Document text
Locals to take center stage at golf tourney By Kevin Goff A mix of the state�s up-and-comers and experienced golfers will be on display at the 91st Oregon Amateur Championship at Eagle Point Golf Club beginning Monday. The amateur tournament, which runs through Friday, is the most prestigious in the state and boasts an impressive list of young players. Ryan Lavoie, last year�s men�s champion, will be on hand to defend his title. Defending women�s champion Charisse Spada is also back. "It should be a very good field," said Jeff Allen, Oregon Golf Association director of rules and competition. "Any time the handicap limit (3.4) is as low as it is on the men�s side, there are going to be some really good players. And, although the women�s field is a little small, making the final 16 match-play spots should be very competitive." The tourney marks the third major OGA event Eagle Point Golf Club has hosted. The club previously was host to the 1997 OGA Tournament of Champions and the 1998 Men�s Stroke Play Championship. This week�s amateur tournament also features an abundance of local talent. "I�ve played in three (amateur championships) prior to this one," said North Medford High boys golf coach Kevin Klabunde. "I think the Oregon Amateur is the highlight to a lot of players that play in it. "I made it into match play one year and that is my goal for this year�s tournament." Klabunde, 46, points to Lavoie and former Ashland High standout Jason Allred as this year�s favorites on the men�s side. "Lavoie is coming off a pretty good collegiate season (at the University of Oregon) and is the defending champion," said Klabunde. "Jason (Allred) has pretty good knowledge of the course. I�m sure there are going to be some dandy matches. "It�s fun being around these kids and it�s a real honor to play with them." Allred, who attends Pepperdine University, finished 95th at the NCAA West Regionals. The 1997 U.S. Junior Champion, is scheduled to tee off at 7:30 a.m. Monday. Other men expected to compete for the title are 1998 Oregon Amateur Champion Jeff Quinney of Eugene; Oregon Junior Champion Ian Hagen of St. Helens; and 1999 Hudson Cup team members Jeffery Brown, of Quail Valley Golf Club, and Brian Nosler, of Pumpkin Ridge. Tai Kinney, a senior-to-be at North Medford High, is playing in her first Oregon Amateur Championship match play. She competed in the women�s stroke-play competition last year. Kinney finished second at this year�s Class 4A state tournament, just one stroke shy of Allison Hanna of David Douglas. Hanna, who was the 1999 Pacific Northwest Golf Association junior girls player of the year, will also compete in Eagle Point this week. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA