Teen Golfers from Kansas, Georgia Win Big ‘I’ National Championship

Bailey Tardy of Norcross, Ga. and Sam Stevens of Wichita, Kan., won the girls and boys divisions, respectively, at the recent 45nd Annual Trusted Choice Big “I” National Championship in Pinehurst, N.C.

The tournament featured 160 players from 39 states with girls and boys under the age of 19 and was played at the Dogwood Course at the Country Club of North Carolina. The girls division was played at par 72 and 6,145 yards, while the boys played the course at par 72 and 7,144 yards.

Each summer more than 2,500 junior boys and girls nationally vie to earn a place in the final tournament. Approximately 100 state and local qualifying events determine the final roster.

Tardy shot three under par 286 for the tournament, to claim the girls’ division title and win the Mayerstein Trophy. Stevens won first place in the boys division by shooting seven under par 281 and bested the second place winner by six strokes to win the Robert Trent Jones Trophy.

In the girls division, Emilia Migliaccio of Cary, N.C. came in second with a one over par 289. Jessica Porvasnik of Hinckley, Ohio finished third at three over par 291.

In the boys division, the second place winner was James Clark of Columbus, Ga. with a final round even par 72 to finish at one under par for the tournament. Sean Yu of Beaumont, Calif. and Keenan Huskey of Greenville, S.C., tied for third place at one over par 289.

The junior tournament is in its 45th year. PGA and LPGA fields include numerous past champions and participants including: Billy Andrade, David Duval, Charles Howell III, Cristie Kerr, Candie Kung, Justin Leonard, Phil Mickelson, Grace Park, Craig Stadler, Bob Tway, Cheyenne Woods, Tiger Woods and Fuzzy Zoeller.

The annual tournament is sponsored and supported by Trusted Choice. More than 400 independent insurance agents help organize the local qualifying tournaments that lead to the national finals.

Topics Agencies Georgia Kansas