Mitchum, a lead instructor in Pinehurst Resort’s Golf Advantage School, has a knack for playing well when there’s a lot on the line.
And he proved that once again last week when he finished in a tie for sixth in the 39th PGA Professional National Championship.
Mitchum shot consistent rounds of 71-69-72-71 for a 283 total that tied him with Craig Thomas of East Norwich, N.Y. They earned $19,100 each, but the big reward came in an invitation to participate in the PGA Championship Aug. 17 through 20 at Medinah Country Club in Medinah, Ill.
No stranger to PGA Tour events, Mitchum has played in several tournaments in the Carolinas, including The Wachovia Championship in Charlotte, the Greensboro Chrysler Classic and the MCI Heritage at Hilton Head, S.C.
The top 20 players in the Club Professionals Championship qualified for the PGA Championship.
Busy Month: It’s July, so that must mean that some serious golf is being played in Pinehurst.
The serious stuff begins today as some of the best amateur players in the world gather for the annual North and South Men’s Amateur Championship being held at the site of the 2005 U.S. Open.
It continues on July 17 when the best women amateurs come to the village for the Women’s North and South.
The following week, the LPGA Teachers Club Professionals are in town for their championship being held on The Centennial Course, No. 8.
And then the kids have their day, or days. The seventh annual U.S. Kids Golf World Championship will be played July 26 through 29 at Pinehurst Resort and three other courses in the Sandhills.
The North and South men begin their quest for this prestigious title with qualifying on the No. 4 Course on Monday and No. 2 on Tuesday.
Following qualifying, the field will be seeded for match play, which will be held on No. 2 Wednesday through Sunday. The final match features 36 holes.
The women’s North and South follows the same schedule beginning on July 17, except that the Monday qualifying round will be staged on the No. 8 Course.
The LPGA T&CP Championship features a group of excellent players from all over the country. Several have had stints on the LPGA Tour and some others are still hopeful of playing on the Tour.
The championship is no stranger to the area, having been held at Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club three times in recent years.
The U.S. Kids event will bring almost 900 young golfers from around the United States and the world to the Sandhills.
Players who make it here have survived more than 50 qualifying events scheduled around the nation and internationally.
Kids of all ages are competing and most are accompanied by members of their families, promising to create a spike in the local economy.
An army of volunteers will assist in the championship, which is being held on Pinehurst Resort’s 3, 4 and 5 courses as well as at Talamore, Mid Pines and Midland Country Club.
The contestants will represent every state in the union and 22 foreign countries, according to founder and president of U.S. Kids Golf, Dick Van Horn.
“The tournament has been held in Williamsburg, Va., for the past four years,” he said, “and the move to Pinehurst reinforces our commitment to make this the most respected and competitive junior tournament in the world.”
“This event goes beyond our property and Pinehurst and the entire community is thrilled that we’ve been honored to host this prestigious event,” said Peter Stilwell, director of business, development and events for Pinehurst Resort. “The financial impact should be around $2 million with 800 to 1,000 kids and three or four thousand parents and other people involved.”
An orientation meeting for volunteers will be held July 11 at 4 p.m. at Pinehurst.
