There is no doubt that Pinehurst is Golf Country, but Jack Nance and Roxanne Leopper plan to challenge Pat McGowan and Cathy Smith in a dance-off that will rival any celebratory hole-in-one boogie.

Along with more than 40 local celebrities, they will be participating in Dancing with the Sandhills Stars at the Pine Needles Hospitality Center. In the weeks leading up to the event, supporters will have an opportunity to vote for each of the competing couples by making a donation. All proceeds benefit Communities in Schools of Moore County and Moore Buddies, the two major local mentoring programs.

Pat McGowan will top his professional golf career as a PGA Tour player by hitting a hole-in-one for the kids. Currently the director of instruction at the Pine Needles Learning Center, he is involved with junior golf and youth camps. He has volunteered with the Communities In Schools Hospitality and Golf Career Academy, helping teens explore their options among the many golf resorts in the area and prepare for careers in the field. McGowan qualified for the PGA tour on his first attempt in 1977 and will use the same drive to trump his dancing competitors.

Cathy Smith shares the same will to support children's programs. The mother of eight and known among her friends as possessing a heart of gold, Smith is a strong Christian and a member of Christ Community Church. In addition to her busy family life, Smith is a Master Gardener, loves to cook, play tennis and is an avid reader. Her central focus, Smith says, is her mission to serve children. Having grown up studying and dancing ballet and balancing a full and busy personal and social lifestyle, she is certainly a person who can add a dimension to any competition.

Representing Pinehurst's FirstHealth, determination and a caring heart have prepared Leopper for her career in health care. She joined the FirstHealth Community Health Services team at FirstHealth of the Carolinas as Policy Director in February 2005. Leopper has served as president of the Junior League of Moore County and spends her spare time running and working out.

Joining Leopper will be dance partner Jack "Boogie" Nance, who will exchange tee times and the rules of golf for expert timing and nimble feet. The executive director of the Carolinas Golf Association (CGA), Nance was actually nicknamed "Boogie" by his college buddies many years ago. Nance's brother was in the Dancing With the Clinton Stars recently, and since his brother dances as good/bad as he does, Jack Nance figured he'd try it too. Also, his wife works at Moore Buddies, so he has seen firsthand what good work the group does and how much they need money to make their program succeed.

The list of over 40 dancers includes Kristen Palmer, Rich Rushforth, Dr. Susan Purser, Senator Harris Blake, District Attorney Maureen Krueger, Police Chief John Letteney, Father John and Julie Tampa, Linda Pearson, Southern Pines Mayor Mike Haney, Sherry Wood, Christopher Godfrey, Diana Turner-Forte, Stephen Later, Dr. Jeff Kilpatrick, Juliet Eden Blanks, Patrick Coughlin, Patti Zoellner, Baxter and Taylor Clement, George and Wanda Little, Jeff and Severine Hutchins, Jack Nance, Roxanne Leopper, Ellen Pearsall, Charlie Jackson, Susie Leader, Nelson Neil, Larry and Cathy Hinton, Patrick McGowan, Cathy Smith, Ray Metzger, Karen Backall, Eve Avery, Paul Harkness, Janeen Driscoll, Jim Byrd, Laura Creed and Bob Lowery.

Communities In Schools (CIS) provides in-school one-on-one mentoring for at-risk students in Moore County. Moore Buddies uses mentoring as an intervention tool for youth who are at risk of not reaching their full potential for various reasons. Both organizations share the common goal of helping a child succeed through a relationship with a caring adult.

To see profiles, photos and videos of all the dancers, purchase tickets and to cast a vote for a dancing couple, visit www.sandhillsstars.com or call (910) 295-1072.