Duo Will Represent United States in the 2010 World Finals in St. Andrews
Cousins Wayne Hudson of Bremen, Ga. and Phillip Sanders of Bartlett, Tenn., have earned themselves the trip of a lifetime, and they had to work overtime to do it.
Hudson and Sanders recently captured the 2009 International Pairs Championship at the PGA Tour Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship at Myrtle Beach, SC.
The cousins had a combined net score of 135 in the championship round at The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, after finishing in the top 10 during the 72-hole tournament earlier in the week to qualify for the championship round. They then won a one-hole sudden-death playoff.
As a result, Hudson and Sanders earned an all-expenses paid trip to St. Andrews to represent the United States in the 2010 International Pairs World Finals.
“We’re elated about the way today’s round turned out,” said Hudson. “We didn’t think we’d played well enough to win, but we’re proud to be going to Scotland to represent the United States in the 2010 International Pairs event.”
Conceived in the UK in 1998 as a golf tournament to celebrate the millennium, the International Pairs is now firmly established as a major event in the diaries of thousands of golf clubs worldwide. Tens of thousands of golfers take part each year and the tournament is continuing to expand internationally with new countries becoming involved on a regular basis.
More than 30 countries have been represented by their national champions since the inaugural World Final in 2004 which was conducted in Wales. The title of International Pairs World Champions has been held by pairs from three different continents, and the defending champions are from Scotland.
This year’s competition is being held October 10-14 at Carnoustie Golf Links in Scotland.
“We congratulate Wayne and Phillip for winning the International Pairs Championship,” said Dave Macpherson, Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday’s tournament director. “Wayne and Phillip will be great representatives of the World Am in St. Andrews next year and we wish them the best of luck.”
To participate in the International Pairs Championship, golfers were required to compete in the 26th Annual PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship. Golfers could select their partner or request to be paired with another World Am golfer. The two golfers’ combined net scores were kept through the four rounds of the World Am with the top 10 teams advancing to today’s 18-hole final at The Dunes Golf and Beach Club on Friday.
The winning team’s all-expenses paid trip to the 2010 International Pairs World Final will include a stay at the acclaimed St. Andrews Bay Golf Resort and Spa in Scotland where they will compete against other teams from around the world in a 36-hole tournament.
Hosted by Myrtle Beach Golf Holiday, the PGA TOUR Superstore World Amateur Handicap Championship is a 72-hole tournament played on 51 Myrtle Beach area golf courses each August. Participants compete for the right to be crowned “World Amateur Golf Champion” and to win a share of the $250,000 in prizes given away at the tournament.
Contact:
Mike Jamison
Jamison Golf Group
407-328-0500, ext. 1
mike@jamisongolf.com
