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Photo by Bob Pennell Greg Jones, of Medford, waits in his golf cart while other golfers warm up on the putting green for Monday's practice round at the Rogue Valley Country Club. Qualifying for the Southern Oregon Golf Tournament begins today. Title quest begins at RVCC Area's finest eye top prize in golf tourney By RANDY HAMMERICKSEN Ten years ago, Tommy Smith won his first and only Southern Oregon Golf Tournament men's title. Smith, who was 21 the time, was primed for his senior season as a player for the University of Oregon's men's team. He stopped Bruce Mullen in the finals to claim the title, after upsetting Chris Holzgang and medalist Scott Tuttle on the way to the finals. "I was probably playing the best golf of my life at that time," says the 31-year-old Smith, who would turn professional less than a year later. He played professionally on the Australian and South African tours, and he played in several mini-tour events in the U.S. for two years. "When I played here last, I had worked hard on my game, and I was playing very solid golf," says Smith. "My consistency was as good as it's been." A lot has changed since then. But Smith insists his game has the potential to be better than ever. He will find out if it is when he returns to play in the 70th edition of the Southern Oregon at Rogue Valley Country Club. "Because of new technology, I hit the ball longer and probably straighter," says Smith. "And I'm smarter." Following his professional playing experience, Smith returned to the Rogue Valley, got married and became head professional at StoneRidge Golf Course in Eagle Point. After one year at StoneRidge, Smith used his business degree from Oregon to secure a job as a financial planner for KMS Financial Services of Medford. He also applied to regain his amateur status, a two-year process, with the United States Golf Association. His request was granted last December. Smith will be involved in local qualifying for the tournament today at Rogue Valley Country Club. Out-of-town qualifying and women's qualifying will be held on Wednesday. Match play in all divisions begins Thursday. The tournament is open to the public. Smith says he had hoped to play in some amateur tournaments prior to the Southern Oregon Golf Tournament, but time constraints and prior commitments have limited his preparation. "I've been hitting balls, and I think I'm hitting the ball well," says Smith, who says he gave up playing the professional tours primarily due to putting inconsistencies. "I'm putting real well right now, but I'm not worrying about anything. Most of my friends would tell you I'm a good putter, but on the tours, it's a whole different game. Everybody putts well there, or they don't make it." Smith is expected to have plenty of competition in the Men's Championship Flight of the Southern Oregon tourney. "There are a bunch of good players," says RVCC head professional Jim Wise. "I would say there are nearly 20 different guys capable of winning." Foremost on the list is defending champion Brooks Newsom of Portland; reigning RVCC men's club champion Glen Clark; 1998 Southern Oregon Junior-Senior champion Kevin Klabunde, who has opted to play in the men's regular division; former champion Brad Bills, Mark DeBoer, Rick Dimick, Kelly Rasmussen, Doug Luther, Steve Wood and Brett Breeze. Also capable of winning the men's title, according to Wise, are Mike McCann of Phoenix, Ariz.; Utah State University player Ian Parent; Grants Pass Golf Club men's club champion Ryan Schaefer; and Gary Loeb of Contra Costa Country Club in California. With Klabunde moving to the men's regular division, possible favorites in the Junior-Senior Division could be former Medford High golfer and two-time men's champion Mark Binegar; former champion Bob Cox, Doug Ward of Seattle and Greg Miller of RVCC. Dane Smith, father of Tommy Smith and a long-time Southern Oregon player, is still looking for his first men's title. "I know there's a chance my dad and I might meet," says Tommy Smith. "That would be fun. But if it happens, I hope it might be in the later rounds. He's still capable of winning." Laura Tennant, the 1998 women's champion, will not return to defend her title. Dick Swanson will be back to defend his senior men's title and Pam Hubbard returns as women's senior champion. With Tennant out of the women's field, top contenders to win are expected to be 1998 runner-up Reena Eklund, who won the Rogue Valley Stroke Play Championship on Sunday; Carmen Akins, the new RVCC women's club champion; former champion Amanda Nealy; and Lynda Adams of Grays Harbor, Wash. A full field of 416 players are registered to play in the 70th edition of the Southern Oregon. A total of 32 men will qualify for the Championship Flight and the top 16 women in qualifying will make the top flight. Today's Sports Index Mail Tribune Copyright� The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, OR U.S.A.