Hunter Howell and Jake Williams, 2005-2006 Winternational Players of the Year.

The 12th Annual Winternational Junior Series at Pinehurst concluded it’s season today at the Centennial Pinehurst No. 8 course. Sixty high school boys were members during the 2005-2006 season. The Winternationals, a nine tournament series, has been based in Pinehurst since it’s inception and conducts championships on all eight of Pinehurst’s Championship layouts. Competition is held in two separate divisions, Junior/Senior Boys and Freshman/Sophomore Boys.

In the Junior/Senior Division, Jake Williams of Midlothian, VA claimed the Player of the Year honors. Williams won three of the five events he competed in this year, finishing in second alone or a tie for second in the events he did not win. Williams will attend Clemson University in the fall, where he will purse the studies of Turfgrass Management.

In the Freshman/Sophomore Division, Hunter Howell of nearby Raeford, NC repeats as Player of the Year, continuing his success from the 2004-2005 season. Howell won four of the five events he competed in this year, with a runner-up finish in the only event he did not win. Howell, a sophomore and second-year Winternational member, came in second in the first event of the series, but established himself with victories in each of his next four events.

First Annual Bud Shulby Award


Series Founder and Chairman Peter deYoung (left) presented Douglass Johnson with the first Bud Shulby Memorial Sportsmanship Award. Ellen Shulby, Bud's wife and a Winternational Rule Official, is shown at right.

New to the 2005-2006 season, the Winternational Junior Series Committee named the first Bud Shulby Memorial Sportsmanship Award winner. The late Bud Shulby, former ten-year rules official for the Winternational Junior Series and husband to current twelve-year rules official, Ellen Shulby, displayed the morals and ethics intertwined in the game of golf. This year’s recipient, Douglass Johnson of Pinehurst, NC, approached the game with an attitude and determination consistent with these traits. Johnson is a Freshman at the O’Neal School and a first time Winternational member.

Winternational All-Americans


2005 -2006 Winternational All-American Team (Back row) Kevin MacDonald, Justin Evans, Hunter Howell, Jake Williams, Scott Bennett, (Front row) Michael McGowan, and Taylor Sharber photographed behind the 18th green at Pinehurst #8.

The Series also named its 12th Annual Winternational Junior Series All-American team. Eight high school boys were awarded All-American status through their tournament results for the nine events. The point system is based on the four top finishes of each individual. The Winternational All-Americans, their class in school and hometowns are listed below: