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Record 64 evidence of Daves' fine game By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN A relaxed George Daves says he's hitting the golf ball pure and making more putts now than he has in his entire life. "I'm probably playing the best golf of my life," says the 34-year-old former Medford High and University of Oregon golfer, who recently tied Jason Allred's Rogue Valley Country Club competitive course scoring record of 8-under-par 64 in the club's member-guest tourney. That impressive score, accomplished with eight birdies and no bogeys, is a gentle reminder to all amateurs that Daves won't go away as a competitive amateur despite his current hiatus from playing in big tournaments. It's a matter of personal choice. When Daves says he's playing the best golf of his life, believe him. He's not one to boast about his accomplishments. He normally plays down his successes. He reacted to his course record similarly. "It was fun," he says. "I'm glad my dad (Bill Daves) was with me when I did it because it was fun for him, too." Daves renounced his professional status a year ago to spend more time with his wife and children and to devote the necessary time to his job of vice president of Patten Investment Advisors. He's waiting for just the right moment to restart his competitive amateur career. "Right now, I don't have the time I feel I need to put into golf," says Daves. "It might be a year, or even two years, away." In the member-guest, all players shot individual scores and compiled team points over two rounds. In the final round, of Daves' eight birdie putts, none were longer than 12 feet. It was an impressive display of shot-making and consistency. "I was relaxed and hitting the ball solid," he says. "And the other thing is, I'm making more putts now than I ever have in the past." Former Medford High and University of Oregon player Paul Weinhold -- an ex-Southern Oregon Golf Championships men's titlist -- says Daves will take over Southern Oregon amateur golf when he's ready. "George will start kicking some --- down there," says Weinhold, who now plays out of Eugene Country Club. "It's a matter of time. He's that good." RVCC recognizes the 64s by Allred and Daves as its official course records, according to Larry Dealy, assistant professional. The course was remodeled, and toughened, four years ago. Many of the greens were rebuilt and all of the par-3 holes were changed to make them tougher. "With the sand under the fairways, you get less roll on the course," says Daves, who grew up on this course. "They made the par 3s tougher, and they redid many of the greens. I'd say the course plays two to three strokes tougher than it did before the remodel." Daves nearly had the course record to himself. He lipped out a 5-foot birdie putt on the 17th hole. "Everybody in our group thought it was in," he says. "I could have had it (the record), but I'm not worried about it." Daves shot 32 on the front side, his father 38. "That was some pretty good playing by both of us," says George. "It was fun." Their team won the B Flight title and finished fourth overall in team par points. Daves says his improved putting came after a lesson from his friend, Dave Boals Jr., an RVCC member. "Dave pointed out I was standing too far from the ball, and I wasn't seeing the line right,"' says Daves. "Since then, I've been making a lot more putts from 5 to 10 feet." He also took a lesson on alignment and swing tempo from longtime friend Paul Burke of Los Angeles. "He's an ex-tour player, and I usually go see him when I'm down in Los Angeles on business," says Daves. "I saw him last April. He gave me a minilesson on my set-up. "I was a little off, and he made a few changes. I feel like I'm hitting the ball longer and more consistently since then." Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.