Hilton Head Sports

For the sixth consecutive year, Hilton Head Island High School has received top statewide honors for its athletic programs. The Director’s Cup, an annual recognition bestowed by the South Carolina Athletic Administrators Association, honors the state’s top athletic programs in each high school classification. Hilton Head Island High has now won the Class AAA cup every year from 2011 through 2016, creating the longest winning streak in division history.

With his cross-country career finished, Hilton Head’s Jack Felix shifts gears to professional triathlon events

As a high school and collegiate runner, Hilton Head Islander Jack Felix rarely made it through a season without getting hurt.

Each time he suffered stress fractures or other injuries from running cross-country or track, he would have to shift gears to other training methods to stay in shape. That meant diving in the pool for thousands of laps and hopping on his bike for miles and miles of pedaling.

Sea Pines Resort has received the inaugural Editors' Choice Award from Golf Digest in the “Best Golf Resorts in the Americas” category. Other notable properties on the list included Pebble Beach Resorts, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort, Kiawah Island Golf Resort and Keswick Hall & Golf Club. Sea Pines’ iconic Harbour Town Golf Links also was recently ranked No. 2 in Golfweek's "Best Places You Can Play State-by-State" in South Carolina. The Inn & Club at Harbour Town — its 60-room boutique hotel — is currently rated No. 5 in Conde Nast Traveler's "Best Hotels in the U.S."

Upon graduating from Bucknell University, 2012 Hilton Head Christian Academy graduate Nick Bybel will also be the recipient and male winner of the Christy Mathewson Award, presented annually to the outstanding athlete in the senior class. Bybel was also recently named to the All-Patriot League First Team for the fourth straight year, the first Bucknell player so honored in the 26-year history of the league. His only loss in league play this year came against Navy in a match in which he retired because of an injury.

Responding to concerns from the public and data collected by S.C. Department of Natural Resources biologists, the South Carolina General Assembly has passed legislation to help rebuild the state’s cobia fishery. The new cobia regulations, which are effective for the 2016 season after receiving Gov. Nikki Haley's signature, included a catch-and-release period in May and smaller bag and boat limits the rest of the year.

Old South Golf Links has become the second club in the South Carolina Lowcountry to gain the GEO Certified ecolabel. This coveted mark not only recognizes the club’s work to protect the nature for which its known, but also its efficient use of resources and its strong community links.

Branden Grace has had his share of big moments. He believes winning the RBC Heritage is his biggest, by far. The 27-year-old South African had won 10 times overseas, finished in the top five last year in the U.S. Open and PGA Championship, and went 5-0 for the International team at the Presidents Cup. In the final round of the 2016 RBC Heritage, he shot a 5-under 66 to overtake Luke Donald for his first title on the PGA Tour.

Five Hilton Head Preparatory School athletes recently signed letters of intent to play athletics for collegiate programs. Sam Fried will play tennis at Mercer University. Dylan Day will play golf at Thomas University. Christian Garruppo will play golf at McDaniel College. Alejandro Becker will play tennis at Swanee-University of the South. Jack Foyle will play golf at the College of Charleston. 

For the second time in three years, Hilton Head Island High School athletic director Joe Monmonier has been named the Class AAA Region 8 Athletic Director of the Year by the South Carolina Athletic Directors Association. Monmonier’s recognition was recently announced at a state awards breakfast in Charleston. He received the same award in 2014, only two years after taking over as his school’s athletic director in 2012.