 156 players (96-percent) competing in this year's NCAA Men's Golf Championship at Blessings Golf Course trusted their games to Golf Pride grips. 

 

The 2019 Men's NCAA Division I Individual Champion also trusted his championship quest to Golf Pride's Z-Grip cord.  At the 2019 NCAA Men's and Women's Division I Golf Championships all of Golf Pride's performance models were played with the brand's flagship model, MCC, leading as the most played grip. 

Galvin Green Reports 50-Percent Growth Rate in the U.S.

I've been telling you guys this since the PGA Merchandise Show: if you haven't checked out Galvin Green in awhile, there's no better time to do so than now.  I showed you their latest styles, and took them on course to play and review for you.  And I couldn't be more impressed with golf weather apparel.  There's simply nothing comparable to Galvin Green on the market. 

 

So it's not a surprise to me that Galvin Green 2019 sales orders are at record levels.  The company has seen orders of its distinctive range of premium performance golf clothing grow by more than 50-percent in the U.S. in recent months. 

Belvedere Golf Club Debuts on Golf Digest America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses

One of the Midwest's most revered and classic golf properties, Belvedere Golf Club in Charlevoix, MI is ranked (No. 89) for the first time ever on Golf Digest's biennial list of "America's 100 Greatest Public Courses." 

 

The honor comes two years after the classic 1925 William Watson creation underwent a caring restoration by Belvedere staff and architect Bruce Hepner, using long-lost blueprints of Watson's original design, which were discovered, serendipitously, during the demolition of a building in downtown Charlevoix in 2016. 

Jeongeun Lee6 Trusts Nippon Shaft to Win 74th U.S. Women's Open Championship

Jeongeun Lee6 trusted Nippon Shaft products in her irons and wedges to help her win the 74th U.S. Women's Open at the Country Club of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina. 

 

The 23-year-old South Korean used Nippon Shaft N.S.PRO 850GH steel shafts in her irons and N.S.PRO 950GH steel shafts in her wedges to shoot 6-under par 278 for the week with rounds of 70-69-69-70 at the stunning seaside Seth Raynor layout.  It was Lee6's first LPGA Tour victory and it came with a winner's check worth $1 million. 

Sebastian Cappelen Wins Web.com Tour Rex Hospital Open Using KBS Shafts

Another week, another KBS Golf Shafts win on a major tour.  This week Sebastian Cappelen won the Web.com Tour Rex Hospital Open using KBS shafts. 

 

Cappelen was struggling to find his game through his first 12 starts to the season, but fired off a sizzling 7-under-par final round to seal the victory at 21-under 263, the second win of his career. 

How 2019 U.S. Women's Open Champion Jeongeun Lee6 Got Her Unique Last Name

Jeongeun Lee6's first win on the LPGA Tour was a big one.  Lee6 won the 74th U.S. Women's Open at The Country Club of Charleston by two strokes over her nearest competitors, and finished 6-under par for the tournament.  And for the Korean golfer known as "Six," the win couldn't have been more on brand. 

 

Lee6 became the 19th golfer to make the U.S. Women's Open their first LPGA Tour victory, but Lee6's win did not come out of nowhere.  Lee6 has seven Korean LPGA Tour victories, and in six LPGA starts last season, she finished inside the top-20 five times (including three top-10 finishes).  But it wasn't until her major win yesterday that fans really grew curious about her name. 

Patrick Cantlay WITB What's In The Bag - The Golf Equipment Cantlay Used to Win the 2019 Memorial Tournament

Patrick Cantlay wasn't going to make the same mistake two years in a row at Muirfield Village.  At The Memorial Tournament last year Cantlay lost the lead on the back-9 on Sunday by not making a birdie on the last 10 holes. 

 

However on Sunday this year at Jack's place, Cantlay recorded four birdies on hole Nos. 10 to 15, and showed incredible closer's poise under pressure as the 27-year old returned to the winner's circle for the first time since 2017.  Cantley fired an 8-under, 64, which was the lowest final round score ever recorded by a champion, and finished two strokes ahead of runner-up Adam Scott. 

74th U.S. Women's Open Championship Recap: Round 4

Jeongeun Lee6 of the Republic of Korea broke out of a crowded leader board with three back-nine birdies and withstood some late struggles to shoot 1-under-par 70 and win the 74th U.S. Women's Open Championship on Sunday by two strokes over a trio of players at the Country Club of Charleston. 

 

Lee6, who turned 23 on Tuesday, earned $1 million in notching her first victory in the United States. The six-time winner in three seasons on the Korea LPGA Tour is in her first full-time season on the LPGA Tour, and shot 70-69-69-70 for a 6-under-par total of 278. 

74th U.S. Women's Open Championship Recap: Round 3

Celine Boutier and Yu Liu, who helped Duke University to a national title in 2014, find themselves tied for the lead and paired in the last group for Sunday's final round of the 74th U.S. Women's Open at the Country Club of Charleston. 

 

The two close friends are unexpected leaders, with Boutier missing the cut in her two previous U.S. Women's Open appearances, and Liu making her first start.  Liu matched the low round of the day on Saturday, a 5-under-par 66, and Boutier shot 69 as the duo completed 54 holes at 7-under-par 206. They lead by one stroke over Lexi Thompson, Jaye Marie Green, and Mamiko Higa of Japan, who held the solo lead through 36 holes but slipped back with an even-par 71 on Saturday. 

74th U.S. Women's Open Championship Recap: Round 2

Mamiko Higa shot a 6-under-par 65 in her first-ever U.S. Women's Open round on Thursday, and then rallied with birdies on three of her last six holes on Friday to post an even-par 71 and maintain a one-stroke lead in the weather-delayed Round 2 of the 74th U.S. Women's Open at the Country Club of Charleston. 

 

The round was suspended for nearly two hours in the late afternoon by thunderstorms, and when play was halted for the day at 8:24 p.m., Higa led Jessica Korda by one stroke.  Korda, 26, put together rounds of 69-68 to sit at 5-under 137.  Amateur Gina Kim, 19, of Chapel Hill, N.C., shot 1-over 72 on Friday for a 4-under total of 138 and sits in solo third among completed players.  And Celine Boutier, 25, of France, was also at 4 under with four holes left to play in Round 2. 

All Three Courses at Sea Pines Resort Named to Best Courses You Can Play in State by Golfweek Magazine

All three courses at The Sea Pines Resort have been named to the state list of "Best Courses You Can Play" in Golfweek magazine's annual "Ultimate Guide" that recognizes the most prestigious venues in the game. 

 

Harbour Town Golf Links is ranked No. 2 in South Carolina (and you already know how much I love this course), with Atlantic Dunes No. 8, and Heron Point No. 11.  In that order, they also were the top three courses listed on Hilton Head Island.  Golf courses must be accessible to the public to be eligible for the "Best Courses You Can Play" recognition. 

Nine Troon Courses Named to America's 100 Greatest Public Courses by Golf Digest

Nine Troon affiliated courses have been named to Golf Digest's ranking of America's 100 Greatest Public Courses.  Seven of the courses are Troon-affiliated properties and two, Gamble Sands and Tetherow, are OB Sports-managed facilities. 

 

Troon brands, including Troon Golf, Troon Prive, Troon International, Honours Golf and OB Sports, have 90-plus courses that have been or are ranked on domestic and international Top 100 rankings. 

PING Golf Signed Former World No. 1 Amateur Jennifer Kupcho

Less than two months after her impressive and historic win at the inaugural Augusta National Women's Amateur, Jennifer Kupcho, the most recent World No. 1 Female Amateur, has signed an equipment contract with PING.  Kupcho will make her debut as a PING staff pro at this week’s U.S. Women’s Open. 

 

Among her many achievements, Kupcho earned medalist honors in 2018 at the NCAA Division I Golf Championships and was the national collegiate Player of the Year.  Last summer, she was a member of the victorious U.S. Curtis Cup, Palmer Cup, and World Amateur teams. 

PUMA Golf Adds Amateur Golf Sensation Justin Suh to its World Class Roster of Athletes

PUMA Golf has added the former No. 1 Amateur in the World in 2018 and 2019 Justin Suh to its team of world-class athletes.  Per the multi-year agreement, Suh will wear PUMA Golf apparel, footwear, and headwear in all professional events in which he competes. 

 

Suh is set to make his professional debut this week at the 2019 Memorial Tournament, donning items from PUMA Golf's SS19 collection of apparel, accessories, and footwear. 

GOLFBUDDY an Official Sponsor of the ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer

GOLFBUDDY will be a sponsor of the 2019 ShopRite LPGA Classic Presented by Acer, an LPGA Tour event to be competed June 7th to 9th at Stockton Seaview Hotel and Golf Club, the Bay Course, in Galloway, N.J. 

 

The sponsorship is part of a partnership between GOLFBUDDY and the LPGA Tour.  Players will compete over 54 holes for a share of the $1,750,000 purse.  The defending champion is Annie Park.