Marina Alex, an 18-year-old from Wayne, N.J., who plays for the Vanderbilt University golf team, shot a 3-under-par 69 to lead the U.S. Women's Open Championship local qualifying event held at Forest Creek Golf Club last week.

The top 17 players advanced to sectional qualifying in various parts of the country where they will try to earn a berth in the Open, which will be held at Saucon Valley Country Club in Bethlehem, Pa., July 9-12.

Despite a lengthy rain delay, Alex earned medalist honors by strokes over Nannette Hill, of Pelham Manor, N.Y. Katherine Perry, of Cary, took third with an even-par 72.

Other North Carolina players to advance were Mesha Levister, of Durham, with 73; Lauren Smith, of Salisbury, 76; Abby Bools, of Hickory, 77; and Brandi Underwood, of Hope Mills ,78.

Carolina Trace Country Club in Sanford will host a sectional qualifier June 11 on the Lake Course.

N.C. Open: Steve Isley, of Wilmington, fired a 5-under-par 67 final round Thursday to win the Pepsi North Carolina Open Championship held at Kilmaric Golf Club in Powells Point.

Isley had opened the 54-hole event with a sizzling 63, but was tied at 10-under with Bryan Sullivan, of Kitty Hawk, going into the final round. Sullivan and Rick Morton, of Jacksonville, tied for second, five strokes back.

The win earns Isley a berth in the PGA Professional National Championship June 28-July 1.

Scott Medlin, of Hamlet, tied for ninth at 210. Gus Ulrich, of Whispering Pines, was at 211. Will Morgan, of Aberdeen, was at 215. Chad Gilligan, of Aberdeen, had a 216, and Ian Milne, of Fort Bragg, was at 222

N.C. Amateur: Taylor Zimmerman, of State Road, shot a 5-under-par 67 to earn medalist honors in the North Carolina Amateur Championship sectional qualifying event held at Legacy Golf Links May 28.

Patrick Barrett, of Pinehurst, tied for fifth with 70, while Sam Packard of Pinehurst advanced with 72.

Sixteen players were at even-par 72 or better to advance to the championship, which will be played at Old Chatham Golf Club in Durham June 11-14.

William Rocchi, of Pinehurst, missed by shot with 73, while Jeff Etheridge, of Pinehurst, was at 74. Russell Burke, of Pinehurst, shot 75. Frank McBrayer, of West End, and David Allen, of Whispering Pines, shot 75. Lawrence Martin, Glen Subin and Daniel Neveu, of Pinehurst, were at 77, Austin Dunlap, of Pinehurst, was at 78. Jack Ulrich, of Southern Pines, was at 81. Mark Hollingsorth of Pinehurst had 82, and Lincoln Jackson, of Southern Pines, was at 83.

Myrtle Beach Jr.: The Hugh Royer Champions Golf Academy located at the Long Bay Club in North Myrtle Beach, S.C., will host the Myrtle Beach Junior Open, a stop on the national Hurricane Junior Golf Tour, June 13-14 at Long Bay.

The 36-hole event is open to junior golfers ages10-19 and they will be grouped according to their age and receive points based on their finish. The winners of each age division will advance to the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour Championship Invitation at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Fla. in December.

To register or for more information call (843) 399-1551 or visit www.hughroyercga.com.

Froehlich Memorial: The deadline is nearing for entry into the Emil Froehlich Memorial Tournament scheduled for Southern Pines Golf Club June 20.

This is a four-person captain's choice event with an entry fee of $75 and a 9 a.m. shotgun start.

An individual or business entering a four-person team with the $300 fee automatically receives a hole sponsorship. If you can't play, you can sponsor a hole with a sign bearing your company name for as little as $75.

The tournament is being conducted by the Southern Pines Elks Lodge 1692, which is conducting a Fun Day for the kids in conjunction with the tournament. For entries or information call 692-7375.

Collins Wins: Pinehurst's Terry Collins is an international golfer.He generally spends most of his time between October and April in the Far East, where those months represent the region's 'high season' for golf.

"There's good senior golf associations there also," said Collins, who has played in New Zealand, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and the Philippines among other locations on the Pacific Rim.

Collins won the 54-hole Singapore Senior Amateur in December of 2008, and finds numerous other tournament venues to his liking in the Asian countries.

"There are a lot of competitive golfing opportunities I can take advantage of there," he said.

Now back home, Collins shot a 1-over 73 at Sapona Country Club in Lexington to capture a victory in the championship flight of the Harris Teeter Senior Amateur Tour event held there last week, claiming a three-stroke win Raleigh's Bill Rockenstein.

Wiley Barrett, of Southern Pines, was also a winner, claiming the flight A title in playoff. Barrett two-putted the first playoff hole from long distance to edge Mike Smith, of Lewisville, after they had tied with 76.

"I left myself about 40 feet from the hole," Barrett said. "Not an easy two-putt on that green."

William Hiner, of Pinehurst, and Dick Skobo, of Seven Lakes, tied for third with 78.

eGolf Amateur: Todd Hunsucker, of Asheboro, had five birdies in a round of 71 to win the championship flight of the eGolf Amateur Tour event held at Sapona Country Club, finishing two strokes ahead of Dan Holland of High Point. Tom Kubla, of Pinehurst, was sixth in flight B with 82.