Amory golf out siwnging

By BRANDON SPECK
Sports Editor

As Amory looks to repeat its 2007 Class 3A golf championship, the Panthers picked up two early wins to start the 2008 season.

Wednesday�s match featuring Class 3A and 5A�s individual champions from last season, Barrett Edens and Jeremy Self each finished 2-under par (34) for co-medalist honors, but Edens� Panthers (1-0) finished one stroke better, 151-152 to go to 1-0 to start the season.

Dane Christensen finished with a 34, followed by Dylan McGonagill�s 38 and Shayne Grant�s 43.

�Very good win for Amory golf,� head coach Charlie Llewelyn said.
The Golden Wave fell to 0-1.

In Pontotoc Thursday, Amory�s 159 beat New Albany by three strokes, while Oxford and Pontotoc fell back with 181 and 185 respectively.

�Another good win,� coach Charlie Llewelyn said. �New Albany is a fine team. Pontotoc and Oxford will improve as the season continues.�

Barrett Edens barely missed medalist honors with his 35, followed by Shayne Grant�s 40 and Dane Christensen and Dylan McGonagill with a 42 each.

Pontotoc�s Cliff Hannah was the medalist with a 34.

UMK Men's Golf Opens Season At SUU/Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational

This Week
The UMKC men’s golf team will open up its spring season at the Fourth Annual Southern Utah/Pat Hicks Thunderbird Invitational on Monday and Tuesday in St. George, Utah. The 18-team field will compete at the Sunbrook Golf Course (par 72; 6,758 yards) with 18 holes being played on each day.

The Field
The 18-team field will include: Brigham Young, UC-Riverside, Campbell, Centenary, Denver, Dixie State, Grand Canyon, Idaho State, Kentucky, Louisiana-Monroe, UMKC, Oral Roberts, Rice, Southern Utah, Utah, Utah State, Utah Valley State, Weber State,

Last Competition
The Kangaroos closed out the fall season with a third place finish out of nine teams at the Battle on the Bend Intercollegiate on Nov. 4-6 in Many, La. The Kangaroos finished with a three-round total of 895, which was eight shots behind first place Sam Houston State. Senior Stephen Clark finished the tournament in a three-way tie for first place after shooting a 54-hole total of 218.

Clark Leads Team During Fall Season
Senior Stephen Clark led the Kangaroos with a 73.2 scoring average over nine rounds of competition last fall. The Scotland native finished among the top-11 in all three of the tournaments that he competed in.

Consistently Consistent
Sophomore Alex Hogben was UMKC’s most consistent golfer during the fall season. The England native finished with a 73.9 scoring average over 15 rounds, and he finished among the top-15 in four of the team’s five tournaments. Hogben’s best finish came at the Missouri Intercollegiate, where he was the runner-up with a 217. He also tied for fourth place at the SFA Bill Hall Crown Classic with a 215 on Oct. 9.

Redshirt Freshman Taylor Has Solid Fall Season
Redshirt freshman Josh Taylor finished with a 75.5 scoring average over 15 rounds during the fall season. The Overland Park, Kan., native’s best performance came in his collegiate debut, when he tallied an eighth place finish at the Missouri Intercollegiate with a 224 total.

Horsley Transfers To Western Kentucky
Freshman Neil Horsley left the UMKC men’s golf program following the first semester to transfer to Western Kentucky University. The Cooper City, Fla., native played in all five tournaments last fall for the Kangaroos, where he posted a 74.4 scoring average.

UMKC Picked As Co-Favorite To Win Summit League Title
The Kangaroos received seven first place votes en route to 68 points, as they were tabbed as the league co-favorite, along with Oral Roberts, to claim the 2008 Summit League title.

Coach VanDenBorn
J.W. VanDenBorn is in his first season as the Director of Golf for UMKC. In this role, he will oversee both the men’s and women’s golf programs. Previously, VanDenBorn served solely as the head coach for the men’s golf program over the last four years. Under his direction, the Kangaroos have finished in fourth place three times (2004, 2005 and 2007) at the Mid-Con Championships. In 2006, VanDenBorn guided Stephen Clark to the Mid-Con Player of the Year honors, the first in the program’s history.

Missouri Men's Golf Finishes 10th at USF Invite

DADE CITY, Fla. - - Mizzou carded its best round of the weekend in Sunday's final round of the Ron Smith/USF Invitational in Dade City, Fla. The Tigers shot 291 in the final round and moved into a tie for 10th place in the final standings.

Missouri was led by junior Peter Malnati, who carded a three-under 69 in the final round for a three day total of 217. He finished tied for 16th place. Junior Ryan Fisher tied for 43rd spot with a three round score of 224 after a one-under 71 on Sunday.

Freshman William Harrold finished tied for 50th, while sophomore Bud Reynolds placed in a tie for 55th and junior Kyle Marcolla tied for 77th place.

MIZZOU MEN'S GOLF
Ron Smith/ USF Invitational
Lake Jovita Golf & Country Club - Dade City, Fla.
7.084 yards/Par 72

TEAM STANDINGS
1. Middle Tennessee St. 287-280-291=858
2. Florida Southern 296-292-284=872
 Marquette 297-288-287=972
4. SE Louisiana 293-284-298=875
5. DePaul 296-292-289=877
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10. MISSOURI 301-297-291=889

INDIVIDUAL STANDINGS
1. Julian Colmenares (Jacksonville St.) 71-66=137
2. Mike Van Sickle (VCU) 72-67=139
 Rafael  Campos (VCU) 65-74=139
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
T16. Peter Malnati (MISSOURI) 78-70-69=217
T43. Ryne Fisher (MISSOURI) 73-80-71=224
T50. William Harrold (MISSOURI) 75-77-73=225
T55. Bud Reynolds (MISSOURI) 75-73-78=226
T77. Kyle Marcolla (MISSOURI) 79-77-78=234 

2008 Senior Open Can Boast Of Volunteers From All 50 States

Far Hills, N.J. - Ron Diltz and Mike Kelly first became acquainted when their sons began playing high school football in Anchorage, Alaska. They quickly discovered a mutual love for outdoor activities – hunting, fishing and even golf – and their friendship soon extended beyond Friday night games.

Even after Kelly moved back to his native Colorado in 1999, the two remained close. Last year, they went pheasant hunting in North Dakota.

This summer, the get-together will take place a little closer to Kelly’s backyard in Colorado Springs. With the U.S. Senior Open heading to The Broadmoor, Kelly signed up to be a volunteer for the championship. And he thought it would be a neat idea to bring his buddy down from Alaska to share in the activity.

“I sucked him in,” said Kelly. “I only live a couple of miles from [The Broadmoor], so it seemed like the right thing to do.”

Diltz will be one of many individuals making a long trek to Colorado Springs this July to be part of the 3,000-plus volunteer force for the Senior Open (July 31-Aug. 3). In fact, this year’s championship will have volunteers from all 50 states. It’s the first time that a volunteer from every state has participated in the same championship.

Colorado residents understandably make up 78.5 percent of the volunteers, but others have decided to travel considerable distances to help out. Diltz will journey 3,275 miles; Sandra Webb from Kailua Kona, Hawaii has the farthest hike, at 3,309 miles.

The USGA would have a difficult time conducting championships without volunteers' participation. (John Mummert/USGA)

The participation from near and far even had the management company that handles the U.S. Senior Open for the USGA pleasantly surprised.

“It’s very unusual [to have all 50 states represented],” said Jeff Yeager, the volunteer manager for Bruno Event Team. “I would say 40 to 45 states [is normal], but to get over the 45 mark, it’s something of a unique status.”

Part of the lure is this year’s site. The Broadmoor is a world-class resort located in an area where there are plenty of alternative activities when people are not on-site working. Yeager said The Broadmoor, which attracts guests from throughout the world, also solicited volunteers through various means of communication.

“We had started a waiting list of about 100 volunteers, but after looking at a few numbers, we have almost added all 100 of those [people] from our waiting list,” said Yeager. “So it’s been really terrific.”

Some people love being a part of the championship so much that they keep coming back. Arkansas residents Jack Cato and his brother-in-law Bill Foster will be making their fourth consecutive appearance at the Senior Open. They first volunteered at the 2005 event at the NCR Club outside of Dayton, Ohio.

“We’ve made the Senior Open part of our summer vacations so we can get out and see new parts of the country,” said Cato, who is retired. “This will be our first visit to Colorado and I am excited to see the state and the Rocky Mountains.”

In 2005, the two served on the transportation committee. Last year, they were walking scorers. Cato went with Jim Thorpe and R.W. Eaks in the final round. In ’05, Cato said he drove Gil Morgan, Fuzzy Zoeller and Thorpe. He also got to meet Tom Watson. This year, they will be on-course marshals, just like in 2006 at Prairie Dunes in Hutchinson, Kan.

“Especially in transportation, you get to meet a lot of [contestants] because you are right there with them,” said Cato. “When you are working out on the course, you see them but you don’t necessarily get to talk with them.

“But we’ve enjoyed it and it’s been a good experience. We haven’t decided if we are going to do it next year [at Crooked Stick] or not. We’ll probably make that decision after this year’s tournament.”

Of course, having the championship in a smaller market like Colorado Springs, which does not have major sporting events on an annual basis, also adds an element of excitement not found in a major metropolis. The 1999 U.S. Senior Open in Des Moines, Iowa, drew some 50,000 spectators for the final round.

The retired Kelly moved back to Colorado Springs after a working in oil business in California and Alaska in the 1980s.

“You can get lost in places like Denver and Atlanta, but not here,” said Kelly. “An event like this is a pretty big deal for us.”

Just seeing a major golf event in person is a big opportunity for Diltz. Alaska is one state that has never hosted a USGA championship. Outside of the Iditarod dogsled race, the state is devoid of nationally recognized sporting events.

Diltz admitted that his outdoor activities of choice are hunting and fishing. But he does enjoy an occasional round of golf, including an indoor version played on a simulator. Alaska’s outdoor golf season is quite short, so many people play indoors during the harsh winters to keep their swings in rhythm.

“I’m just a weekend hacker,” said Diltz, a sales manager for an office supply company in Anchorage. “But I’m excited … to watch some of my idols. I still don’t know what we will be doing. It probably will be gallery control. No matter what it is, it will be fun.”

STATESMEN FINISH FIFTH AT HSU DOYLE WALLACE INVITATIONAL; CHASE SMITH CLAIMS SECOND

HOT SPRINGS, ARK. - The Delta State men's golf team closed out the Doyle Wallace Invitational hosted by Henderson State in fifth place on Tuesday. The Statesmen shot a two-round 625 (305-320) in cold and blustery conditions. Freshman Chase Smith turned in one of the best individual performances of the year, finishing second overall. Tournament host HSU claimed the team title with a 601.

"The weather played a major factor in everyone's performance today," said Sam Dunning, Delta State head coach. "I was very proud of the poise Chase showed today and I believe his performance this week is just the tip of the iceberg."

After carding a first round 305, the Statesmen tallied a 320 on Tuesday while battling winds in excess of 30 mph and temperatures in the upper 30's.

Smith, a freshman from Vicksburg, continued his hot play with a 74 on Tuesday. Monday, the St. Aloysius graduate turned in a 71 for a share of the lead. His two-round 145 was three strokes off tournament Medalist Jack Bartlett's 142.

Delta State senior Lee Rhodus closed out the tournament with a 158 (78-80) to finished tied for twenty-first. Brandon Hartzell finished the event in twenty-eighth place with a 160 (76-84), while Austin Smithers (162/80-82) and Robbie Morrice (171/87-84) rounded out Delta State's scorers.

Henderson State (601/296-305) had to rally from two strokes down on Tuesday to claim the team title by four strokes over Northeastern State (605/294/311).

Complete results are available at the link above. The Statesmen return to action on March 16-18 at the Valdosta State Blazers Invitational. The three day tournament will be held at the Kinderlou Golf Club in Valdosta, Ga.

Ole Miss Posts Fourth-Place Finish At Lady Gator Invitational

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – The Ole Miss women’s golf team equaled the second-lowest three-round total (892) in school history, which was good enough to earn a fourth-place finish Sunday, at the SunTrust Lady Gator Invitational. The team kicked off the spring with its first top-five showing under first-year head coach Michele Drinkard.

Host Florida captured the team title with an 849. Louisville took second with an 872, and Wake Forest, the only team to go under par in the final round, claimed third with an 875. North Carolina rounded out the top five with an 898. Florida’s Tiffany Chudy won medalist honors with a 209.

Junior Dori Carter led the Lady Rebels, finishing tied for ninth with a 71-73-74—218. It marked her third top-10 finish of the year and ninth of her career.

Sophomore Sara Grantham posted a career-best 54-hole tournament score 73-71-77—221 to finish tied for 16^th, earning her third career top-20 finish. Her second-round 71 is also a career-low.

Freshman Jill Brodd joined Carter and Grantham in a tie for sixth coming into the final round, but struggled with an 83 to finish tied for 31^st at 71-73-83—227.

Junior Rachel Ingram (78-75-77—230) and senior Katherine Jones (88-76-79--243) rounded out the Lady Rebel scoring.

"We had a very humbling day on the golf course, but because we had played so strongly the first two rounds we had a fourth place finish in a very competitive field," Drinkard said. "We are very proud of Dori, Sara Jill, Rachel and Katherine for providing each other this great opportunity. To get the experience of playing in the final group with the No. 5 team in the country is something you can not simulate in practice. It's an experience that will help us the next time we are in that same position."

The Lady Rebels will return to the links March 7-9 at the Texas A&M “Mo”morial in Bryan, Texas.

Links at Cottonwoods Undergoing Enhancements

The Links at Cotton at the Grand Casino Resort Tunica in Northern Mississippi, about 30 minutes south of Memphis, is undergoing renovations. Opened in 1998, the Hale Irwin design is seeing several upgrades in preparation for its 10th anniversary.

Named a Top-40 Casino Course in the U.S. by Golf Digest Magazine, the layout is being enhanced by Stan Genty, a course architect with Hale Irwin Golf Design. Genty is coordinating and developing a plan to return the course to its original design while improving the conditions. The course was designed as a true links layout with extremely minimal tree plantings. Before completion of the project, the owner of the Grand Casino insisted on trees and consequently 2,500 trees were planted throughout the layout. Over the past one-and-a-half years, Links at Cottonwoods has been selectively removing trees and planting additional native areas consistent with the original links design.

"Upon completion of the course renovations this spring, we will have removed 90 percent of the trees and added 60 acres of native grasses providing players with a true links golf experience," says Director of Golf Matt McNeil.

In addition to those changes, McNeil and course superintendent James Harris will install Champion Bermuda turfgrass in June, replacing the bentgrass currently in place. The grass conversion on the greens will add another level of complexity to the course while providing a playing surface consistent with links golf.

The ever-present and often stout winds which roll over the vast flatlands of the unprotected Delta where Links at Cottonwoods is located, coupled with the new design upgrades, will mean pars are at a premium.

Measuring 7,000 yards from the tips - but playing longer due to the breezes - the par-72 course is also defended by multiple bunkers and water hazards, which enter play on several holes.

Another upgrade will be made at the par-4 15th hole, which was a sore spot given a water hazard which bisected the fairway at a distance that took driver out of many players' hands, then required a long, uphill second shot to the green. Now players will be able hit driver without worrying about finding the canal.

"The hole will be shortened to proper lengths so that all players will be able to carry the water with their tee shot," says McNeil. "In addition to the new tee boxes, several pot bunkers will be added to the hole to challenge players at the shorter yardage."

The 15th hole will play as a 415-yard par-5 for women and as a par-4 for the men ranging from 298-372 yards depending.

Two other courses and eight casino resorts are located within minutes of Links at Cottonwoods and Grand Casino Resort Tunica. The other courses are Riverbend Links and Tunica National Golf & Tennis Club.