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U.S. Mid-Amateur Blog
Thursday, October 04, 2007
Happy Birthday
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The USGA media relations team on site on Bandon Dune would like to wish U.S. Mid-Amateur Coordinator Kathleen Pope a happy birthday as we begin our championship match.
She has been a valuable person in all aspects of our operation and has always assisted as if it's no trouble. We are pleased that the 36-hole championship match is on her birthday because she has done so much, so well.
She's just like all the very nice folks who work here at Bandon Dunes, who always treat you like you are someone special and add a warm smile.
Thanks, Kathleen and we hope it's a great day for you and also hope your beloved Ducks can rebound their way into a great bowl game.
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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Wednesday, October 03, 2007
The Final Is Set
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Trip Kuehne meets Dan Whitaker in tomorrow's final of the 2007 Mid-Amateur. And that is what is so great about USGA Championships.
Kuehne is a business man with a family who has made the hard and firm decision that professional golf was not for him, despite a highly decorated collegiate career. He is 35 years old and has played in more than 20 USGA championships and has represented the USA in four international competitions.
Whitaker is a greenkeeper who played collegiate golf but has professional aspirations. This is his second USGA championship and the first time he's made the cut for match play.
Kuehne is from Texas and Whitaker is from Washington.
The only thing they have in common is the length that they hit the golf ball.
It makes for some great viewing. I hope the weather cooperates because 36 holes is a lot of time in the elements.
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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Nice Home Course
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So, you are a 19-year college golfer and someone asks you what your home course is. Your reply is: "Bandon Dunes." You might even spice it up saying, "Well, it's really all three Bandon Dunes courses and Coos Country Club as well."
Not bad, eh?
But, if you are a Laker from Southwestern Oregon Community College in Coos Bay, you have a great track to practice and play your home matches on.
This afternoon, the 12 players and coach Marie Simonds came out to watch the semifinal matches and, according to Simonds, "just let a little bit of support."
Simonds, the only coach in the program's three-year history, has a competitive background herself, earning all-conference honors in golf in two of her four seasons on the team at Boise State.
Her husband, Jeff, is the head golf professional at the Pacific Dunes Course as well as her assistant coach. Their son, Peyton, is five months old today.
One of the players in this year's Mid-Amateur field, Jason Humphrey, who is a caddie at Bandon Dunes, played college golf at Southwest Oregon C.C.
The men's team just finished second in its first event of the year with two players in the top five and other in the top 10.
They've had players go to four-year schools such as New Mexico State and Cal-State Monterey Bay.
Good luck to the Lakers, we are jealous!
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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Ornithology 101
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The striking logo of the 2007 Mid-Amateur features a profile view of a Pacific Coast bird called the tufted puffin. One of the restaurant/pubs at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort is named after this foot-long bird that has a black head, a white face and a red-orange bill that is similar to a toucan -- you know, the Foot Loops birds!
In Oregon, these elusive birds nest in the craggy coastline rocks near Cannon Beach at Haystack Rock and Ecola State Park and at Three Arch Rock and Face Rock near Bandon.
Their scientific name is fratercula cirrhata or 'little friar' or 'little brother' in Latin. Cirrhata refers to 'curled locks or ringlets' that refer to the long breeding plumes on the heads of adults.
While I've seen mule deer on the Bandon Dunes course, I want to add to that list and I've made it my mission to spot a tufted puffin. I remain hopeful but I've been told that even staff who have been here since the opening of the resort have not seen one yet.
Perhaps I should come back in April during their hatching season which coincides with the whale watching time on the Oregon coast. If I don't see a puffin at least I can catch a breaching leviathan.
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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Quarterfinals
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The eight players on the course this morning include three college golf coaches, a past champion, one Walker Cup and World Amateur Team contestant, a greenkeeper, a financial consultant and a general contractor.
The oldest is 41 and the youngest is 26.
California, Texas and Nevada each have two representatives and South Carolina and Washington one each.
If you are interested in how the college teams are doing without members of their coaching staffs: Clemson (Jordan Byrd is an assistant coach) plays in the Brickyard in Macon, Ga., this weekend; St. Mary's (Scott Hardy is the head coach) just finished fourth in the Xavier Invitational in Ohio and San Diego (Tim Mickelson is the head coach) placed eighth at the Fighting Irish Gridiron Classic in Indiana.
Pete Kowalski, Media Relations
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Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Eliminated
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Brandon Kearney of Bend, the last of seven players from Oregon, was eliminated in the second round by Jordan Byrd of Clemson, S.C.
Byrd, the older brother of PGA Tour player Jonathan, won the match, 3 and 2.
Also gone from the competition are two-time USA Walker Cup team member Buddy Marucci of Villanova, Pa., and 1999 Mid-Am champion and past Walker Cupper Danny Green of Jackson, Tenn.
Marucci was the captain of the victorious USA Walker Cup team that defeated Great Britain and Ireland in Ireland earlier this month. It is a testament to his ability that he was able to advance this far in the championship with the limited amount of golf he's played in the last two years because of his Walker Cup duties. He was a fixture on the amateur tournament circuit and literally didn't have time for golf of his own. Marucci was the runner-up to Tiger Woods at the 1995 U.S. Amateur. He is the quintessential career amateur who does whatever he can for the game.
The ever irascible Green has earned the reputation of one of the toughest 'outs' in USGA match play or match play regardless of the event. A self-taught player, he was knocked out on the 18th hole by long-hitting Dan Whitaker of Cle Elum, Wash. The low amateur at this year's Senior Open, Green is one of the staples of the Mid-Am. It's always a pleasure to spend time with him.
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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Monday, October 01, 2007
A Looper's Point Of View
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One of the benefits of working USGA championships is getting to know the players and making some good friends.
At the 2006 USGA Senior Amateur Championship at Victoria National Golf Club in Newburgh, Ind., the champion was Mike Bell of Indianapolis, a veteran of USGA competitions. I worked that championship and spent quite a bit of time with Mike.
I first met Mike when he played in the 2003 U.S. Senior open just three months aftger his double bypass heart surgery. His remarkable recovery made a great human interest story early in the week and we invited him to to visit with the media. The two of us hit it off and we have stayed in touch through Mike playing playing in USGA events.
After yesterday's windy deluge, Bandon Dunes Golf Resort hosted a BBQ for the players and at the end of the day, I visited the shindig with several other staffers. After dinner, we bumped into Mike.
He asked if I would caddie for him in the resumption of the second round of stroke play which began at 7:30 a.m. PT. After a furtive glance at my supervisor, I got the nod to take on the task. We agreed that since Mike only had five holes to play and he probably wasn't going to make the match play cut, it was safe to have a tyro carrry his bag.
I met Mike at the evacuation van pick-up spot and we drove with a group of players and caddies to the fifth tee of the Bandon Dunes Course. I vowed to follow the unwritten caddie codes: Show up, keep up, shut up.
Mike played very well as he completed his second round. He hit every fairway but his short game did not compare to his driving and iron game. He made four pars and a bogey and finished with a 79. He talked amiably with everyone and was a true joy to be around. This 60-year-old amateur is a perfect representation of a USGA champion even if he wears a hat the makes him look like Elmer Fudd.
Thanks, Mike for letting me tag along. I loved it.
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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Sunday, September 30, 2007
Back In The Saddle
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At 5:25 p.m. PT, play resumed in the second round of stroke play. Play had been suspended for two hours and 40 minutes.
The rain has ceased but sprinkles are still possible. Also as importantly, the wind has lessened.
If form holds, there should be daylight until a shade after 7 p.m.
Stay tuned for how things will play out with any playoff/beginning of match play scenario.
As for the playoff, it will be played on Bandon Trails using holes No. 1, No. 2 and No. 18, and repeating that cycle until the 64-man match play field is determined.
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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How Many Club Wind?
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Mid-Amateur committeman David Jacobsen of Portland, Ore., (and incidentally the older brother of 2004 U.S. Senior Open champion Peter) was working as the pace of play checkpoint official at the par-4 4th hole at Bandon Dunes.
This picturesque 443-yarder plays alongside the Pacific Ocean and is perhaps the most exposed hole on the course.
Jacobsen told us that normally players have a 160-yard approach shot to the green which is a perched on the ocean. His unscientific straw poll revealed that the shortest approach shot on that hole was in the neighborhood of 240 yards.
All we can say is: 'Whew!"
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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Back On Course???
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Despite continuing rain and wind, the worst conditions are likely to be passed by 4:15 p.m. or so.
Because of that improving view on the weather radar, the current plan is to move the players from both courses to the central practice area at 4:30 p.m PT. A 15- to 20-minute practice window would end at approximately 5 p.m. with the intention of re-starting play at approximately 5:25 p.m.
We are hoping that the poor weather will abate and we can enact this plan as quickly as possible.
Looking out the window right now, it doesn’t look good but the view on the radar is what we base our decisions on.
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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Bandon Golf Shop Fits Golfers For Rainy Weather
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Welcome to the Oregon coast, where the weather is unpredictable at best. The forecast for Bandon, Ore., on Sunday was 57 degrees with intermittent rain. That wasn’t the worst of it, however. The winds kicked up to 25 miles an hour, knocking all those with sub-par first round scores into the black.
The golf shop is doing a booming business this morning. It’s not quite noon here, and already today the shop has sold about 50 pair of rain gloves, 15 bucket rain hats, and about 75 hand warmers. You know, the kind you stick in your pocket.
The golf shop is clearly the winner today at the U.S. Mid-Amateur.
Written by Craig Smith, USGA director of media relations
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Soggy Followed by Soggy and Windy
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With a quarter inch of rain overnight, Bandon Dunes arose to a damp and chilly morning. Periods of rain, heavy at times, are expected for most of the day. Temperatures will remain in the mid-to-high 50s for most of the day and wind gusts may reach 35-45 MPH by the middle of the day.
That forecast probably helps those who are starting early today.
We are looking more and more like an Irish/English/Scotch/Welsh coastline course than southern Oregon. We are also waiting for the wind to pick up, which has Bandon Dunes architect David Kidd rubbing his hands together. As the Scotsman said in his comments to the players the other night: 'Nae wind, nae golf!'
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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Saturday, September 29, 2007
Player Withdrawal
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Dave Brown of Highlands Ranch, Colo., has withdrawn because of a wrist injury. Brown is an engaging man who works as an engineer for BP. In fact, at the Player Reception, he told us about working with a crew of that cleared the property and assisted with routing the holes for Pete Dye's The Oak Tree C.C. As a youngster, Brown was part of a group on the ground as Dye worked overhead in a helicopter trying to find the best pieces of land for incorporating holes.
Brown is replaced by Blair Strain of Los Angeles as player No. 47.
As an alternate, Strain had been on property for two days to see if a spot would open up for him. Another alternate, Charles Kavanaugh of Salona Beach, Calif., is also on site to see if his luck turns as Brown's did.
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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Mid-Am Begins in Oregon
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To borrow a football term, we have kicked off the 2007 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championshionship on a crisp autumn Saturday at Bandon Dunes on the Oregon coastline. While it feels like football weather, we are expecting it to warm up to the mid 60s and hope to avoid some afternoon showers.
It appears that layers will be the word of the week when it comes to clothing. Changes will come in weather with the appearance and disappearance of wind. We just keep looking at the Western sky over the Pacific for clues to the weather but to the newbies to the area, that is like reading tea leaves. That's why we have a meteorologist on site to keep us scientifically based.
Regardless, we have 264 players ready to contest for the Robert T. Jones Jr. Memorial Mid-Amateur Trophy at both the Bandon Dunes and Bandon Trails courses. The courses are unique to what we see in the USA but there is a definite 'Wow' factor because of their design and proximity to the Pacific. That adds to the excitement that normally comes with a championship.
Pete Kowalski, USGA Media Relations
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Friday, September 28, 2007
England’s Gary Wolstenholme Finds His Way To Bandon Dunes
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If you’re a golfer, Bandon Dunes Resort is one of those far away places you have heard about. You may even have seen some of the beautiful pictures in a magazine. The journey to get here is long, but worth the trip.
The journey is even longer when you are Gary Wolstenholme, England’s top mid-amateur golfer, and you are starting the trek from London.
“It feels like I’ve been on an epic journey already,” said the 47-year-old Wolstenholme, a two-time British Amateur champion and six-time Walker-Cupper who beat Tiger Woods in a 1995 singles match. “When you make a commitment like this, it becomes more of a special occasion. This tournament is so well run, and you meet many interesting people.”
A marketing officer for a golf club outside of London, Wolstenholme began his travels to Bandon, Ore., on Tuesday afternoon (Sept. 25). The first leg took him from London all the way to Seattle. After missing a connection, he then flew to Portland and spent the night before driving south more than five hours to the rural coastal Bandon community.
Wolstenholme figures he will spend more than $3,000 for the chance to play in this Mid-Amateur. But, when you consider that he is a straight hitter who plays well in the wind and rain (heavy rains are expected on Sunday), it just might be worth the trip.
Something tells me he’ll be around long enough to get his body adjusted to the eight-hour time difference from London. It’s a treat to have this USGA championship mean so much to one of the best career amateur golfers in the world.
Written by Craig Smith, USGA director of media relations. Email him with questions and comments at csmith@usga.org.
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The Hoopers Make USGA Volunteer Service A Family Affair
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This is the 27th U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship, and Bob Hooper, a championship committee member for the USGA, has been every step of the way.
“I haven’t missed a single day in 27 years,” said Hooper, proudly.
He remembers when Jay Sigel, the best mid-amateur player of all time, rallied from five holes down with five holes to play to win a Mid-Amateur match in the mid-80s.
“His opponent made four pars and a birdie coming in and still lost on the 19th hole,” Hooper recalled. “It was the damnedest thing I’ve ever seen.”
It’s been a labor of love for the 74-year-old Hooper, who retired from his dentist practice in Wilmington, Del., eight years ago. He’s seen the Mid-Amateur grow from humble beginnings to the present day when the championship receives more than 4,000 entries, gets host invitations from some of the best courses in the country, and offers a Masters invitation to the winner.
“We used to sit at our committee dinner and not know where we were playing the next year,” said Hooper. “Now we have 30 invitations each year and land some of the best places, like Bandon Dunes.”
His wife, Carolyn, caught the golf bug as well. She is in her 11th year as a member of the USGA Women’s Committee, the foremost women’s group in the USGA outside structure. The Committee oversees conduct of the Women’s Open and Women’s Amateur.
When I asked which of them was the better Rules official, each pointed to the other. I guess that’s how they’ve stayed happily married for 50 years.
“It’s been a great hobby; a great ride,” said Hooper.
Written by Craig Smith, USGA director of media relations. Email him with questions or comments at csmith@usga.org.
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