Trusted Choice Big “I” Junior Classic
Country Club of North Carolina–DogWood Course
Pinehurst, N.C. • Aug. 3–7, 2008
EAGLE LANDS McCRAKEN IN THE LEAD AT THE COUNTRY CLUB
OF NORTH CAROLINA
Local Favorite Carr Grabs Lead in Girls Division
Pinehurst, N.C. — Logan McCracken of Oklahoma City, Okla.., took the lead in the Boys Division of The Trusted Choice Big “I” Junior Classic Monday. He finished at 5-under-par 67, good for a one-stroke lead. In the Girls Division, local favorite Darlea Carr of Pinehurst carded a 2-under-par 70 to put her at the top spot on the leaderboard.
Conducted by the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, the Trusted Choice Big “I” Junior Classic is the nation’s largest junior stroke-play golf tournament and is being held at the Dogwood Course of the Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst. The event features 168 players from 42 states and the field consists of 108 boys and 60 girls ages 12-18. The Boys Division is playing the 72-par Dogwood course at 7,144, while the Girls Division is playing at 6,145 yards.
It was evident that the heat had no effect on McCracken’s game after he made an eagle on No. 5. His patience and concentration remained present the entire day and he finished his round with no bogeys or three-putts.
“I just paced myself, didn’t get mad and waited for opportunities to come,” said McCracken.
Another local star, Michael McGowan of Southern Pines, N.C., finished the day in second place with a 4-under-par 68, which he attributed to his accurate putting. In third place is Ian Phillips of Acworth, Ga., who finished at 3-under-par 69. Damian Telles of The Dalles, Ore., finished in fourth with a 2-under par 70.
In the Girls Division, Carr began her 2-under-par round with a birdie on the first hole, which set the pace for the rest of her round.
“I just took one shot at a time and tried not to think about my score and tried not to put a lot of pressure on myself,” she said.
Carr is a resident at The Country Club of North Carolina, but admits she does not play much golf and said, “It took a lot of work and being on the top feels good, but it is still just the first day.”
Briana Espinoza of Phoeniz, Ariz., sits two shots behind and finished the round at even-par 72. Sarah Bae of Raleigh, N.C., and Madeleine Sheils of Boise, Idaho tied for third at 1-over-par 73.
The second round of the Trusted Choice Big “I” Junior Classic begins Tuesday, Aug. 5 with tee times running off the first tee from 7:39 a.m. to 2:27 p.m. at the Country Club of North Carolina. For more information about the Trusted Choice Big “I” Junior Classic, please contact Laura Dark at 252-412-1398 or via email at keith@bigIjuniorclassic.com
Players in the Trusted Choice Big “I” Junior Classic hope to follow in the footsteps of past participants including Phil Mickelson, Bob Tway, Justin Leonard, Charles Howell, David Duval, Craig Stadler, Fuzzy Zoeller, Cristie Kerr, Candie Kung and Grace Park.
The Big “I”, formerly the Insurance Golf Classic, began in 1969 as a community service project devised by a group of independent insurance agents. Its goal is to provide young golfers the opportunity to channel their energies into a positive experience, while competing in a sportsmanlike atmosphere. Each year more than 2,000 independent agents volunteer their time and resources to organize and administer the Classic.
The Tiger Woods Foundation, this year’s Big “I” sponsor, was established in 1996 and seeks to empower young people to reach their highest potential by initiating the supporting community-based programs that promote the health, education and welfare of all the American’s children. The foundation has been sponsoring the Big “I” for the past three years and continued its support this year.
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