Rodney Russell has been named director of golf at the Country Club of Whispering Pines, replacing Chip Harris at the Avestra Golf-owned facility.

Russell had served as head professional at Southern Pines Golf Club since Avestra leased that property from the Elks Club in 2007.

Prior to that position, Russell was an assistant professional at Greensboro Country Club and served as general manager/head professional at Richmond Pines Country Cub in Rockingham from 1991-2007.

Russell is a 1984 graduate of Pinecrest High School and played as a member of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro All Conference Golf team, graduating from UNCG in 1988. He also holds the title of 1986 Moore County Amateur Golf champion.

Russell and his wife, Jennifer, currently reside in Rockingham with their daughters Sara, 15, and Molly, 11.

Linda Albin: Many friends of Linda and Tommy Albin have already contributed to help the couple through some trying times.

Now Putter Head's Indoor Golf is giving others a chance to make a difference.

Putter Head's is holding the Linda Albin Open, a fun par-3 contest, next Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 .p.m. The entry fee is only $10, and there are prizes totaling $1,000 being presented to winners. All proceeds will benefit the Linda Albin Cancer Relief Fund.

Putter Head's is at 103 Perry St. in Southern Pines. For information, call 246-2255.

HT Seniors: Local golfers stood out in the Harris Teeter Senior Amateur Tour event held at Salem Glen Country Club in Clemmons last week as William Hiner, of Pinehurst, and Wiley Barrett, of Southern Pines, finished 1-2 in flight A.

Hiner won the flight with a 1-under-par 70, while Barrett was two shots back.

Willie Hendricks, of Durham, shot 67 to win the championship flight. Marshall Wolfe won flight B with 76, and Ron Sumner, of Toast, won flight C with 81.

Egolf: Anthony Spivey, of Rockingham, shot 2-under-par 69 to win flight A in the Egolf Amateur Tour event held at Longleaf Golf and Country Club last weekend.

Kenny Smith, of Randleman, won flight A with 75. Joe Durrance, of Carrboro, won flight B with 76, and Charles Powell, of Pittsboro, won flight C with 81.

The Egolf Tour is still accepting new members for this season with more than 12 events left to play. Any amateur golfer interested in playing in an event can call Hallenbeck at (336) 495-6556, or e-mail him at behgolf@aol.com.

Tarheel Tour: Ted Brown of Richmond, Va., birdied the final four holes for a back-nine 29 that propelled him to a record 10-under-par 62 and victory in the Tarheel Tour's Southern Open played at Cabarrus Country Club in Concord.

Brown began the final round four strokes behind two players but caught fire on the incoming nine to nail down his first Tour win and the $22,000 first-place check.

Pete Dye Classic champion Ryan Blaum, who played just two groups ahead of Brown, fired a 9-under-par 63, which tied the course record for about 20 minutes. More importantly, the Duke University alum, grabbed a share of second place and $10,100 for his efforts.

Andy Bare continued his superb play of late with three straight 68s to record his fourth consecutive top-10 finish. Bare is currently second on the 2008 money list with $49,141 in total earnings.

Wyndham: Three-time major winner Vijay Singh, currently No. 10 in the official World Golf Rankings, will play in the Wyndham Championship Aug. 14-17 at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro.

Singh joins a quickly improving Wyndham Championship field that already includes defending champion Brandt Snedeker, two-time winners Davis Love III and Rocco Mediate, Tim Clark, Carl Pettersson, Lucas Glover, David Toms and 2007 British Amateur champion Drew Weaver.

Singh won The Masters in 2000 and the PGA Championship in 1998 and 2004. He has recorded 10 consecutive top-five finishes on the PGA Tour money list.

Singh has played in the Piedmont Triad's PGA Tour event six times and has three top-10 finishes. In addition to being ranked No. 10 in the world, the World Golf Hall of Fame member is currently ninth in FedExCup points and eighth on the official money list. Singh has collected 31 Tour victories in addition to 22 international wins.

Tickets are available online at www.wyndhamchampionship.com or through the tournament office.