N.C. Agents Invite Young Golfers to Play in Qualifying Tournaments

The Independent Insurance Agents of North Carolina will sponsor qualifying tournaments for the annual Trusted Choice Big I Junior Classic (Big I) national finals. The tournament is open to local junior golfers, 18 and under who have not started college. Girls do not need to participate in a regional.

According to Ed Bynum, IIAJC chairperson, the local tournaments will be held from June 12 to June 20 at golf courses around the state. On the national level, the tournament is sponsored by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America.

Winners of the local tournament will earn a spot in the North Carolina finals July 15-16 at Mid Pines Inn & Golf Club in Southern Pines. Last year, more than 300 young golfers participated in eight qualifying tournaments around the state.

The top North Carolina qualifiers will advance to the Big I national finals set for July 30 to Aug. 3 at Odessa Country Club, Odessa, Texas.

As junior golfers, current PGA Tour players Tiger Woods and Billy Andrade each won two Big I championships. Andrade captured back-to-back titles in 1980 and 1981. Woods won the prestigious tournament in 1990 and 1992.

While Woods and Andrade both had successful runs in the tournament, there is a distinguished list of current professional players who as juniors played in the Big I. They include Fuzzy Zoeller, Bob Tway, Craig Stadler, Casey Martin, David Duval, Hale Irwin, Phil Michelson, Justin Leonard and Bobby Clampett.

Entry forms for the local qualifying tournaments are available from Caryn Young at (888) 277-6340 or at www.iiajc-nc.com. To be eligible, players must not mark their 19th birthday before August 3, 2006 and must not have started college.

Topics Agencies North Carolina