The North Carolina Open, a thrilling mini-golf tournament held at the picturesque Lakeview Putt & Play in Arden, NC, concluded with exciting rounds of stroke play. This event marked an important milestone as this tournament completed the inaugural Southern Swing. This series awarded points to the winners and the field leading up to the prestigious USPMGA Masters tournament, scheduled for October 3rd through 7th in Myrtle Beach, SC.
Gary Hester took home the treasured and first-ever Southern Swing 1st place grand prize. He has now a free entry into The Masters as well as an additional $500 from the mega tournament’s sponsor, the USPMGA (US Pro Mini Golf Association. Congratulations to Gary on an already incredible year of topping many ranks across the world of mini golf!
For the NC Open stroke play, it was an intense competition that tested the skills of the participating golfers, John Powell (SC) emerged as the victor, claiming the first-place title with a remarkable score of +11. The race for second place was incredibly close, with both Kenny Jarnigan (TN) and Lester Bowes (OH) finishing tied at +12. A mere stroke behind them was Danny Baddeley (NC), securing a commendable fourth place with +13.
In the Amateur division, Jeremy Wheeler showcased his mini-golf prowess and topped the leaderboard with a score of +14. The Juniors division saw Junior Paxton putting on a stellar performance, clinching victory with a score of +35.
Congratulations to all the participants who took part in this challenging tournament and a special shoutout to the winners for their exceptional skills and determination. The North Carolina Open at Lakeview Putt & Play was a true showcase of talent, setting the stage for an exciting journey toward the 27th USPMGA Masters. Best of luck to all the competitors as they continue their pursuit of mini-golf excellence!
