FFreeree VVol.ol. 9 IssueIssue 3 WWarriora r r i o r GGolfo l f Club’sC l u b ’s eexcitingx c i t i n g renovationr e n o v a t i o n projectp r o j e c t Mt. Mitchell Golf Club 2 rounds / 1 night stay $119 + tax 2018 Stay & Play Promotion Per person based on double occupancy.cy 3 days / 2 nights for $179.00 (some restrictions apply) 828-675-4923 Ranked #11 in North Carolina mountmitchellgolf.com “Best in State” Golfweek 2016 2 CAROLINA GOLF JOURNAL Vol. 9 Issue 3 WWillill prospros getget anotheranother bumpybumpy rideride Carnoustie Golf Links hosting 8th Open Champtionship aatt BBritishritish Open?Open? he golf fans might have received a preview of the British Open when the best golfers in the world struggled Tat Shinnecock Hills Golf Club in the 118th playing of the US Open. Only Brooks Koepka was able to master the diffi culty of the course, greens and the wind to win his second consecutive US Open title. Koepka’s over par fi nal score (+1) was the fi rst in a US Open event in fi ve years, when Justin Rose (+1) won at Marion Golf Club thatat golfer golferisHarryVar is Harry Vardon.donVa Vardonrdon won tthehe Open ChampionshipChampionshiparecor a recordd near Philadelphia in 2013, and Charlotte’s setting six times (late 1890’s and early 1900’s). Webb Simpson (+1) captured his US Open title in 2012 at the Olympic Golf Club in Much will be said during the telecast about Peter Th omson, a fi ve-time winner of San Francisco. Th e Open Championship and only golfer in the 20th century to win the tournament for three straight years. Th e Aussie died of Question is will Carnoustie in Scotland produce another above par score in the Parkinson’s disease at his home in Mel- Th e Open bourne in late June at the age of 88. Champion-C shipsh in July? Th e Australian’s wins came in 1954, ‘55, ‘56, again in 1958 and lastly in 1965 Th e most against a fi eld that included Arnold northerlyno Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. courseco on Th e Open Despite not being able to see the sea rotation,ro from the links, the exposed Carnoustie CarnoustieC layout means strong winds can have hasha hosted a signifi cant impact on shots. As Sir Michael Bonallack once said: “When the golf’sgo oldest wind is blowing, it is the toughest course in Britain. And when it’s not blowing, major on seven occasions. Carnoustie has a reputation for being the toughest it’s probably still the toughest.” venue with the demanding closing four holes being the scene of many dramatic Open moments. Each of the last three Open’s held at the Angus links have concluded with a play- off resulting in the Claret Jug being awarded, most recently, to Irishman Padraig Golf has been played at Carnoustie since the early 16th century and fi rst host- Harrington in 2007 and Scotsman Paul Lawrie in 1999. ed Th e Open in 1931. Th e course is long and narrow with penal bunkering that seeksse to reward nothing less than top quality “When the wind is blowing Carnoustie is the shot-making.sh toughest course in Britain” - Sir Michael Bonallack BoastingB Champion golfers such as Henry Cotton,C Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Tom Watson,W Carnoustie is sure to deliver another worthyw Champion Golfer of the Year in 2018. WatsonW is one of fi ve golfers to win Th e Open fi vev times (1975, ‘77, ’80, ’82, and ’83). He is joinedjo on that list with fi ve wins by English- manm J.H. Taylor, Scotland’s James Braid and AustralianA Peter Th omson. Only one golfer hasha more than fi ve British Open victories, and Vol. 9 Issue 3 WWW.CAROLINAGOLFJOURNAL.COM 3 SSwedishwedish starstar capturescaptures SymetraSymetra ClassicClassic atat RiverRiver RunRun he LPGA Tour could be watching a new Swedish professional starting to up fi rst to putt, and with make some giant strides in the golf world. Former Southern Methodist ice in her veins, rolled it TUniversity (SMU) standout, and Karlstad, Sweden native, Jenny Haglund right down Broadway. Th at has captured two championships in the last three months. proved to be the deciding factor, as Ardina was not Haglund, won her fi rst Ladies European Tour title in the Lalla Meryem Cup in able to convert her birdie Morocco in April, and captured her most recent victory with the Symetra Classic opportunity. at River Run Country Club in Huntersville. “It was just in the moment In the Symetra Classic, she capped a fi nal round 5-under par with a birdie on and then I saw it drop,” No. 18, to match her low-career round, and snagged the solo lead at 4-under said Haglund. “I don’t par overall. Th at happened around 10 a.m. ET. Th e time is interesting, since a really remember, honestly. little over fi ve hours later, she found herself on the tee box of No. 18 again, this It was really, really nice to time in the fi rst hole of a sudden-death playoff against Dottie Ardina (Laguna, see it go in.” Philippines). Haglund made her fi rst “I didn’t really think it was going to be a play-off ,” said Haglund. “I was sitting, career Symetra Tour start waiting around for my friend who was in the last group. Before [the playoff ], I in Beaumont, Calif., at the went into my bubble and did a warm-up, then out. It was a long day, but passed IOA Championship the time by doing some other things.” presented by Morongo Casino R&SIjhfhResort & Spa. In just her fourth event, she hi is a Symetra Tour champion. Overall, she has four top-20 fi nishes on the year, in- Haglund, who has idolized Sweden’s World Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam, cluding three top-10s and two top-5 results, with a win as the cherry on top. showed some of that champion’s cool. On that fi rst playoff hole Haglund stepped EEarly-birdarly-bird ticketstickets availableavailable forfor 20192019 U.S.U.S. Women’sWomen’s OOpenpen atat CountryCountry ClubClub ofof CharlestonCharleston ans can purchase tickets for the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open Championship Th e Country Club of Charleston’s current at the historic Country Club of Charleston in Charleston, South Caro- course was designed by Seth Raynor and Flina with the offi cial release of daily, weekly and premium ticket sales at opened in 1924. John LaFoy made revisions uswomensopen.com/2019. in 1990-1991 following Hurricane Hugo, and it was later restored by Brian Silva in 2006. Th e 74th U.S. Women’s Open Championship, scheduled for May 30-June 2, 2019, will be the second USGA championship at the notable venue designed by Th e Country Club of Charleston has a famed architect Seth Raynor. In 2013, Emma Talley defeated Cindy Yueer Feng storied tradition of hosting state and regional tournaments. It fi rst hosted the in the fi nal of the U.S. Women’s Amateur Championship. Carolinas Amateur in 1911 and served as host site for the seventh time in 2016. Th e club has also hosted eight South Carolina Amateurs and four Women’s Next year’s championship promises to generate strong interest in the Southeast South Carolina Amateurs. and purchasing tickets early is highly recommended. Since 1946, the club has hosted the Azalea Invitational, which includes among “We are excited to bring the 2019 U.S. Women’s Open to the Country Club of its champions Dale Morey, Billy Joe Patton and Webb Simpson. Since the early Charleston and the Palmetto State,” said Matt Sawicki, championship director. 1950s, the club has hosted a junior event, now known as the Beth Daniel Junior Azalea Championship. Daniel, who grew up in Charleston, is a two-time U.S. “Th e U.S. Women’s Open is golf’s ultimate test for females, and we are confi dent Women’s Amateur champion and a member of the World Golf Hall of Fame. this classic venue will test the world’s best players both physically and mentally over four days of competition.” Tickets can be purchased exclusively at uswomensopen.com/2019. Questions can be directed to [email protected] or by calling 1-800-698-0661. 4 CAROLINA GOLF JOURNAL Vol. 9 Issue 3 BBridgestoneridgestone B330B330 golfgolf ballsballs ffitit eeveryvery golfer’sgolfer’s gamegame ooking for a new golf ball to improve full and partial wedge shots. Though your game? Greater Golf Express has the difference was clear on the launch L the new family of Bridgestone B330 monitor, it is less noticeable on the golf balls to fit every golfer’s level of play, course. The B330-S definitely feels and as always at the best price you will find. softer and checked up a little faster than the B330, but it was not as if one On a launch monitor with a driver, hybrid, spun back and the other ran out. and a long iron, the B330 was the lowest off“hd”lik a “thud” like theh B330-RXS,B330 RXS butb isi justj a spinning and firmest. It’s the ball that’s Each ball in the Tour B330 family has a touch firmer. designed for the big hitter who wants unique feel. The B330 is the firmest, with maximum distance. The B330-S spins just a nice “thock” off the putter.