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U.S. Mid-Amateur Blog
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Dave Brown of Highlands Ranch, Colo., has withdrawn because of a wrist injury.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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