BUTLER TWP — When these kids say they’re teeing it up against the best, they mean it.

Four Butler County youths who participate in the Pittsburgh area U.S. Kids Golf Tour have qualified for the U.S. Kids World Championships in Pinehurst, N.C.

Jason Li of Cranberry Township is competing in the boys 15-18 age group at the Teen World Championships this week, as is Natalie Welsh of Valencia in the girls 14-year-old division and Tre Bartony of Butler in the boys 13-year-old division.

Paige Scott of Butler will play in the girls 10-year-old division July 31 through Aug. 2 at the Youth World Championships.

“It’s not easy to qualify for this event,” said Debbie Loughry, a Grove City resident and director of the local U.S. Kids Tour. “You not only have to be Player of the Year for your local tour, you have to meet the scoring requirements.

“In Paige’s age group, golfers must have shot a 44 for nine holes, 88 for 18 holes to be eligible.”

Scott will be one of 88 10-year-old female golfers in the field next week. Among them are golfers from 14 countries.

Bartony has 146 golfers in his tournament field. They hail from 18 countries.

Welsh is one of 40 golfers in her tourney field while Li has 142 golfers in his.

“This is the best competition they’re going to see,” Loughry said.

Scott and Bartony have been with the local U.S. Kids Tour since it was formed five years ago.

“Paige is consistently shooting three to five strokes over par for 18 holes now,” her father, Gene Scott, said. “She’s been taking lessons from (Butler County Sports Hall of Famer) Elaine Carson, she’ll do a tournament, play once a week.

“It’s a lot of hours of work, but Paige is competitive and she enjoys it.”

This is the first year she’s played an 18-hole round. At the world championships, Scott will play 18 holes for four consecutive days — one practice round followed by three competitive rounds.

Bartony shot in the mid-70’s during a practice round Wednesday. His age group begins play today.

“He shot well ... but it’s practice,” Tre’s father, Henry Bartony, said. “This can be a pressure-filled event.”

Bartony is in the world championships for the fourth consecutive year. He’s finished in the middle of the pack in past years.

“It’s quite an experience for him,” his father said. “He’s played golf with kids from Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand. He’s met so many wonderful kids, great young people, and he’s seen honest things on the golf course.

“This series goes by the honor system. Golfers penalize themselves during play. That’s a great atmosphere to be in.”

Bartony was Player of the Year for his age group on the local U.S. Kids Tour last year. He’s shot a career low round of 73 at Lake Arthur.

Other countries with golfers in the world championships include Colombia, Singapore, India, Mexico, Japan, Peru, United Kingdom, Canada, Paraguay, Guatemala, The Philippines, Thailand, Czech Republic, China, Costa Rica and Denmark.