Michaels headed for national tournament

Huntington Beach’s Audrey Michaels will tee off Monday at the DuPont

Coolmax World Amateur Handicap Championship in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

The event, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary, attracts

4,000 golfers annually from all 50 states and several foreign

countries.

It is considered the largest amateur golf tournament in the world,

event officials said.

It will be the first trip to Myrtle Beach for Michaels, who has

been golfing for the past 10 years.

“I’m really excited about being in this tournament,” said

Michaels, who leaves Saturday for South Carolina. “The bottom line is

that I want to make it to next Friday’s championship round.”

The tournament is played on more than 70 Myrtle Beach-area golf

courses and is open to any amateur golfer with a verified United

States association handicap or the foreign equivalent for

international players.

“We are thrilled that Audrey will be joining us for the 20th

anniversary,” said Steve Mays, tournament director. “This is the

world’s greatest and most inclusive amateur golf tournament.”

Players will be flighted according to their handicap, and Michaels

has a 12.1 index.

Nearly 100 golfers play in each of the tournament’s approximately

50 flights, with the top winners in each flight advancing to compete

in the 18-hole world championship playoff.