Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Asphalt plant sued in federal court ... Mapping Muggers Alley ... Spotters needed for National Weather Service ... Asphalt plant sued in federal court ... Mapping Muggers Alley ... Spotters needed for National Weather Service ... SOUTHERN OREGON GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS Back for more Barry's quest for fifth title, return of Tuttle add SOGC intrigue Comment By Tim Trower Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 7:44 PM By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 7:44 PM --> SOGC WHEN, WHERE: Today through Labor Day at Rogue Valley Country Club. PLAYERS: A capacity field of 416 men and women are entered. OF NOTE: Champions return in all six divisions,... » Read more X SOGC WHEN, WHERE: Today through Labor Day at Rogue Valley Country Club. PLAYERS: A capacity field of 416 men and women are entered. OF NOTE: Champions return in all six divisions, and all but one runner-up is back. » Social News Something old, something new. That could well be the theme of the 86th annual Southern Oregon Golf Championships this week. An old champion, Scott Tuttle, returns to tee it up for the first time in a dozen years at Rogue Valley Country Club. A back-to-back winner of the men's regular division in 2002 and '03, he will compete in the senior division. At 28, Mike Barry isn't old, but winning this thing is old hat for him. He's the defending champion, and if he repeats in the men's regular, it'll be his fifth crown, breaking a tie and moving him into second alone on the all-time wins list. But something new, and young, could serve as obstacles. Bryce Wortman, who will be a senior at Mazama High in Klamath Falls, followed a semifinal appearance here last year with the Class 4A state title in the spring. Recent high school players Reese Fisher (South Medford) and Max Davis (Cascade Christian) were top-10 placers in their respective state tourneys. "It's great to see younger kids playing," said Barry. "You get used to the same group of guys in the championship flight, so it's nice to see the younger faces." One face that won't appear is Kevin Murphy's. The winner of a record three straight men's regular titles before losing a title match for the ages last year to Barry has school commitments with Oregon State. The Rogue River product will miss the SOGC for the first time in five years. Play begins today with qualifying for local men. Women and out-of-town men qualify on Wednesday, and match play begins Thursday. The tournament culminates with championships in each division Monday. There is a full field of 416 players for the largest single-site match play event in the U.S. There are 96 in the men's regular and men's senior divisions, 80 in men's junior-senior, 80 in men's super senior and 32 in each of the women's and senior women's. All of the last year's division champions are back, and, save for Murphy, so are the runners-up. The returning division winners apart from Barry are Steve Taormino (men's junior-senior), Glen Clark (men's senior), Dan Dixon (men's super senior), Rosie Cook (women's) and LaVone Kirkwood (women's senior). Although he could pull within one victory of all-time men's regular winner Eddie Simmons, who had six titles from 1934-49, Barry doesn't give much thought to his historical standing. "I try not to think about it," said Barry, a former North Medford High state champion who now lives in Eugene. "It'll probably become more and more of a thought as the tournament goes on, if I do go deeper into it. All I really focus on is who I'm playing and how my golf game is that day and what I need to do to win." He said he plays about once a month. And how is his game? "I've got a good scramble golf swing, but that's not always translatable to your individual game," said Barry. Barry's win last year created a buzz that resonated for some time. He made a 66-foot eagle putt to defeat Murphy on the first playoff hole, their 37th of the day. Barry was 1 up going into their final hole and was on the par-5 18th in two. Murphy followed suit, slicing a 230-yard 3-wood around trees to within 15 feet of the cup. After Barry made birdie, Murphy sank his eagle to halve the match and force the playoff. Barry called it the most fun he's had of a competitive nature. "The last two holes were the craziest thing I've been a part of on a golf course," he said. He hopes to draw on those vibes and recreate that winning putting stroke this week. Whether he'll need it against the likes of Jimmy White, one of the veteran players who is a perennial title threat, or one in the younger set remains to be seen. Barry downed Wortman 1 up to get to the finals last year. Tracy Snyder, the RVCC head pro, said Wortman must be considered among the favorites. Likewise, White believes "it's definitely a possibility" for a young player to rise up as Murphy did in 2011, when, at 17, he became the division's youngest champion. The long week might favor a fit high school player who has been in high-level competition all summer. "For those of us with full-time jobs and other responsibilities, it makes it a little tougher," said White, a former professional who has yet to win the crown but last year shot 60 to set qualifying round and RVCC course records. The flip side, he said, is the older players have been through the sometimes nerve-racking experience of playing in front of large crowds in the later rounds. "When you start playing against your older peers," said Snyder, "and you start playing in front of people, it's different. It changes your mindset a little bit. It's not as easy as probably the younger generation thinks." The biggest hurdle for Barry when starting out in the SOGC, he said, was committing to playing the course as he normally would, rather than making decisions based on what his opponent did. Regardless, predicting how the tournament will play out is mostly futile. For his part, White will take in stride whatever comes. "At this point in my life, I hope to go out and have fun and put up some good rounds when I need to," he said. "But like last year, I can shoot 60 one day and 80 the next. You just never know." Reach sports editor Tim Trower at 541-776-4479 or email [email protected] By Tim Trower Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tim Trower Mail Tribune Posted Aug. 31, 2015 at 7:44 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501