Hilton Head Sports

Fishing is a way of life and a year-round affair for those fortunate souls who have managed to make their living on the Lowcountry’s waters.

But it wasn’t always that way. Some of Hilton Head Island’s most accomplished anglers recall a time not so long ago when they reluctantly stored their boats for winter and sought other hobbies during the cooler months.

Two of Hilton Head Island’s favorite traditions — community festivals and cycling — come together Nov. 16-18 for the 2018 edition of Pedal Hilton Head Island.

The annual event, presented by SwingFit, is billed as “a celebration of Hilton Head Island's music, culture and two-wheeled lifestyle” and will feature multiple cycling events and a two-night benefit concert to support the Boys & Girls Club of Hilton Head Island.

The 2019 PGA Professional Championship, the world’s largest all-professional event with a 312-player field, will come to Belfair from April 28 to May 1. The field will be comprised of players who advanced from the 41 PGA Section Championships, along with past champions. The low 20 scorers at Belfair will earn a spot in the 2019 PGA Championship, to be played May 16-19 at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, New York. All four rounds of the PGA Professional Championship will be broadcast live on Golf Channel.

The International Junior Golf Academy has opened enrollment for its 2018 Junior Golf Winter Camp. The program, which is open to boys and girls ages 10-19, will be held at the Old Carolina campus in Bluffton. Under the direction of Jonathan Yarwood, British PGA master professional and IJGA director of golf, students will practice in the newly renovated 20,000-square-foot IJGA Performance Training Center as well as outdoors. For more information, go to ijga.com.

The Heritage Classic Foundation has announced that Southern Tide, a premier coastal lifestyle and apparel brand, has signed a multi-year agreement to be the official style sponsor of the RBC Heritage Presented by Boeing. This is the first time the Heritage Classic Foundation has partnered with a lifestyle apparel brand. The 51st annual RBC Heritage will be held April 15-21 at Harbour Town Golf Links. Tickets are on sale at rbcheritage.com.

Hilton Head Prep’s girls tennis team completed a dominant run through the SCISA Class 2A state tournament with a 5-1 win over Spartanburg Christian in the state championship match Oct. 20.

The Dolphins swept Colleton Prep 6-0 in the first round of the playoffs and defeated Carolina Academy 6-0 in the semifinal match. Ali DeSpain was especially dominant at No. 1 singles, as she did not drop a game in three playoff matches.

For Matt Talcott’s 20th birthday, his mother, Krissy, wanted to give him a great experience during their Lowcountry vacation. But when the Michigan mom called Native Son Adventures to arrange a surf lesson for her son, owner Byron “Surf Dog” Sewell suggested hydrofoil instead.

Hilton Head Island isn’t known as a surf destination — and for good reason; the waves on the island are often gentle at best. But with hydrofoil surfing, any wave becomes ridable. Sewell brought this new sport to the Lowcountry, and his hydrofoil camps, which sound more fun than calling them lessons, are gaining in popularity.

The Hilton Head Island All-Stars had a remarkable run through the Dixie Youth Baseball AA Machine Pitch World Series.

The team of 7- and 8-year-old all-stars from the island came within one win of claiming the Dixie World Series title in July, finishing their run through the district, state, and World Series tournaments with an 18-3 record. The team was led by coaches Johnny Carr, Alvin Espinoza and Pete Fontana and manager John Ontal.

Hilton Head Island High School inducted six former student-athletes and coaches into the school’s Athletics Hall of Fame and Hilton Head Preparatory School added six former student-athletes and two former coaches to its Athletics Hall of Fame in September.