Phase One of Hillcrest Park is almost complete, but there are still plenty of finishing touches that require more money than is available.

The estimated cost of Phase One is $1.2 million, and while the playing fields, equipment, lighting, irrigation and fencing are pretty much in place, almost $300,000 is still needed to meet the goal.

With that in mind, the 2001 Golf Marathon is being held at Legacy Golf Links on March 10. Plans are for 12 to 16 players representing different associations and organizations to attempt to play 72 holes in approximately eight hours.

The associations and organizations involved are responsible for contacting community individuals, family members and friends to sponsor their representative a dollar amount for each hole played. Tee times range from 8 to 8:20 a.m., and the representative will play as many holes as possible within the allotted time or until he or she has reached 72.

Donations are tax-deductible, and half the proceeds go to the construction of Hillcrest Park, with the other half going to the associations or organizations involved.

There will also be a 5-K tournament conducted at the same time. In this event, 10 to 12 teams representing clubs, associations, businesses, industries and municipalities will participate in an 18-hole event. Prizes and gifts will be awarded to teams competing in gross and handicap divisions. An 11:30 shotgun start is scheduled.

All donations from this event are also tax-deductible, and proceeds go directly to the construction of Hillcrest Park.

Several sponsorship levels are available, ranging from the Golf Plaque Club at $10,000, to the Hole Sponsor at $250.

For information, call 235-0785.

Panel Likes Pinehurst: The March issue of North Carolina Magazine will contain the list of the state’s top 100 golf courses as selected by the publication’s Golf Panel.

Pinehurst Resort fares well in the poll, with seven of its eight courses included. Only the No. 3 Course failed to make the top 100.

Interestingly, No. 2 is again ranked as the state’s best course, while No. 1 is ranked 100th.

Several other Sandhills courses are on the list, including Pine Needles, Mid Pines, Pinewild, Legacy Links, Talamore, National Golf Club and Plantation Golf Club

Amateurs Missing: The Sandhills didn’t fare too well in the current rankings of amateur players by Golfweek.

In fact, the only North Carolina amateur to make the rankings was Chris Mundorf, rated No. 56.

Patty Moore, the Charlotte resident who is a member of Pinehurst Country Club and won the Moore County Women’s Championship in 2000, is ranked No. 42 among women. Other familiar names are Brenda Corrie-Kuehn of Asheville, ranked fourth, and Amber Marsh of Jamestown, at No. 57.

Hensley Roasted: The induction of noted golf publicist, promoter and journalist Bill Hensley into the Carolinas Golf Hall of Fame recently prompted an old friend, golf writer George Sweda of Cleveland, to drop the association a note.

“I’ve seen Bill swing,” Sweda wrote. “Who was on the selection committee, Ray Charles and Stevie Wonder?”

Hensley, who has no illusions about his hacker status, was not selected for his playing ability.

Paax Facts: Paax Golf USA, the new Australia-based golf equipment company with an outlet in Charlotte, is making huge strides in getting its merchandise displayed in golf shops throughout the state.

The company also got some great news recently from an independent testing group that found the new Paax ball to be longer than several other name-brand balls.

The Tour Dual Titanium, or TDT, took first place in distance and third in spin rate among the 13 balls tested by Golf Laboratories in San Diego.

The TDT recorded a distance of 254.83 yards in the test, besting such brand names as the Callaway Rule 35 Red (254.33), Wilson Smart Core Pro Distance (253.67), Titleist DT Distance (252.89). Spalding Strata Tour Professional (250.83) and the Nike Tour Spin (250.56).

In spin rate, the TDT had a score of 3,503.89 revolutions per minute, again beating the Nike Tour Spin (3,462.61), Callaway Red (3,451.33, Titleist DT Distance (3,399.28), and Wilson Smart Core Pro Distance (3,189.61).

The Strata Tour Professional had the highest spin rate at 3,565.11, and the AMF BeCu titanium was second at 3,507.00.

“All Paax products are quality products, and I always knew that,” said Paax USA Chief Executive Officer Tom Rapone. “But to be independently tested against some of the big-name competitors and come out ahead, that just proves what we’ve been preaching. And the price of some of those balls is three times the price of ours.”

Kelly Cup: The Sandhills Children’s Center is hosting the Kelly Cup Championship Golf Tournament at Pinehurst Resort’s No. 8 Course Monday, March 12.

The entry fee is $150 per player and includes a clinic, greens fees, cart fees, boxed lunch and buffet dinner catered by Outback Steakhouse. Trophies and prizes are donated by Old Sport & Gallery, and the entire entry is tax deductible.

Proceeds benefit the Sandhills Children’s Center, a private, nonprofit developmental day school serving children with and without special needs, birth to 5 years of age.