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Despite setbacks, Allred remains upbeat By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN It's been a year for learning lessons -- on the golf course and in the classroom -- for Ashland golfer Jason Allred. Allred, 19, a heralded junior player who highlighted his successes at that level by winning the 1997 United States Golf Association junior national title, recently concluded his first year of major-college golf for Pepperdine University. He learned up close how many talented college golfers are currently playing the game. But that won't deter his drive to one day play professional golf. "There are so many good players out there," says Allred. "I know I have to improve my game to compete at this level. I'm confident I can improve and be able to compete with them." Allred has been hitting practice balls by the bucket this summer on the driving range at Rogue Valley Country Club. His father, Gene Allred, is generally at his side, providing instruction and confidence-building guidance. "It (the practice) has already helped me a lot," says Allred. "It may not have shown much in my results yet, but I'm hitting the ball better than I ever have." He says his ball-striking is better than it was just over a year ago when he brought RVCC's long, difficult course to its knees with consecutive rounds of 8-under-par 64 to win the Southern Oregon Conference boys individual medalist title for Ashland High as a senior. "My dad is still my teacher because he gives me confidence and he knows my game better than anyone else," says Allred. "We've made some changes in my swing, and I'm hitting the ball with more confidence." "After this year, I've re-dedicated myself to golf," says Allred, who finished fifth in the West Coast Conference tournament and 36th in the NCAA West Regional. "I want to do what it takes to be successful. I think I can." Allred fell victim to some rotten luck in two of Oregon's most prestigious summer tournaments during the last two weeks. It started in the first round of match play in the Oregon Amateur Golf tournament two weeks ago at Eugene Country Club. After shooting rounds of 2-under-par 70 and 71 in qualifying, Allred locked up in a first-round match against Aaron Byers. The match was even through 18 holes, forcing a sudden-death playoff. Jason played the first 18 holes in 1-under-par. On the 19th hole, Allred was 35 feet away from birdie. And apparent victory. Meanwhile, Byers was 30 yards from the hole in two. He was lodged in a bunker to the left and short of the green. But then the improbable happened. Byers holed out the bunker shot, Allred missed his long putt and Byers walked away the winner. Allred was stunned. "If he can hole a shot like that, he deserves to win," Allred says. On the heels of this disappointment came another painful setback in the Oregon Open last week at Crosswater Golf Club in Bend. Allred shot rounds of 71 and 70 for a 3-under-par total of 141 to trail by three strokes entering the final round. "I thought I could win the last day," says Allred. "I shot even-par on the first nine and I had a makable birdie putt (approximately 15 feet) on No. 10." Then, disaster struck again. After a solid short-iron shot into the 10th green, Allred was preparing to make a run at a second consecutive birdie. But he had a slick, downhill putt. After marking his ball, he stepped behind it to take a couple of practice strokes and the ball rolled an inch forward. He did not address the ball, which would become a pivotal issue a few seconds later. The other players he was playing with insisted he should putt from the previous spot of the ball. Jason went with their judgment. "I was trying to do the right thing, and they seemed so sure they were right," says Allred. "I should have asked for an official ruling." Instead, he putted from the previous spot of the ball. "An official came up to me on the next hole and asked what had happened," says Allred. "After we told him, he told me to add two strokes to my score for the penalty." Allred was stunned. "I learned how important it is to know the rules," he says. "And I learned to ask for an official in a big tournament like that." Through it all, Allred maintains his customary positive attitude about his golf and his life. He says he's cut back on his tournament schedule this summer to practice more, spend time with friends, and family, and to appreciate all the good things he has going in his life. "I'm fortunate to have friends and a family like I do," he says. "I want to spend time with them before it's time to go back to school in August." Randy Hammericksen is the Mail Tribune's golf columnist. He can be reached at 776-4499. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.