Erie County golfers tee up for big tournaments at famed Pinehurst Resort
The chance to compete at one of golf's revered American venues left Josh James and Kellie Valentine with easy RSVP decisions.
The Erie County residents said yes to participating in separate tournaments this month at Pinehurst Resort. The North Carolina venue, with nine 18-hole courses over its 5,500-acre property, has hosted three U.S. Opens since 1999.
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James, a Union City Area High School senior-to-be, played in the fourth annual National High School Golf Association Invitational. He was one of 330 male golfers in the 54-hole tournament based on his status as the PIAA's reigning Class 2A medalist.
James played on Pinehurst's No. 5, 6 and 7 courses. He finished at 29-over par 245.
Jake Albert of Blacksburg, Virginia, was the winner at 10-under 206.
“Pinehurst is a place on every golfer's bucket list, so this is so cool,” James said. “Having the opportunity to play against some of the best kids from all 50 states, that's an experience only a handful of kids get. I'm lucky enough to be one of them.”
James got to tour the resort. He even stood on the first tee box of its No. 2 Course, where those three U.S. Opens were played.
James also posed with the Payne Stewart statue near that course's 18th hole. Stewart, who won the 1999 U.S. Open at Pinehurst, died in a private plane crash four months later.
James admitted the layout of Pinehurst's courses and the oppressive humidity, each foreign to northwestern Pennsylvania, were all but impossible to prepare for ahead of time.
He compared teeing off on some of the courses' dogleg holes to playing blindfolded.
“But still, just being here makes you appreciate the game of golf,” James said. “Besides my high score, it was awesome to be here with my parents.”
Valentine at U.S. Adaptive Open
The James family departed Pinehurst a day before Valentine was scheduled to arrive.
The 51-year old McKean resident, who lost most of her right arm in a 1993 automobile accident in Cambria County, was one of 96 players selected to compete in the United States Golf Association's inaugural U.S. Adaptive Open. The 54-hole tournament, which starts Monday, will take place exclusively on Pinehurst's No. 6 Course.
“It's such an honor,” Valentine said. “It's been such a long time coming to have a disabled category included among the USGA's U.S. Opens for the men, women and seniors.”
Valentine, a Northwestern graduate, is one of 69 United States players chosen.
USGA officials anticipated Valentine would qualify for and accept an offer to appear in this week's event. They were so certain, they invited the Lawrence Park Golf Club member to attend Pinehurst this past March for the announcement that the resort would host the historic tournament.
Valentine received a master's degree in counseling from Gannon University in 2002 and currently works for Sunrise Counseling Services.
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Valentine has worked with Scott Jenkins, Lawrence Park's golf professional, in preparation for the tournament.
“What I'll (also) work on goes right along with my field of employment, the mental part of the game,” she said. “Reducing anxiety will be key because this is a whole different scale (of tournament) than I've ever participated. I'm carrying a 14 handicap and there's women here who are .5.”
Valentine also will take time off from her practice to compete for the United States in the Phoenix Cup, a team tournament for disabled golfers. It's scheduled for Aug. 14-16 at Birmingham, England.
EDGA President David Hewett honored
No EDGA president has served a longer tenure than David Hewett. The Kahkwa Club member has served in that position since 2003.
That followed Hewett's 17-year term as the EDGA's secretary.
Neither were roles or time spans the former McDowell and Mercyhurst University golfer could have fathomed when he joined the organization in the early 1980s.
“I remember when I got in the EDGA that the secretary at the time was giving a report,” he said. “I was like, 'Wow, he really knows what's going on and he can talk about it real easy!' At that point, I never pictured myself being anything like that.
“The next thing you know, you're doing things you never thought you could do.”
Things like serving on committees for the USGA and the West Penn Golf Association. Hewett also currently serves in those roles.
Each also are separate from his 30-year tenure as director of the Times-News Open bowling tournament.
Those are the major reasons Community Cup Charity, a Erie-based, non-profit organization, will honor Hewett with its Clifford Award on Aug. 8 at Kahkwa. A charity tournament will be held that day, followed by a dinner and the awards ceremony.
Community Cup spokesman James Martin also cited various other roles Hewett has held as reasons he's being honored. He's also been on the boards for Simpson and Trinity United Methodist churches, plus the Roadhouse Theatre.
Hewett also was on the committee that helped arrange for the 2011 NCAA Division I Women's Frozen Four hockey tournament to take place in Erie.
“I always enjoy what I do,” Hewett said, “so I could have just as easily gone without any mention.”
More information on the Aug. 8 tournament and ceremony is available by email at jwmartin2030@gmail.com.
More EDGA news
Tim Weyand became a first-time winner of an EDGA event when he won the J.C. Martin Seniors Tournament on July 11.
Weyand attained that status as member of Whispering Woods Golf Club, where the round was held. He was the only player who finished with a red number at 2-under par 70.
Ron Coleman, who recently retired as Mercyhurst University's golf coach, was second with a 72.
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The EDGA schedule resumes with Monday's team tournament at North East's Lake View Country Club. Its 54-hole Marquette Savings Bank Amateur Championship follows on the weekend of Aug. 12 at Lawrence Park.
Also upcoming are the two majors for the Erie District Women's Golf Association.
Lawrence Park also will host its Match Play competition between July 26-31, followed by its Stroke Play event Aug. 13-14 at Lake Shore Country Club.
Contact Mike Copper at mcopper@timesnews.com. Follow him on Twitter @ETNcopper.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: Erie County golfers compete at Pinehurst Resort tournaments
