The BirdieSisters are gearing up for their highly competitive tournaments in July of 2010:

July 11-15:        Callaway Junior World Championships, San Diego, CA

July 11-15:        Tiger Woods National Junior Golf Team Banquet and Golf, San

Diego, CA

July 16-18:        Mid-West Golf Association, Junior Golf Championships, Lima, OH

July 20:               Illinois Junior Golf Association (“IJGA”) Erica

July 22:                IJGA – Erica

July 23:                 IJGA – Myah

July 29:                 IJGA – Myah

July 30:                 IJGA – Erica

June 28-30 proved highly successful for the BirdieSisters at the Country Youth Classic in Bloomington-Normal, IL.  The temperatures were perfect for golf, mid-high 70s.  We arrived in the afternoon on Monday, 6/28, rushing to get in 18-hole practice rounds at two different golf courses and to participate in the Golf Skills Challenge at yet another golf course before 7:00pm.    Erica made it through all 18 holes but Myah only made it through 16.

Well, the rush was worth it.  At the Links Golf Course in Bloomington, IL Myah Jackson led the girls 10-11 division in all categories.  Myah won the longest drive with a distance of 175 yards.  She also won the putting and overall short game contest.  Although Erica Jackson drove her ball 208 yards, she was out-driven by one of her competitors.  Nevertheless, Erica won the putting and overall short-game contest for the girls 12-13 division.

Then the 2-day, 36 hole tournament began the next day.  Erica Jackson played at Ironwood Golf Course in Normal, IL.  After day one, Erica was leading the girls 12-13 division by 6 shots with a score of 86.  However, on day-2, Erica stepped up her game with a finish of 6 over par — a score of 78.  With a combined 2-day score of 164, Erica Jackson took home the gold.

Although Myah Jackson struggled on day one, she ended the day in the lead of the girls 10-11 year-old division by 25 shots.  Myah’s goal for day 2 shifted to improving her golf game against the course — Highland Golf Course in Bloomington, IL.  Although the front nine holes left her feeling frustrated, Myah turned her game around at the turn and shot 4 over par on the back 9 (39).  Myah finished with a combined 2-day score of 177, which entitled her to the gold.

Both girls were noted in the Bloomington Pantagraph for their accomplishments over the 3 day period.  Congrats to the BirdieSisters and we hope this winning streak continues in San Diego at the Callaway Junior World Championships in July!  For results and more info see http://www.countryyouthclassic.com/home.html.

Finally, after 5 years of participating in the Pepsi Little People’s Golf Championships in Quincy, IL one of the BirdieSisters, Erica Jackson, brought home a trophy.  Pepsi Little People’s was the first major tournament in which Erica played at the age of 7.  Erica’s two-day tournament became a one-day tournament after the course became unplayable due to massive rain falls leading up to and on day one of the tournament.  With only 18 holes of play on day 2, Erica managed to pull out a second place finish at Arrowhead Golf Course.

Myah Jackson struggled a bit on day one after an hour rain delay on her course — Westview Golf Course in Quincy, IL.  However, she dropped her score by 5 shots on day two and finished in 9th place.  The temperatures in Quincy were in the mid-high 90s during our entire stay — making 36 holes of golf very tough for Myah Jackson, who just started playing 18 holes consistently this year.

Although the fields were much smaller this year, the competition was very steep — especially for Myah.  Both Erica and Myah were in the bottom of their age divisions, girls 10-11 and girls 12-13.  As always, Pepsi Little People’s brought together some of the best junior golfers from around the world.  Thanks to Nan Ryan and her volunteers for a wonderful event and for the scholarship she provided to both Erica and Myah to help defray expenses from the tournament! For results and more info see http://www.littlepeoplesgolf.com/.

CONGRATULATIONS TO ERICA AND MYAH JACKSON

ON HAVING ACHIEVED THE HEIGHT OF YOUR BLACK BELT PROGRAM

YOU ARE NOW 2nd DEGREE BLACK BELTS!

Your perseverance and determination have placed you among a very small percentage of Martial Arts students who have achieved this level of accomplishment.

The BirdieSisters completed two days of testing for their 2nd degree black belt.  They took a written test, a stamina test, sparred and completed technical testing in form, kicking combinations and board breaking.  Great Job BirdieSisters!!