(11/11/10)
GOLF COURSE CHANGES FOR 2011
In 2011, three Quincy, IL, golf courses, Westview Golf Course, Spring Lake Country Club and KC Par-3, will serve as the sites for the 38th annual Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships for boys and girls ages 3 through 17.
This consolidation means eliminating both River View and Arrowhead golf courses as venues for the 2011 event.
The 3-7 boys and girls will continue to compete on the KC Par-3 course, while the 16-17 boys will continue at Spring Lake. All other players, girls 8-17 and boys 8-15, will compete on the 27-hole Westview Golf Course.
“Westview is a wonderful and challenging golf course, and an excellent competitive layout, ” stated Nan Ryan, Little People’s Executive Director. “All 27 holes have watered fairways, large contoured greens, and tree-lined fairways,” added Ryan. (To see a layout, go to www.googlemaps.com and enter 2150 S. 36th St., Quincy, IL in the search box.)
The annual Pepsi Parent-Child tournament will be held on holes 19-27 at Westview on Sunday, June 19, while the Pepsi International Team Events will be held on holes 19-27 on June 23-24.
Refreshment Services Pepsi has sponsored the tournament since its inception in 1974, and will continue as its major and name sponsor in 2011.
The Pepsi LP Collegiate Golf Championships for men and women 18-21 will be held June 20-22 at the Harry Mussatto (Western Illinois University) Golf Course in Macomb, IL.
All entry forms and information will be on this website on February 1. For further information call Nan Ryan at 217-257-5718, or email jrgolfer@littlepeoplesgolf.com.
(08/04/2010)
LAURIDS LOHR WINS WORLD KIDS GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP
Laurids Lohr, 10, from Markkleeberg, Germany, won the 10-year-old division of the 2010 Oceanico World Kids Golf Championship at Oceanico Golf Resort, Amendoeira, Algarve, Portugal, by 11 strokes over the 2009 champion Pedro Lencard Silva. After three 18-hole rounds on the O’Connor Course in hot and tough conditions, Laurids scored 232 strokes.
The youngster from Markkleeberg, Germany, received his trophy from the Vice President of the Portuguese Golf Federation, and was congratulated by world champion golfer Miguel Angel Jimenez (see photo), whose son also competed.
Laurids made his second appearance in Pepsi Little People’s this year, finishing 10th in the 10-11 Division at River View Golf Club, Canton, MO. He played five tournaments in the states this summer, winning once and finishing in the top10 in three others, thus qualifyiing for the Callaway Golf Junior World and US Kids Golf World Championship.
(07/06/2010)
WINNERS OF THE WESTVIEW MEN’S SPORTSMANSHIP AWARD
Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships is pleased to announce the winners of the Westview Men’s Club Sportsmanship Award for Boys for 2010.
Two young men tied for this honor – Reis Dreyer, 9, from Quincy, IL, and Crimson Callahan, 11, from Chesterfield, MO.
Reis was nominated for the Award by the father of one of his fellow competitors in the 10-11 Division at River View Golf Club in Canton, MO. Reis, the son of Ron and Dina Dreyer of Quincy, was playing in his first Pepsi Little People’s tournament.
“Although Reis had a lot more experience than my son, he was a great playing partner for Luke,” stated Andy Delahaunty of St. Peters, MO. “Reis was older, but consistently talked to Luke during the round, encouraging him and giving him a “high 5″ when Luke hit a good one. Luke’s score was high, but he enjoys playing golf so much because he meets kids like Reis”.
Crimson, a regular contender in Pepsi Little People’s and well-known for his knickers and golfing attire, was nominated by two fellow competitors, Andrew Wood of Zionsville, IN, and A.J. Beechler of Pinehurst, NC, and by a Little People’s Tournament Committee member.
“Crimson never got mad after any shot,” said Andrew.
“He is a great kid. He always hit a good shot, a good putt, and a good chip”, added A.J.
“Crimson made it a point to always take off his hat and shake hands at the end of each round,” stated a PLP committee member. “He always did that even when he was playing as a little guy at KC. At the end of the tournament, even though he played at River View, he made a point of coming back to Westview to personally thank the committee for putting on a great event.”
Crimson is the son of Todd and Laura Callahan of Chesterfield, MO
Both Reis and Crimson will receive a Westview Men’s Club Sportsmanship Award plaque in recognition of their good sportsmanship in the 2010 Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships.
(06/29/2010)
PEPSI LITTLE PEOPLE’S HAS FIRST EUROPEAN WINNER
Wolfgang Glawe, who came to Little People’s this year for the first time, from Friedrichstal, Germany, became the first European winner in Pepsi Little People’s history when he shot a record-tying 29-28–57 to finish eight strokes ahead of his nearest two competitors. Wolfgang competed in Division 2-B (boys 6-7), played at the Knights of Columbus Par-3 Golf Course in Quincy, IL.
Throughout the 37-year history of Little People’s, 11 boys and girls have become first-time winners from their home country.
Audrey Bendick from Canada because the first Canadian winner in 1976 when she won the 8-9 girls division. She repeated her victory in the 10-11 division in 1978.
Australia’s Ray Bell was the next international player to win for her country when she took the title in the girls 14-15 division in 1986.
Saori Okada from Japan because the first from that country to win when she was victorious in the girls 6-7 division in 1999.
Mexico’s Giovanna Maymon won for her country in the girls 6-7 division in 2003.
Julie Yang, representing Thailand, won the girls 8-9 division in 2004, the first from that country, and returned the next year to win the same division, recording the victory for Korea.
Young Francois Blaauw from South Africa became that country’s first winner in 2005 with a victory in the boys 3-5 age group.
Zhong Yang Fu took the boys title in the 14-15 division in 2006 to become the first winner from China.
Abegail Arevalo from the Philippines became that country’s first winner with her victory in the 2006 girls 6-7 division, and Manuel Rexach waved Puerto Rico’s flag for the first time when he won the boys 3-5 division in 2008.
In 2009, Natalie Foreno from Cali, Colombia, South America, became that country’s first winner when she took top honors in the girls 12-13 division, and Alvin-ae Landy scored for Bermuda in the girls 6-7 division.
Throughout the last 37 years, we have had players from nearly every state, along with Australia, the Bahamas, Barbados, Bermuda, British Columbia, China, Colombia South America, Denmark, Dominican Republic, England, Finland, Germany, Guam, Guatemala, India, North Ireland Japan, Korea, Manitoba, Martinique, Mexico, Norway, Ontario, Paraguay, Philippines, Puerto Rico, Quebec, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand and the West Indies.
We are always delighted to have our international players, and look forward to many more representations from other countries.
(06/29/2010)
HOSKINS THREE MAKE IT A TRIPLE WIN
For the first time in the 37-year history of Pepsi Little People’s, three players from the same family finished in the top three.
Zach Hoskins, 13, won his 5-B (boys 12-13) division with an 18-hole score of 74. His competition was shortened to one round because of torrential rains which left the Arrowhead Heights Golf Course in Camp Point, IL, unplayable the first day.
Zach’s sister Sabrina, 11, playing at Westview Golf Course in Quincy, IL, finished third in her 4-G (girls 10-11) division with a 36-hole score of 78-81–159, eight strokes back of winner Claire Hodges.
Their younger sister, Sydney, finished first in her 3-G (girls 8-9) division with a 9-hole score of 36, two strokes ahead of her nearest competitor. Her tournament was also shortened to one round due to course conditions at Arrowhead.
The Hoskins three, from Orlando, FL, are regular competitors in Pepsi Little People’s. Sydney previously won first in her 6-7 age group in 2008.
(06/11/10)
LPGC alum heading to U.S. Open
(Story Courtesy of Matt Schuckman and Quincy Herald Whig)
When Scott Langley came to Quincy in 2006 for his final appearance in the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships, it marked the end of a pretty good month.
Langley, then a senior at Parkway South High School in Ballwin, Mo., had finished fourth at the Missouri state tournament and followed up by taking third at the LPGC with back-to-back rounds of 69.
It might have been one of his better stretches as an amateur.
Well, until the past five days.
Langley, who will be a senior at Illinois in the fall, won the individual title at the NCAA Championships last Thursday when he completed the three-round tournament at 10-under-par. He became the first Illinois golfer to win an NCAA title and comes on the heels of the Illini’s second consecutive Big Ten Conference championship.
Langley wasn’t done. Monday, he qualified for the U.S. Open and will tee it up among the professionals next week at Pebble Beach. At a sectional qualifer in St. Albans, Mo., there was only spot available for the Open and Langley took it with back-to-back rounds of 4-under 66.
Quincy’s Luke Guthrie, the Illinois junior-to-be who finished in the top 100 at the NCAA Championships after closing the tournament 45 really good holes after struggling on his first nine, played in the group ahead of Langley at the NCAA tournament and noticed his teammate doing everything right.
“He was birdieing the correct holes and making it through the tough holes unscathed,” Guthrie said.
Looking back, Guthrie was one of two golfers to edge Langley at the LPGC in 2006. Guthrie finished second, losing by a stroke to Jed Dirksen, who sat out this spring after transferring from Arizona State to Central Florida.
Langley isn’t the only LPGC alum in the news.
Brendan Gielow, who won three LPGC titles during his career, recently was named the recipient of the 2010 Byron Nelson Award, presented by the Golf Coaches Association of America.
Candidates for the Nelson Award must be a graduating senior, and the selection committee considered equally a nominee’s entire collegiate academic and golf career as well as his character and integrity while in college. Particular consideration was also given to a nominee’s good citizenship, as portrayed by Mr. Byron Nelson over the course of his life and golf career.
Gielow, who recently graduated from Wake Forest, also earned the Atlantic Coast Conference’s Weaver-James-Corrigan Honorary Award, which recognizes student-athletes for their outstanding academic and athletic performance who intend to compete at the professional level.
Gielow won the 10-11 division at the LPGC in 1999, the 12-13 division in 2001 and the 14-15 division in 2003.
(06/03/10)
LITTLE PEOPLE’S ALUM HONORED
Brendan Gielow, a Little People’s alum and former 3-time winner, was recently honored by the Golf Coaches Association of America with the Byron Nelson Award, which recognizes character, integrity and citizenship in addition to golf accomplishments.
Gielow, a recent graduate from Muskegon, MI, said, “I can’t think of a better way to end my senior year.”
Last year, Gielow won the Porter Cup and played for the victorious U.S. Walker Cup team.
As a youngster, Brendon won the 10-11 Division in Little People’s in 1999, the 12-13 Division in 2001, and the 14-15 Division in 2003.
Gielow, a religion major at Wake Forest, was named a finalist for the 2010 Ben Hogan Award and was ranked No.1 by GolfWeek on March 31, 2010. A great student, earning a 4.0 grade-point average throughout high school and graduating 12th out of a class of 325, he was named ESPN The Magazine Academic All-District in 2008 and was a Cleveland/Srixon All-America Scholar in 2009. He received the ACC Weaver-James-Corrigan Honorary Award in 2010. He was the only player on his Wake Forest team in 2010 to have all his scores count toward the team score.
Brendan’s younger sister Britni, 15, will be competing in the 14-15 Division of Little People’s at Westview June 21-23.
(05/21/10)
LPGA TOURING PRO SARAH BROWN RETURNS TO LITTLE PEOPLE’S
Sarah Brown has come a long way since shooting 30-28—58 for 8 par-3 holes, finishing 3rd in the 3-5 Division of the 1997 Pepsi Little People’s Golf Cham-pionships! That year, Sarah came to Quincy with her father Keith, and brother David, to compete in her first Little People’s event. The next year they were joined by her mother, Marla, sisters Faith, 4 , Rebekah, 1, and brothers Aaron, 3, and David, 7.
Twelve years later, Sarah and Keith will be returning to Little People’s, making the stop between tournaments on the Duramed Futures Tour.
Sarah has had an illustrious career in the years since 1997. At the age of 12, she became the youngest winner of the New Jersey State Girls Amateur. She shot a final round 67 to set a women’s competitive course record at Wild Quail CC in 2005, and was IJGT Player of the Year for Girls 14 and under.
She was named to the 2006 AJGA Rolex Junior All American (3rd team), became the first female to qualify for match play in the Championship Flight of the 70th Lehigh Valley Amateur, and won her third consecutive NJ State Girls title. Her 64 set a competitive course record at Langdon Farms GC in Aurora, OR.
A quarter-finalist in the 2007 US Girls Junior Amateur, she was named to the AJGA Rolex (2nd team) and became the first female to win a championship flight match in the Lehigh Valley Amateur.
Probably one of her finest showings in 2008 was as a member of the victorious USA Junior Ryder Cup Team, where she had a personal 3-0-0 record. She was the second youngest NJ Women’s Amateur Champion, winning 12 up in the final match, and took second place in the PGA Junior Championship.
2009 was another big year for Sarah, as she posted another 3-0-0 record as a member of the victorious Junioe US Solheim Cup Team. She was named to the AJGA Rolex First Team, won 2nd in the PGA Junior Championships, moved into the top 10 in AJGA Polo Golf Rankings and was medalist in the USGA Women’s Open qualifier.
Sarah finished 8th in the LPGA Sectional Q-School in October, and turned professional during Q-School in December. She is fully exempt on the Futures Tour this year, but tournaments may be limited because of a lack of funds.
Sarah won her first paycheck as a professional in the rain-shortened Mercedes-Benz Duramed Futures event in Leawood, KS, in May. “It was $291, about enough for gas money, but it was a turning point”, said Keith.
She plans to play four events in the Midwest this summer, and hopefully will qualify for the US Women’s Open.
Life hasn’t been easy for the Brown Family. Keith, formerly in mortgage banking, lost his job and is still unemployed. He now travels with Sarah, serving as her caddy and coach, and Sarah has the added stress of financial worries to deal with while playing.
Marla stays home with the other eight siblings, Faith 16, Aaron 15, David 19, Rebekah 12, Abigail 8, Joshua 4, Caleb 2 and Hope 10, and seldom gets to watch her daughter play competitively.
Last August she did get to see Sarah play in the Solheim Cup, and was “blown away”.
“When I saw her in her element, saw how wonderful she played and more importantly, how professional she was on the course……. it was life changing”, says her Mom.
“It’s been a long, tough road,” adds Keith. “I tell Sarah repeatedly, ‘The night is darkest before the dawn’, and ‘The road to success is paved with failure'”.
Sarah and Keith will be coming back to Little People’s on Monday, June 21, and will spend time talking to participants and parents about what it’s like to prepare for the professional world. They will also make a short appearance on stage at the Picnic Monday night.
You can follow Sarah in her professional career at sarahbrown.me.
(05/13/10)
TRI-STATE JUNIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED
QUINCY, IL…The Tri-State Junior Golf Association has announced its tournament schedule for the 2010 season, and will include five tournaments and a parent-child event.
“We are delighted to be able to offer this schedule to the young golfers in the Illinois-Iowa-Missouri area,” said John Moore, TSJGA Tournament Director. “The addition of the parent-child event was so well received last year that we were determined to include it in 2010. The event is exciting, and offers parents an opportunity to enjoy a fun and competitive round of golf with a child.”
The Tri-State program is co-sponsored by KHQA TV-7 and Landmarx Inc, Screen Printed and Embroidered Products Inc.
The Parent-Child event will kick off the 2010 schedule on June 17 at Westview Golf Course in Quincy. Entry fee is $20 for the team.
The first tournament will be Monday, June 28, at Keokuk Country Club, Keokuk, IA, followed by an event at Norwoods Golf Course, Hannibal, MO, on July 12.
Arrowhead Heights Golf Course in Camp Point, IL, will host a tournament on July 19, and the Hannibal Country Club in Hannibal, MO, will serve as host on July 26.
The final tournament of the season will be August 2 at Westview Golf Course in Quincy.
Golfers can register on-line at www.CompeteToday.com with payment made by Credit Card, or may fill out the entry form and return it with check to Compete Today, 5309 Oak Street-PMB 350, Quincy, IL 62305. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Compete Today website, or from www.littlepeoplesgolf.com.
Entry fees are $10 for 8 and Under, $15 for 9-11 and $20 for 12-14 and 15-17. Play is in four divisions for boys and four divisions for girls
Points will be awarded for first, second, third and participation in each Division in each of the five events. One point will be given to each junior who plays in the Parent-Child event. The top point winner in each Division will receive a Trophy at the end of the year.
Every player who competes in all five events will be given a logoed Polo Shirt.
TSJGA is offering its players the opportunity to win a Scholarship to play in the 2011 Pepsi Little People’s. Any player who posts a score in each of the five tournaments will be eligible to win one of the eight entry-free opportunities to play in this international junior golf tournament in Quincy.
“This is the 19th year for the Tri-State Junior Golf Association events,” said Moore. “We look forward to a large turnout of junior golfers who are seeking to work on their games and enjoy competition”.
For more information on the tournaments and clinic, call Moore at 217-740-4853, or to sign up for any TSJGA event online, go to www.competetoday.com.
(05/04/10)
LPGC ALUM RORY MC ILROY WINS QUAIL HOLLOW CHAMPIONSHIP ON PGA TOUR
Rory McIlroy, whom Little People’s remembers as a 12 and 13-year-old playing at Arrowhead Heights Golf Course in Camp Point, IL, made history on May 2 when he won the Quail Hollow Championship in Charlotte, NC, with a 15-under-par score. His final round was a course record 62. Rory also became the youngest player (2 days short of his 21st birthday) to win a PGA Tour event since Tiger Woods.
Watching Rory all the way was A.J. Beechler, 10, from Pinehurst, NC, who will be making his first appearance in Pepsi Little People’s this June, playing at River View Golf Club in Canton, MO.
A.J. reports that Rory was very nice, and signed his shirt and a golf ball. (See picture)
Rory finished 4th in the 12-13 division of Little People’s in 2001, and was 3rd in that division in 2002.
A.J. has been playing, and winning, tournaments in the States and overseas for the last 4 years. His golf professional Dad is his teacher. “My Dad has been playing golf since he was little,” says A.J. “He is in the Guinness Book for lowest golf score 58. I want to beat that.”
Young Beechler is very involved in Operation Footsteps, collecting shoes and providing them for children where ever there is a need.
We’re wishing both Rory and A.J. the very best in all of their future tournaments.
(05/04/10)
LITTLE PEOPLE’S ALUM LEADS THE WAY
Quincyan Luke Guthrie led his University of llinois men’s golf team to the Big Ten Championship at Windsong Farm Golf Club in Maple Plain, Minnesota, May 2.
The Illini took a 12-shot lead into the final round, and finished three shots ahead of Iowa. Northwestern finished 3rd and Michigan 4th.
Guthrie won his 14-15 division in Pepsi Little People’s in 2004 with 75-67–142, and repeated his victory in 2005 with rounds of 71-67–148. He finished 2nd in 2006 in the 16-17 age division with 70-67–137. His 2-over-par conference play effort earned him 4th place overall.
Teammate Zach Barlow, another Little People’s alum, tied for 7th overall. Zach won his 8-9 age division in Pepsi Little People’s in 1995 and 1996, and was 3rd in his 10-11 division in 1998.
The Illinois team is the first in nearly 70 years to win back-to-back conference titles.
“It was exciting and kind of nerve-racking,” said Illinois assistant coach Guthrie. “We knew we were struggling, but we came through to finish it off. It kind of shows the heart.”
The Illini will play May 20-22 in the NCAA regionals, and we wish them all the best.
(04/12/10)
LITTLE PEOPLE’S WINNERS TO QUALIFY FOR INTERNATIONAL EVENTS
Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships and the Graham Moore Junior Golf Tour are pleased to announce a relationship between the two organizations that will make it possible for young golfers from throughout the World to experience international competitive golfing exposure.
All division winners in the 2010 Pepsi Little People’s Championships and the Pepsi LP Collegiate Golf Championships will qualify to participate in the 2010 GM European Championships at Crans-Sur-Sierre GC, Crans-Montana, Switzerland, June 29-July 1, and the GM World Championships at Providence GC, Orlando, July 18-21. These winners will also qualify to participate in the same 2011 events, dates and places to be announced.
Likewise, winners in selected GM Tour events during 2010, will qualify to participate in the 2011 Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships, held at six golf courses in the Quincy, IL, USA area. Qualification for 2012 and beyond, the GM Junior Tour will look to have a specific annual event to participate in the Pepsi Little Peoples Championships.
Each Division winner in the 2010 Pepsi Little People’s will receive an invitation to both events at the Little People’s prize presentations on June 23. Because of the dates of the 2010 tournaments, it will be imperative for each winner to commit to the GM organization as soon as possible following the Little People’s tournament, by emailing the entry form with credit card payment to the GM organization.
“GM Junior Golf Tour and The GM Golf Brand are proud and feel privileged to be partnered with the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships and Pepsi LP Collegiate Golf Championships, one of the largest junior events in the World,” stated Graham Moore FPGA, Managing/Tournament Director GM Junior Golf Tour.
“I am delighted to be able to offer these opportunities to our Little People’s golfers,” said Ryan. “We are continually looking for ways to enhance the future of young players, both nationally and internationally. This relationship with Graham Moore and the GM Junior Golf Tour is just another step in the right direction.
“The Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships and Pepsi LP Collegiate Golf Championships are happy and honored to be partnered with the GM Junior Golf Tour and the GM Golf Brand, and Graham Moore, Founder of the GM Tour and GM Golf Brand and a supporter and promoter of junior golf, in a working relationship between the two entities for the betterment and promotion of junior golf throughout the World,” added Ryan.
For more information on Pepsi Little People’s and the GM Junior Golf Tour, go to www.littlepeoplesgolf.com andwww.gmintgolfschools.co.uk
(03/29/10)
PTR LABELS ENCOURAGE POSITIVE THOUGHTS
Zach Hall, a former Pepsi Little People’s players, has created a new idea which he hopes will benefit all golfers, and junior golfers in particular.
Positive Thought Reinforcement (PTR) Labels remind you to think positively to help overcome your mental blocks before every shot. A strategically placed label can help you build a pre-shot routine that delivers consistent results on the course, remain calm under pressure, develop a positive mindset, and transfer what you’ve learned to the golf course. After each shot, you will be able to move on to the next with a positive self belief.
The PTR Label was designed to run vertically down the shaft near the hozel or just beneath the grip. The idea being that every time you pull a club from your golf bag your positive thought is one of the first things that you see. With the club in the address position, place the label on the top of the shaft. It’s not necessary that you be able to read the label before you begin your swing. The color of the label is intended to subconsciously instill the positive reinforcement of your positive thought.
If you are a golfer who prefers to not see any writing on the shaft or grip, that’s fine. With the club at the address position, simply place the label underneath the shaft. The color of the band that wraps around the shaft will remind you of that same positive thought.
To order, or for more information on PTR Labels and to see the various “Thoughts” and colors available, go towww.ptrlabels.com.
(02/01/10)
NEW WEBSITES HELP GOLFERS, ENTREPRENEURS
It is sometimes difficult and time consuming for a small business to find their niche in the golfing world. These golf entrepreneurs have great products and services, but struggle to afford high dollar marketing campaigns. A new web company has come up with a solution – 1PageGolf.com For a $40 fee, a cost-conscious golf-related business selling products, services or a destination, can showcase its wares on 1PageGolf.com until December 31, 2013.
For more information on this new and innovative site, go towww.1PageGolf.com.
And take a look at www.GolfDieHard.com or blog.golfdiehard.com for amateur golf news and golf entrepreneur spotlights.
