Document text
57 °F Forecast | Road Cams Sunday, September 19, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal How To Guide Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend August 30, 2004 Men’s division up for grabs as SOGT begins By TIM TROWER Mail Tribune Some changes have already been made to the Southern Oregon Golf Tournament, which celebrates its 75th anniversary this week. But another intriguing turn will occur on Labor Day, when the marquee division, the men’s regular, crowns a new champion in the absence of Scott Tuttle. Tuttle moved to Portland shortly after winning his second consecutive crown last fall and isn’t entered. Same with Tommy Smith, another dominant champ in 1999 and 2000 who has moved to Arizona. A third player who entered but recently withdrew is Eugene’s Jimmy White, who would have been a serious threat. He competes for the University of Oregon and was runner-up to Smith in a scintillating final four years ago. "I think it is," says Jim Wise, the Rogue Valley Country Club head pro, when asked if the SOGT is more wide open than usual. "Especially in the men’s division." Advertisement The tournament begins Tuesday at RVCC with local qualifying. Out-of-towners qualify on Wednesday, and match play runs Thursday through next Monday’s championships. The other changes had already been established. A senior women’s division was added, putting 16 more women in the tournament. The only other time there was a senior women’s category, 1998-2000, Pam Hubbard won all three years. Also, for the first time, all but the championship flights in each division will be determined by handicap index. The idea is to prevent players from intentionally playing below their ability in qualifying, thereby setting up an easy run through a lower flight. The largest single-site match-play tournament in the nation, the tournament has 416 players. The breakdown is: 144 men, 112 senior men, 96 junior-senior men, 32 women and 32 senior women. Entries bulged to a record 464 players in the mid-1990s, but the speed of play suffered and the number was pared. As with the men, the top women’s trophy will change hands. Nicole Keller won’t be back to defend, but the three winners before her, Nikki Mack and Johnna and Amanda Nealy, return. Bob Harrell and David Boals will defend their senior and junior-senior men’s titles, respectively. Handicapping the men’s field is no easy task. Former winners Kevin Klabunde (2001), Brooks Newsom (1998) and Brad Bills (1993) are back and have exhibited good form in recent weeks. Among those who rate strong consideration but haven’t yet had their names engraved on the trophy are Bret Breeze, who won Sunday’s city championship, Glen Clark, Justin Wise and Rick Dimick. Or, the next champ could emerge from nowhere. There is a formula for success. "You have to play consistently well," says Jim Wise, Justin’s father, "and you usually have to have one match where you get a little lucky — you may not play your best, but the other guy doesn’t either. Consistency is the key. If you keep it around par, you’ll win most of your matches. But you can always run into the guy who’s making a lot of birdies." Match play, in particular, presents an air of uncertainty. Players who blow up on one hole are penalized only for that hole. And sometimes, matches turn on improbable shots. "You can get that shot out of nowhere that surprises and shocks you to win the hole," says Clark. He recalls such a bunker shot by Tuttle on the last hole to take a match. Getting off to a fast start builds confidence, says Bills, and it never hurts to have a hot putter, as he did when he won. "I know that year, I didn’t three-putt the whole tournament," he says. "That’s very significant. I felt like I could make par from anywhere, and if I got it on the green, I had a chance for birdie. If you’re putting well, it takes pressure off the rest of your game." Among the recent achievements of the top contenders: Newsom qualified for a USGA national tournament, the U.S. Mid-Amateur, and tied for fifth in the state stroke play championship. Breeze won the RVCC club championship and two-man team titles in strong fields at Grants Pass and the Running Y Resort in Klamath Falls. He capped his second straight 69 at Cedar Links Golf Course with a 20-foot putt Sunday to clinch the title in the Rogue Valley Stroke Play Championships. Klabunde tied for 11th in the Senior Oregon Open, shooting a 66 for the best round of the final day. Bills tied for 20th in the field of 59 who attempted to qualify for the Mid-Amateur. Clark tied for 13th in the state stroke play tournament. Justin Wise built a five-shot lead through two days of the three-day RVCC championships, including a round of 67. Dimick claimed the Cedar Links club championship. Breeze would rather have the likes of Tuttle, Smith and White participating to make it the strongest tournament possible. But talented contenders remain. "I would say there’s still only a handful of guys, six or seven, that can win it," says Breeze. "There are so many rounds, there are a lot of good players who cannot win that tournament. There are too many other really good players." And one will rise to the top in a week. Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 776-4479, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities