The Final Pick

The final pick in the 2011 King Invitational draft belonged to Turtle's Troop who used it to select Thomasville's Jay Whitt who returns to the King Invitational despite previously receiving the King Invitational Death Sentence for his antics at the conclusion of the 2009 King Invitational. Whitt had to undergo a rigorous 22-month rehabilitation program, overseen by King Invitational founder, Jackie King before even regaining draft-eligibility. After passing a battery of tests meant to determine his physical, emotional, financial, ethical and social worthiness to be reinstated for league play, Commissioner King declared Whitt draft-eligible. Captain Lane Moore then used the Troop's final draft pick on Whitt, making him the first player ever relegated to final pick status in two different K.I. drafts. Despite Whitt's apparent return to good graces, Commissioner King was instrumental in lining up Whitt's 2011 King Invitational sponsor, The United States Sentencing Commission

The 15th draft pick for 2010

The 2010 King Invitational marked the King Invitational debut for Gene Glass, the 15th overall pick in this year's player participation draft. Glass arrived with lots of fanfare and big expectations. However, a disastrous first hole score - the elusive 13 - squelched any hopes he had of making a positive first impression. For casual observers - it didn't matter that Glass rebounded to capture his flight championships after a grueling three day event - that ugly 13 resounded in their minds. However, golf purists were impressed with his ability to bounce back from adversity and Broadway anticipates that his final draft pick will be a sleeper pick again this year. Known in the golf world as "Hoghead" Glass has secured TASCO Hard Hats as his sponsor for 2011.

The 14th pick is none other than..

Turtle's Troop owned the rights to the 14th overall pick in the 2011 King Invitational draft and used it to select Lexington's Wes Crump who will be making his third consecutive trip to the K.I. event. Crump is best known for his impetuous mood swings which sometimes makes his golf game best described as helter-skelter. At times, a quiet, laid-back personality, Crump is known to explode with little warning and lack of rhyme or reason. The volatility is puzzling because by all accounts he is historically the most well-rested of all King Invitational players, often known to fall asleep before, during and after dinner. Harnessing the calm golfer inside of Crump will be crucial for team captain, Lane Moore. Crump will carry the No Doz logo on his bag as his primary sponsor for 2011.

Lucky 13 is.....

In many scenarios, the number thirteen is to be avoided. However, in sports some of the all-time greats were the 13th overall pick. NFL Hall-of-Famers Jim Brown and Franco Harris were picked 13th overall. NBA greats Karl Malone and Kobe Bryant went number 13 as well. For the 2011 King Invitational Broadway's Bombers have selected Tom "Big Dog" Dugan with the historically signficant draft spot. Dugan, adds just one more name to a long list of proven veterans to the Bombers lineup. Known for his accurate drives, Dugan expects to benefit even more from his full-time senior playing status and should provide the right partner with an opening to "grip it and rip it" during team play. Dugan's 2011 sponsor is Big Dog Motorcycles

Rounding out the Dirty Dozen....

With the 12th overall selection of the 2011 King Invitational Draft, Turtle's Troop has selected Ryan Mayo, a four-time King Invitational veteran from Charlotte. Mayo, adds yet another big hitter to the fast-expanding lineup of power players to Turtle's Troop for the 2011 season. A year removed from personal turmoil that kept him sidelined from the King Invitational in 2010, Mayo returns for his fifth stint and is said to be stoked about being reunited with one of his closest personal confidants, Dwight Clark. Rumors are swirling around the Turtle Troop camp Clark and Mayo are ecstatic about the possibility of being paired during a TWO-MAN BEST BALL event. Coincendentally, Mayo's agent has lined up a sponsorship with the internet T-shirt company Donkey Tees and Mayo will sport their signature T-shirt, "Reunited" during the 2011 K.I.

Selection # 11 to Broadway's Bombers.....

Historically, captains struggle with decisions to choose new players. The stakes are so high at events like the King Invitational that one wrong draft pick could cripple a team for the entire weekend. No captain wants to be the one to take the first rookie but once the first newbie is off the draft board, the rest always seem to fly off the rack. King Invitational rookies are like kickers in a fantasy football draft. You need one. You'll eventually have to take one. But really you never know if one is better than the other. So, the rule is don't pick the first one. Just hope you pick the best one. So after Turtle's Troop took a rookie with the 10th overall pick, Captain Dru Broadway quickly added King Invitational rookie, Earl Welborn to the Bombers with the eleventh overall pick. Embracing his role as the second rookie picked in this year's draft, Welborn has chosen the Hollywood movie The Backup Plan as his sponsor for 2011.

Newcomer Goes #10 to Turtle's Troop

It seems that every year a new crop of talented but relatively unknown golfers filter into the Triad Golf Association looking to parlay their TGA success into a spot in the following year's King Invitational. In that respect, 2010 was no different than past years as several players entered TGA events, to a varying degree of success, only to see their K.I. hopes fade to black with not-so-memorable on-course performances. However, there were a couple of exceptions to the rule last season and with the tenth pick of the 2011 draft, Captain Lane Moore took a chance on one of those exceptions: Van Albert. Albert enters the 2011 K.I, amidst a cloud of intrigue and controversy. Never has a player with so little background information been taken so early in the draft. Golf pundits have criticized Moore for the lack of research that his scouting department has produced on Albert. Yet, those inside the Moore camp say he remains unfazed by the criticism. One thing we know for sure about Albert is that he has secured an outstanding sponsor for 2011: Unknown.Com

Selection # 9 for 2011

When Captain Dru Broadway was trying to shore up his squad for 2011, one of the things he was searching for was someone with confidence and battlefield experience. So, when the ninth pick came around and Broadway felt he still needed to "Aim High", he went with Air Force reservist and three-time King Invitational invitee, Kim Highfill. Highfill has long been known as nothing if not confident; someone who doesn't hesitate to tell his competitors (and anyone else who'll listen) how good he really is. Highfill brings a flair to the Bombers that his teammates (or competitors for that matter) just can't match. With his private jets and luxurious sports cars, Highfill plays the role of the advantaged athlete to a tee. But, it'll be interesting to see how he mixes with a team of players more likely to wear Wranglers than Armani. For 2011, Highfill is being sponsored by Forbes Magazine.

The 8th pick in the 2011 draft is....

After a scintillating start to the 2011 King Invitational draft, Turtle's Troop needed to keep up the momentum on the second day of the draft. And by the looks of it, they succeeded. Their first pick of day 2 (with the eighth overall selection) was none other than two-time TGA Player of the Year, Tommy Dugan of Charlotte. In addition to a sturdy resume, Dugan brings a wealth of King Invitational and big match experience to his squad. Known for his length off the tee, Dugan should provide a huge boost to his two-man partners throughout the weekend. Despite, his advancing game, it's still widely believed that Dugan's being hampered by his lanky, almost frail physique which seems to wear down after three grueling days of competition. That's one of the reasons his management team has gone out and secured sponsorships for 2011 from Vitol's Incredible Weight Gain 5000

With the 7th overall pick.....

Day 2 of the 2011 King Invitational began with Broadway's Bombers taking Thomasville's Chris Morris with the seventh overall pick. Morris, a former private investigator, has seen his golf game systematically dismantled over the past year and a half due to a vigorous and disruptive work schedule. Despite a strong showing at the 2010 King Invitational, skeptics wonder if the lack of play over the past eighteen months has eventually caught up with the man known in golf circles as "The Cat Man." Of course, Morris has been written off many times in the past. That's one of the reasons he continues a long-standing relationship with his primary sponsor,
9 Lives Cat Food.

2011 King Invitational Draft

The 2011 King Invitational draft has concluded and teams are set for next week's annual foray to the South Carolina coast for what has become one of golf's preeminent team events.

Turtle's Troop, captained by Lane Moore was awarded the first pick of the draft and used it to promptly choose Greensboro's Brooks Roberts. Roberts, the most experienced player to ever participate in a King Invitational event, has played professionally all over the world, including a stint on the South American Tour. But, critics wonder if he's mentally prepared to handle the pressure of being the top overall pick and the competitiveness that has become a hallmark of the King Invitational. Roberts is sponsored by First Round Capital.



With the second pick of the draft, Broadway's Bombers, led by Lexington's Dru Broadway, chose Thomasville's Chad Hedrick, a player who has an extensive history as a sidekick to the top overall pick, Roberts. As youth golfers, Roberts dethroned Hedrick as the top-rated teen at famed Colonial Country Club and later Hedrick served as Roberts' caddie on the PGA Tour. For months rumors have swirled that Hedrick's sudden disappearance from the TGA Tour in the latter part of 2010 wasn't merely a coincidence; rather, unnamed sources within the Triad Golf Association have stated that when Roberts became a full-time member of the tour last year, Hedrick privately told friends and family that he was leaving the tour and likely would not return as long as he had to play second fiddle to Roberts.
Hedrick is sponsored in 2011 by, Always A Bridesmaid Boutique.




The Bombers were awarded the first pick of the second round and used it to select Thomasville's Ted Prestwood, a former King Invitational MVP who has also been the subject of controversy over the last couple years. Like one of his sports heroes, Brett Favre, Prestwood has repeatedly threatened to retire over the last several seasons, only to return to the K.I. at the last minute. Prestwood, having recently recovered from back surgery, sat out the 2010 season but is reportedly healthy and ready to make one final MVP run in 2011. For 2011, Prestwood is sponsored by the Social Security Administration.


With the second pick of the second round (4th overall), Turtle's Troop selected Winston-Salem's Dwight Clark, the reigning TGA Player of the Year. Clark was one of five players invited by the league to attend the 2011 draft but was seen angrily exiting the TGA green room when he wasn't chosen with the second overall pick. A high ranking TGA official, who refused to be named citing league confidentiality rules, told the TGA Press that Clark was seen beating his chest and repeatedly chanting, "Me Tarzan" in the hallway shortly after Hedrick was selected with the number two pick. Clark has secured Walt Disney Studios as a 2011 sponsor.




The third round of the 2011 draft saw The Bomber's take King's Randy Griffin, who enters the 2011 King Invitational with an unsettled game, after being sidelined for a large portion of 2010 by a rare, but severe, case of cantgetmyassoutofbedonsundays. The sometimes crippling condition, also known in medical circles as LAZY, isn't expected to prevent Griffin from missing any time at the 2011 King Invitational. However, Captain Brodway will need to ensure Griffin limits his consumption of alcohol while being treated for the condition, because that's often known to be a mitigating factor in cantgetmyassoutofbed patients. Griffin's sponsor for the 2011 King Invitational is Timex Audio.


With the sixth overall pick of the draft, the Troop selected Lexington's, Tony Fritts, one of the oldest players in the 2011 field. The 2010 King Invitational Rookie of the Year, Fritts leads all players in NYDBAOS (Number Years Difference Between Ages of Spouses). In fact, he's the only player in this year's field who qualifies for the statistical category, HNMG (He's Not My Grandpa). In addition to a wealth of experience, Fritts brings to the 2011 King Invitational, one of the league's most enduring sponsors, Viagra.

2011 King Invitational Draft List

After months of speculation and complicated free agent negotiations, the King Invitational has released the draft-eligible player participation list for the 2011 season. So without further adieu, the TGA editorial staff has released the names of the draft-eligible players with preliminary pre-draft evaluations for each player. Over the next several days, draft results will also be reported at this site.

The Senior Class

1. Tony Fritts - Lexington

Consistent, all-around player. Had his coming out party at the 2010 King Invitational and is expected to be a contender for 2011 K.I. Player of the Year award.

2. Wes Crump - Lexington

TGA career has been marked by inconsistency. Up-and-down play makes him a risk-reward type player. Could be steal of the draft or Ryan Leaf-type bust.

3. Ted Prestwood - Thomasville

Grizzled veteran returns after one-year hiatus. Known for his accuracy and clutch putting, career has been hampered by recurring back problems. Draft experts feel he has at least 1 more MVP performance left.

4. Earl Welborn - High Point

King Invitational rookie comes into 2011 amidst lots of fanfare as one of the most heralded newcomers to make the trek to Myrtle Beach in some time. His presence could swing the tide for the team he ends up on.

5. Van Albert - High Point

Has become an internet sensation - the golf version of MMA's Kimbo Slice. Internet clips of his links prowess have been questions by so-called golf experts. The 2011 K.I. will make or break the legend.

6. Tom Dugan - Horneytown

Making transition to senior class should be huge benefit for a player long recognized for accurate tee shots but whose lack of power has made his game suspect at longer venues.

Moving Up the Big Board

1. Brooks Roberts - Greensboro

Had a remarkable late-season run on the TGA Tour after a four-year hiatus from competitive golf. A four-tool player who will bring power, accuracy, solid iron play and an impeccable short game to his new squad. Worldwide playing experience should trump career-long putting woes.

2. Dwight Clark - Winston-Salem

The inaugural TGA Player of the Year comes into the '11 King Invitational as the reigning POY as well after a dominating 2010 TGA season. Handicap has moved into single digits, evidence of an improved all-around game.

Blue Chip Prospects

1. Chad Hedrick - Thomasville

A perennial top three pick. Has struggled off the tee in years past but a solid short game and a well-earned reputation as the TGA Tour's best putter, puts him near the top of every mock draft.

2. Randy Griffin - King

Accurate off the tee with solid iron play and an above average short game. Streaky putter. Tempermental golfer whose off-the-course, extracurricular activities sometimes hamper his effectiveness.

3. Tommy Dugan - Charlotte

Two-time TGA Player of the Year has been a King Invitational MVP in the past. Brings a long ball aspect and much needed youth to his potential team. Has vastly improved since his first King Invitational but still fights the occasional mental lapse, on course.

4. Chris Morris - Thomasville

Cagy veteran who brings steely demeanor and deceptive power to K.I. In certain situations is talkative and demonstrative; qualities that often rattle less confident opponents.

Late Round Sleepers

1. Jay Whitt - Thomasville

Classic seasonal golfer. Plays once every other season. Returns for fourth K.I. trip. Lack of commitment to practice prevents him from being a higher pick. Has occasional power off the tee. Questionable golf etiquette also hampers draft status. Intangibles: wittiness has positive, calming effect on teammates.

2. Ryan Mayo - Charlotte

Raw power off the tee. Another player whose lack of play contributes to inconsistency. Has performed well in team-type King Invitational events. Coupled with right partner, could be strong addition to his team.

3. Gene Glass - Mount Airy

Returns for his sophomore King Invitational season. Was up-and-down performer in rookie campaign. Raw power hampered by inconsistency and iron play struggles. Decent short game allowed him to hang around and win his flight last season. If rookie jitters subside, also has potential to be big late round pick up.

4. Kim Highfill - Myrtle Beach

Local knowledge is always a plus factor for Palmetto State transplant. Has good length off the tee and good iron game. Short game is suspect and putting streaky. Quantity of play usually dictates his quality of play. If game is rounding into form, could move into Blue Chip Prospects category.

Captain's Corner

Broadway's Brigade

Captain - Dru Broadway - Lexington

Two-term TGA President brings indomitable leadership skills to his first King Invitational captaincy. Long ball capability makes him consistently popular teammate. All-around game has improved over the years but inconsistency continues to curb his potential.

Co-Captain - Jackie King - Lexington

King Invitational founder and long-time captain provides Broadway's Bombers with another dependable leader. Has history of strong play in team events although Match Play record is less than stellar. Is a skillful iron player with vastly improved short game and decent putting. Tee shots continue to be detriment.

Turtle's Troop

Captain - Lane Moore - Lexington

As a former TGA GoLo President has demonstrated command ability in the past. Micromanages tasks and expects players to follow a certain order. The last two seasons have been marked by on-course struggles but has a history of big wins and strong play in major events.

Co-Captain - Wayne Hunt - Thomasville

Has captained multiple King Invitational teams and as a co-founder and former TGA President adds leadership depth to Turtle's Troop. Always known as a long hitter has struggled off the tee since a rage-induced equipment change shelved his trusty driver at the 2009 King Invitational. Showed improved iron play during 2010 TGA season but once again struggled with short game.