Think the strong part of your game is putting? Well, here’s your chance to learn just how good you are with the flat stick.

The inaugural Moore County Putting Championship will be held Friday, Saturday and Sunday on Pinehurst Resort’s new Thistle Dhu Putting Course.

Located near the first tee of the No. 4 Course, Thistle Dhu offers a putting challenge that is unsurpassed in the area.

The tournament format calls for 18 holes of qualifying on Friday and Saturday with the low four scores advancing to the finals on Sunday at 1:30 p.m. in both men’s and women’s divisions

The entry fee is $10, with all proceeds being donated to YoungLife in the Sandhills.

The Thistle Dhu course resembles St. Andrews’ Himalayas and pays homage to the country’s first miniature golf course, built in Pinehurst in 1919. For more information or to make a reservation, visit the website www. pinehurst.com, or call (800) 487-4653.

Winternational: They weren’t able to crack the winners’ circle, but Pinehurst golfers did claim second-place finishes in both divisions of the season-opening Winternational Junior Series held on Pinehurst Resort’s Centennial No. 8 Course last weekend.

Zachary Martin shot 74-74—148 to finish as runner-up in the junior-senior division, while James Sugg shot 76-74—150 to take second in the freshman-sophomore division.

Nick Dorton of Anderson, S.C., opened with a 72 on Saturday and hung on for the title despite a strong challenge from Martin on Sunday. Martin was actually tied for the lead after the first hole on Sunday, but was unable to match the winner’s even-par pace the rest of the way.

Dorton, a veteran of the series, posted four birdies in the final round, and his 144 total was four shots clear of the field.

Gary Townsend of Winston-Salem was third with 151.

Aaron Walker of Charlotte, a newcomer to the series, rallied from a three-stroke deficit after the opening round to shoot 71 and finish with a 149-total that edged Sugg by a shot for the freshman-sophomore title.

First-round leader Harrison Rhoades of Raleigh shot 77 on Sunday and finished fourth.

Walker posted five birdies in the final round that led to his career-low score of 71 and enabled him to keep Sugg at bay. Colson Hoffman of Indian Trail shot 71 and finished third with 152.

Benjamin Chrystler of Whispering Pines shot 159 to finish seventh; Anderson Allgeyer and Austin Harrill of Pinehurst tied for 10th with 162; and Griffin Cryan of Pinehurst was 19th with 179.

The second event of the series will be held Nov. 24-25 on the world-famous Pinehurst No. 2 Course, which will host both the men’s and women’s U.S. Open Championships in 2014.

For more information, visit the website www.juniorgolfpinehurst.com, or contact Peter deYoung at (910) 295-5661.

Evergreen Escape: Whether you spend your off-seasons trying to squeeze in a few more rounds of golf or trying to get away from the game, Pinehurst Resort is offering an unbeatable way to indulge.

Pinehurst’s Evergreen Escape, available today through Feb. 20 for just $159 Sunday through Wednesday and $189 Thursday through Saturday, includes one round of golf (a surcharge applies to No. 2) or one spa treatment, resort accommodations and Pinehurst’s famed breakfast buffet.

Golfers can, for a reduced surcharge of $100, add a round on Pinehurst No. 2, which recently finished a major restoration project by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore and will serve as host to the 2014 U.S. Open and U.S. Women’s Open in consecutive weeks.

Guests may also can play the recently completed Thistle Dhu Putting Course. Children 12 and under stay and eat free with a paying adult, and children 17 and under play golf for free with a paying adult. For more information or to make a reservation, visit www.pinehurst.com or call (800) 487-4653.

Buhrman Third: Scooter Buhrman, an assistant professional at Gates Four Golf & Country Club in Fayetteville shot 9-under-par 271 to tie for third in the National Assistant Professionals Championship held at the PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Jake Scott of Strongsville, Ohio, won with 17 under par.

Tin Whistles: Charlie Eichorn, Murray Williamson, Walt Hess and Ron Milam won a card playoff to take first place in the Tin Whistles’ two-best-balls event held at Pine Needles Lodge and Golf Club after tying with 122 in regulation with the team of Jon DeVault, Tom Moynihan, Warren Pardue and Jay Clatworthy.

Third place went to Larry Harter, Don Torgersen, Ski Kinelski and Ed Renner with 124.

Leo Ganster, John Breslin, John Bennett Jr., and Mike LaGraff were fourth with 128, followed by Terry Daly, Ed Guidice, Dick Blum and Al Baldini with 129.

CPGA Senior: Rick Lewallen of Kannapolis is the king of the seniors, at least in the Carolinas PGA Section.

Lewallen prevailed in windy conditions to shoot 70-70—140 in the event held at Mid Pines Inn and Golf Club, finishing four strokes ahead of a trio of contenders.

Todd Smith, Mike Lawrence and Chris Tucker were all at 144 in the 36-hole tournament. Jeff Dotson of the Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst shot 150 to tie for seventh.

Ed Donlin of Concord was the winner in the 56-59 amateur division and the overall amateur champion with 76-74—150. Stephen Fox of Pinehurst was fourth in the division with 155 and P.J. Gay of Sanford was at 165.

Arch Reed of Pinehurst shot 166 to finish sixth in the 50-54 division and Mitchell Criswell of West End was eighth with 179.

Steven Carter of Pinehurst was tied for sixth in the 60-62 division and Ken Eiechle of Pinehurst tied for eighth with 164.

Spike Smith of Pinehurst and Bob Yow of Clinton tied in the 63-up division with 152 and also tied for fourth in the overall amateur division.

Rick Luzar of Pinehurst and Jim Pridgen of Jamestown tied the overall super senior title at 140 as well as in the 65-67 division. Deane Hundley of Southern Pines tied for 12th with 156. James Dockery of Southern Pines tied for 17th with 159, Herb Conway of Whispering Pines shot 162, Dick Wilson of Whispering Pines 164, Steve Smith of Pinehurst 167 and Paul Gay of Sanford 169.

Conway was sixth in the 68-71 division and Wilson was tied for seventh. Hundley tied for second in the 72-up division, while Dockery was at 163.