Bob's Blog

NEWS: Three SCGA members advance to match play at Crump Cup

Three SCGA members are among 16 golfers who have advanced to match play at the 84th George A. Crump Memorial Tournament at Pine Valley Golf Club in Clementine, NJ.

1999 SCGA Amateur champion John Pate of Santa Barbara shot 70-75 — 145 and tied for fourth, two shots behind medalist Michael Muehr of Potomac Falls, VA. 2006 California Amateur champion Don DuBois of Newport Beach shot 73-75 — 148 and 2004 SCGA Amateur champion Tim Hogarth of Northridge rebounded from an opening-round 77 to shot 72 Friday and make the match play field.

Defending champion Mike McCoy of West Des Moines, IA is the eleventh seed and is attempting to win his fouth Crump championship in five years.

Two matches are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday to determine the champion of the prestigious invitational.

Norman Swenson of Linville, NC and Robert Vallis of Hamilton, Bermuda shared senior medalist honors with a two round total of 151.

FRIDAY GOLF NOTES

• Ramie Sprankling, a fifth year senior at UC Davis from Camarillo, won his first collegiate tournament at the University of Michigan's home course. UC Davis finished second as a team to Michigan in the event. MORE
• Meanwhile, UC Davis sophomore Austin Graham also won his first collegiate event, the Kansas Invitational. Graham, from San Clemente, finished third in this summer's SCGA Amateur. MORE
• Pre-qualifying tournaments for the PGA Tour's 2008 Q School conclude today. Among the qualifiers:
— at Morgan Creek G & CC in Roseville, CA: Blake Moore, Monrovia; and Blaine Staggs, San Diego.
— at Cypresswood GC in Spring, Tex.: Tyler Ley, Santa Barbara; Scott Richardson, Palmdale; Justin Ohye, Calabasas; and 2006 California Amateur champion Jordan Nasser, Anaheim Hills.
— at Jennings Mill GC in Bogart, Georgia: Trae Cassell, San Clemente.
— at PGA West Greg Norman Course in La Quinta, Calif.: Kevin Larsen, Santa Barbara; Nick Obie, Bermuda Dunes; Scott Diehl, San Diego; Ryan Panichpakdee, Long Beach, CA (who finished with rounds of 70-69); Michael Feuernstein, La Jolla; Bryan Newman, La Quinta; Gin Kim, Fullerton; Kook Kim, Fullerton; Derek Sipe, Yorba Linda; and Jason Mehalko, Bakersfield.

All qualifiers move onto first-stage qualifying next month.

• View the PGA Tour Q School Web site HERE

NEWS AND LINK: Kevin Marsh, Howie Knodt win SCGA Player of the Year and Senior Player of the year honors

STUDIO CITY, September 26 - Reigning SCGA Amateur champion Kevin Marsh and veteran amateur Howie Knodt of Chula Vista have won the Southern California Golf Association's Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year honors for 2008. MORE

NEWS AND LINK: By George, he finally does it!

George "Buddy" Marucci has finally won that elusive USGA national championship. The 55-year-old Marucci — who was runner-up to Tiger Woods in the 1995 U.S. Amateur and has come close in other championships (he's played in 51 by his count) — birdied the final hole to defeat 2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion George Zahringer, 2 up, to win the USGA Senior Amateur Championship today at Shady Oaks Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Marucci, captain of last year's victorious U.S. Walker Cup squad, posted 5 birdies and 6 bogies in his round. Ironically, will be unable to defend his title next year at The Beverly Club in Chicago, Ill. He will instead be at Merion Golf Club in Ardmore, Pa., as the returning captain of the 2009 USA Walker Cup squad. The two USGA championships begin play on the same weekend. MORE

• Read Jim Achenbach's story in Golfweek HERE
• View the USGA Senior Amateur site HERE

NEWS AND LINKS: Higgins loses in USGA Senior Women's quarterfinals; Marucci, Zahringer to meet in men's finals

George “Buddy” Marucci and George Zahringer, two longtime amateur golf notables, will meet for the USGA Senior Amateur Championship Thursday at Shady Oaks Country Club in Ft. Worth

Meanwhile, Glendora CC’s Joan Higgins lost in the quarterfinals of the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur, ending her bid to become the first woman to win the Women’s Mid-Amateur and Senior Women’s Am titles in the same year.

Marucci, 56, who captained last year’s successful U.S. Walker Cup team and will also head the 2009 squad, and Zahringer, 55, the 2002 U.S. Mid-Amateur champion, each won a pair of matches Wednesday and will meet in the scheduled 18-hole final Thursday morning

In the first of two semifinal matches, Zahringer parred the 18th hole to win 1 up over Randy Nichols, 55, of Connersville, Ind. Earlier in the day, Zahringer, erased Joe Keller’s 4-up lead after nine holes, by birdieing five of the first six holes on the second nine to win, 2 and 1.

In the second semifinal, Marucci, held on to beat Frank Ford III, 56, of Charleston, S.C., 2 up. With a slim 1-up lead on the 18th fairway, Marucci knocked an 8-iron approach to within 3 feet of the hole from 148 yards out. When Ford’s 25-foot birdie attempt missed, he conceded Marucci’s birdie to close out the match.

Marucci eliminated 17-time Shady Oaks club champion John Grace, 60, of Fort Worth, 3 and 2, in the quarterfinals.

Thursday’s final match will be Marucci’s second attempt at winning a USGA championship, following his appearance 13 years ago at the 1995 U.S. Amateur, where he lost to Tiger Woods, 2 down at Newport Country Club in Newport, R.I. MORE

Higgins dropped a 3 & 2 decision to two-time champion Diane Lang, a two-time champion, who will meet Toni Wiesner, a two-time runner-up, in Thursday’s 18-hole final at the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur at Tulsa Country Club. MORE
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• View the USGA Senior Amateur site HERE
• View the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur site HERE

NEWS AND LINKS: Joan Higgins reaches quarterfinals of U.S. Senior Women's Amateur; all Southern California men ousted in USGA Senior Amateur

Reigning USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Joan Higgins of Glendora advanced to the quarterfinals of the 47th USGA Senior Women's Senior Amateur at Tulsa CC in Tulsa, Oklahoma, while all four men in the USGA Senior Amateur were eliminated in the second round.

Higgins, 52, bidding to become the first person to win U.S. Women’s Mid-Am and the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur in the same year, Higgins, 52, bidding to become the first person to win U.S. Women’s Mid-Am and the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur in the same year, wasn’t challenged in two matches today in winning by scores of 6 & 5, and 4 & 3. “I’m a bit embarrassed by it all,” said Higgins. “I’m just trying to have fun. This is a long week and match play is all about putting. My flight out is still scheduled for Wednesday night and if I have to change it, that would be good.” MORE

The quarterfinal and semifinal matches will be played Wednesday. The 18-hole final is set for Thursday.

Howie Knodt, Kemp Richardson, Mitch Voges and Randy Reznick were all defeated in second-round matches today at the USGA Senior Amateur. MORE
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• View the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur site HERE
• View the USGA Senior Amateur site HERE

NEWS AND LINKS: Four Southern Californians advance to second match-play round at USGA Sr. Am and Women's Sr. Am.

Four Southern Californians advanced to the second round of match play at the 54th USGA Senior Amateur Championship at Shady Oaks Country Club in Ft. Worth, Texas.

Meanwhile, newly crowned USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Joan Higgins of Glendora and three other Southern Californians advanced to the second round of the 47th USGA Senior Women’s Senior Amateur at Tulsa CC in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Former two-time USGA Senior Amateur champion Kemp Richardson led the SCGA member advance, defeating Canadian Kelly Roberts on the 19th hole. He was joined in the second round by 1991 U.S. Amateur champion Mitch Voges of Simi Valley, who pounded Ray Womack of Burlington, NC, 6 & 5; Howie Knodt of Chula Vista, who defeated Arthur Pierse of Ireland, 5 & 3; and Randy Reznicek of Vista, who eliminated David Pocknall of Katy, Texas, 3 & 2. MORE

In the women’s event, Higgins defeated Vicky Pertierra of Spain, 5 & 4, in a first-round match. She was joined by Kate Grace of Rancho Santa Fe, who ousted Terry Mayes of Gilroy, 3 & 2; Deby Anderson of Rancho Mirage, who edged Kim Kaul of Boston, NY, 1 up; and Robyn Puckett of Irvine, who defeated Kibbe Reilly of Providence, RI, 3 & 2. MORE
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• View the USGA Senior Amateur site HERE
• View the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur site HERE

NEWS AND LINKS: Mitch Voges, Joan Higgins lead match play qualifiers at USGA Senior Am, U.S. Senior Women's Am

Former U.S. Amateur champion Mitch Voges of Simi Valley led four SCGA members into match play Sunday at the 54th USGA Senior Amateur, being played at the par-71, 6,597-yard Shady Oaks Country Club.

Voges, who won the 1991 U.S. Amateur, shot 72-71 — 143 and finished two shots behind medalist Paul Simson of Raleigh, NC. Other Southern Californians who qualified were:
• Former two-time USGA Senior Amateur champion Kemp Richardson of Laguna Niguel, who shot 72-72 — 144;
• Howie Knodt of Chula Vista, the first-round co-leader, who finished 68-78 — 146;
• Randy Reznicek of Vista, who whot 75-77 — 152.

An 11-for-6 playoff will be held Monday at 8:30 a.m. CDT to determine the final match-play spots, but no Southern Californians are involved.

The USGA Senior Amateur continues Monday with the first round of match play. The second and third rounds will be played Tuesday, the quarterfinal and semifinal matches are on Wednesday, and the 18-hole championship final will be played Thursday. MORE
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Newly crowned U.S. Women’s Mid-Amateur champion Joan Higgins of Glendora led five Southern Californians into match play at USGA Senior Women’s Amateur at Tulsa Country Club.

Higgins shot 61-74 — 145, three shots behind medalist Carolyn Creekmore of Dallas, Tex. Other Southern Californians who qualified were:
• Robyn Puckett, Irvine, 78-74 — 152;
• Deby Anderson, Rancho Mirage, 83-72 — 155;
• Marsha Butler, San Diego, 76-81 — 157
• Kate Grace, Rancho Santa Fe, 80-79 — 159

Play continues Monday with the first round of match play for the low 64 scorers from the 132-player field. The match-play portion of the championship runs through Thursday.

The course played tougher Sunday, and Higgins was the first to admit it.

“I worked hard for that 74,” she said. “I just couldn’t see the lines as well today. But now it’s just about whoever plays better each day, and anyone can win. I proved that at the Mid-Amateur.” MORE

• View the USGA Senior Amateur site HERE
• View the U.S. Senior Women's Amateur site HERE

NEWS AND LINKS: Knodt, Higgins lead USGA Senior Am, U.S. Senior Women's Am

Chula Vista's Howie Knodt shot a 3-under 68 to hold a one-stroke lead following Saturday's first round of stroke play at the 2008 USGA Senior Amateur Championship, being played at the par-71, 6,597-yard Shady Oaks Country Club in Ft. Worth, Tex.

Former two-time USGA Senior Amateur champion Kemp Richardson of Laguna Niguel and 1991 U.S. Amateur champion Mitch Voges of Simi Valley each shot 72 Saturday and are in good position to make the 64-man match play field, which will be determined following Sunday's second stroke-play round. MORE

Meanwhile, newly crowned U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur champion Joan Higgins of Glendora and Noreen Mohler of Bethlehem, Pa., each shot even-par 71 Saturday to share the lead after the first round of stroke play at the USGA Senior Women's Amateur at Tulsa Country Club. MORE

In his first-ever USGA championship, the U.S. Mid-Amateur earlier this month, the 55-year-old Knodt came as close as one can to advancing to match play without actually making it.

After posting a 7-over 147 at Milwaukee Country Club and Brown Deer Park in River Hills, Wis., Knodt wound up in a 19-for-14 playoff to determine the final match-play spots. Two bogeys later he was on his way home.

"The biggest thing I learned from the Mid-Am was not so much in my play but more in the way I managed my time," said Knodt. "I actually wound up getting tired, so by the time I got to that playoff, I was pretty beat up."

Hoping to avoid a similar fate at the Senior Amateur this week, Knodt got off to a great start Saturday.

"I like the golf course," said Knodt of playing at the club best known as the home of four-time U.S. Open champion Ben Hogan. "I like the way it sets up for me. I really like the greens. They're really similar to what I'm used to playing. I just felt pretty comfortable."

Even after making double bogey on the par-4 fourth hole, the 13th of his round, when he hit a tree and had a ball wind up buried in a bunker, Knodt came back to birdie three of his next four. He finished with six birdies, one bogey and the double bogey.

"I think I was able to really manage the ball well," said Knodt. "I was able to cut it when I needed to, draw it when I needed to, and get it in the right position on the greens so I had a lot of good putts. And the yardage is so much more forgiving than the Mid-Am was."
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At the U.S. Senior Women's Mid-Am, both Higgins and Mohler showed why they are considered among the favorites to win this championship for women age 50 and older, as they were two strokes better than their nearest challenger, 2004 champion Carolyn Creekmore, 56, of Dallas, Texas, who shot 2-over 73.

Two weeks ago, Higgins won the Women's Mid-Amateur, played for golfers age 25 and older. Mohler reached the semifinals.

"I'm a bit surprised," said Higgins. "My practice round was terrible. I felt so burned out. I was just hoping I'd break 80."

Breaking 80 was easy for Higgins, who had five birdies and five bogeys in her round.

• View the USGA Senior Amateur site HERE
• View the USGA Senior Women’s Amateur site HERE

STORY AND LINKS: PGA Tour, LPGA qualifying tournaments begin next week

While most of the golf world focuses on the Ryder Cup next week, the PGA Tour and LPGA Tour begin their qualifying school marathons.

The PGA Tour runs the first three "pre-qualifying" tournaments next week — events for people who don't meet minimum requirements for avoiding this portion of the four-step process. Qualifiers at these events plus three more next week (including the Greg Norman course at PGA West) will advance to the first of three stages next month (including East Valley GC in Beaumont and Carlton Oaks CC in Santee). After the third stage Dec. 3-8 at PGA West, the low 25 scorers (and ties) will earn 2009 PGA Tour cards.

Among the interesting entrants at the pre-qualifying tournament next week at Cypresswood GC in Spring, Tex. is 2006 California Amateur champion Jordan Nasser of Anaheim Hills. At Morgan Creek Golf & CC in Roseville, Calif., one entrant is Andrew Guliani, son of the former New York City mayor who is embroiled in a lawsuit with Duke University after he was kicked off that school's golf team. For complete lists of entrants for next week's events, click HERE,

The LPGA initial sectional tournament will be played Sept. 16-19 at Mission Hills CC's Arnold Palmer and Dinah Shore courses in Rancho Mirage. Stacy Lewis, who nearly won the U.S. Women's Open this year, and Michelle Wie will headline the field that will have players from 31 states and 19 foreign countries competing.

Wie, who turns 19 on Oct. 11, has had a lot of success at Mission Hills during the Kraft Nabisco Championship. Wie’s worst finish in that event is a tie for 14th in 2005. She finished T-9 in ’03, fourth in ’04 and T-3 in ’06. Qualifiers will move on to the final stage Dec. 1-7 at LPGA International in Daytona Beach, Fla.

• Visit the LPGA site HERE
• Read the Golfweek story HERE