Jackson Koivun, Ryleigh Knaub Cruise to Victory in Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship

(MURRELLS INLET, S.C.) – Jackson Koivun (Chapel Hill, N.C.) and Ryleigh Knaub (Debary, Fla.) earned two-stroke victories in the Eighth Annual Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship presented by LA Golf at TPC Myrtle Beach. 

America’s No. 1 ranked junior boy, Koivun entered Sunday with a three-shot lead and extended his cushion to as many as five before making bogey on the par-3 17th hole and double bogey on No. 18. Even with the late stumble, Koivun finished the tournament at 5-under par and was never seriously threatened down the stretch. 

He shot an opening round 67 and led wire-to-wire. 

Second place finisher Rowan Sullivan (Charleston, S.C.) shot 72 and was 3-under for the tournament, one stroke ahead of Maxmilian Jelinek (Port St. Lucie, Fla.) and Ethan Paschal (Fayetteville, N.C.) 

Knaub entered the final round with a three-stroke lead and shot 73, finishing the 54-hole event at 3-under par, two clear of Alice Ziyi Zhao (Irvine, Calif.). Knaub birdied two of the first four holes, pushing her margin to five, before encountering turbulence on holes five through eight, where she made three bogies to trim her lead. 

She settled down to shoot even par 36 on the back and never allowed Zhao to get closer than two strokes over the closing holes. 

Zhao, the only girl in the field that never shot a round over par, finished at 1-under and was three strokes ahead of third place finishers Chloe Kovelesky (Boca Raton, Fla.) and Madison Messimer (Myrtle Beach, S.C.). Anna Davis (Spring Valley, Calif.), the reigning Augusta National Women’s Amateur champion, finished fifth at 3-over. 

Forty of the tournament’s 54 boys were ranked among America’s top 100 juniors by either Golfweek or Junior Golf Scoreboard (JGS), while 28 of the 36 girls were top 100 players. 

The boys field was headlined by Jackson Koivun (Chapel Hill, N.C.), an Auburn signee who is the nation’s No. 1 junior, according to Junior Golf Scoreboard, and fourth-ranked Nicholas Gross (Downingtown, Pa.).

Anna Davis (Spring Valley, Calif.), who won the Augusta National Women’s Amateur and is the ninth ranked junior in the world, led the girls field, along with Macy Pate (Winston-Salem, N.C.), Golfweek’s 15th ranked junior and a Wake Forest signee. 

New to this year’s tournament was a co-ed team event, designed to mirror the type of competition players will enjoy at the collegiate level. Team Prieto, captained by Nicholas Prieto and including Maxmilian Jelinek, Chloe Kovelesky, Ryleigh Knaub and Noah Kent, won the team competition with a team score of 5-over par, defeating second-place Team Williams captained by Connor Williams and including Boston Bracken, Adam Miller, Madison Messimer and Anna Howerton.

With the support of Johnson, the top-ranked golfer in the world in each of five years from 2017 to 2021, the tournament provides players a pro golf-like experience and the opportunity to test themselves against some of the game’s best juniors. 

A significant part of the event’s appeal is TPC Myrtle Beach, one of the Grand Strand’s most decorated layouts. TPC Myrtle Beach has hosted the Senior PGA Tour Championship and been ranked among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses” by Golf Digest, making it an ideal venue to test golf’s rising young stars. 

The event’s past boys champions are: 2016 - Blake Taylor (East Carolina), 2017 - Trent Phillips (Georgia), 2018 - Michael Brennan (Wake Forest), 2019 - Akshay Bhatia, 2020 - Tyler Wilkes (Florida), 2021 - Nicholas Dunlap, 2022 - Ben James (Virginia). The previous girls winners are: 2016 - Delaney Shah (Louisville), 2017 - Skylar Thompson (Ohio State), 2018, 2019 - Alex Pano, 2020 - Taylor Roberts (Florida State), 2021 - Jacqueline Putrino, 2022 - Katie Cranston (Auburn).

Johnson’s involvement with the tournament reflects his longtime commitment to junior golf, particularly in South Carolina, where he grew into one of the world’s best players. Through the Dustin Johnson Foundation, which is headquartered in Myrtle Beach, Johnson has donated more than $500,000 to junior golf, sponsoring numerous events throughout the state and helping cover entry costs for kids who need financial assistance.

The Dustin Johnson World Junior Golf Championship is being sponsored by Founders Group International, the Dustin Johnson Golf School, and Golf Tourism Solutions.

FJ by Jon Buscemi | New Limited Edition Release

(RELEASE) — FootJoy, the #1 Shoe in Golf, will be dropping two new limited edition releases during THE PLAYERS Championship, created in partnership with West Coast street-fashion icon Jon Buscemi.

Touted as “The Player’s Shoe for 2023,” the Limited Edition Premiere Series Field and Limited Edition Premiere Series Wilcox will each feature exquisite craftsmanship and luxurious touches, guided by Buscemi’s masterful sense of style.

“The Field and Wilcox offer two totally different canvases in terms of their esthetics, so I was really up for the challenge creating something unique for each one,” said Jon Buscemi. “I loved getting the opportunity to add to the energy and vibe of the current Premiere Series collection.” 

The Premiere Series Field is already one of the most popular profiles on Tour, while Wilcox is an exciting new Premiere Series model for 2023. The exclusive FJ by Jon Buscemi editions will debut on the feet of numerous FJ players competing in THE PLAYERS Championship beginning March 9, including FJ Ambassadors Justin Thomas, Max Homa and Will Zalatoris.

The FJ by Jon Buscemi collection represents a merging of the proven world class performance of the Premiere Series, the shoe chosen by more Tour players than any other, and the elevated style of one of the world’s most influential masters of luxury street style.

“Jon’s passion for both golf and exquisite design made him a natural choice for FootJoy to collaborate with,” said Chris Tobias, Vice President, FJ Footwear. “This collaboration personifies a luxurious approach to golf performance crafted for our most discerning golfer.”

The signature gold accents added to the modern classic profiles of both models serve as a nod to the iconic THE PLAYERS Championship trophy, while the internal technology is among the most innovative in golf – including the VersaTrax+ outsole and Ortholite® EcoPlush FitBed®. Inside and out, they are shoes made to deliver excellence.

The FJ by Jon Buscemi collection is available beginning March 9 on footjoy.com, while supplies last.

Learn more at footjoy.com or follow @footjoy on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter or TikTok.

With Myrtle Beach Helping Lead the Way, South Carolina Named Top 5 Golf Destination in the World

(MYRTLE BEACH, S.C.) – The International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO) named South Carolina one of the world’s top 5 golf destinations, and at the heart of the Palmetto State’s broad-based appeal is Myrtle Beach, the game’s most popular destination. 

The Palmetto State is home to 350 courses and the PGA TOUR’s RBC Heritage, but Myrtle Beach is the destination that’s attracting the most golfers from across the globe. 

There were more than 2.4 million rounds played on Golf Tourism Solutions’ 65 courses alone in 2022, as Myrtle Beach remains the driving force behind the $3.3 billion annual economic impact golf delivers in South Carolina. To further highlight golf’s impact and its importance to the state, the game was responsible in 2021 for $370 million in federal, state and local taxes and generated 44 percent of South Carolina’s total admissions tax collections. 

South Carolina was the only American destination on a list that also included Cypress, Dubai, Los Cabos and Thailand.  

A 12-month destination, Myrtle Beach is the game’s premier buddies trip, delivering an unmatched combination of quality and value. Golfers in search of the nation’s best courses have the luxury of choosing among layouts such The Dunes Golf & Beach Club, Barefoot Resort’s four courses, Tidewater, TPC Myrtle Beach, Caledonia and so many more. 

At the heart of Myrtle Beach’s appeal is the value it delivers, allowing golfers on any budget to enjoy a trip that delivers good times on and off course. 

While South Carolina’s PGA TOUR events understandably attract a lot of attention, Myrtle Beach is a Mecca for competitive recreational players, annually hosting 10 events that attract golfers from all walks of life to compete. The most prominent of the area’s amateur events is the PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com World Amateur Handicap Championship, a 72-hole net stroke play event again expected to attract 3,200 players from all 50 states and 20 countries in 2023. 

In 2022, Myrtle Beach was voted America’s favorite golf destination in a 2022 National Golf Foundation study of more than 2,200 traveling golfers from around the country.

For more information on everything the Myrtle Beach golf scene has to offer, visit PlayGolfMyrtleBeach.com.

World-Class Course Architect Agustin Pizá Breaks Down 5 Iconic Golf Courses

Pizá is featured in a Random Golf Club Film Short where he shares insight into some of golf’s most iconic golf courses and holes

(SAN DIEGO, CA) – Pizá Golf, internationally recognized as a world-class architecture and golf course design firm, is proud to announce that company founder Agustin (Augie) Pizá leads a Random Golf Club Film short on his TOP five golf holes. He uses his golf course architecture acumen to dissect holes and why they are included on the discerning list.

Pizá’s five favourite golf holes span the globe starting with the home of golf – The Old Course at Saint Andrews, Scotland, and across the pond to Tobacco Road in North Carolina. Pizá uncovers what makes each golf course and golf hole special or stand out. He also includes one golf hole he personally designed and why it is so extraordinary.

 

“You will see first-hand that I am VERY passionate about golf course architecture and the golfing experience,” said Pizá. “I start this special Random Golf Club Film piece, produced by Erik Anders, with The Old Course at St. Andrews. Old Tom Morris and time created a very strategic golf course, but playing the course is an emotional experience, like the atmosphere at Notre Dame. Sacred.”

Erik Anders Lang is part personality, part entrepreneur, part retailer, and 100% storyteller. As the CEO/Founder of Random Golf Club, Erik has become one of golf’s most recognizable figures.

 

Creating top tier content in exotic locations around the world is specifically what he is known for - to the extent that he has been dubbed the Bourdain of Golf.

For more information on Pizá Golf, please visit the company website: www.pizagolf.com.

The Indoor Golf Shop and InHome Golf Form Exclusive North American Partnership

Leading indoor golf simulator companies join forces to deliver the most comprehensive solutions for home, commercial and golf facilities 

(Dallas, Texas) — The Indoor Golf Shop, the largest U.S. distributor, manufacturer, and online retailer of residential and commercial indoor golf simulator equipment, and InHome Golf, Canada’s leading custom golf simulator design and installation company, have joined  forces to create the most comprehensive solutions for indoor golf experiences in North America. 

“This partnership allows us to provide golfers, golf facilities and golf business owners, across the U.S. and Canada, a one-stop shop destination for their golf simulator needs that will be unmatched in the industry,” said Rene Delgado, Founder and President of The Indoor Golf Shop. “Together, our two companies will be a complete end-to-end solutions-based organization, capable of servicing the entire indoor golf market segment at scale from luxury home builds and golf facilities to entertainment venues.”

The Indoor Golf Shop and InHome Golf partnership will provide industry-leading expertise and experience building, designing, and creating the ultimate indoor golf simulator experiences through home, retail/commercial, and golf facility installations. It will also elevate the buying experience through a full slate of turnkey solutions, including step-by-step guidance to purchasing and installing top simulator brands, DIY consumer packages, best-in-class screens, enclosures, hitting mats and accessories for homes, retailers, teaching and fitting facilities, along with entertainment companies.

“We are very excited to announce this partnership and are confident the shared values and vision between our companies and mutual desire to deliver the highest quality products and services will benefit our new and existing customers throughout North America,” said James Laidlaw, CEO of InHome Golf. “Separately, we’ve built our businesses for different segments of customers, but now will optimize the Canadian and U.S. channels through an expanded product and service offering.”

With the demand of off-course golf participation that has recently surpassed on-course, according to recent data from the National Golf Foundation, The Indoor Golf Shop and IndoorGolf are well positioned to service the fast-growing demand of commercial and residential golf simulator installations. The companies will also collaborate on customer acquisition, product development, golf simulator room designs and construction services, as well as share manufacturing resources to better serve the golf industry and marketplace in a more timely and efficient manner.

Customers will be able to continue to interact, research, and buy from both companies at their current websites in the short term, ShopIndoorGolf.com and InHomeGolf.com, with the websites being consolidated into ShopIndoorGolf.com over the coming months.

Take to Your Feet: Spring Training for Golf Season

(Jericho, N.Y.) — Just as pitchers and catchers are reporting to Spring Training before the new baseball season, pitchers and chippers are getting ready for their new season—of golf.  

Spring means dusting off the golf clubs and one’s swing, dreaming of spacious fairways, and that eternal rite of spring, The Masters. In planning to return to their favorite courses, golfers are always on the lookout for an edge, that new piece of equipment, that magic tip that will make this their best year ever. 

Here’s the best tip we know, one guaranteed to improve both comfort and performance for every golfer who plants two feet in the ground.  Upgrade your socks.  And that means Tall Order.

Tall Order low cuts socks are packed with performance and comfort features that golfers demand to make the most of their stance and swing, just like other athletes. Features include:

- Heel tab for extra comfort and slip protection

- Cushioned sole

- Arch support

- Moisture control

- Smooth seam

- Polyester material to provide extra stretch and ensure soft, comfortable fit

Tall Order’s Special Edition 2-pack ALL RISE socks are available in regular and extended sizes. In line with Tall Order’s mission, $10 is donated to the Aaron Judge ALL RISE Foundation for every pack sold. The ALL RISE Foundation inspires children and youth to become responsible citizens by engaging them in activities that encourage them to reach unlimited possibilities. 

All Tall Order styles are available in sizes 9 to 20+ and suitable for men or women. For ease, the sizes are printed on the bottom of each pair. These socks, with grippers added, are being adapted for golf and will be available for purchase for Father’s Day 2023.

If you didn’t think baseball and golf had other ties besides the joys of spring, consider that Judge, last year’s major-league MVP and home-run king who has been wearing the socks since April 2021, liked the special Tall Order socks so much that he is now an equity partner in the company. He obviously voted with his feet!

“Many of the same qualities that Aaron needs when patrolling the outfield and hitting home runs—stability, cushioning, compression—help golfers make their best and most effective swings,” said Lisa Friedman, CEO of Tall Order.

Judge also likes that a percentage of all Tall Order sales is donated to charities. In the past five years, the young company has contributed more than $300,000 to several charities including the Aaron Judge ALL RISE Foundation. 

Tall Order will introduce other performance products soon. They offer customization (even on small orders) and truly personal customer service.

For additional information and availability, access the website at www.tallorder.com.

Unboxing the All Day Knit 3 Shoe from TRUE linkswear

Blue Spikeless golf shoes.The All Day Knit 3 was designed for your active lifestyle – from the links to everyday adventures. Built to be TRUE’s most athletic fit to date, the Knit 3 was engineered to keep you comfortable, stable and moving.

The entirely redesigned Knit 3 offers everything you’ve come to love about the TRUE Knit family, just better. The all new Wanderlux® midsole offers more cushion than ever, while the new All Day V2 rubber outsole offers extra deep grip for long term durability. Inspired by mountaineering soles, the directional grip is optimized for stability on uneven terrain on or off the course. Whether you’re lacing up for the office, taking the road less traveled, or simply finding your drive in the woods – the TRUE Knit 3 was designed to keep you adventuring, comfortably.

Features:

– TRUEknit Fully Breathable One-Piece Upper (90% Polyester, 10% Spandex)

– TRUE (to you) Athletic and Stable Fit Forms to Your Foot Shape

– One-Piece TRUEknit Upper Flexibly Conforms to Most Foot Shapes (D-EE)

– Full Sock Fit Flexible Opening for Slide-In Comfort

– NEW All Day V2 Sole

– Anti-rub Heel Pad for Comfort right out of the box

– Microsuede Heel Overlay for Added Stability

– New Open Cell Antimicrobial Insert for Increased Breathability and Comfort

– NEW Wanderlux® Midsole for Increased Comfort and Rebound

– TOUR Tested & Approved

– Extremely Lightweight – 9.1 oz. (Size 9 M)

– Cross-Life Tread for Maximum Versatility and Grip

– Transitional Drop (~6-8 mm)

– Machine Washable

– DWR Treated Upper

Learn more at www.truelinkswear.com.