SNE Golfer June 2013

R W EA W O D .S U N NL EG IN S E O LF ER .C O M W

CVS CAREMARK CHARITY CLASSIC ISSUE

JUNE 2013

VOL. 3 NO. 2

David Colt Photography

BEST COVERAGE OF GOLF IN RI, MASS & CONN

2012 Masters Champion

Annika Returns

Bubba Watson Marshfield’s Geoff Sisk returns to U.S. Open for seventh time

returns to CVS Caremark Charity Classic for second time

TEE TO GREEN 3 4 5

COVER STORY EDITORIAL NORTHEAST AMATEUR 6 GOLF INSTRUCTION 7 BURKE CHAMPIONSHIP 9 COLLEGE GOLF 11 RI NOTEBOOK 12 JUNIOR GOLF 15 WESTERN MASS NOTES 16 PEOPLE IN GOLF 18 CT NOTEBOOK 20 CVS CAREMARK FIELD PICTORIAL 23 TRAVELERS CHAMPIONSHIP 24 CENTRAL MASS NOTES 28 MENTAL GOLF 30 PRODUCT REVIEWS 33 EASTERN MASS NOTES 34 GOLFING IN PENNSYLVANIA 36 SNE GOLF LOCATOR MAP & MUCH MORE!

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

COVER STORY

By BOB DICKSON

CVS Caremark Charity Classic has Wonderful Field

B

illy Andrade likes to call Bubba Watson and Ricky Fowler a couple of rock stars on the PGA Tour. Andrade’s long-time buddy and co-host of the annual CVS Caremark Charity Classic, Brad Faxon counters with, “Other than Tiger and Phil, I think they’re the two most popular American players in the game.”

So what’s all this hoopla over Watson (2012 Masters winner) and Fowler (three top 10 finishes this year on tour) mean? Well, that exciting duo was among the first players to accept an invitation to play in this year’s 15th annual CVS Caremark Charity Classic at the Rhode Island Country Club June 23-25.

“What makes their appearance here so special,” says Andrade is “they could have gone anywhere, they’re so popular, but they chose to come here and that means a lot to us.

We reached out to them when they were just beginning their careers, now they had a choice and they chose to help us out again.”

Watson and Fowler headline a group of 20 golfers who will take part in the $1.55 million event. Joining them will be a standout group of golfers including Steve Stricker, Nick Price, Bo Van Pelt, Michael Thompson, Russell Henley, Peter Jacobsen, Jay and Bill Haas and Billy Horschel, along with LPGA stars Julie Inkster,

Morgan Pressel, Lexi Thompson and the legendary Annika Sorenstam, now retired.

Pressel and Jay Haas are returning to defend their 2012 championship. Pressel was the first LPGA player to win this event. What makes her appearance here this year so special is that the CVS tourney will finish just before the start of the U.S. Women’s Open, which will be played at Seabonack Golf Club on Long Island.

Pressel will have very little time to prepare for that major tourney.

Price is returning for the 10th time. He’s won it three times but has been hampered of late by an elbow injury. The South African has been named captain of the international team for the 2013 Presidents Cup. Van Pelt, Horschel, Thompson and Henley are making their first appearance in the CVS tourney.

So there you have it, another entertaining and talented group of professional golfers taking time out from their very busy schedules to help raise money for needy charities in the Rhode Island and Southeastern Mass. area.

Through the years this event has raised more than $16 million for charities around the region. And here comes the real good news. This event is going to continue with no thoughts of bringing it to an end.

There had been concerns that when Tom Ryan, a key founder of this tournament along with Faxon and Andrade, retired as CVS CEO last year, the event would lose steam and eventually go away.

Not so, says the new boss of CVS Caremark, Larry Merlo. “It’s all about support of our sponsors, our working charities, the terrific work that Brad and Billy do,” he said. “It’s a winning combination and as long as that combination exists we hope to continue to sponsor the CVS Caremark Classic. I think for our younger crowd the addition this year of Ricky Fowler and Lexi Thompson will be quite an attraction.”

Andrade added, “Larry is fully committed to this event and he knows the impact it has on our state. I don’t see any reason not to keep it going and I never hear any talk of maybe not continuing it.”

Faxon pointed out that he does not see any loss of energy or loss of interest on the part of players wanting to come and play here.

What has become unique is that the CVS event remains the only one of its type to remain active and productive. But, at the same time, Andrade admits that with he and Faxon no longer on the PGA Tour it is a little tougher to reach players.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

Faxon pointed out that it’s actually harder to figure out whom you want than whom you don’t want. “There are a lot of players who want to play here, so we try to get the wellknown players, the hot players and blend them all in with LPGA and Champions Tour players.

It’s great for Billy and I, it’s great for RIIC and I think Larry sees the value with the amount of money that goes to the charities,” Faxon noted.

Tourney Notes: Watson and Fowler do more than golf. They’re two members of the parody band “Golf Boys” made famous by their 2011 hit “Oh,Oh Oh.” Earlier this year the four member band reunited to release another single “2.Oh.” Dan Hicks, the lead golf announcer at NBC, will be the emcee for this year’s event.

Veterans will be honored with complimentary tickets for all active, reserve and retired military service members and their dependants.

Jacobsen, Faxon and Andrade are the only golfers to have played in this tournament since its inception in 1999.

The Pepsi Max Shootout returns where the first-place team from both the morning and afternoon rounds of the Sunday Pepsi Pro Am compete in a playoff during the first round of the Pro tournament.

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FROM THE EDITOR

J

une continues to be my favorite time of the year for watching golfers in our area. How lucky we are to have the best amateurs in the world playing in the Northeast Amateur at Wannomoisett Country Club in East Providence on June 19-22,.The Travelers Championship in Cromwell, Ct. follows on June 20-23, and then twenty of the top men’s and women’s professional golfers will be playing at Rhode Island Country Club as part of the CVS Caremark Charity Classic on June 23-25. We should probably give a prize to the people who manage to take in all three venues. We will, email me at the address at the bottom of this column if you went to all three. We at Southern New England Golfer will be there and we’ll get a pictorial up on our website at www.snegolfer.com soon after the events are completed.

Bubba Watson was an obvious pick for our cover boy. His return to Rhode Island and his partnering with Rickie

Fowler at the CVS event should make for huge crowds. Another participant at the CVS is Billy Horschel, one of the hottest players on the PGA TOUR this year. Scott Cordischi interviewed Horschel and you can read it on page 10. Kathie Dyson, who has interviewed Annika Sorenstam many times, gives our readers some interesting facts about Annika on page 26.

Harbor Lights Marina and Country Club has done a remarkable job in making the Warwick Cove area an excellent golf attraction. We were at the open house recently and you need to see the renovations.

There is an ad in this issue about golfing in Northern Ireland. We did this trip a few years ago, and it provided memories of a lifetime. If you are planning a golf trip across the pond, then this is a good choice. We also have stories about Mesquite, Nev., a hidden gem and Shawnee Resort in Pennsylvania only four hours away.

There are many golf tournaments that we just can’t cover, but we will try to keep you posted on our scoreboard page. It’s always good to see your name in print, and we will try to highlight as many events as possible.

Please make it a point to get to one or all of these high profile local tournaments if possible this month. You will have a great time and see some great golf. Visit our website often as we try to keep you posted with what’s happening in our golf world between now and our next issue on July 31. Keep your head down and swing easy.

Bruce Vittner is the publisher/editor of Southern New England Golfer and can be reached at bruce@snegolfer.com.

TRIVIA 1. When was first U.S. Open held?

2. Where was it held?

3. What was the format?

4. What was the prize money?

5. When does the tournament always finish?

6. What other celebration day is that?

7. Who is the U.S. Open “Doctor”?

8. Who had it before him?

9. What is the playoff format?

10. Who lost the last playoff and when?

Editor/Publisher BRUCE VITTNER bruce@snegolfer.com Design/Production DEB BASILE Contributing Writers DAVE ADAMONIS, JR. BRUCE BERLET GEOFF CONVERSE SCOTT CORDISCHI BOB DICESARE BOB DICKSON BILL DOYLE TOM DRENNAN KATHARINE DYSON TIM GEARY TOM GORMAN RUSS HELD DEREK HOOPER BRUCE HUTCHINSON DR. KEVIN ROBY CAROLYN VITTNER Staff Photographers JIM CALORIO BOB LAVALLEE Sales Manager JIM GRAY jamesgray4@cox.net Account Executive ROY WAGNER Web Design SUSAN VITTNER Publishing Information: Southern New England Golfer is published five times per year: January, May, June, August, and September Editorial: Mail all articles, releases, and other items to Editor, Southern New England Golfer, P.O. BOX 10038, Cranston, RI 02910.

Materials will not be returned unless accompanied by a stamped, self-addressed envelope. All rights reserved.

Advertising: Southern New England Golfer is not responsible for advertising copy. Corrected advertising will be placed in future issues.

Answers 1. 1895 2. Newport Country Club 3. 36 hole match play in one day 4. $150 to winner of $335 total prize money 5. Third Sunday in June 6. Fathers Day 7. Rees Jones 8. His father, Robert Trent Jones 9. 18 holes the next day 10. Rocco Mediate in 2008

© 2013. Reproduction without permission is strictly prohibited.

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

AMATEUR GOLF

By T.F. GEARY

Final Northeast Am for Chairman Glass

W

hen Denny Glass took over for Bill Lunnie as the Chairman of the Northeast Amateur in 1994, he didn’t realize what a huge responsibility it entailed.

The 52nd Northeast (June 19-22) at venerable Wannamoisett Country Club will be the last for Glass, who turns the reins over to a most capable successor, Joseph Sprague Jr. Sprague, whose full-time job as Executive Director of the Massachusetts Golf Association, is hardly a novice in regards to the Northeast.

He grew up at Wannamoisett and has been working the tournament in one capacity or another since he was old enough to carry a grown man’s golf bag.

“The Northeast Amateur has always been very special to me,” said Sprague. “I grew up here, playing golf and caddying. My first Northeast was 1973, the year (Ben) Crenshaw won. Other than the seven years I lived away, I’ve been involved with the tournament one way or another.”

Sprague has played, caddied and worked on the grounds crew (while in college). When he returned to Rhode Island, in 1992 to work for the RIGA, he began helping set up the golf course for the Northeast, an endeavor he continued even after taking the position as the

head of the MGA. For his part, Glass is delighted to be able to turn the reins over to such a capable and close friend. “I am very comfortable giving this over to Joe,” said Glass. “It was very important to me to get the right person. You just can’t give this to just anyone. There’s a lot of time commitment and passion behind it and Joe has got that.” While Sprague probably knows as much about this tournament as anyone, he’s discovered even more since agreeing to pick up the mantle of chairman. “I’ve learned in the last couple of months how much work this is,” he admitted. “I was always involved with the golf course and conducting the actual tournament.

I knew the administrative side entailed a great deal of work but I couldn’t imagine how much, and I’ve still got a lot to learn.”

The Northeast is ranked as the seventh most prestigious amateur tournament in the world, and as such, attracts an elite field each year.

This year will be no different as many of the top ranked players around the globe descend on Rumford for four days, where many are housed not in hotels but in the homes of Wannamoisett members.

Among the 88 players entered in this year’s tournament are defending champion, Justin

Shin, past champion Todd White, Bobby Wyatt, the top ranked amateur in the world, who led Alabama to the national championship, Max Homa, the 2013 D-1 individual national champion, and Nathan Smith, the reigning U.S. Mid Am champion.

2013 Jack Nicklaus Award winner Michael Kim, Byron Nelson Award winner Brinson Paolini and Beau Hossler, the young man who stole the spotlight at last year’s U.S. Open when he led after 36 holes, will join them.

Again there will be a strong New England flavor to the event, led by Wannamoisett’s own Charlie Blanchard, the reigning RIGA Player of the Year, Bobby Leopold, Brad Valois, Cameron Wilson and R.I. Stroke Play champion, Jamison Randall,(all Rhode Islanders) as well as multiple Mass Am champ, Frank Vana and Blake Morris.

Also competing are U.S. Challenge Cup Player of the Year, Danny Guise, N.E. Am champion, Chris Swift, Ouimet Memorial champion, Jack Whelan and Southern Am champion, Peter Williamson.

Glass, who will continue to chair the Terra Cotta Amateur in Naples, Florida, says the past two decades have involved both joy and dramatic change. “It has gone by quickly, but it’s also been a long time and things have

Denny Glass (l) passes the reins to Joe Sprague, Jr. changed so much over that time,” he said. “The transition has been so dramatic in the game itself and how it’s played now. The depth of talent is so much greater now than it was even 20 years ago. There are so many more players who shoot low scores now,” he added.

Tim Geary is a retired sports writer and was a longtime member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America.

He can be reached at timgeary@snegolfer.com.

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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By DEREK HOOPER

W

atching the telecast of the PGA Tour event each week it may seem obvious that golf is an individual sport. Yes, each player has a caddy to carry their clubs, give yardages and help keep the player focused, but ultimately the player is alone is executing the shot. But there is so much more to it than that.

You may not realize it, but golf at the highest level, is a team game. There are many people involved in the process of helping a player perform at the highest level. Now, the recreational or competitive amateur golfer may not need a manager or a full time caddy for them to achieve their goals, but there are a few key people that should be part of your team if you want to play your best golf.

Coach – The player is at the center of the team, and the coach and player set the goals, but the coach is the driver of the process, the one who implements the

GOLF INSTRUCTION

Golf is a Team Game plan to ensure set goals are reached. The coach can deliver a wide variety of critical components to the process including swing technician, motivator, mental coach, club fitter and team coordinator.

The best players in the world work regularly with their coaches not because they don’t know how to play, but because there are things that happen in the golf swing that they simply can not see. Players are also not experts at cause and effect in the golf swing. As good as they are they can get off track with their swing mechanics just as easily as you.

Several years ago I heard a great analogy about the player-coach relationship. If you have ever watched a Formula 1 car race, the driver is the at the center of his team, but when the car pulls into the pits you don’t see the driver jump out of the car and start working on the engine. He has a team that looks after that side of the things so he can focus on driving the car

and winning races.

Golf is the same. The player should play the game and trust their coach to make sure the plan is working in the desired direction.

Health Professional – The player is at the center of the process, the coach drives the process while the health professional ensures the player has the physical ability to move the club as efficiently as possible.

Going back to the Formula 1 analogy, the health professional is an integral part of the pit crew. They make sure the car is running smoothly, that there are no imbalances in the system that could cause a lack of performance in the future.

The health professional is responsible for ensuring the golfer’s body is balanced, that there are no deficiencies in strength and flexibility that will limit performance or even worse, cause future injury. They are critical in helping a player swing the club as fast and accurately as possible, for you can not build sound technique on a poorly equipped body. Consistently controlling ball flight will be extremely difficult and maximizing distance will be severely compromised if the body can not move efficiently.

The trained health professional provides regular physical screenings of the player to check for deficiencies as well as to track progress. They then provide interventions in the form of exercises or massage to

balance out the player’s body and allow them to perform at their best and stay injury free.

You could add more people to your team including a specialist sports psychologist and a nutritionist, but if you are serious about improving your golf game and playing your best, then you should start with at least the coach and health professional.

Derek Hooper is the Director of Instruction at the Troon Golf Academy Lake of Isles.

Derek has a college degree in teaching and over 17 years experience conducting lesson programs in Australia, Japan and Taiwan.

He specializes in personalized, improvement programs that cover the technical and physical components required to play your best golf.

Derek can be contacted at 1.888.475.3746 or dhooper@troongolf.com.

Rising Star Kevin Streelman

Age: 34 Birthplace: Winfield, Illinois Family: Wife, Courtney College: Duke Turned Pro: 2001 Kevin Streelman is having a breakout year after earning his first victory at the 2013 Tampa Bay Classic at Innisbrook in February. He was near the lead for the first three rounds at this year’s Players Championship and finished tied for second. In the 15 events he has entered this year he has made the cut in ten and had five top 10’s.

Kevin was a member of the Duke team that earned many honors. He was the intercollegiate champion in 2001. After turning professional he borrowed his mother’s car and traveled over 300,000 miles on it going to various tours. He earned his PGA Tour card by finishing 14th at the 2007 Q School.

For the past five years he has made it to the first stop in the FedEx playoffs, but has never made it to second round. That should change this year as he is currently fourth in FedEx points and fifth in yearly earnings with $2,572,989 as of June 6.

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF

By BOB DICKSON

Leopold Wins Third Straight Burke Memorial B obby Leopold, now playing out of the Ledgemont C.C., is closing in on Wannamoisett legend Charlie Blanchard as the all-time winner of the RIGA’s Burke Memorial Championship.

Leopold has now won four of these titles including the last three after capturing this season’s RIGA inaugural event at Wanumetonomy by beating Austin Eaton III on the first hole of a sudden death playoff. Blanchard, who has won this title five times, ended up third one shot ahead of Crestwood’s Jon Costa III and Metacomet’s Brad Valois.

However, there were moments when Leopold believed this year’s title might elude him. He trailed Eaton by two shots after the first 18 at Carnegie Abbey and then fell behind by three at the turn on the second day at Wanumetonomy.

But Leopold’s tenacity refused to allow him to give in under really cool, windy and rainy conditions, and he managed to stay close to Eaton before finally catching him on the par three 17th with a par to Eaton’s bogey. Both parred the 18th and

ended up tied after regulation with a one over 142. Leopold had rounds of 70 and 72 while Eaton finished up with 68 and 74. Blanchard (73, 73) closed out at fiveover 146.

Leopold then won his third straight Burke crown when he parred the first playoff hole (10th) while Eaton bogeyed the hole. In fact, Leopold nearly holed out his second shot with a lob wedge, the ball ending up 10 feet from the pin.

“Austin was on in three, I was on in two so I knew all I had to do was two-putt to win it,” said Leopold. “I’ve done pretty well on extra holes. At the U.S. Am I got through two playoffs to get to match play.

In those situations I know I need to make birdie or par at worst so my mindset is to hit the fairway, hit the green and make the putt.”

Prior to his nifty three under 33 on the final nine of the tournament, Leopold was down on himself. “Yes, I was down after the first nine of the final round because I knew I could play better,” he said. “But I still felt I had it in me to come back because I have

done it before. Fortunately, I was able to dig down and find something that allowed me to pull through, but before that I just wasn’t playing well. I was missing putts I should have made. I had some misreads.

It wasn’t good.”

As for Eaton, a former national Mid Am champion (2004) and a U.S. Amateur semifinalist (2005) his main problem, he said, was his unfamiliarity with Wanumetonomy. “Look, I missed some putts I should have made but that’s golf.

I would have liked to have played better down the stretch but my main problem was that I didn’t know the course. I had never played here. I hit some balls in some spots that I definitely would not do again,” he said. “But I was happy to get into the playoff and Bobby played well.”

Leopold started to play well when he rolled in a tough 15 footer for par on 10 to start the final nine. “If I don’t make that I’m in trouble, maybe five or six over and out of it,” he said. Then Leopold birdied the par three 12th. “That was the turning point for me,” he added. “The big save on

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

10 and the birdie on 12 got me going.”

Still, Eaton, a second year member of the Pawtucket C.C., maintained his edge.

Eaton was one up on 16 where both birdied that hole before Leopold parred 17 to Eaton’s bogey. “That hole was very costly,” said Eaton.

It sure was. It gave Leopold the opening he had been waiting for and he took full advantage of it by going on to win his fourth Burke title. partial results on page 32 Bob Dickson is a retired sports writer for the Providence Journal and a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America.

7

By BRUCE VITTNER

HIGH SCHOOL GOLF

Barrington Wins High School Championship

Kraunelis repeats as individual champ

B

arrington High School continued its dominance of the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Golf Championship with a convincing 23stroke win over Bishop Hendricken at Cranston Country Club on May 29. This was their sixth championship in the last

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seven years. Only Cumberland two years ago was able to stop this juggernaut.

Barrington had a 14-stoke lead over Hendricken after the first day’s scores in this 36-hole event. Only the top four teams were invited back for the second day to compete for the championship, and the top 20 players and all within 10 strokes of the leader were invited back to compete for the individual championship.

The individual champion for the second straight year was Dave Kraunelis, a senior from Barrington who will be heading to the University of Miami in Ohio in the fall. Kraunelis opened with a 76 the first day that left him five behind first-round leader Jonathan Wahl, a junior from Lincoln H.S. and four other players.

“I thought I’d have to shoot under par,” said a happy and relieved Kraunelis after receiving high-fives from his teammates, relatives and friends after the final round.

He ended up shooting even par, 71, and that was good enough to win by two over

Jake Bauer, a lefty from Portsmouth who shot 74-75 to finish at 149.

Kraunelis was even par 35 at the turn that brought him closer to the leaders, and he had a dramatic eagle 3 at the par-5 13th hole to give him the lead by four. Bogeys on 17 and 18 kept him from shooting under par but not taking home the winning hardware.

“I hit the ball about the same both days, but I putted much better today and that was the difference,” added Kraunelis.

Wahl was unable to back up his great round the first day. “Everything was clicking yesterday. I wasn’t nervous with the lead and I was looking forward to today, but it just didn’t happen. It seemed like I was between clubs all day and a double on 12 when I was plugged in a bunker sealed my fate,” said a smiling Wahl who finished tied for third with Barrington’s John Howell.

Bauer had the two most consistent rounds in the tournament with a 74-75149. “I finished strong today with birdies on 16 and 17 and just lipped out for bird on 18.” His double bogey on the 9th hole was his undoing.

Nicole Scola, a senior from Prout who will be attending Quinnipiac on a golf scholarship next year, was the only girl who qualified for the finals. She shot 75 the first day to be in fifth place heading into the final round. She shot a 79 to finish eighth. “I took the option to play from the boys’ tees so that I could be eligible for the championship,” said Scola who said she loved competing against the boys and “beating them once in awhile.”

“It definitely helped my game and made me a better player,” she added.

Barrington had three of their 6 players shoot in the 70’s on both days. Teams are allowed to bring six players and only the top four scores count. Hendricken, who used to be the dominant golf team back in the 90s and early 2000s, was lead by Justin Matrone who finished at 151.

Chariho High School had its best finish ever in the RIIL Golf Championships as they finished in third place only four strokes behind Hendricken. “This was a great showing for us,” said Chariho coach Mike Nedwidek who had his players all wearing their team shirts.

There was a bit of a controversy in the singles competition as Matt Corio, a sophomore from LaSalle had his score posted as 74-74-148 to take the lead in the clubhouse about an hour before Kraunelis finished. “When I saw the score posted as a 74, I knew I had shot a 75 and went up to tell the committee, said a very sad Corio afterwards. “Once the score is posted and signed for, there is no changes allowed, and the player must be disqualified for signing a wrong scorecard, but no one feels worse than me,” said Cameron Quinn from the committee. “I guess I didn’t check my score close enough before signing my card (that was kept by another member in the threesome), said Corio who has been one of the top players in the interscholastic league all season.

Mike Lombardi, owner of Cranston Country Club, has hosted the RIIL Championships for over 25 of the last 30 years. “It’s the right thing to do,” said Lombardi. “It’s fun to watch the talent of these young players and it’s good for the game and helps promote junior golf,” he added.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

COLLEGE GOLF

J

By TOM DRENNAN

Spotlight on Yale & Providence Coaches

oe Prisco announced his retirement in November of 2012 after 65 years at the helm of the Providence College Friars. He was the only golf coach Providence has ever had; Joe is 94 years old! We caught up with Joe recently as he was about to leave his home to play golf. He has played in the same foursome for the past several years and the losing team must pay for lunch. Joe has not had to pay often.

Coach Prisco was inducted into the Golf Coaches Association of America in 1987 and the Providence College Hall of Fame in 1989.

The winner of many awards, he was easily one of the most popular coaches and professors (accounting) at his alma mater. Joe graduated from Providence College in 1949.

When asked to name his favorite team, he dodged the question saying, “Each one was special in their own way.” Of particular note was the 1966-67 and the 67-68 team that won the New England Championship and qualified for the National title in San Francisco. There was always a golf rivalry between PC Friars and URI Rams. The two teams would fight it out during the regular season and then share expenses so that the golfers would be able to

travel to the NCAA finals.

Joe had a reputation of being a first class coach and a genuine good man. He always put the player first and was highly admired by his fellow coaches. Coach Prisco had a great career!

It didn’t take long for 5th year coach Colin Sheehan of Yale to make his mark on the New England collegiate golf scene. Since taking over for longtime coach Dave Patterson, he has had a very successful publishing and writing career highlighted by his book recording the history of the U.S. Amateur. However, his coaching exploits far exceed his other accomplishments.

His teams have won the ECAC Championship (2000), the Ivy League Match Play (2009), the MacDonald Cup (2009, 2011, 2012) and the Ivy League Championship (2011). Sheehan was named Division One Northeast Region Coach of the Year in June, 2011. The “Eli” finished as the Number One team in New England and Yale’s Sam Bernstein took home Individual honors for the 2013 season.

Coach Sheehan has built a very challenging schedule, taking his team throughout the country. His Bulldogs are heading in the right

direction as they aim for a Top-100 ranking.

We wish them luck.

Coach’s Corner: Recruiting in 2013

The lifeblood of any college golf program is how well you did in recruiting. While it lends itself to some crazy experiences, the NCAA is always looking for better ways to administer this experience. What was once a procedure where student athletes looked at schools in their junior year and chose their senior year, things have changed.

Golf, like its other partners in Athletic Departments, are signing or receiving verbal commitment as early as the athlete’s sophomore year. Only recently the NCAA has recognized the shift in the calendar for recruiting and has made an attempt to address this problem.

For the 2013 class of recruits, it appears this was a good year for the locals. We have attempted to identify new players coming into our area as well as some of those who have left on page 32. Though the list is incomplete, it does give us an update of some of those involved.

On another front, we have taken a look at the recruiting process itself and from time to

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

time will have some tips on the process.

Some ideas for parents and student athletes that may prove helpful: • Provide positive support to the student during this process. The more organized the parents, the easier it is for the golfer to relax and make their choice.

• Be realistic academically, athletically and socially. There is a college and golf program for everybody.

• Start the college visits earlier. College golfers are committing earlier than any time in history.

• In interviews, let your son/daughter do most of the talking. The coaches are interested in listening to the recruit and will be available to talk to you at another time.

• Good grades are important to the process, please monitor your son or daughter’s grades to insure their success.

Tom Drennan is the retired head coach of the University of Rhode Island golf team. He led the team for 23 years and was named New England Coach of the Year 10 times. He was inducted into the Golf Coaches Assn. Hall of Fame in 2000 and served as the president of the GCAA from 2004-2006.

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By SCOTT CORDISCHI

GOLFER PROFILE

An Interview with PGA Standout Billy Horschel

B

illy Horschel is one of the great “young guns” on the PGA Tour. As of the time this article was written, Horschel was 4th on the PGA Tour’s money list with $2,588,447 in earnings. He was also fifth in the FedEx Cup standings.

Southern New England Golfer caught up with Horschel who will be coming to Rhode Island to participate in his first CVS Caremark Charity Classic later this month.

SNEG: Are you excited about playing in your first CVS Caremark Charity Classic?

Horschel: Yes, I really am! It’s something I’ve actually paid attention to since it started in 1999. I love the game of golf, and whatever tournaments are on. Growing up I used to watch it so it’s nice to be a part of it. Brad asked me and I was happy to accept.

SNEG: Did you know Brad before this?

How did this invitation come about?

Horschel: Actually, Billy (Andrade) and I played at Pebble Beach earlier this year for the first three rounds and I said to him, “You know I’d love to play in your CVS Tournament whenever you guys would be willing to have me.” And he said, “Absolutely, if things work out in the next year or two we’d love to have you.” And I guess with the way that I’m playing this year, they thought that now would be a good time to have me and I was ecstatic and more than willing to accept.

SNEG: You have played so well this year making the cut in all but one event. At one point you had a 9th place finish followed by a 2nd and 3rd and then your win at the Zurich Classic in New Orleans. What has led to that sensational play?

Horschel: Going back to my college days, I was always a consistent player. I may not have won as many college events but I was always around the top 10-15 or near the lead every week. I’m a good ball striker and

driver of the golf ball and I think it’s taken me a couple of years to get that consistency out here on Tour and I’ve improved on my short game and putting which eventually led to that victory. It was a relief to finally get that first victory.

SNEG: One of the benefits of winning is being able to play in the majors like the upcoming US Open. You must be excited about that.

Horschel: I think to be a great player in golf you have to win majors and in order to win majors you have to play in majors.

It’s being in big tournaments with the best players in the world and I think it’s just the next step in where I want my career to go. And hopefully the next step I take is winning a major, and then winning multiple majors and trying to become the best player in the world.

SNEG: I understand you are a big supporter of the military. Could you explain why?

Horschel: Yes. One of my uncles was in the Vietnam War. My older brother was in the Navy and my teacher’s middle son, Taylor, is a Marine. The military is so huge for us. We wouldn’t have the country that we have and the freedom that we have without all of the men and women who have given their lives for us over the years.

SNEG: I understand that, as a kid, you wanted to become either a pro baseball player or a pro golfer. What led you to becoming a pro golfer?

Horschel: I was a pretty good baseball player and thought I might have a chance to play but, just before high school, I broke

Phil and Davis are playing a match. Phil’s ball lands on a concrete cart path. His nearest point of relieve will cause his ball to be dropped against a bush. Phil opts to play the ball as it lies on the path. Can he do that? Davis says no.

Ruling: Yes, Phil can play the ball off the path. If the ball is in the middle of the path, the nearest point of relief would be on the side where he can drop it closest to the path. In Phil’s case being a lefty, he would drop it to the right of the path.

Just the opposite for Davis who is right handed. Rule 24-1.

10

Listen to the Golf Radio Show every Saturday morning on the WEEI network at 6AM in Providence, 6:30AM in Boston and 7AM in Worcester & Springfield.

my elbow playing baseball. I thought it was a sign that maybe it was time to turn to golf. So I’m happy with the way things worked out.

SNEG: I also understand that you’re a big fan of the Red Sox, Patriots and Celtics.

How did that happen to a kid who was born and raised in Florida?

Horschel: I was born and raised in Coco Beach and live in Jacksonville now.

Although I have no family up in the Boston area, my dad had three close friends from the New England area that moved down to Florida as young adults. Being raised around them and watching games of New England teams, I just kind of caught on to the Boston scene......Tim Wakefield is a big buddy of mine who was a great player for (the Red Sox) for many, many years.

SNEG: Will this be your first time playing golf in Rhode Island or did you play in the Northeast Amateur?

Horschel: I played two years at Wannamoisett and I actually talked to my host, David Murphy, and we agreed to get together for dinner one night while I’m there. I’m really looking forward to it.

I love the area and I have a lot of good memories. I loved Wannamoisett and the Northeast Amateur and I’m really looking forward to seeing some people I haven’t seen in a few years.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

RI NOTEBOOK

Dr. George Pirie Pirie Back on the Greens He has been a winner all his life on the Rhode Island and northeast amateur golf scene. Dr. George Pirie, a very successful periodontist, is a member of the RIGA Hall of Fame, so he knows what its like to appear in the winner’s circle.

But right now, at age 63, Pirie may have achieved his biggest triumph. “I’m lucky to be alive,” claimed Pirie at this year’s Burke Memorial Tournament where he was the low scoring senior with rounds of 77 and 75.

Last November no one would have given him a hole-in-one chance of teeing it up at the first RIGA major tournament of the 2013 season. However, folks who don’t know Pirie don’t truly understand the competitive nature this man has.

Only that enormous appetite to win has allowed him to survive a major heart attack, a triple bypass, an irregular heartbeat, a frozen shoulder and a 30-pound weight loss all within a span of 5 1⁄2 months to get him back into the swing of things.

“Last fall I hadn’t been feeling well but I went to a major convention in Spain for a few days. Didn’t feel great. Came home, delivered a lecture but on the night of Nov. 19, I suffered a major heart attack at home,” Pieri recalled. “I had major breathing problems. I was in real trouble.”

The “doc” as he is known among his golfing colleagues was taken to the heart unit at Rhode Island Hospital. It was determined that he had a big-time artery blockage. Stents would not help; only major bypass surgery would take care of

the problem. It did, but not the irregular heartbeat. That persisted.

“I’ve had an irregular heartbeat for years.

I had one procedure to try and correct it but it didn’t work. So this time I had to undergo another procedure awhile after my heart operation and that one corrected things,” Pirie said.

However, when given the ok to resume his golf swing, Pirie found out he had little movement in his left shoulder.

Basically it was frozen due to the surgery, which damaged nerve endings in that area. Intense rehab work followed and continues.

“I feel much better, I’m on a better diet but I’m still weak,” Pirie said. Slowly, the shoulder is loosening up.

What has changed about Pirie, though, is his need to win isn’t such a high priority anymore. “I’ve always had high expectations but now I look at things differently and consider myself just lucky to be even competing...but I still grind,” he noted with a smile that says he still loves to swing those clubs looking for meaningful results.

Costa Ties for Fourth Crestwood’s Jon Costa III skied to an ugly 79 on the first day of the Burke Memorial at Carnegie Abbey. He came away totally frustrated. His left elbow was hurting, so much so that he believed he would not be able to play the second round at Wanumetonomy the next day. “I finished my round by just hitting the ball around so I could keep up with the other guys,” said Costa.

That decision turned out to hurt him more than his left elbow because the next morning when he awoke, the elbow pain was gone so he did compete in round two.

And what a difference a day makes. Even though the weather conditions weren’t good (gusty winds, some rain and very cool temperatures) Costa proceeded to shoot the best round of the day, a two under 68, and finished in a tie for fourth.

Costa did, however, make some changes to his swing. “I shortened it a little. I kind of punched the ball and kept it under the wind and everything worked out,” he said.

“And I got some breaks especially on the

By BOB DICKSON third and fourth holes when I thought my ball landed in bad spots but didn’t and I was able to save pars.”

Still, Costa, who had only one bogey in the second round, did have some regrets.

“If I hadn’t just hit the ball around to finish the first round when I thought I wasn’t going to play the second round, who knows, maybe I might have closed in on the leaders.”

RIGA 4-Ball Champs The 64th RIGA 4-ball championship was won by the Pawtucket C.C. twosome of Ryan Pelletier and Kyle Hoffman at the Point Judith C.C. in late May. Pelletier and Hoffman combined for rounds of 67 and 68 for a 7-under total of 135 three shots ahead of second place finishers John Kelly Jr. and Billy McDonald both from Meadowbrook G.C. Kelly and McDonald carded 36-hole scores of 68 and 70.

Travis Tucker and Seamus Fennelly of the Foster C.C. were third at 3 under 139 while Ledgemont’s Bobby Leopold and Wannamoisett’s Ben Tuthill came in fourth at 2 under 140. Results on page 32

Andrade’s Turn Brad Faxon took the giant leap into seniorville, at least in the world of professional golf when he joined the Champions Tour (players 50 and older) last year. Now it’s Billy Andrade’s turn.

Yes, come next January Andrade, whom we have all watched grow from a high school star at Providence Country Day to a standout at Wake Forest University to a winner on the PGA Tour, will join the socalled old guys on the Champions Tour.

“I can’t wait,” he said. “After being off the PGA Tour for a few years, I’m now playing in Web.com tournaments and in a bunch of those type of events to get my game back in gear. I quit my television job so I’m just concentrating on golf.”

And turning 50 doesn’t bother him.

“I just feel fantastic to be out there competing. I just love it. Being 50 doesn’t bother me. It’s a wonderful second career opportunity. No other sport offers that,” Andrade pointed out.

And best of all Andrade believes he won’t have to qualify on Mondays to play in tournaments. “They told me that the money I made on tour and the number of wins I had will make me exempt, so that will be good,” he said. “I’m really energized.”

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

11

By DAVE ADAMONIS, JR Scola Equals History After playing brilliantly at the Rhode Island Interscholastic League Championship just days earlier, Nicole Scola looked like a synch to tie Dara Rittman’s record of winning four consecutive RIIL Girls Individual titles.

The fact that Scola was in attendance in pursuit of such history was amazing, never mind the fact that she equaled Rittman’s feat.

On the Friday before the Girls Championship Scola was involved in a single car rollover accident just around the corner from her home. Fortunately, the Prout School star avoided serious injury.

“I’m fortunate to be alive right now and I’m really happy I was able to play,” said Scola after posting an 11-over-par 83 to earn her a fourth consecutive title in the Interscholastic League’s Girls Championship at Point Judith Country Club.

“There’s a sharp curve on the road near my house. I swerved to avoid an animal and hit a patch of sand. I went into these gigantic hedges on the side of the road.

The hedges caught the car and flipped it.

The car ended up on its roof, but Scola, who was driving alone, was wearing her seat belt. “I thought I was fine. The rescue crew said the seat belt saved me,” said Scola. “I’ve always been a big seat belt person.”

Scola was transported by rescue to the hospital, where she spent a few hours in the emergency room undergoing tests. “I was lucky. Nothing was broken, but my neck was sore with the whiplash of the seat belt. Saturday morning I didn’t think I was going to be able to play because it hurt so badly. I slept the entire day. On Sunday I got up and started stretching out and swinging because that was the only way I was going to be able to play.”

Understandably Scola got off to a slow start carding a 7-over par 43 and trailed Moses Brown freshman Caroline Farber and South Kingstown’s Mia Bartolotta by 2-strokes at the turn.

“After the front nine I told myself to focus on my own game, taking it one shot at a time.”

That philosophy paid off as Scola posted a solid 4-over par (40) back nine en route to an 83, to easily overtake Farber (87)

JUNIOR GOLF by 4-strokes. Bartolotta struggled to keep pace with Scola and Farber and settled for a sixth place finish with a 92.

Final Scores: Nicole Scola, Prout, 83; Caroline Farber, Moses Brown, 87; Bridget Hagerty, La Salle, 89; Katie Um, Portsmouth, 89; Ashley Roggero, Portsmouth, 91; Mia Bartolotta, S. Kingstown, 92; Gianna Quillen, Bay View, 92; Lily Zexter, Moses Brown, 93; Daria Delfino, Bay View, 95; Talia Vendetti, North Smithfield, 100.

Ford Rolls to First AJGA Title Shrewsbury HS freshman Julia Ford rolled to victory in her first AJGA appearance in the Preseason Junior at Blue Heron Hills in Macedon, NY. Ford carded rounds of 77-76 en route to a 4-stroke victory over Floridian Daniella Casatneda.

By virtue of her victory Ford earned 8 AJGA performance stars, meaning Ford will have multiple opportunities to play in AJGA events this summer.

Fathers for Cancer a Rousing Success The second annual Fathers for a Cure Golf Classic at Wannamoisett C.C. was a rousing success. The event coordinated in honor of Dave Adamonis Sr. and Thomas Fecteau Sr., who both lost their lives to cancer, raised just over $22,000 for three charities. The charities included Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Research, Home & Hospice Care of Rhode Island and the Barry Gately Scholarship Fund.

Among the participants were Web. com Tour players Brad Adamonis and Mike Welch, as well as local professionals Mike Capone, Michael Carbone, Jon Curran and Eric Dugas. The professionals each played nine holes with a different foursome.

“Dave was such a positive individual, even in his final days his focus was on other people and the state of their golf games,” said former JWU player Mike Welch. “It was an honor to be a part of this day. I know he and Tom would be proud of this event.”

“Supporting this event is a no-brainer for me,” said Carbone. “My dad has had his battles with cancer. Nowadays everyone

has been impacted (in some way) by this terrible disease. I was happy to help the cause.”

Hixon, Cummings, Kim Tops at Spinal Technology Junior Classic After the opening round of the Spinal Technology Junior Classic the Challenge Cup’s scoreboard whiz Chris Simmons looked into his crystal ball. “After watching Thomas Hixon hit it today, he is going to win the Boys 15-18 Division tomorrow,” stated the former Challenge Cup star.

While Hixon did have the lead after the opening round (with a 73), no lead is safe at the challenging Old Marsh C.C. layout in Wells, Maine. The score differential for many players from one round to another is often double digits.

Hixon continued to play steady golf through the closing round, but his lead had evaporated by 14th hole. BC commit Connor Greenleaf had reeled Hixon in heading to the demanding 150-yard par 3 15th hole. At the 15th, Greenleaf found the drink en route to a triple bogey 6 and Hixon countered with a nifty birdie.

The 4-stroke swing gave Hixon a lead he would not relinquish, although Yonkers, New York’s Sebastian Naibaho would make things interesting finishing 1-stroke back. Hixon fired a pair of 73’s to post a 6-over par 146 total in claiming his first Challenge Cup win. Naibaho carded rounds of 72-75, while Greenleaf finished 3-strokes off the lead carding rounds of 74-75.

In the Boys 14 & Under Division, Nick Cummings earned his first 36-hole Challenge Cup win by firing a final round of even par 72. Cummings carded rounds of 76-72 en route to a 3-stroke victory over Andrew DiPetrillo, who also closed with a 72.

Like Hixon and Cummings, Lina Kim won her first Challenge Cup (36-hole) title....and did so in resounding fashion.

Kim carded rounds of 76-81 to easily outdistance her nearest competitor, Angela Garvin by 6-strokes.

Northeast Am Bound 2012 Challenge Cup Player of the Year Danny Guise headlines an impressive contingent of Challenge Cup players

past and present who will compete in the 52nd Northeast Amateur Invitational at the highly acclaimed Wannamoisett C.C. in Rumford, RI (June 19-22). Joining Guise at the prestigious competition will be Cameron Andrade, Colin Brennan, Jamison Randall, Christopher Swift, Brad Valois, Richy Werenski, Jack Whelan, Cameron Wilson and Peter Williamson.

World Series Headlines Junior Golf Schedule The top tournament on the Challenge Cup calendar, the World Series of Junior Golf, headlines the upcoming junior golf calendar. The World Series, which brings together the northeast’s top junior golfers, will be contested on July 4th and 5th at Triggs Memorial Golf Course in Providence, RI. Earlier that week, another of the Challenge Cup’s top competitions, the Francis Ouimet Junior Stroke Play Championship (July 1-2) will also be contested. Of equal importance, a host of the most important qualifying events, for some of the country’s top national junior competitions, are just around the dogleg.

Qualifying for the most prestigious championship in junior golf, the USGA Boys & Girls Championships take place in late June and early July at various sites, with the tournament proper set to take place in mid July.

Arguably the best national qualifying opportunity for junior golfers is provided by the Independent Insurance Agents in Rhode Island and Massachusetts. Players who earn a qualifying spot at these qualifiers earn a paid entry to the Trusted Choice “Big I” Junior Classic at the C.C. of North Carolina in Pinehurst, NC. The “Big I” will be contested August 4-8.

The Challenge Cup conducts one of their five national qualifiers, the Optimist International Sectional Qualifier at three sites in June. The top player in each age division will earn a paid spot into the tournament proper at PGA National Golf Resort & Spa in late July.

The same can be said for the low sectional qualifier at the Junior PGA Championship. The low boy and girl from the NEPGA and CTPGA sections will advance to the national event in late July.

LISTEN TO THE GOLF RADIO SHOW ON WEEKEND MORNINGS FOR MORE JUNIOR GOLF! 12

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

JUNIOR GOLF

By DAVE ADAMONIS, JR

Barrington High School won its sixth state title in last seven years.

They swept this year’s Challenge Cup and RIIL Championships.

Northeast Am-bound Danny Guise.

Fathers for a Cure winners (l-r) Patricia Adamonis, Shannon Lambert and Megan Khang.

Nicole Scola becomes only the second girl in RIIL golf history to win four state titles.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

13

By KATHARINE DYSON

GOLF COMMENTARY

King for a Day A

ccording to Kenneth H. Blanchard, author of One Minute Manager and 23 other best-selling motivational books, “None of us is as smart as all of us.” So Michael Jamison, executive director of ING (International Network of Golf ) was right on when he charged 30 or so golf writers to come up with innovative ways to improve the golf scene.

The writers had come from all over the United States to Mesquite, Nevada for ING’s Fall Forum, where they stayed at the Holiday Inn Express, played several fine area courses and participated in social events and workshops. During a couple morning sessions participants were broken into three brainstorming groups and asked, “If you were King for a Day what five things would you implement to grow the game.”

After spirited presentations by each group, a number of innovative ideas were proposed proving once again the wisdom

of Blanchard who has also said, “Feedback is the breakfast of champions.” Here are the winners, the result of a vigorous verbal feeding frenzy.

Universal Tee Yardages Distance between all tee markers should be consistent. Too often the distance from the forward tee to the next one back is 1,000 yards or more while subsequent tees have more realistic increments of less than 500 yards. When there is a discrepancy, create combo tees to add up to the desired yardage. Thus those wishing to play 5,400 yards instead of 4,900 yards or 6,000 yards would be able to follow the Red/Green tees, sometimes playing red, sometimes moving back to green. Course rate at least the two forward tees for women.

Not everyone is an expert golfer capable of playing from the tips, but if that’s what you like, you just need to pay a little extra to play them. This should speed up play.

If you don’t have a current handicap, a color-coded driving range could be used to determine how far you hit the ball and thus which tee you should use.

Assign Mentors to New Golfers

Pay More to Play Back

Assign club members to mentor new golfers. Mentors could invite non-golfers to join them at the course and introduce them to the pro. The mentor should encourage new golfers to take lessons and/or join a clinic, talk with them about good course etiquette, what to wear etc. and offer to play a few holes with them when they’re ready. Follow-up also is most important.

If your handicap according to the Tee it Forward recommendations requires you to play a tee forward of where you want to play, you’ll be charged a supplement.

At some courses, pros are so busy in their shop, they don’t get out on the course with their members. It would be helpful if

Pro Participation

they could devote some time each week, perhaps joining some golfers for a hole or two, joining them on the range and making it a point to welcome new members.

Offer Shorter Options for Play Time constraints are huge deterrents for today’s potential golfers. To attract those who don’t have four hours to play there should be more nine-hole rates and courses could be routed so players could play nine holes and end up back at the clubhouse.

Consider designing new courses in a cloverleaf to permit play of 6,12 or 18 holes returning to the clubhouse in the middle (6,6,6 or “the Devil’s Loop!”). More “pitch n’ putt” facilities lit for night play would also build interest in the game.

Simplify Rules for Amateurs Rules, especially for beginners, can be intimidating and confusing. Create a new set of simplified rules for beginners and those who are not participating in tournaments.

Develop Skills Scoring Game For new golfers, instead of using the stroke play system that can be a mindblower when you get a double-digit score on a hole, create a new way of scoring based on skills with its own card. Award points for skills i.e., points for hitting fairway on drive, getting out of bunker in one, one putting, two putting, etc.

Encourage More Stableford Play Whereas stoke play can be discouraging, especially for inconsistent golfers, Stableford, popular in Europe, throws out any score higher than a double bogey but awards points for bogeys, pars, birdies and eagles. The golfer with the most points wins and a handicap system levels the playing field.

Player’s Club Designed for single players, clubs could set aside a block of time inviting those with a Players Card (available for a fee) to show up and play with other singles.

Katharine Dyson is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America, the Golf Travel Writers of America and writes a feature women’s column in each issue of Southern New England Golfer.

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

WESTERN MASS NOTEBOOK

By RUSS HELD

The Werenski Brothers At It Again Richy and Mickey Werenski, of South Hadley, won the 2013 Massachusetts Golf Association Four-Ball Championship.

The pair clinched it with a second-round 5-under 65 at Ledgemont Country Club in Seekonk.

Richy has exceled at Georgia Tech, while Mickey is an incoming freshman at Texas A&M. Each plays a nationalcaliber schedule during the summer months, so rounds of golf together are very infrequent.

“This is the first time we’ve played together in anything like this before,” Richy Werenski said following the twoshot victory. “We play a lot together during the summers and were able to feed off each other so well.”

The Werenskis combined for a 5-under 64 at Pawtucket (R.I.) Country Club in first round of action. They were one shot behind leaders Andy Drohen, of Granville and The Ranch G.C., and Doug Clapp, who plays out of Old Sandwich.

“The conditions were pretty tough,” Richy Werenski said. “It was pretty windy and our back nine got really cold. We were called off the course late for a rain delay.”

The delay came as the winners were on the 17th green, but it didn’t bother Mickey, who celebrated his 19th birthday with the win.

The younger Werenski managed par on the final two holes to preserve what became a two-shot victory. On the 18th, he hit what Richy considered the shot of the day. After both players found the fairway off the tee, Mickey faced an uphill shot from 154 yards that played more like 195 with wind and the cold conditions.

He hit a 5-iron pure to 15 feet, where he two-putted for the impressive par.

“We didn’t get on each other too bad,” Richy said. “Yesterday we scrambled and today, I was hot on the front nine. He came on on the back nine.”

A week later, Mickey claimed victory at the International Junior Golf Tour’s Tournament of Champions at Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Fla. MERCHANDISE AWARD: John Steffen, head golf professional at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow, has been named as the Connecticut Section PGA’s 2013 Merchandiser of the Year for private clubs.

“I put a lot of value into this honor, because it is your peers recognizing you,” Steffen said. “And it’s nice to know that others think you are doing a good job with it. Merchandising is a big part of what I do and I have always had an interest in it.”

The PGA of America’s governing body of member clubs in the Connecticut and the greater Pioneer Valley region of Western Massachusetts will honor Steffen at its season-end special awards banquet in November.

Steffen had also been honored with the section’s Junior Golf Leader and Assistant Professional of the Year awards. “This ranks high for me, but they are all as equally as important to me as the others,” Steffen said.

Steffen, 37, said he has worked for three other professionals who have received the merchandising honor. “I was an assistant who did a lot of the work in those pro shops, and I have a great staff led by Chris Lucas and Lucas Hitchcock who have done that here,” Steffen said.

Steffen, who has been at Twin Hills for four seasons, said his retail space is close to 1,000 square feet at the private club. “(Owner) Attilio Cardaropoli has put together at least a $3 million face-lift here and it has helped improve everything about the club,” Steffen said of a club with a full membership of 300.

has got a ring to it; it sounds kind of cool,” the Wilbraham resident said.

Naumec birdied his final two holes to post a 2-over-par 72 and a two-stroke victory at the Kingswood Oxford Invitational at Oak Ridge Golf Club in Agawam. The championship serves as the regional championship.

Naumec, who began the shotgun tournament at the third hole, drained birdie putts from one and four feet to finish his round.

“At both holes, I played aggressive tee shots, to give me the best chance to get it close,” said Naumec, who plays to a 1-handicap at the Country Club of Wilbraham. Naumec made four birdies overall and said his round was saved by his short game.

David Colt Photography

Micky (l) and Richy Werenski Russ Held is a sportswriter for The Republican in Springfield. You can follow him on Twitter at @RussHeldGolf.

STOCKBRIDGE CHAMP: Chris Ferriter of Orchards G.C. won the Stockbridge Classic at Stockbridge G.C. on May 24. Ferriter carded a 6-over-77, amid British Open-like conditions. He edged out Matt Keenan of Greenock C.C. and course member Randy Driscoll in the wind, rain and cold.

TURNING 50: Family-owned East Mountain Country Club in Westfield celebrated its 50th anniversary in late May. The Perez family offered greens fees at 1963 prices, with an 18-hole round going for $2 and nine holes for $1. The public course opened as a nine-hole course, expanding to 18 in 1966.

PREP CHAMP: Wilbraham & Monson Academy sophomore Matt Naumec won the New England Prep School Golf Championship. “New England champ

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

15

PEOPLE IN GOLF

By BRUCE VITTNER

David Colt-MGA Photographer Extraordinaire

F

or those who have never gone to the Massachusetts Golf Assn.’s website at www.MGAlinks.org and enjoyed looking at golf pictures, I highly encourage you to do so. The photographer who takes all those pictures is David Colt of Peabody, and he does a masterful job.

Colt did not start out in the photography business, but he always had an interest in the field. “I graduated with a degree in Marketing from Northeastern University and spent most of my time in the high tech industry working for Picturetel in Andover and Genuity in Woburn,” said Colt. I was always on the other side of photography, as others took pictures that we used in our marketing campaigns,” he added.

It was during the slowdown in industry when Colt decided to change his career path. “In 2001 I became a professional photographer. The key was the emergence of digital photography. I could combine my technical skill that I had developed

over the years in business with the creative side of photography,” said Colt.

“Before digital, photography was an add-on business. You paid for the photographer, then you paid for the film, and finally you paid for the development.

Digital was like one-stop shopping,” commented a smiling Colt.

It was in 2005 that Colt started working with the MGA. Said Becky Blaeser, Director of Communications for the MGA, “We were looking to expand our website and wanted to make pictures a large part of the content at tournaments.

“We are so lucky to have David. He does a wonderful job and he is the first one at the events we run and one of the last to leave.”

“I shoot pictures at almost all the amateur championships, the First Tee and I also do work for the New England Golf Assn. and some for the Maine Golf Assn.,” said Colt.“The MGAlinks.org website and

my website at newenglandgolfimages.com gets a great deal of traffic. Players, member clubs and media can download images for free, and people can buy prints at my site if they want to send them as gifts to players or friends and relatives,” Colt added.

“I truly love the game of golf. I love the history, the people, and my work with photography,” said Colt who added that it is so enjoyable to have the opportunity to shoot these players at wonderful tournaments that the MGA runs.

Colt is also available for private work.

Said Colt, “I give people a rate per day and I do people, scenery, product and corporate work.” Seems that this job is much more enjoyable for him than high-tech corporate work. It’s nice to do what you really enjoy, and David Colt is definitely succeeding at doing wonderful work.

Bruce Vittner is the publisher/editor of SNE Golfer and can be reached at bruce@snegolfer. com.

Colt became a professional photographer in 2001, with the emergence of digital photography.

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

PEOPLE IN GOLF

By TOM GORMAN

Arnold Palmer Headlines Francis Ouimet Centennial Gala

(l-r) Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund president Terry Kennedy, Champions Tour player Peter Jacobsen, Author of “The Greatest Game Ever Played” Mark Frost, icon Arnold Palmer and Hollywood movie director Bill Paxton at the Francis Ouimet Fund Centennial.

C

ountless thousands of words have been used to describe how 20year old amateur Francis Ouimet shocked the golf world by winning the 1913 U.S. Open at The Country Club in Brookline. Ouimet’s remarkable achievement provided a sorely-needed impetus to the growth of the sport in America at the time. With the possible exception of Babe Ruth in baseball, it is difficult to find his counterpart in any other sport.

Nearly one hundred years later the former caddy, and the Father of the American Golf Revolution, has carved out an equally impressive legacy off the course with establishment of a Massachusetts golf charity known as the Francis Ouimet Scholarship Fund. Founded in 1949, originally by friends of Francis Ouimet, the Ouimet Fund to date has given more than $26 million in need-based college scholarships to more than 5,100 students.

With a little help from honorary centennial chairman, Arnold Palmer, and a sold-out crowd of 2,100 attendees, the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center gala was rocking & rolling on May 15. Video tributes poured in from golf luminaries from around the globe, including vintage videos down memory lane and an emotional speech by student/ scholar Julia McCarthy, a junior at Holy Cross College, who has dealt with homelessness and hardship, claiming to be saved by golf.

“I’m just flattered to be here helping to raise money for college scholarships,” said

Palmer, 83, who spent time with Ouimet at the 1963 U.S. Open at The Country Club, when he lost in a playoff to Julius Boros. “I like the atmosphere of what’s happening around this event with the young people earning scholarships. I like the history of the Open and what Francis Ouimet accomplished in 1913. All of the things that have happened have made me proud of my association with Boston and the golf community here,” said Palmer.

Although the night belonged to the memory of Ouimet and what he did 100 years ago in Brookline, the Centennial Gala is the largest fund-raising golf dinner in U.S. history. The dinner grossed $1.2 million with “Golf ’s Best Silent Auction” netting another $70,000. The scholarship fund also generates substantial revenue through its bag tag program, golf marathon, Ouimet Society outings, Ouimet Memorial golf tournament and endowed scholarships.

Terry Kennedy, president of the Ouimet Fund, announced a centennial campaign drive with a goal of raising $5 million, the majority of which will be directed toward inner-city children in Boston, Worcester, Springfield, Brockton and New Bedford.

To be eligible for a need-based scholarship, the student must have at least two years service to golf as caddy, in a pro shop or course operations. Kennedy said, “We’re doing what we’re supposed to be doing.

We want to do better.”

“There are many people who helped out in so many ways to make this Centennial Gala a success but no one has done more than Dick Connolly,” said Ouimet Fund executive director Bob Donovan. “For the past 34 years, Dick Connolly has been chairman of our tournament and he has been the driving force financially in starting the Francis Ouimet Lifelong Contributions to Golf Award as well as funding other endowments. Each year since 2000 we are proud to honor an individual with the Richard F. Connolly Distinguished Service Award. This was our largest banquet ever and most successful and it is a great way to honor Mr. Ouimet’s impact on golf in America.”

The Golf Channel’s Rich Lerner performed flawlessly as Master of Ceremonies introducing a variety of guests that entertained, cajoled and reminisced about Ouimet’s epic golf career. They included Sheila Macomber, Ouimet’s granddaughter; Cynthia Wilcox, daughter of Eddie Lowery, who was Ouimet’s 10year-old caddy in 1913; Mark Frost, author

of “The Greatest Game Ever Played,” Bill Paxton, who directed the movie of Ouimet in 2005 and Peter Jacobsen, PGA player, commentator and part-time entertainer.

“Francis Ouimet is one of the great good fortunes of my life, to come upon his story and realize that nobody else had written it,” said Frost, a Hollywood screenwriter and Centennial ambassador.

“My admonition to myself was, ‘Don’t screw it up.’ This is one of the great stories of the 20th century, and I think it’s one of the great sports stories of all time.”

Ouimet student speaker Julia McCarthy performed her golf service at Green Hill Municipal Golf Course in Worcester and is a junior at Holy Cross College, majoring in English and Theatre. She has worked there as a caddy and caddy master for the past four years. Her speech electrified the audience.

“Lacking a strong male figure in my life, I had never had the best impression of what a gentleman should be,” explained McCarthy, whose father abandoned

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

her and her five brothers and five sisters at an early age. “But on the golf course, I found all of these things. Before I had ever gone out on the course for a round, I had thought that I would be looked down upon or be given less work because I was a girl. But every single golfer that I caddied for treated me with the respect that my father’s departure had led me to believe I was not worthy of. Golf has never given up on me. Golf has taken care of me.”

The celebration of Ouimet’s centennial anniversary continues August 12 -18 at The Country Club which is hosting the U.S. Amateur Championship. Ouimet had one of the greatest records ever in the U.S. Amateur winning twice (17 years apart) and was in the semifinals nine times. For more information go to: www. ouimet.org.

Tom Gorman, a Boston-based freelance golf writer, is a member of Golf Writers Association of America, Golf Travel Writers Association and International Network of Golf. He can be reached at teetalk@aol.com.

17

By BRUCE BERLET

F

CONNECTICUT NOTEBOOK

ran Marrello started 2013 after arguably the most enjoyable year of a record-setting career spanning four decades. And it had little to do with his accomplishments on the course, where he became the first Connecticut Section PGA member to earn Player of the Year and Senior Player of the Year in the same year twice. Tony Kelley is the only other person in section history to achieve that feat.

While increasing his record number of section major titles to 18 was nice, 2012 was special for two novel reasons. First, Marrello, thanks to longtime friend Augie Natale, got to play with Hall of Famers Michael Jordan and Lawrence Taylor at Turnberry Isle in Miami, Fla., where Marrello worked for Fairfield native and Hall of Famer Julius Boros in 1984-85 and Natale is now the director of golf operations.

A few months later, a 5 a.m. wakeup call helped earn Marrello the first choice of celebrities to caddie for in the Travelers Championship Celebrity Pro-Am at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. His pick?

Easy. Bill Murray, the king of the celebrity tour, who played with pro J.B. Holmes, recovered from brain surgery the previous fall, former NFL star and TV personality Ahmad Rashad and former University of Connecticut basketball and baseball standout Scott Burrell, who played in the NBA and pitched in the major leagues.

Marrello also caddied for Champions Tour player Michael Allen, winner of the 2009 Senior PGA Championship, in the Jack Nicklaus Pro-Member at Lost Tree Golf Club in North Palm Beach, Fla. Then in the 50th anniversary of that event earlier this year, Marrello toted for Jay Haas, a multiple winner on the PGA and Champions tours.

“It (2012) was a fun year,” said Marrello, 58, who became head pro at Quaboag Country Club in Monson, Mass., in April.

“I don’t think my golf was any better than in the previous couple of years, but some of those experiences were really neat.”

Marrello said standing on the first tee with Jordan “was more nerve-wracking than any tournament I ever played in.” “It was pretty cool, a fun time that went by so quick,” Marrello said. “Michael was pretty laid back, just wanted to play golf, but we busted chops a little back and forth. We had a connection with (former UConn

18

All-American) Kemba Walker, who was just starting out with the Charlotte Bobcats where Michael is part owner, and that kind of broke the ice. Michael also graciously took a picture with me and Augie, but my camera got stolen so unfortunately that great memory is gone.”

But not what transpired at the Travelers Championship. After failing to qualify for the PGA Tour’s annual stop in Connecticut for the 10th time, Marrello thought he’d like to try to caddie in the event. While playing a round with Newtown native and longtime Tour caddie Joe LaCava, Marrello “put the bug” in the ear of Tiger Woods’ employee, realizing the odds of getting a Tour bag were “probably less than one in a thousand.”

It never materialized, so Marrello rose early on pro-am day, arrived at River Highlands at 5:30 a.m. and got the first pick of celebrities. While the choice was easy, Murray’s group didn’t tee off until 1 p.m., when the temperature was approaching 100 degrees. Matters worsened when Marrello got heat stroke and ended up in the St. Francis Hospital triage area for nearly two hours before being taken to the hospital.

“It was a brutal day,” he said. “I’ve never had cramps all over my body like I did that day.” But at least Marrello finished the round. UConn women’s basketball coach Geno Auriemma, whose Huskies won a record-tying eighth national championship in April, had to be helped off the par-5 13th hole.

“He was two groups ahead of us, and they were working on him when we got to the tee,” Marrello recalled. “It kind of backed up play, and I kidded with the other caddies in the group that I’d probably be next because I was really struggling. I was trying to drink as much as I could, but it was too late. I made it, but only because it was Bill Murray. If I’d left, I would have felt so stupid because this was my one chance to spend time with him. He asked me what I did, and we kind of hit it off right from the get-go. He was a really terrific guy and couldn’t be more accommodating to all the people.”

Marrello said Murray spent all but 10 minutes with him while he was in the triage area. As if that wasn’t enough, Murray gave Marrello the crystal trophy that his group received for winning the pro-am. Former UConn star Ray Allen, who helped the

Miami Heat win the NBA title last season, walked with the group for five holes while on crutches after having surgery on his foot, which was in a boot.

Murray told Marrello to let him know that he was OK. Marrello did that night, and Murray called the next day. “We talked for about 20 minutes,” Marrello said. “It was very nice that he thought enough to do that.”

Marrello failed to qualify for the tournament in May when he finished fourth in the Section PGA Stroke Play Championship, so he’ll be up bright and early again on June 19, pro-am day. But he won’t be caddying for Murray, who won’t be returning because of a scheduling conflict.

“Why not try it (caddying) again?”

Marrello said with a smile.

As for the competitive side, Marrello said he might have played better the previous few years but was steady enough to earn enough points to earn both player of the year awards, as he did in 2007. It seemed quite an achievement for someone 57 years old, but Marrello downplayed it a bit. “Maybe it’s more than I think it is, but I just didn’t feel I did anything special,” Marrello said. “I thought Tony Kelley had a great second half of the year and easily could have been player of the year.”

Kelley is a four-time player of the year and also won the Senior prize in 2009, the only year that Marrello didn’t lead the 50and-over set in the last six years. Marrello has been player of the year seven times, including five in a row (1992-96), and senior player of the year six times.

Marrello rates his best year as 1984, when he finished second in six tournaments, including three state opens and an event on what is now the Web.com Tour, and was among the early leaders in the U.S. Open at Winged Foot G.C. in Mamaroneck, N.Y. Still, Marrello is thankful for having been able to sustain

Fran Marello with Bill Murray his stellar play so long. He has played in four U.S. Opens, one U.S. Senior Open, one PGA Championship, one Senior PGA Championship and countless national club pro events. And he’s especially proud of playing in a record 37th Julius Boros Challenge Cup Matches in which the leading pros competed against the top amateurs from the Connecticut State Golf Association for the 42nd time in May. “I’ve had some pretty good years in recent years,” said Marrello, who defeated Kelley to win a record eighth Section Match Play Championship in October, less than a month after beating Mike Gramelis in a playoff to capture the Vermont Senior Open. “Getting older, I’m more relaxed and putting less pressure on myself. I’ve tried to stay in reasonable shape and just try to enjoy it, along with staying relaxed and accepting whatever it gives me. I know I’m going to hit bad shots, and I’m just much more accepting of it.

“You still have a certain standard you try to play by, but I’m certainly more appreciative as I get older, especially playing in something like the Challenge Cup. I’d hoped to be in a few more Senior PGA events and had some heart breaks in the section championship, but putting always seemed to hold me back a bit so scoring was a bit iffy. I was never a great ball striker, but I’ve kept it steady and in play. And I think I’ve managed my game pretty well.” Pretty well indeed.

Bruce Berlet is the retired sports writer for the Hartford Courant and a long-time member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

CONNECTICUT NOTEBOOK Amateur Teen Repeats in Women’s Open

Teen phenom Megan Khang added to her growing resume when she shot 2-under-par 142 for 36 holes to win a second straight Connecticut Women’s Open title at Tumble Brook C.C. in Bloomfield. Khang, 15, the 12th-ranked junior player in the country from Rockland, Mass., rallied for a onestroke victory over Ashli Bunch, a LPGA and Symetra Tour veteran from Morristown, Tenn., who shared the first-round lead with former tour player and four-time champion Liz (Janangelo) Caron.

Playing in the penultimate group the final round, Khang made eagle 3 at the third hole to gain a share of lead, fell from the top spot with bogeys on the fifth and sixth but birdied Nos. 12 and 13 and was steady down the stretch to join Janangelo and Suzy Whaley as the only repeat winners in the event’s 15-year history. Bunch, who tied for seventh in the Symetra Tour event the week before the tournament, earned the top pro prize of $5,000.

“I went out trying to focus on beating the course instead of my fellow competitors,” Khang, a Rockland High sophomore who had her father/teacher Lee caddying for her, said after a closing 72. “I tried not to worry about what was happening in the group behind and just focused on my next shot.”

Mia Landegren of Bridgewater, who won the Connecticut State Women’s Amateur Championship last year, bogeyed four of six holes on the back nine to shoot 75 and finish third at 145. Landegren, 18, will return to Sweden this summer to defend the Swedish National Junior Team Championship before starting her freshman year at Alabama.

Caron, whose husband Jason won the Connecticut Open last year, struggled to a closing 81 to finish ninth at 150.

Pros Rule in Boros Challenge Cup

Marrello, Kelley, Ralph Salito, David Dell and Ed Slattery each swept their

Nassau-style singles and four-ball matches to lead the Connecticut Section PGA to a 35.5-27.5 victory over the Connecticut State Golf Association in the 42nd Julius Boros Challenge Cup matches at New Haven C.C. It was the second straight win for the pros, who lead the series 30-12. Cody Paladino and Kevin Josephson were the only amateurs to sweep six points. Salito played in the Senior PGA Championship at Bellerive C.C. in St. Louis with his son, Mathew, carrying his bag.

Mathew chose to caddie rather than attend his graduation from the New England School of Law in Boston. Ralph qualified for the tournament by finishing 19th in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship in October. Paladino made eagle 3 on his final hole, the ninth, for the first-round lead at 2-under 67 and then closed with 70-71 in a 36-hole windup to win the CSGA’s Russell C. Palmer Cup at the C.C. of Waterbury.

Paladino, the 2006 CSGA Player of the Year, finished three ahead of Blake Morris, who tied for second last year, and four in front of defending champion Sam Bernstein.

Dave Jones and Brian Bardier combined to shoot even-par 142 for 36 holes to win the CSGA Two-Man Team Championship at the Black Hall Club in Old Lyme. Jones and Bardier finished four ahead of Brent Dietz-William Tefft and Steve Wagner-Seth Jainchill. The teams played four-ball in the morning and foursomes in the afternoon.

H. Smith Richardson G.C. in Fairfield received the Connecticut Section PGA’s Walter Lowell Public Golf Course Distinguished Service Award as the model public golf course serving the game in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts.

The award was started in 2001 in honor of the former Canton Public Golf Course, owned and operated by Lowell and his family, for the standards it set towards a public course’s responsibility to its community to provide playing opportunities for those who want to play and learn the game.

Golf Industry Day

An expanded “Golf Industry Day” was held at the State Capitol in Hartford and included remarks from Gov. Dannel Malloy and leaders of many of Connecticut’s major golf organizations.

Michael Moraghan, who is in his second year as CSGA executive director, spearheaded the second annual event geared toward enhancing all aspects of the game, which a 2010 report done by SRI International for the Connecticut Golf Alliance said generates $1.1 billion for the state and $336.6 million in wages for 11,570 employees in 2008.

Golf also helps raise millions for charity, including more than $1 million from the Travelers Championship. The PGA Tour event annually generates $30 million for the local economy and has raised more than $30 million for charity since it began as the Insurance City Open in 1952.

Moraghan said he started Golf Industry Day to underscore how important the game is in the state economically and for health and recreation and environmental reasons such as open space and wildlife sanctuaries.

“All the industries represented promote that, and we want that to be known,” Moraghan said. “This is to celebrate golf, which serves a great purpose that no other industry or sport provides as far as raising money.”

Other speakers included state representatives, Travelers Championship tournament director Nathan Grube, The First Tee of Connecticut president and executive director David Polk and Suzy Whaley, who represented the Connecticut Section PGA and is national spokesperson for the PGA Tour Charities Girls Golf Fair.

Malloy applauded all the participants.

“We thank the industry,” Malloy said.

“We’re there for you. We stand with you. We appreciate you very much.”

The Golf Industry Day was an offshoot of the Connecticut Golf Alliance, formed by former CSGA executive Ron Drapeau. The

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

By BRUCE BERLET

Alliance brought together what Moraghan called “the key players in the state.”

“They wanted to work on issues pertinent to the golf industry,” said Moraghan, whose group oversees more than 160 courses in the state, runs more than 40 championships each year and has given more than $2.5 million in scholarships.

Moraghan, the former University of Virginia men’s golf coach, wanted to expand Drapeau’s idea with the Golf Industry Day, which he hopes to continue to grow each year. This year’s event also included the Connecticut State Golf Course Superintendents Association, Connecticut Women’s Golf Association, Southern New England Women’s Golf Association, Connecticut Golf Course Owners Association, Golf Digest, Back9 Network and the newly formed Personal Golf Network.

Whaley, who played in the then Canon Greater Hartford Open 10 years ago after qualifying by winning the section championship in 2002, was scheduled to host the first of five Girls Golf Fair days sponsored by Cobra-Puma Golf on May 11 at TPC River Highlands. But rain postponed the event to Sept. 7. It’s open to girls ages 5 to 17, and the $20 cost is a bargain for the numerous planned activities, which will include former LPGA standout and current NBC, Golf Channel and ESPN analyst Dottie Pepper. To enter, visit www. suzywhaley.com.

“This is a wonderful way for young girls to get involved with the game, and my goal is to do events at the 19 TPCs across the country,” Whaley said.

The CSGA New England Junior Team and CWGA Junior Tri-State Team that won titles in 2012 were also recognized on the floor of the House of Representative. Five of the seven CSGA team members and four of the five CWGA team players were on hand to be introduced and receive proclamations from their local state representative.

19

CVS CAREMARK CHARITY CLASSIC This is Billy

Andrade’s

15th consecutive appearance in the CVS Caremark Charity Classic as co-host of

the tournament.

Birth Date: January 25, 1964 Residence: Bristol, RI; Atlanta, GA Family: Wife, Jody; Cameron James, Grace Education: Wake Forest University Interests: Philanthropy Turned Pro: 1987 PGA TOUR Victories: 4* Career Earnings: $12,380,805*

A native of Barrington, Rhode Island, this year marks co-host Brad Faxon’s 15th appearance at the CVS Caremark Charity Classic. His professional highlights include eight PGA TOUR victories and one Champions Tour win.

Birth Date: August 1, 1961 Residence: Barrington, RI Family: Wife, Dory; Melanie, Emily, Sophie, Charlotte Education: Furman University Interests: All sports, golf course design, family Turned Pro: 1983 Making his second appearance at the CVS Caremark Charity Classic is fan-favorite

Rickie Fowler.

Fowler won his first PGA TOUR title last year in a sudden death playoff at the Wells Fargo Championship. He has three top-10 finishes in an exceptionally strong start to the 2013 season.

Birthdate: 12/13/1988 Residence: Jupiter, FL Education: Oklahoma State University Interests: Dirt bike riding Turned Professional: 2009 PGA TOUR Victories: 1* Career Earnings: $9,555,222* 20

Bill Haas, co-

champion of the 2004 CVS Caremark Charity Classic, returns this year for his fifth appearance in the event. Haas was the 2011 FedEx Cup champion and has won four times on the PGA TOUR since turning pro in 2004.

Birthdate: May 24, 1982 Residence: Greenville, South Carolina Family: Wife, Julie Education: Wake Forest University Turned Professional: 2004 PGA TOUR Victories (through 2011): 4* Career Earnings (through 2011): $14,526,494*

Jay Haas makes

his seventh appearance at this year’s CVS Caremark Charity Classic. He and partner Morgan Pressel won the event last year as the first co-ed team champions. Haas has nine PGA TOUR titles and 16 Champions Tour victories.

Birth Date: December 2, 1953 Residence: Greenville, South Carolina Family: Wife Jan; Jay, Jr., William Harlan, Winona Haley, Emily Frances and Georgia Ann Education: Wake Forest University Interests: the Final Four, Wake Forest sports, and the Rolling Stones Turned Pro: 1976 PGA TOUR Victories: 9* Champions Tour Victories: 16* Career Earnings: $28,151,298*

Russell Henley ran away from the

field at the 2013 Sony Open in Hawaii.

This will be Russell’s first appearance at the Charity Classic.

Birth Date: April 16, 1989 Residence: Daniel Island, South Carolina Education: University of Georgia Interests: Macon Volunteer Clinic, Georgia Bulldogs, Atlanta Braves Turned Pro: 2011 PGA TOUR Victories: 1* Career Earnings: $1,546,638*

Coming off of his first PGA TOUR win at the 2013 Zurich Classic of New Orleans, 26year-old Billy Horschel is making his first appearance in the CVS Caremark Charity Classic.

Birth Date: December 7, 1986 Residence: Jacksonville Beach, FL Family: Wife, Brittany Education: University of Florida Interests: Florida Gators, United States Military Turned Pro: 2009 PGA TOUR Victories: 1* Career Earnings: $3,691,191* This year marks Juli

Inkster’s

6th appearance at the CVS Caremark Charity Classic.

Birth Date: June 24, 1960 Residence: Los Altos, CA Family: Husband, Brian; Hayley Carole, Cori Simpson Education: San Jose State University Interests: Family Turned Pro: 1983 LPGA Tour Victories: 31* Career Earnings: $13,394,110*

Peter Jacobsen

will be making his 15th consecutive appearance this year.

Jacobsen was named by the Golf Course Superintendant’s Association of America as the Old Tom Morris Award recipient in 2012.

Birth Date: March 4, 1954 Residence: Bonita Springs, FL Family: Wife, Jan; Amy, Kristen, Mick Education: University of Oregon Interests: Music Turned Pro: 1976 PGA TOUR Victories: 7* Champions Tour Victories: 2* Career Earnings: $10,745,810*

Louis Oosthuizen claimed his first PGA TOUR victory at the 2010 British Open Championship. In the 2012 season, Oosthuizen had five top-10 finishes including second place at the Masters and the Deutsche Bank Championship.

His best finish so far this year was tied for 10th at the Shell Houston Open. This will be Oosthuizen’s first appearance at the classic.

Birth Date: October 19, 1982 Residence: Pinnacle Point, South Africa Family: Wife, Nel-Marie; Jana Turned Pro: 2003 PGA TOUR Victories: 1* Career Earnings: $5,815,847* Returning to defend her 2012 title,

Morgan Pressel

makes her fifth Classic appearance.

Birth Date: May 23, 1988 Residence: Boca Raton, FL Interests: Photography, computers, her Blackberry and The Morgan Pressel Foundation Turned Pro: 2005 LPGA Tour Victories: 2* Career Earnings: $4,709,377*

Nick Price

returns for his tenth tournament appearance.

Undoubtedly one of golf ’s most decorated players, Price has earned 18 PGA TOUR victories, 24 international wins and four Champions Tour titles throughout his successful 36year career.

Birthdate: January 28, 1957 Residence: Hobe Sound, Florida Family: Wife, Sue; Gregory, Robyn Frances, Kimberly Interests: Golf course design, fishing Turned Professional: 1977 PGA TOUR Victories: 18* Champion Tour Victories: 4* Career Earnings: $26,265,199*

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

CVS CAREMARK CHARITY CLASSIC won the 2013 Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf with partner Brad Faxon.

Sluman was a member of the inaugural CVS Caremark Charity Classic main field in 1999, where he finished in first place.

This will be his tenth time participating in the event.

Birth Date: September 11, 1957 Residence: Hinsdale, IL Education: Florida State University Interests: Other sports, Formula One Racing, and fine wines Turned Pro: 1980 PGA TOUR Victories: 6* Champions Tour Victories: 5* Career Earnings: $25,080,658* This is

Annika Sorenstam’s

second appearance in the CVS Caremark Charity Classic.

Birth Date: October 9, 1970 Residence: Orlando, FL Family: Husband, Mike McGee; Ava, William Education: University of Arizona Interests: Sports, music, and cooking Turned Pro: 1993 LPGA Tour Victories: 72* Career Earnings: $22,573,192*

Steve Stricker will make his first

appearance at the CVS Caremark Charity Classic this year. Stricker holds 12 TOUR victories and has been a vital team member of four Presidents Cups, three Ryder Cups and one Dunhill Cup. Birthdate: 02/23/1967 Residence: Madison, WI Family: Wife, Nicki; Bobbi Turned Professional: 1990 PGA TOUR Victories: 12* Career Earnings: $37,038,164*

*as of 4/29/2013

This will be Lexi

Thompson’s

second appearance at the CVS Caremark Charity Classic. At the age of sixteen she won on the LPGA Tour, breaking the record at the 2011 Navistar LPGA Classic.

Birth Date: February 10, 1995 Residence: Coral Springs, FL Interests: Dancing Turned Pro: 2010 LPGA Tour Victories: 1* Career Earnings: $739,706*

Michael Thompson

had a breakout year in 2012 with three top-10 finishes including a second place tie at the U.S. Open. He earned his first PGA TOUR win earlier this year at The Honda Classic. This is his first appearance at the Classic.

Birth Date: April 16, 1985 Residence: Birmingham, AL Education: University of Alabama Family: Wife, Rachel Interests: Family, reading, travel, film Turned Pro: 2008 PGA TOUR Victories: 1* Champions Tour Victories: 2* Career Earnings: $3,708,253*

Bubba Watson

returns for his third tournament appearance.

The 2012 Masters victor has three additional PGA TOUR wins including the Travelers Championship, the Farmers Insurance Open, and the Zurich Classic of New Orleans. Watson is a member of the popular parody band, “Golf Boys,” who released a single earlier this year, with all the proceeds from the viewed videos going to charity.

Birthdate: 11/5/1978 Residence: Orlando, Florida Education: University of Georgia Family: Wife, Angie; Caleb Interests: family, philanthropy Turned Professional: 2001 PGA TOUR Victories: 4* Career Earnings: $18,173,130*

appearance at the Classic.

His lone PGA TOUR win came at the 2009 U.S. Bank Championship. Van Pelt holds two international victories including the 2011 CIMB Asia Pacific Classic and the 2012 ISPS Handa Perth International.

Birth Date: May 16, 1975 Residence: Tulsa, Oklahoma Education: Oklahoma State University Family: Wife, Carrie Turned Pro: 1998 PGA TOUR Victories: 1* Champions Tour Victories: 2* Career Earnings: $18,521,553*

joins the CVS Caremark Charity Classic main field for the first time.

The 40-year TOUR veteran holds 10 PGA TOUR titles, A gallery favorite for his relaxed approach, Zoeller joined the Champions Tour in 2002 and won the Senior PGA Championship later that same year. His second Champions Tour win came at the 2004 MasterCard Championship.

Birth Date: November 11, 1951 Residence: Floyds Knobs, IN Education: University of Houston Family: Wife, Diane; Gretchen, Heidi, Sunnye, Miles Interests: Golf course design, the outdoors, cooking, philanthropy Turned Pro: 1973 PGA TOUR Victories: 10* Champions Tour Victories: 2* Career Earnings: $10,397,620*

2013 EVENTS SCHEDULE Sunday, June 23 – Pepsi Pro-Am Rhode Island Country Club, Barrington, R.I. 7:00 a.m. AM shotgun start 1:00 p.m. PM shotgun start

This year marks

Bo Van Pelt’s first

Fuzzy Zoeller

Previous CVS Caremark Charity Classic champion

Monday, June 24 – CVS Caremark Charity Classic Rhode Island Country Club, Barrington, R.I. 9:00 a.m. Monday morning Players’ Clinic (18th Green) 0:30 a.m. First round tee-times begin (until 11:10 a.m.)

11:45 a.m. All Kids Can Three Hole Challenge tee-times (until 12:30 p.m.)

2:30 p.m. First round concludes Tuesday, June 25 – CVS Caremark Charity Classic Rhode Island Country Club, Barrington, R.I. 9:00 a.m. Final round tee-times begin (until 9:40 a.m.)

After Play 2013 Awards Ceremony (approx. 2 p.m.)

PAIRINGS

Jeff Sluman

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

Watson - Fowler Stricker - Van Pelt Oostheizen - Price Faxon - Sluman Andrade - B. Haas

Jacobson - Zoeller J. Haas - Pressel M. Thompson - L. Thompson Henley - Inkster Horschel - Sorenstam 21

JUNE 17-23, 2013 I TPC RIVER HIGHLANDS

PGA TOUR GOLF AT ITS BEST RICKIE FOWLER

BUBBA WATSON

MARC LEISHMAN

LEE WESTWOOD

KEEGAN BRADLEY

JUSTIN ROSE

TOURNAMENT WEEK EVENTS

Military Appreciation presented by Saint Francis Care SUBWAY® Fan Zone Farmington Bank Kids Zone

JUNE 17

JUNE 20

Opening Ceremony Aetna Tournament Players Pro-Am

Travelers Championship First Round Women’s Day presented by Travelers

Travelers Championship Practice Round Farmington Bank Fan & Family Day featuring the Golf Digest Hot List Tour Golf Digest Junior Pro-Am

Travelers Championship Second Round Powerstation Events Concert Series Featuring Edwin McCain

JUNE 18

JUNE 19

JUNE 21

JUNE 22

Travelers Celebrity Pro-Am Northstar Wealth Partners Celebrity Mini Golf Tournament WEEI & NESN present The Dennis & Callahan Morning Show WFAN & YES Network present Mike’s On with Mike Francesa

Travelers Championship Third Round Powerstation Events Concert Series Featuring Three Dog Night

JUNE 23

Travelers Championship Final Round Closing Ceremony

BUY TICKETS NOW! | Only $29 When Purchased In Advance

TRAVELERSCHAMPIONSHIP.COM OR CALL 866-840-8821 22

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF

T

By BRUCE BERLET

Travelers Championship Great for Connecticut

he PGA Tour hands out 11 “best” awards to its 45 tournaments during its annual meetings in the fall. Tour officials and tournament directors around the country choose the sought-after awards, and the Travelers Championship garnered a record three such honors last year, another indication of what the largest sporting event in Connecticut means to the state.

“The tournament is a perfect vehicle for us to promote our product,” Travelers executive vice president and chief operating officer Andy Bessette said. “But, more importantly, it’s something that does so much for the community.”

So much, indeed. The Travelers, a major insurance firm with offices in Hartford, has been a tournament sponsor since its inception as the Insurance City Open in 1952 and will be the host for the seventh time June 17-23 at TPC River Highlands in Cromwell. Since Travelers became title sponsor in 2007, the event has raised $1 million for charity nearly every year, including a record $1,154,000 in 2012, increasing the event’s 60-year community giving to more than $30 million.

“We’re fortunate to have Travelers as our title sponsor,” tournament director Nathan Grube said. “Their commitment to making the tournament better each year has made the difference in the popularity of our event.”

Travelers’ annual financial commitment is more than $10 million, which led to its awards for “Most Fan Friendly,” “Best Use of Players” and “Best Title Sponsor Integration.” Proceeds fund more than 100 local charities, with the chief beneficiary the past few years being The Hole in the Wall Gang Camp in Ashford.

Actor Paul Newman and writer A.E. Hotchner founded the camp in 1988 “So children coping with serious illnesses could have a special hideout where they could simply be kids.” The non-profit, residential summer camp and year-round center served 288 youngsters that year, but as it celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2013, more than 20,000 children and family members enjoy “a different kind of healing.” About 2,500 are helped online, and 19,000 visits by the Hospital Outreach Program bring fun and friendship to over 20 sites throughout the Northeast, all of which are free of charge.

With a helping hand from Mother Nature, Travelers could increase its record tournament profits of 2012 thanks to a stellar field, led by defending champion Marc Leishman, who closed with an 8-

under-par 62 to rally from a six-stroke deficit and notch his first PGA Tour victory last June. After tying his career low to finish at 14-under 266, the personable Aussie waited nearly 2 1/2 hours and watched as several challengers faltered down the stretch, notably Charley Hoffman, who closed double bogey-bogey to tie for second with 2011 champion Bubba Watson at 267.

“I wasn’t stressing or anything,” Leishman said of his lengthy wait. “It was either A, win the tournament, B, be in a playoff or C, finish second or third.”

It ended in a win, Leishman’s first since the 2006 Toyota Southern Classic in Sydney, Australia, and enabled him to join his sports idol, Hall of Famer Greg Norman, as a tournament winner.

Norman won the Canon Greater Hartford Open in 1995.

“For a boy growing up in Australia, Greg was always the No. 1 sportsman,” said Leishman, who played with fellow Aussie Adam Scott in the final round of his Masters victory in April.

Leishman also has a memorable photo of his son, Harvey, who was 5 months old last summer, as he sat in dad’s Travelers Championship trophy at home in Virginia Beach, Va. “Every time I look at the trophy, I think of the win and the people in Connecticut who treated me so well,” said Leishman, who also drank celebratory beers from the trophy.

On Media Day on May 14, Leishman got a special “prize” from Bessette: a signed cricket bat from Ricky Ponting. “Ricky was the Australian captain for probably seven or eight years, so the Peyton Manning of cricket I guess,” said a smiling Leishman, who played cricket as a kid. “Or Tom Brady.”

Leishman’s notable challengers for the tournament-record $1,098,000 first prize this year will include past champions Watson, Fredrik Jacobson, Hunter Mahan, Stewart Cink and J.J. Henry, the only Connecticut native to win the event; major winners Webb Simpson, Keegan Bradley and Zach Johnson; University of Hartford grad Jerry Kelly, Jason Dufner, Rickie Fowler, Michael Thompson, Carl Pettersson, Kyle Stanley and European Ryder Cup standouts Padraig Harrington, Justin Rose, Lee Westwood, Ian Poulter and Nicolas Colsaerts.

The 156-man field also will include Kyle Bilodeau, the assistant pro at Hop Meadow C.C. in Simsbury who shot 3-under 141 for 36 holes to win the Connecticut Section Stroke Play Championship at

Hickory Ridge C.C. in Amherst, Mass.

A year ago, Bilodeau lost a playoff to Tony Kelley at his former home course, Ellington Ridge C.C. Other features that contribute to the tournament’s success include the Subway Fan Zone between the first and 18th holes; Farmington Bank Kids Zone and Fan & Family Day on Tuesday, June 18; Military Appreciation, Military Caddie Program and Wounded Warrior Threesome presented by St. Francis Care; Operation Shower, Golf Digest Junior Pro-Am, Northstar Wealth Partners Celebrity Mini-Golf Tournament, Hype’s Tee It Up for Charity, concerts by Javier Colon, Edwin McCain and Three Dog Night and Women’s Day presented by Travelers on Thursday, June 20.

For the first time, the tournament has honorary chairpersons representing the five military branches: Linda Botek (Navy), Mark Lear (Army), Kelley McDowell (Air Force), Richard Roncone (Coast Guard) and Seth St. Amand (Marines).

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

Marc Leishman returns to defend his title at the Travelers Championship.

For complete details and to purchase tickets, visit www.travelerschampionship. com. Children 15 and under accompanied by a paying adult get free admission.

Veterans with valid ID’s and active duty personnel also are admitted free of charge.

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By BILL DOYLE Altomare is ACC Women’s Golfer of the Year University of Virginia senior Brittany Altomare of Shrewsbury was the unanimous choice of the coaches as Atlantic Coast Conference women’s golfer of the year.

Altomare, who graduated last month, is the first Virginia player to win the award.

She earned medalist honors at the ACC championship by shooting 4-over-par 217 April 19-21 at Sedgefield Country Club in Greensboro, N.C. By winning the ACC title, Altomare was automatically named to the All-ACC team for the fourth consecutive year.

Stimets Player of the Year University of North Alabama senior Ricky Stimets was the unanimous vote of the coaches to be Gulf South Conference Player of the Year. The Wachusett Regional graduate and two-time Worcester County Amateur champion, had a stroke average of 72.33 this season for UNA.

CENTRAL MASS NOTEBOOK Summer Tour Begins in July The Central Mass. Junior Golf Summer Tour will begin its 15-event second season on July 1 at Blackstone National and end with the tour championship at Heritage on Aug. 25.

The tour is open to boys and girls entering the ninth through 12th grades.

Each event will be held on a Monday, Tuesday or Wednesday. Other courses scheduled to host events include Blissful Meadows, Cyprian Keyes, Green Hill, Highfields, Red Tail, Shaker Hills, Shining Rock and Stow Acres.

Golfers pay a $110 membership fee and 18-hole greens fees ranging from $29 for Green Hill to $50 for Red Tail. A box lunch is included. They will earn points at each event and double points at the tour championship. The winner of the tour championship and the points race will receive jackets. The second and third place finishers in points will receive trophies. To join the tour, visit centralmassjrgolf.com.

Morgan to Play in U.S. Women’s Open Thanks to a one-shot victory in the qualifier at Mount Pleasant C.C. in Boylston on May 13, LPGA Tour golfer Becky Morgan will get to play in the U.S. Women’s Open this month. Morgan carded an even-par 72 in the morning and a 4-over 76 while playing in the final threesome in the afternoon. She parred her final nine holes and two-putted from 15 feet on 18 to beat Ryann O’Toole, another LPGA Tour golfer from L.A., by a stroke to earn the only qualifying berth from the field of 24 golfers. It was the smallest field for a U.S. Women’s Open qualifier.

Morgan, an LPGA Tour regular since 2001, had to pull out of a U.S. Women’s Open qualifier in Baltimore the previous week to return to her native Wales to attend the funeral of her 91-year-old grandfather, Phil Harris.

Fortunately, Morgan was able to just beat the deadline to enter the 36-hole qualifier at Mount Pleasant C.C. Morgan, 38, thought of her grandfather after she won.

“He taught me how to play golf,” Morgan said. “He was probably my biggest fan.”

The U.S. Women’s Open is scheduled to be held June 27-30 at Sebonack Golf Club in Southampton, N.Y. Morgan has played in several U.S. Women’s Open championships and her best finish was a tie for 28th in 2006. She’s never won on the LPGA Tour, but she’s earned more than $2.3 million.

Senior Open July 25 & 26 Holden Hills C.C. general manager Jeff Bailey pushed the Massachusetts Senior Open to July 25-26, three weeks later than last year, to avoid conflicting with Wimbledon, believe it or not.

Former U.S. Open tennis champion Ivan Lendl had played in the Mass. Senior

Open in the past, but couldn’t play in the event last year because he was coaching Andy Murray at Wimbledon. Murray became the first British male to reach a Wimbledon final since 1938, but lost to Roger Federer. Lendl became Murray’s coach at the start of the 2012 season and he helped Murray become the first British male to win the U.S. Open since 1936. Mo Guttman, former head pro at Portland C.C. in Maine, won the Mass.

Senior Open last year.

Nine 5s Sidney “Skip” Vanderzicht, 62, of Uxbridge played a round in the Tuesday night men’s league at Blissful Meadows G.C. last month that deserves a high five.

Playing the par-36 back side, Vanderzicht carded nine 5s. Blissful Meadows head pro Matt Griffith said it was the first time anyone had carded nine 5s on either side since the club opened in 1992.

“It’s shocking,” Griffith said. “It’s something you read of every now and then happening, but I’ve never actually seen it.

I’ve seen someone have nine pars, but I’ve never seen nine 5s in my career. It’s just a cool thing to see.”

After finishing his round, Vanderzicht went to a birthday party for his granddaughter, Sydney, who is named after him. Believe it or not, she turned 5 that day.

Nine Aces Last month, Larry Robichaud, 82, of Athol carded the 15th hole in one of his career and his 10th at Ellinwood C.C. in Athol. He used a 4-iron to ace the 172yard sixth hole.

Robichaud was a 5 handicap when he carded his first ace many years ago and he’s a 21 now. His playing partner Gerry Godin has been a member of Ellinwood for 60 years. Godin has nine aces.

Bill Doyle is a sportswriter with the Worcester Telegram & Gazette.

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

CENTRAL MASS NOTEBOOK

By BILL DOYLE

Stow Acres C.C. Golf School Shines

M

ost people can only imagine what it would be like to give golf lessons to Hall of Famer Greg Norman or movie star Will Smith.

Tom Giles, director of instruction at Stow Acres C.C. in Stow, has actually done it.

When Giles worked for noted instructor Jim McLean at Doral Golf Resort in Miami, he helped him work with Norman, but Giles gave Smith a lesson on his own at Doral about five years ago.

“He was awesome,” Giles said of Smith.

“He’s a very smart guy. He’s passionate about golf. He wants to get better.”

So what kind of golfer is Smith? “Avid,” Giles said. “I’m not sure he’s incredibly talented, but he’s avid.”

Celebrities are the norm at Doral. Giles saw Michael Jordan, Reggie Bush and Sylvester Stallone play there. “I enjoy working with the average golfer,” Giles said, “as much as any of the famous people I’ve worked with.”

So Giles, a Southboro native, was happy to return to Massachusetts to become director of instruction at Stow Acres C.C. in Stow two years ago. He had turned down McLean’s offers to work at his golf schools in Cancun, Mexico; the Dominican Republic, Utah and Texas.

“I’m a New England guy,” Giles said. “I love the Red Sox and the Bruins. This is home to me.”

Giles, a 35-year-old bachelor, helped the St. John’s High of Shrewsbury golf team win three Central Mass. championships and place second in the state twice. He captained the squad as a junior and senior.

Upon graduating from St. John’s in 1997, Giles went to the University of Rhode Island on a golf scholarship and became captain as a senior. The Rams ranked among the top 30 teams in the nation and Giles is one of six members of his URI golf team who have gone on to make their livelihoods in golf. Jim Salinetti is the head pro at Winchester C.C. Josh Hillman is the head pro at Taconic Golf Club in Williamstown and head coach of the Williams College golf team. Michael Sims plays on the Web.com Tour. Justin Thompson is the director of golf at the Wanderers Club in Wellington, Fla. Mike Carbone plays mini-tour events.

URI coach Tom Drennan compiled a difficult schedule in those days. The Rams competed in events hosted by LSU, Georgia and Florida and even flew to Hawaii to play. For URI, Giles competed against such future PGA Tour golfers as Lucas Glover, who went on to win the 2009 U.S. Open, and Carmilo Villegas.

Giles played mini-tour golf in New England and down south for three seasons before becoming a McLean certified instructor at Doral.

Giles and his staff don’t try to change anyone’s grip if it works for them. They take what you have and work with it.

“We don’t teach every person the same thing,” Giles said. “That would be silly.”

Giles’ brother, Mike, is the general manager at Stow. He played hockey and soccer, but not golf, at St. John’s. Giles has six full-time teaching pros who work with him in the Stow Acres Golf School. They don’t take tee times in the pro shop or sell

clothing. They concentrate on teaching.

Giles believes in the 22 fundamentals that McLean teaches. “The curb appeal or initial interest tends to be trying to hit the ball far and having fun,” Giles said. “We start a lot of lessons with this Jim McLean building block approach which is starting as close to the hole as possible and working our way back from there.”

By working on the short game first, and eliminating the need for power, it simplifies what the students do and provides them quicker gratification.

Giles has found that the most common problem with putting is the average player under reads the break and compensates by pushing or pulling the ball to the line they needed to start on. They also fail to hit the ball with the center of the putter head.

Giles and his staff have golfers putt alongside a plastic board to keep their putter straight and on line and he has

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

them swing clubs into impact bags to show them their impact position.

Nathan Radford, administrative manager of the golf school at Stow Acres, said each year 600-700 students enroll in the golf school’s one-day, two-day or three-day sessions. Each instructor teaches a maximum of five students each session.

Costs of the schools range from $229 for a one-day school, including five hours instruction, breakfast and lunch and nine holes of golf, to $499 for a three-day school with 15 hours of instruction, breakfast and lunch and three nine-hole rounds.

To enroll in the golf school, call 1978-568-1100, ext. 108, or visit www. stowacres.com.

Bill Doyle is a sportswriter for the Worcester Telegram and writes a Central Mass. column in each issue of Southern New England Golfer.

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By KATHARINE DYSON

WOMEN’S GOLF

Annika Brings More to Rhode Island than a Great Game for the CVS Classic

A

nnika Sorenstam returns to Rhode Island Country Club in Barrington, June 23-25 for her second CVS Caremark Charity Classic, joining 19 other professionals from the PGA, LPGA and the Champions Tours to compete in a two-person, best ball team competition.

On the line is a $1.55 million purse plus another $50,000 in skins to be donated to regional charities. That’s a lot of pressure.

Still, Annika is used to pressure. Ten years ago at 8:58 a.m. just about everyone in the golfing world was watching as she stepped up to the 10th tee to hit her first drive in the PGA Colonial Golf Tournament in Fort Worth, Texas. The hoopla leading up to this day had been a media feeding frenzy and the gallery circling the tee was six-people deep.

26

She was after all, about to become the first woman since Babe Zaharias (1945) to participate in a PGA Tour event. Although a lot of people were pulling for her, some like Vijay Singh and Nick Price had said she shouldn’t be there. Her playing partners, Aaron Barber and Dean Wilson however, were very much in her corner. Wilson was wearing a “Go Annika” button and Barber had put his arm around her telling her, “We’re all in this together.”

Sharing her reasons for entering the Colonial, she had earlier admitted to her caddie, Tom McNamara, “I think it will make me a better player. It will put me under pressure and then maybe it (the pressure) won’t bother me as much.”

So on this day, attired smartly in black and white, Annika took her four wood, swung and drilled her ball 254 yards right down the middle as a fan called out, “You da man.”

No doubt relieved, she walked off the tee feigning a weak-kneed wobble. Most watching never doubted she would do just that. Well maybe there were some skeptics like the guy area who was overheard saying, “That broad won’t break 80.”

And guess what? “That Broad” shot one over par 71 the first day and although she missed the cut on the second day carding a 74, no one could say she didn’t make her fans and everyone who was watching tremendously proud.

Following her round she said, “I wasn’t nervous about the tee shot, just the whole thing. I don’t even know how I kept the ball on the tee.”

She added, “I was very pleased with the way I hit it from tee to green. I wish I had made a few more putts, but I was nervous and your short game is usually where that will show. I didn’t make the cut, but in my mind I know I can but that doesn’t mean I want to do it again.”

And she doesn’t have to. With 89 career wins, as the first woman to shoot a 59, LPGA Tour player of the year eight times, and Vare Trophy winner for the lowest scoring average six times, even before the Colonial, Annika had well earned her

place as a super star. By daring to take on this additional challenge with courage and grace, she created one of the greatest moments in the history of the game.

Perhaps just as important, she has gone on to use the platform her fame has afforded her with exceptional responsibility. She has accomplished so much; it’s hard to believe she is only 42 years old.

She founded the ANNIKA Academy at Reunion Resort in Orlando focusing on both golf instruction and fitness. Her sister, Charlotta, director of golf operations and instructor and a world-class golfer in her own right along with her personal swing coach and personal trainer are on her staff.

Annika is a brand all by herself. Typically spelled in capitals, there is the ANNIKA Collection of women’s golf apparel

by Cutter & Buck; ANNIKA wine; ANNIKA Golf Course Design; ANNIKA Financial Group; ANNIKA Academy and ShopANNIKA.com.

With a passion for fitness and health, her ANNIKA Foundation has partnered with SPARK, a non-profit organization that promotes the benefits of physical activity and proper nutrition in schools by educating teachers and students.

And there is no doubt her biggest passion is her family as wife to Mike McGee and mom to two young children, Ava, 4 and William, 2. Just follow her Twitter and you’ll understand. (twitter@ANNIKA_ Fdn) Following her awe-inspiring appearance in the Colonial you realize Annika had done much more than playing as a woman in a man’s tournament. “It wasn’t the results, it was the journey leading into it and the week,” she said. “I learned so much about myself. That was important.

I got tougher, stronger. I learned that it’s OK to follow dreams and do the things you’re not used to doing.”

The class she showed as she gracefully handled her interviews, her play, her preparation for the tournament, her attitude when she didn’t make the cut, set the bar high for all who work to cut

Annika Sorenstam putting at Pebble Beach in 2011 through their fears to move forward.

With Annika participating in this year’s CVS Classic, we have a rare opportunity to catch one of the best golfers and best sport’s ambassadors in the world in action along with other top pros like Rickie Fowler, Juli Inkster, Bubba Watson, Lexi Thompson, Fuzzy Zoeller and co-hosts and Rhode Island natives Billy Andrade and Brad Faxon.

Katharine Dyson is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America, the Golf Travel Writers of America and writes a feature women’s column in each issue of Southern New England Golfer.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF COMMENTARY

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By BRUCE VITTNER

TEE IT FORWARD is a Great Idea

hat a great concept TEE IT FORWARD is for the game of golf. Below is the press release put out by the PGA recently when they were promoting this program in July. Why limit it to July? This is something that all golfers should embrace.

The PGA of America and USGA have been promoting TEE IT FORWARD, a program where golfers can speed up play and have more fun by using tees that provide the greatest playability and enjoyment.

Simply put, TEE IT FORWARD can make golf much more fun for millions of people,” said PGA of America President Allen Wronowski. “We believe that by moving up to another set of tees, golfers will experience an exciting, new approach to the game that will produce more enjoyment and elevate their desire to come back and play even more golf.”

Barney Adams, the founder of Adams Golf, provided the concept that led to

TEE IT FORWARD. By playing from forward tees, amateur golfers have the chance to play the course at the same relative distance as a touring professional would over 18 holes. The playing field is leveled by giving golfers the opportunity to play from distances that are properly aligned with their abilities.

With many more golfers hitting approach shots with 6- and 7-irons instead of hybrids and long irons, their chances for enjoyment increase. Also, playing from forward tees should result in fewer overall shots, shorter distance traveled on each hole, and potentially, fewer lost balls.

“The passion that golfers have for our game has the potential to be enhanced by the TEE IT FORWARD initiative,” said Jim Hyler, president of the United States Golf Association. “This is an innovation that we think will appeal to golfers of all skill levels because it gives them a new challenge that better aligns

How to Make New Tees Without Spending Money Many of the older courses that have only three sets of tees (back, middle front, blue, white, red, etc) feel that they are limited in the TEE IT FORWARD movement. We disagree!

Many of the par 4’s have become too long for golfers to reach in regulation. Many of us wear out our three-wood playing golf while trying to get to those long par 4’s. Move up to the forward tees? Not probably happening.

Here is an easy and inexpensive solution. All you need is a little paint and some new scorecards (print some temporary ones if you have a stack of 10,000 already in stock).

If any par 4 is over 400 yards (maybe 380?) from the white tees, paint the forward tees half white and half red. Make the scorecard have a fourth distance that is a combination of the red and white tees. This reduces the total yardage a few hundred yards for this new tee—not tee box.

Conversely this can be done as blue/white for courses with four sets of tees. Also you will find women who would like to play from the white/ blue tees, and that gives them another option.

We’ve done this at many courses already and it makes the game much more fun. There are many different variables available to change the distances of holes without creating new tee boxes at great expense. Just a little paint and a new mindset will make this wonderful game even more fun. Hopefully state golf organizations will get behind this movement and rate the courses from the different tees so that golfers could still post scores for their GHIN handicap.

with their abilities. We hope that TEE IT FORWARD will be embraced by players and golf facilities across the country.”

TEE IT FORWARD is not necessarily about creating a new set of tees — many facilities already have multiple tees in use every day. It is about changing the mindset of golfers in a positive way — encouraging people to consider setting aside playing from 6,500-6,700 yards and moving up to a length of 6,000-6,200 yards or moving from 6,000-6,200 yards to 5,700-5,800 yards.

The 6,700-yard course that many amateur golfers play today is proportionally equivalent to a PGA Tour player competing on a course measuring 8,100 yards — 700 yards or more longer than a typical PGA Tour layout.

Jack Nicklaus, who shares the record with Walter Hagen for most PGA Championship titles with five and also shares the U.S. Open record with four

Driver Distance

victories, is a proponent of TEE IT FORWARD. “I love the game of golf but I will be the first to tell you that there are things about our game we need to improve,” Nicklaus said. “Now The PGA of America and the USGA have come together to develop ways to that can make the game more attractive and more enjoyable. TEE IT FORWARD is the first of many initiatives we have discussed together, and I think families around the country will enjoy alternate formats like this to make the game more fun.

All of us deeply involved in the game constantly encourage golfers of all skill levels to play the proper tees, but too often golfers want to bite off as much of the golf course as they can. What ends up suffering is their scorecard and their overall enjoyment. This program should help stimulate people to play the proper tees and maximize the golf experience.”

Recommended 18-Hole Yardages

275

6,700-6,900

250

6,200-6,400

225

5,800-6,000

200

5,200-5,400

175

4,400-4,600

150

3,500-3,700

125

2,800-3,000

100

2,100-2,300

For breaking local golf stories visit www.snegolfer.com and click “Breaking Stories.”

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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by KEVIN J. ROBY, Ph.D., MGCP

M

any of my clients feel they are lacking when it comes to proper focus and concentration. And we all know how important these abilities are when playing golf.

What is very interesting, however, is that with most of these athletes, I’ve found that they are actually quite capable of maintaining proper concentration, but they just have difficulty accessing this ability or knowing where to place their focus.

One key to controlled and sustained concentration is to make sure you direct your attention only toward the desired image, sensation, object, or event. Proper concentration and focus involves actively choosing where you are going to place your attention. You need to make a determination of what is actually relevant, important, and necessary for this next shot or this play. Devote all of your mental energy only to these specific aspects of the situation at hand.

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MENTAL GOLF

A Key to Concentration Those athletes who struggle with focus are the ones who continually use up their mental energy striving to NOT think about something, or desperately telling themselves they have to stop focusing on some distraction. Instead of trying NOT to think about distractions, make a choice about where you want your mind to be.

Actively choose to direct your attention and focus only to those things that are relevant and helpful for the task at hand.

Suppose you’re on the first tee during your club championship. A small crowd has gathered to watch. You’ve often struggled on this hole, and the observers on the first tee are noisier than you would prefer. You spend a lot of your mental energy trying to forget about bad scores on this hole, and you are desperately trying to tune out the noise. Trying to move your attention away from something, however, is not conducive to proper focus.

Instead of telling yourself, “Try to ignore the noise,” and “Don’t think of the

bad memories,” identify the things you want your attention to be drawn toward; those things that are relevant, important or helpful in this situation.

The memory of your best tee shot on this hole would be something appropriate to focus on. You could also focus on a small, precise target in the fairway and imagine your ball being drawn toward it.

Another helpful image is that of a smooth and unforced swing. These thoughts and images are where you want to choose to place your attention and your focus.

Commit to placing your focus where it belongs. Work on this day after day, week after week. If you maintain this

effort, you’ll discover that you, too, have an excellent capacity for proper focus and concentration.

Licensed psychologist Dr. Kevin J. Roby has over 35 years of experience in the field of psychology. He has spent the last 13 years providing mental skills training to professional and amateur golfers and athletes involved in a wide variety of other sports.

He has consulted with athletes across the USA and in other countries. To learn more about his work, visit his website at www. drkevinroby.com, or contact him via email at DrKev4Golf@aol.com, or by phone at (702) 395-2170.

Rhode Islanders Shut Out at Open Qualifying

By Bob Dickson

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t’s billed as the longest day in golf and for Rhode Islanders attempting to qualify for a berth at this year’s U.S. Open it truly was a very long day and a disappointing one. None of them made it.

Sectional qualifying for this year’s Open, to be held at Merion G.C. in Ardmore, Penn., was held at 11 sites throughout the country and 36 holes were required. Cranston native Mike Capone had the best shot of making it when he carded a nifty 68 in his opening round at the Woodmont C.C. in Rockville, Maryland.

However, disaster struck Capone during his afternoon round when he ballooned to an ugly 79 and finished far off the pace at 147.

Meanwhile, three Rhode Islanders – Brad Faxon, amateur Bobby Leopold and Ed Kirby along with Jeff Dantas from nearby Seekonk, Mass, gave it their best shot at qualifying in Purchase, New York at two courses, the Century C.C. and the Old Oaks C.C. The cutoff was 138 and Faxon, now on the Champions Tour, came the closest to qualifying but missed by two strokes when he finished at one under140 with rounds of 71 and 69.

Faxon’s putter got hot in his afternoon round at Old Oaks when he dropped four birdies on his last 10 holes.

Leopold, fresh off his win at the Burke Memorial, missed too many putts, he said, and wound up at four over 145 after rounds of 74 and 71.

“From tee to green I hit the ball very well, I just didn’t make any putts, “ Leopold said. “Still it was a good experience and I finished among the top 25 so I’m encouraged especially with the Northeast Amateur coming up. And I beat out a lot of guys who I have faced in amateur events.”

Kirby, the pro at Alpine, tied Leopold at 145 with rounds of 71 and 74, while Dantas ended up at plus 15 with scores of 76 and 80.

Four players qualified at the New York site. They included leaders Jesse Smith of Dover, N.H., Gavin Hall of Pittsford, N.Y., and Geoff Sisk of Marshfield,Mass, all tied at 137. Jim Herman from Palm City, Florida got the last spot with a 138.

Bristol native, Billy Andrade, now living in Georgia, carded rounds of 70 and 71, at Hawks Ridge in Georgia but his 141 was 6 shots off the pace.

Only three qualifying spots were available there.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

PEOPLE IN GOLF

Lusenhop Named 2013 Connecticut Section PGA Teacher of the Year

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onnecticut Section PGA President, Mike O’Grady, on behalf of the Special Awards Committee formally announced May 29, 2013 that Brad Lusenhop of Fox Hopyard Golf Club is the recipient of the 2013 CTPGA Teacher of the Year Award. The prestigious Teacher of the Year Award is the highest instructional recognition a PGA Professional can receive on the Section level.

Lusenhop was nominated for the award in March, submitted his credentials in April, the materials were reviewed and evaluated by the Special Awards Committee and Lusenhop was selected from a dozen finalists. He will officially receive the award at the CTPGA Special Awards Banquet at Foxwoods Casino on Sunday, November 17, 2013. A healthy contingent of Fox Hopyard members and students of Brad’s are expected to be onsite to see him receive his award. Details on attending will be forthcoming.

Lusenhop was born in Hinsdale, Illinois in 1980. His family moved to the Albany, NY area when he was eight years old, which coincided with his introduction to the game of golf. A superb junior and amateur competitive career culminated in a golf scholarship to Florida State University where Brad earned 4 varsity letters, competing in 40 tournaments and 3 ACC Championships. He lists winning the 2004 Golden Nole Award among as his proudest collegiate accomplishments.

The Golden Nole Award honors the individual for contributions they make on the field, in the classroom and in the community—it is the most distinguished award a student athlete can earn at Florida

State.

Lusenhop’s experience with the game and instruction by several PGA Professionals led him to an obsession with studying and understanding the swing and an unbridled enthusiasm and passion for helping others. His commitment to his chosen path includes digesting hundreds of instructional books, attending numerous PGA educational programs—most notably the 2013 National PGA Teaching and Coaching Summit—and his favorite pastime: talking swing theory and breaking down golf swings with his PGA colleagues.

Most instrumental in his development as an outstanding teacher and coach has been Lusenhop’s close relationship with five-time Northeastern New York Teacherof-the-Year Herb Moreland.

Lusenhop’s success stories are many.

They range from guiding several junior players on to successful collegiate careers, to assisting both LPGA and PGA players on their journeys, to helping members, guests and juniors at Fox Hopyard to be the best they can be, which allows them to enjoy the game more. His students sing his praises and travel far and wide to enlist his services. Lusenhop tells the story of the student he had several years ago in Winter Park, Florida that broke down in tears of joy when he had—after twenty years of frustration trying every swing theory and teaching aid on the market—a breakthrough with Brad. It was that moment that Brad realized how important golf instruction was, and how it can change someone’s life. Looking back on it he says, “That lesson may have changed my life more than his.”

When asked for a comment on

Lusenhop, a beaming Ron Beck, Director of Golf at Fox Hopyard, said he learned everything he needed to know about his Assistant the very first day of Brad’s employ.

“An elderly woman came in the shop on a cold and dreary April day inquiring about an Assistant from the previous year that had moved on to a new club on Long Island. She went on to say she had bought a lesson package the previous year but only took 2 of the 6 lessons,” explains Beck.

“Before I could even address the situation Brad jumped in and offered to finish the package for free. I knew in that moment that his heart and commitment were in the right place. He was destined for success as a Golf Professional and as an instructor.

I knew it at that moment and with this tremendous recognition the entire golf community now knows it.”

Brad Lusenhop

Target Your Audience in SNE Golfer!

For advertising information, call Bruce Vittner at 401-464-8445 or email bruce@snegolfer.com.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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PRODUCT REVIEWS

By BRUCE HUTCHINSON

Golf Buddy VT Talking GPS Rangefinder

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ant to know the distance to the front, middle and back of greens? Don’t like to carry a hand-held GPS? Don’t want to pay annual fees for your GPS? We saw the GolfBuddy VT talking touchsceen golf GPS that was introduced at the PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando in January. Attach it to your hat, where it with the comfortable wristband or put it in your pocket and then just touch the screen to get your distances. No need to go looking for sprinkler heads in the fairways, no need to try to figure how far you are from the 150 posts.

The GolfBuddy VT comes with a rechargeable lithium battery good for up to ten hours of use. The unit has a USB port for synching when new courses are added, and you can ask for specific course’s mapping if it is not already included in the GolfBuddy database. Unlikely, because there are over 36,000 courses preloaded worldwide. The suggested selling price of the model is $299 and is available in most all golf stores. You can get more information at www.gpsgolfbuddy.com. BV

By BRUCE VITTNER

Ice Cold Towels

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e met Joe Collins from Ct. at the Boston Golf Show. He was selling Ice Cold Towels, a unique product that you dampen and wear around your neck to keep cool while golfing or other physical activities on hot days. The towel provides cooling relief for 2-5 hours.

Simply wet the towel, squeeze out excess water, shake the towel to activate and where it around your neck. The towel comes in different colors and sizes, but the standard size is 16 by 24 inches. Large orders can be customized and it makes a handy product to keep you cool or give as a gift as my wife did for our daughters. The regular selling price for the towel is $29.95, but readers of this publication can get a $15 discount by using the code sneg2013 when ordering. You can get more information at www.icecoldtowels.com or email icecoldtowels@comcast.net.

BV

Do You Have Happy Feet?

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alance is lost on the downswing due to improper weight transfer from heel to toe.

Losing your balance during the downswing

JUMBOMAX Grips

A

relaxed grip means greater power and accuracy. Get your hands on the USGA conforming super-oversized grip that gives you a stronger, yet more relaxed grip on the club and start hitting longer,straighter golf shots.

The Super-oversized diameter of JumboMax grips lets you relax your hands on the club and provides you with greater surface contact. When your hands and arms are more relaxed, you get the fluid, more powerful golf swing you want. JumboMax grips fit your hands better and provide better control for more solid ball striking.

Plus, the super-oversized diameter provides 38% more turning power to rotate the club head giving golfers of all abilities added distance.

From novices to advanced players, JumboMax Grips can quickly and dramatically improve the way you play the game of golf. If you have very large or arthritic hands, you can also benefit from super-oversized, twist resistent, shock absorbing technology. Get out on the course and enjoy the feel, playability and lower scores you’ll get with JumboMax For more information go to www.JumboMax.com. BH

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results in loss of power, distance and consistency. The same improper weight transfer will also result in pain in the back, hips, knees, and feet.

Dynamic balance with proper weight transfer during the swing is fundamental to being successful in golf. Golf professionals, trainers and most golfers agree that distance and accuracy is based on the balance and stability of their stance and swing.

Inconsistency can be attributed to the lack of weight distribution from their heels to their toes during the swing. Some players may put too much weight on the toes and others on their heels depending on the weight distribution as they swing.

Golfers’ Feet by Happy Feet creates a perfect balance from side to side and heel to toe with dynamic fluid technology in their insoles. As the golfer swings, the insoles add stability, distance and precision to each swing while eliminating the pain and pressures from old or current injuries. So, because everything rests on your feet you too can make your feet happier by going to www.HappyFeet.net or by calling 800-462-8677.

Suggested selling price $49.95. BH

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

COURSE PROFILE

Harbor Lights Marina & Country Club Shines

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ver the past two years, something totally unique has been taking shape on Warwick Neck, RI. On Saturday, June 8th, invited neighbors and a host of guests and dignitaries were formally introduced to the new Harbor Lights Marina & Country Club, a oneof-a-kind destinational property offering a unique combination of recreational and social amenities along the shoreline of Narragansett Bay. Harbor Lights is situated on 72 rolling seaside acres at 150-200 Gray Street in Warwick. The campus features a modern 225-slip, full-service Marina at the mouth of Warwick Cove; a Geoffrey Cornishdesigned Golf Course and Practice Range

overlooking the Bay (formerly Seaview C.C. and full renovated); a completely redesigned, remodeled and expanded Clubhouse featuring a 300+ capacity Grand Ballroom, two restaurants and a pro shop; a new Seaside Terrace to stage wedding ceremonies and tented receptions; and a new Infinity Pool Club & Bar right on the Bay. The completion of the new complex is the culmination of the longtime vision of former RI Governor and Warwick Mayor, Philip Noel, his partners in the marina for over 30 years, Leo Martin and Ted Wheeler, and Phil’s son, Joe, a successful entrepreneur who expanded that vision and guided it to reality.

Beautiful Warwick Cove

The completely redesigned, remodeled and expanded Clubhouse.

Over the past 26 months, thousands of board feet of lumber have been crafted into a modern new Clubhouse and thousands of yards of material have been moved to sculpt an improved terrain and to maximize views. Details have even extended to trucking in hand-picked cypress beams and river barge salvage from Louisiana for re-purposing to create the Pool Club’s open-air, bayside bar and custom furniture for the new restaurants.

“Long ago, we recognized the great potential of this property and Warwick Cove,” states the elder Noel, who raised his family on Warwick Neck. “Despite the private look and feel of Harbor Lights, we’ve approached this project with the people of Warwick in mind. We’re more than your typical country club, yet, unlike your typical country club, we’re open to everyone and very affordable,” he says, proudly.

“While memberships are available, golf is public, the restaurants and bars are public, and boaters from everywhere can sail in and tie-up at our transient slips for a round of golf, to get a bite, take a swim, enjoy a cocktail, fuel up, or just relax and refresh.”

Joe Noel, President and COO of Harbor Lights, echoes his father’s sentiments.

“What we’ve created here is the country club experience without the country club expense. And we’re equally proud of the talent and experience we’ve assembled to

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

assure our guest experience is superior in every way.”

Joe expresses an even more farreaching interest. “While new jobs and new attractions are important for the community, it’s our hope that a greater economic impact is yet to come via this waterway.”

“We trust that Harbor Lights will inspire our congressional delegation to visualize the full potential for Warwick Cove to attract larger vessels and a larger share of national business for all of the businesses in this spectacular inlet. Enlisting the help of the Corps of Engineers to improve and protect the Warwick Cove channel will open that door.”

Patio seating features a view of the full service marina.

Photo Credit: Ruth Clegg 31

SCOREBOARD Burke Memorial-Net Division Newport C.C., Shelter Harbor G.C. Partial Results: 197 entrants

Burke Memorial-Gross Carnegie Abbey, Wanumetonomy Partial Results: 65 entrants

1. Anthony Caprio, Melody Hills 70-65-135 2. Ken Ferrara, Sr., Lincoln 70-65-135 3. Peter Hallas, Triggs 70-66-136 4. Ed Conforti, Montaup 70-67-137 4. Alfred Bucci, Wanumetonomy 69-68-137 4. Ronald Resmini, RICC 68-69-137 4. Mark Steffey, Cranston 67-70-137 8. Glenn Wojcik, Montaup 73-65-138 8. Doug Martel, Beaver River 68-70-138 8. Richard Salzman, NKCC 68-70-138 12 Michael Botelho, Montaup 69-70-139 12 Ted Turnbull, Wannamoisett 68-71-139 12 Stewart Wiley, Newport Nat. 68-71-139 12 Michael Pezza, Jr., Montaup 66-73-139 16 Jeff Pagnozzi, Glocester 69-71-140

1. Robert Leopold, Ledgemont 70-72-142 2. Austin Eaton III, Pawtucket 68-74-142 3. Charlie Blanchard, Wannamois.

73-73-146 4. Jon Costa III, Crestwood 79-68-147 4. Brad Valois, Metacomet 77-70-147 6. Mike Douillette, Crestwood 75-73-148 6. Jamie Griffiths, Wannamoisett 69-79-148 8. John Drohen, Alpine 72-78-150 9. Kyle Parsons, Ledgemont 77-74-151 9. E.J. Wholey, Triggs 73-78-151 11 Kyle Hoffman, Pawtucket 77-75-152 11 Dr. George Pirie, Valley 77-75-152 11 Jay Barrow, Laurel Lane 74-78-152 14 David Howley, Laurel Lane 83-70-153 14 Jason Kalin, Metacomet 73-80-153

Mass. Sr. Four-Ball Stow Acres Partial Results 1. Ball-Chase 2. Congdon-Congdon 3. Hickman-Reycroft 3. Weeks-Carter 5. Bagley III-Rockwell Jr. 6. Diskin-Calvao 7. Smith-Turgeon 7. Ahern-Haas 7. Carey-Richard 7. Hadden-Heffernan 11 Cole-Kilgore 11 Hein-Lahey 11 Kearney-Barry, Jr. 11 Keller-King

CT. Senior Match Play Connecticut Golf Club 71-63-134 69-66-135 70-66-136 69-67-136 72-65-137 71-67-138 72-67-139 71-68-139 71-68-139 68-71-139 73-67-140 72-68-140 70-70-140 68-72-140

Quarterfinals David Zeid def. Mark Vassalotti 2 and 1 Bill Torza def. Tom Scarrozzo 3 and 1 Lou Stone def. Lou Mohn 1 up Dave Szewczul def. Phil Vogel 5 and 3 Semifinals Torza def. Zeid 19 holes Szewczul def. Stone 6 and 4 Finals Szewczul def. Torza 2 and 1

RIGA Senior Four-Ball Metacomet C.C. Partial Results 55 Teams 1. Acciardo-Pirie 2. Quigley-Soucy 3. McLane-Patrick 3. Couture-Palmer 3. McNally-Sozek 6. Haugen-Tranghese 7. Krieger-Porter 7. Forbes-Goryl 7. Donnell-Fasick 10 Brown-Schmidt 10 Fortin-Videtta 10 Hassett-Stevens

68-67-135 70-66-136 71-66-137 68-69-137 69-68-137 72-68-140 72-69-141 69-72-141 69-72-141 70-72-142 70-72-142 71-71-142

R.I. Four-Ball Championship Point Judith, Par 71 Partial Results: 86 Teams 1. Kyle Hoffman, Pawtucket Ryan Pelletier, Pawtucket 67-68-135 2. John Kelly, Jr., Meadow Brook Billy McDonald, Meadow Br. 68-70-138 3. Seamus Fennelly, Foster Travis Tucker, Foster 67-72-139 4. Bob Leopold, Ledgemont Ben Tuthill, Wannamoisett 68-72-140 5. Darren Corrente, Metacomet Eugene DiSarro, Metacomet 73-69-142 5. Mitchell Pozez, Carnegie Ab. Jack Sheehan, Carnegie Abbey 71-71-142 7. Rick Audette, Jr., Metacomet Jason Kalin, Metacomet 72-71-143 7. Donald Gallagher, Wannamois.

Jamie Griffiths, Wannamoisett 68-75-143 7. Joseph Hassett, Warwick Chris Hurd, Warwick 67-76-143 10 Dale Smith, Foster E.J. Wholey, Triggs 75-70-145 10 Rob Grossguth, W. Warwick Jamie Lukowicz, W. Warwick 72-73-145

Players Leaving New England—Men Michael Werenski, MA , Texas A&M Chelso Barrett, NH, TCU Dan Guise, CT, Wake Forest Charlie May, MA, Lehigh Daniel Cowick, MA, Pfeiffer Patrick Frodigh, MA, Denver Nick Rodriquez, MA, North Texas Erik Yarrows, MA, Florida Southern New Recruits into New England—Men Harvard Daniel DeLaGarza Texas Robert Deng California Kendrick Vinar N. Carolina Dartmouth Sean Fahey Pennsylvania Scott Jaster Pennsylvania Yale Li Wang Washington Jonathan Lai California James Park Mass.

Army Justin Paglia California Steven Pederson New Jersey Peter Kim New Jersey Brown Connor Lynch Florida Chad Carlson Kansas Rhode Island Billy Waldhouse Mass.

Derek Paxton Virginia Leaving New England—Women Andrea Frappier, Connecticut, Fairleigh Dickinson Mia Landergren, Connecticut, Alabama Nicole Scola, Rhode Island, Quinnipiac New Recruits into New England Elisabeth Bemabe Yale Ann Cheng Harvard Nina Fairbaim Harvard Sara Garmecy Yale Rosanna Lederhausen Brown Julie Lym Brown Tara Simmons Dartmouth Cristal Wang B.C. Theodore Yoch Middlebury New England Collegiate Div. One Men’s Final Rankings—Teams Yale, Boston College, Hartford, Conn., Harvard, Rhode Island, Dartmouth, Sacred Heart, Central Connecticut, Fairfield New England Collegiate Div. One Individual Rankings Sam Berstein, Yale; Evan Russell, Hartford; Brander Chickorka, RI; Brad Kushner, Yale; Zack Zaback, Conn.; Charlie Davis, Dartmouth; Anthony Kim, Army; Andy Mai, B.C,; Patrick Ross, Hartford; Peter Ballo, Sacred Heart

To find out more results and photos from the three golf associations visit their websites at www.mgalinks.org, rigalinks.org and csgalinks.org.

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

EASTERN MASS NOTEBOOK

Plymouth C.C. head professional A.J. Petrulak Hadges Wins Hornblower Title John Hadges of Thorny Lea Golf Club is proving that at age 52 he can still play – and win – with the best amateur golfers in the region. The Easton resident has won many tournaments since the early 1980s.

However, he achieved something for the very first time in the win column a few weeks ago.

He won his first back-to-back, medalplay tournaments of the spring season that count toward the Mass. Golf Association Player of the Year points standings.

In May, Hadges defeated Doug Clapp of Old Sandwich G.C. in Plymouth by one stroke to capture his third career Norfolk County Classic at Presidents G.C. in Quincy. On June 1, Hadges and Clapp wound up in a sudden death playoff at the Hornblower Memorial Invitational at Plymouth C.C. before Hadges prevailed on the second extra hole to win his second Hornblower title.

His previous best back-to-back finishes in those two tournaments was a win at the Norfolk County Classic and second place at the Hornblower in 2005. “Two for two, you can’t ask for much better than that,” said Hadges, who was hoping to continue his hot streak at this month’s Mass. Open at Woodland G.C. in Newton, the only MGA championship event that fields both amateurs and professionals.

Hadges actually can do better than that. Based on the way he has played thus far, he has a dark horse chance to win his first Mass. Open, which would be a nice addition to his two Mass. Amateur crowns and numerous other tourney titles.

“No matter what the tournament is, I just go out and play,” said Hadges. “I am familiar with Woodland. I’ve played it about 50 times, mostly the final round of the Ouimet Memorial tournament, so I know what to expect.”

Clapp’s consolation was another second-place finish. Since last year, he has finished second in the 2012 MGA Player of the Year standings, second at the State Four-Ball with Andy Drohen, and two successive runnerup finishes to Hadges, whom he also trails in the current POY standings.

For the second straight year at the Hornblower, the Henry Picard Trophy for the top junior golfer was awarded to a Connecticut native Danny Guise of Greenwich posted the best junior score at 6-over 144 (70-74). Guise, 18, will play golf at Wake Forest next fall.

Jack Kearney of Elmcrest C.C. won the senior division by two strokes at 68-81149. Jack Weeks of Wollaston G.C. was tied for second at 74-77-151. Other local golfers who fared well were Herbie Aikens of Pinehills G.C., who tied for fourth at 4-over 142 (71-71), while Chris Tarallo (Thorny Lea), Ben Spitz (Harmon Club), and Ryan Riley (Sharon C.C.) all tied for 12th at 7-over 145.

A tip of the cap to the members of the Hornblower committee for once again putting together one of the finest amateur fields in the region, especially chairman Mike Ellis and head professional A.J. Petrulak.

Petrulak was a jack-of-all-trades around the clubhouse, especially at the scoring table making sure everything ran smoothly, before eventually slipping on a tie and his blue blazer with the Hornblower emblem for the awards presentation.

“I’ve learned that the Hornblower is a rite of spring here,” said Petrulak, a Florida native who worked elsewhere in Vermont and Massachusetts before coming to Plymouth C.C. in 2009. “It’s a great membership and such a great honor to be part of it. There’s a lot of history here (Henry Hornblower and former Masters champion Henry Picard). We’re taking a great tournament and making it better.”

Hornblower committee members have begun the process of planning a celebration for next year’s 50th anniversary tournament. Festivities will include a social gala featuring past champions and former players, an honorary tribute to former longtime tournament chairman Skeet Ellis, who passed away a few years ago, as well as commemorative gifts. Also, applications for next year’s tournament and/or pro-am event will be available on the Plymouth C.C. website very soon in anticipation of increased interest and limited space availability.

Sisk Earns Spot in US Open Geoff Sisk of Marshfield was riding a hot streak right into the Mass. Open – then things got even better. The former six-time Mass. Open champion fired a 5-under-par 66 to win a rain-shortened Cape Cod Open at Hyannis G.C. on May 30, just two weeks before possibly playing in the Mass. Open at Woodland.

Four days later, Sisk was in Purchase, N.Y. at a U.S. Open sectional qualifier, where he earned co-medalist honors by firing rounds of 67 and 69 to earn a spot into this year’s U.S. Open at Merion G.C. in suburban Philadelphia.

This will be the seventh trip to the U.S. Open for the 48-year-old Sisk, who once played on both the PGA Tour and former Nationwide Tour (now Web.com Tour).

McCracken Presented Award Harry McCracken of Charles River C.C. in Newton was presented with one of the most prestigious honors awarded by the United States Golf Association – the Ike Grainger Award. Established in 1995 as part of the USGA’s Centennial Celebration, the award recognizes those volunteers who have given 25 years of service to the USGA. McCracken, one of the most recognizable figures in New England golf, has been a fixture at USGA, Mass. Golf Association, and New England Golf Association events since 1969 when he first became a part of the MGA Executive Committee.

By BOB DICESARE Both boys will meet again when they square off at this year’s U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, N.C. on Aug. 1-3. Thorbjornsen won the age 10 division world title last year in Pinehurst.

Cohasset Duo Shine Aaron Ungvarsky, assistant professional at Cohasset G.C., has been lighting it up on the golf course recently. During a recent Old Colony match between Cohasset and Black Rock C.C., Ungvarsky shot a 62 on his own ball at Black Rock and combined with playing partner Bill Williams for a team best ball of 61. He also recently fired an even-par 70 to earn co-medalist honors in the NEPGA Assistants Championship at Marshfield C.C. Ungvarsky was to have played in this month’s Mass. Open and will also be competing in the PGA Professional National Championship at Sunriver, Ore., on June 23-26.

On the women’s side, Tara Joy-Connelly used her home-course advantage to shoot 76-80-156 and win the championship flight of the Edith Noblit Baker Trophy at Cohasset G.C. by 10 strokes over Lisa Anderson of Ferncroft C.C. In the tournament flight, Vicky MacKay of Southers Marsh G.C. in Plymouth captured a three-stroke victory over Kathy Vinson of Walpole C.C. Joy-Connelly was also a member of Team Massachusetts that competed in the 110th Griscom Cup against teams from New York and Philadelphia at Essex C.C., won by Philadelphia for the fourth straight year. The Griscom Cup is the oldest women’s amateur golf tournament in the country.

Bob DiCesare is an award-winning golf writer for The Patriot Ledger of Quincy, MA and The Enterprise of Brockton, MA. He is also a member of the International Network of Golf.

Impressive Kids Golf Spring Tour Eleven-year-old Michael Thorbjornsen of Wellesley fired an impressive 73 at Glen Ellen C.C. in Millis to win that age division of the U.S. Kids Golf Boston Spring Tour Championship over second-place finisher Tucker Dalton Gullbrants of Brockton, who shot a commendable 78.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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By BRUCE VITTNER

Golfing in the Poconos

ROUND TWO AT SHAWNEE

is credited with over 265 course designs, mostly along the east coast.

Tillinghast was invited by Charles Worthington to build a golf course on property that he owned in Shawnee on Delaware, including an island that sat between a tributary of the Delaware and the main river. In an anomaly, the course was built before the grand hotel a year later.

There are 27 holes on the property.

Only three are on the mainland and the other 24 on are on the island. The one bridge that connects the two parcels looks like it has been there for 100 years.

“We are the only flat course in the Pocono Mountains,” said head golf professional Joseph Manley III who told of the holes that still remained true to Tillinghast’s 18hole design. In the late 1950’s the course was expanded to 27 holes and many of the former holes were rerouted The river only comes into play on Red number 2 and Blue number 7 (my favorite hole). Both are par 3’s. The first one you hit onto the island and the second one comes back to the mainland.

There are three bodies of water on the small island and it affects shots on seven of the holes. It is a true old-time course with tees right next to the previous green and an old time snack shack in the middle of the three courses where they intersect.

Tillinghast’s design goes up and back repeatedly, but the tall trees between fairways protect the golfers perfectly. Each nine measures about 3,300 from the back tees and about 3,100 from the whites. It is a glorious walk in the park steeped with tradition.

In 1910 Tillinghast organized the Shawnee Open for players in the area, and it still exists today. Jackie Gleason spent much time at the resort and learned to play golf there. He used to stay in a small building on the golf course where he, Ed Sullivan and many of their friends would play golf all day, and play cards most of the night while tipping a few libations.

In 1938 Shawnee Inn hosted the PGA Championship won by Paul Runyan over a young Sam Snead.

Make sure you walk through the historic inn (see sidebar). Most of the best golfers from the early 1900s through the 1960s are pictured. There is also a picture of Mickey

By Carolyn Vittner

Scenic 18th at Great Bear G.C.

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n early June we were invited to the grand re-opening media day for Great Bear Golf Course in East Stroudsburg, Penn. We had been to the area two years ago, and when we learned that the same folks who owned the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort owned it, we knew we had to go.

Most New Englanders think of Pennsylvania as being a long haul from home, but we were sitting in our room at the Shawnee Inn in just over four hours.

We were teeing it up on the property’s 27hole golf course an hour later.

The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort in Shawnee on Delaware, Pa. sits right along the banks of the Delaware River, and celebrated its 100th anniversary three years ago.

The course was the first design by famed American golf course architect A.W. Tillinghast of Philadelphia. Tillinghast, born in 1874, was an excellent amateur golfer who spent much time in Scotland and took lessons from Old Tom Morris and discussed course architecture philosophies.

Tillinghast believed that greens made the course and it didn’t need a great many hazards. He said, “A round of golf should produce 18 inspirations.” He also coined the term “birdie” to signify one-under par.

His course designs include Bethpage State Park, Baltusrol and Winged Foot, and he 34

GOLF TRAVEL

Mantle and his friends on the course.

Great Bear Golf Club is the only Jack Nicklaus Signature course in the area.

It opened in 1997, but due to financial problems was foreclosed in 2011. It was actually closed for all of 2012, but you would never know it.

It is only three miles from Shawnee Inn and a mile from the Shawnee Ski Resort.

We had the chance to talk to Charlie Kirkwood, owner of the Shawnee Inn and Resort and one of the principals in the ownership group at Great Bear. “I have four sons and a son-in-law who love to play golf, and they kept telling me how great it would be to have Great Bear as part of our properties,” said the affable Kirkwood.

The family had negotiations with the bank, but it wasn’t until September of 2012 when they were able to purchase it at auction. “We call our courses the island and the highland,” added a smiling Kirkwood.

Great Bear is truly a Pocono course as you wend your way up and down hills.

The elevation changes make for interesting shot selections. It seemed that most holes had downhill shots to greens that were very receptive and well manicured.

How did they manage to keep the course in excellent playing condition after being closed for a whole year? “Keith Snyder and his small crew were the keys to keeping this place alive,” commented Kirkwood.

Snyder, a native of the area, had been working as the head superintendent at the well-renowned Dupont Golf Club in Delaware in 1995 when he heard that a Jack Nicklaus course was being planned in his hometown. “I came back and applied along with hundreds of others to get the position, and was fortunate enough to get the job,” said Snyder who was there from the first shovel in the ground.

“It was heartbreaking to see the course close, but I convinced the bank to let a few of us stay on to mow the grass and keep the greens in good order so that the property would have value and a chance for new owners to keep it as a golf course rather than a pasture,” he added.

It worked. “We are only 60 miles from the George Washington Bridge and the huge populations of New Jersey and New Continued on page 38

Welcome back to the Shawnee. A few years ago my husband and I stopped here on our way home from Florida. As we were only able to spend one night that time, we decided to come again for two nights.

The Shawnee Inn Golf Resort is nestled in the Pocono Mountains in a bucolic neighborhood along the Delaware River.

We stayed in the Worthington, one of the Resort’s many properties. We were not disappointed, as our unit was just beautiful, and quite spacious. I could really get used to having two sinks in the bathroom.

The area is filled with interesting things to do. You can enjoy professional live theatre all year round at the Shawnee Playhouse, which is located in a charming historic building. Just a block away is the General Store. Opened in 1859, it will bring you back to a time before strip malls and cookie-cutter stores.

Be sure to visit The Shawnee Gallery.

This small museum features paintings, sculptures, jewelry, as well as hand crafted furnishings and is quite charming. These gems are worth taking the short walk down the road from the inn.

Since the reason for our trip was playing golf, I had the option of doing that, fishing, canoeing, kayaking (all fun things to do on property) or a spa treatment.

Guess which one I chose? You are right.

Who doesn’t need a little pampering now and again?! The Spa Shawnee & Salon is located in the main hotel and offers just about any treatment you could ask for. I chose a facial that included Reflexology, my new favorite pleasure! I didn’t feel a bit guilty as the spa uses locally sustainable goods including herbs & honey from the Great Shawnee Island Farms. Since my husband was playing 18 holes of golf that takes such a long time and I had nowhere to go (and I’m a bit spoiled), I decided to complete my spa experience with a pedicure.

Now I’m good to go—to the Gem & Keystone Brewpub. This friendly pub is known for their Shawnee Craft artisan ales and lagers. Whether you are in the mood for a beer and finger foods while watching your favorite sports team on their big screen TV, or enjoying a full dinner, it’s a sure bet you will be satisfied.

Two nights here just aren’t enough; maybe next time we’ll stay a week. We may even come in winter to ski, yet another fun activity to do at this yearround resort.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

GOLF TRAVEL

By BRUCE VITTNER

Mesquite, Nevada—Casinos, Scenery and Great Golf

W

e’ve found a great place to go for a vacation during the cooler months. A place where it is warm, can wager a few pesos, and most importantly play golf on some excellent courses. We were invited to play in the Mesquite Media Classic last November, and we found it to be a great golfing destination.

Mesquite has always been known for the RE/MAX World Long Drive Contest held annually. We could see the grid lines still set up on a flat piece of land next to the Virgin River.

What a unique place. Mesquite is 85 miles northeast of Las Vegas, but it only takes a little over an hour to get there from Las Vegas airport. The drive is through barren land along the interstate, although Lake Mead sits just a few miles east of the highway. When you get to Mesquite it seems like an oasis.

When I asked Cody Law, executive director of Golf Mesquite for directions, he said, “You’ll know when you are there, and you’ll know you if you missed it.

There is an exit at the beginning of town and the next exit (two miles away) is the end of town.

This small size did not keep the townsfolk from building beautiful golf courses. “There are five courses in town and we include two courses in St. George, Utah 35 miles north, and Coyote Springs, 30 miles south of Mesquite as part of the Golf Mesquite package,” said Law who diplomatically said that he didn’t have a favorite. “They are all a little different, and all fun to play,” he added. The only course in town not on the Golf Mesquite package is Wolf Creek, a spectacular design carved out of the sandstone in the highest part of the fast-growing Town of Mesquite that has 10,000 residents in the summer and doubles when the snowbirds arrive in the winter.

We managed to get to Utah for a practice round. Mesquite is one mile from the Arizona border and twenty miles from Utah. St. George is only 35 miles from Mesquite on Interstate 15 and you travel through the Virgin River Gorge that took eight years to blast out to complete the highway. The views are spectacular. We played Sand Hollow Resort, www.sandhollowresort.com,

a spectacular 27-hole complex that has some of the most beautiful red rock outcroppings and elevation changes seen on any golf course. John Fought, the course designer and former U.S. Amateur champion, was there to give us some insight about the course and what went into the design and construction of the course. You should try to play all 27 holes if you have the time. The Coral Canyon, www. coralcanyon.com, is the other St. George course used in Golf Mesquite packages and it is also true high desert golf. The rock formations, shades of color as the sun hits the mountainside, and the pretty layouts with cactus and native plants and bushes make both courses a must play.

Just be careful when you make your tee time as Utah is on Mountain Time.

Coyote Springs, www.coyotesprings. com, was a unique experience. Designed

by Jack Nicklaus, it has his signature huge undulating greens, but there is also quite a bit of water. Opened in 2008, the course sits on 67 square miles of desert property.

Don’t be surprised someday when this massive piece of land will have a few golf courses and a whole town around them.

A local tip when you play--when putting, your ball will always roll towards Sheep Mountain! Sometimes it seemed like the ball was going uphill.

Back to Mesquite. Conestoga GC, www.ConestogaGolf.com, is the newest course in town. Designed by Gary Panks, it opened to rave reviews in 2010 and they are well deserved. Sitting on top of huge deposits of sandstone, the course has spectacular elevation changes and excellent conditioning. Troon Golf manages the property and they do their usual fine job.

The Oasis Country Club, www. theoasisgolfclub.com, has two courses on property, the Palmer and the Canyons.

The Palmer is a very fair and wide-open layout that is fun and not as difficult as some of the other courses. The Canyons

The 6th hole at Conestoga Golf Club. Views like this abound throughout Mesquite. has quite a few more elevation changes and some unique holes.

Falcon Ridge, www.golffalcon.com, is the other course in Mesquite. It is almost like two courses in one. The front nine is rather tame and a chance to get a good score going. The sixth hole will test your mettle, as you are on top of a mountain hitting your drive to a fairway about 90 feet below with water on the right. Once you get to the back side, however, you will be heading up and down the hills with some very unique and difficult shots.

When I asked Cody Law, executive director of Golf Mesquite for directions, he said, “You’ll know when you are there, and you’ll know you if you missed it. There is an exit at the beginning of town and the next exit (two miles away) is the end of town.

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

The Eureka Hotel and Casino, www.

EurekaMesquite.com, was our host for the tournament. With a wide variety of room choices, fine restaurants, excellent spa, live entertainment and a full casino open 24/7 the Eureka makes a perfect option if you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of Las Vegas. We flew into Las Vegas directly from Providence on Southwest Airlines.

Mesquite is a unique place and a wonderful golf destination. Imagine having five wonderful courses within three miles of each other. The land is so unique with all the sandstone. The elevation changes make views from some of the tees unforgettable. The staff at Golf Mesquite Nevada is low-key, friendly and so accommodating. They have a group travel desk for groups of 12 or more where you get your own consultant.

We will go back, although very doubtfully to compete in the Long-Drive contest. The relaxed pace, scenery and fine golf makes for a delightful vacation.

You can find out more about packages at www.golfmesquitenevada.com, or calling 1-866-720-7111.

Bruce Vittner is a member of the Golf Writers Assn. of America and the Golf Travel Writers of America and can be reached at bruce@snegolfer.com.

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SNE GOLFER LOCATOR MAP RHODE ISLAND COURSES

1. BEAVER RIVER G.C. (18) P 343 Kingstown Rd. Richmond, RI, 401-539-2100 www.beaverrivergolf.com, PS,CR,CH,SB,O 2. BUTTON HOLE SHORT COURSE (9) P, X Button Hole Dr. Providence, RI, 401-421-1664 www.buttonhole.org, CL,CH,DR,PS, Lessons 3. COUNTRY VIEW G.C. (18) P 49 Club Lane Burrillville, RI, 401-568-7157 www.countryviewgolf.net, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 4. COVENTRY PINES G.C. (9) P Harkney Hill Rd. Coventry, RI 401-397-9482, CR,CL,CH,SB, Senior Rates 5. CRANSTON C.C. (18) P 69 Burlingame Rd. Cranston, RI, 401-826-1683 www.cranstoncc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 6. CRYSTAL LAKE G.C. (18) SP 100 Broncos Hwy. Mapleville, RI, 401-567-4500 www.crystallakegolfclub.com, CL,CR,PS,CH,O,SB 7. EAST GREENWICH G.C. (9) SP 1646 Division Rd. E. Greenwich, RI, 401-884-5656, www.eastgreenwichgc.com CR,CL,CH,O, Restaurant 8. EXETER COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 320 Victory Hwy. (Rt. 102) Exeter, RI 401-295-8212, www.exetercc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 9. FAIRLAWN G.C. (9) P, X Sherman Ave. Lincoln, RI, 401-334-3937 www.fairlawngolfcourse.com, CR,CL,CH,SB,O 10. FENNER HILL G.C. (18) P 33 Wheeler Ln. Hope Valley, RI, 401-539-8000, www.fennerhill.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 11. FOSTER COUNTRY CLUB (18) P 67 Johnson Rd. Foster, RI, 401-397-7750 www.fostercountryclub.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 12. HARBOR LIGHTS MARINA & C.C. (9) P 150 Gray St. Warwick, RI, 401-737-6353 www.HarborLightsRI.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 13. JAMESTOWN G.C. (9) P 245 Conanicus Ave. Jamestown, RI, 401-423-9930 www.jamestowngolf.com CR,CL,CH 14. LAUREL LANE C.C. (18) P Laurel Lane, off Rt.138, W. Kingston, RI 401-783-384, www.laurellanecountryclub.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 15. LINDBROOK G.C. (18) X CR, CH,O 299 Woodville Alton Rd. Hope Valley, RI 401-539-8700 16. MEADOW BROOK G.C. (18) P 163 Kingstown Rd.(Rt.138) Richmond, RI 401-539-8491, www.meadowbrookgolfri.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O, PGA pro 17. MELODY HILL C.C. (18) P 55 Melody Hill Ln. Harmony, RI, 401-949-9851 CR,PS,CH 18. MIDVILLE COUNTRY CLUB (9) P 100 Lombardi Ln. W. Warwick, RI, 401-828-9215 www.midvillegolfclub.com, CR,CL,PS,CH 19. NEWPORT NATIONAL G.C. (18) SP 324 Mitchells Ln. Middletown, RI, 401-848-969 www.newportnational.com, CR,CL,PS,SB,O 20. NORTH KINGSTOWN G.C. (18) P 615 Callahan Rd. No. Kingstown, RI, 401-2940684, www.nkgc.com, DR,PS,CR,CL,CH,O 21. PINE CREST GOLF CLUB (9) P 25 Pinehurst Dr. Richmond, RI, 401-364-8600 www.pinecrestri.com CR,CL,CH,SB,O, Leagues 22. RICHMOND C.C. (18) SP Sandy Pond Rd. Richmond, RI, 401-364-9200 www.richmondcountryclub.net, CR,CL,PS,CH,O

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23. ROSE HILL GOLF CLUB (9) P 222 Rose Hill Rd. So. Kingstown, RI, 401-7881088, www.rosehillri.com CR,CL,CH,SB, Leagues 24. TIN CUP GOLF & DRIVING RANGE (6)P 2 Fairway Dr. Coventry, RI, 401-823-4653 www.tincupgc.com, CR,CL,CH,O,DR 25. TRIGGS MEMORIAL G.C. (18) P Chalkstone Ave. Providence, RI 401-521-8460, www.triggs.us, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 26. WINDMILL HILL G.C. (9) X 35 Schoolhouse Rd. (off Rt 136) Warren, RI 401-245-1463, www.windmillgolfri.com CR,CL,CH,O, Restaurant 27. WOOD RIVER GOLF (18) P 78 Woodville-Alton Rd. Hope Valley, RI, 401364-0700, www.woodrivergolf.com, CR,CH,SB,O 28. WOODLAND GREENS G.C. (9) P 655 Old Baptist Rd. N. Kingstown, RI, 401-2942872, www.woodlandgc.com CR,PS,CH,O

RHODE ISLAND DRIVING RANGES

A. BUTTON HOLE LEARNING CENTER (9) PAR 3, 1 Button Hole Dr. Providence, RI 401-421-1664, www.buttonhole.org target greens, two putting greens, lessons B. IRON WOODS GOLF PRACTICE CENTER 1081 Iron Hill Mine Rd. (off Rt.146) N. Smithfield, RI, 401-766-1151, www.iwgolf.com, putting greens, grass tees, covered area, bunker, lessons, repairs C. MULLIGAN’S ISLAND GOLF & ENTERTAINMENT (9) X 1000 New London Ave. (Rt 2) Cranston, RI 401-464-8855, www.mulligansisland.com 60 stall driving range, covered area, batting cages, mini-golf, par 3 course, 18-hole pitch and putt, PGA Golf Academy, Spargo Golf on premises, club fitting and repairs D. NARRAGANSETT GOLF DRIVING RANGE 1141 Boston Neck Rd. (Rt. 1A), Narragansett, RI, 401-783-1014, mat driving stalls, grass/iron area, bunker, putting area, PGA Pro

MASSACHUSETTS COURSES

29. AGAWAM MUNICIPAL G.C. (18) P 128 Southwick St., Feeding Hills, MA, 413-786-2194, www.agawamgolfcourse.com CL,CR,PS,CH,O, Banquets 30. AMHERST GC (9) P 365 S. Pleasant St. Amherst, MA, 413-256-6894 www.amherstgolfclub.org, CR,CL,PS,CH,O 31. BEAVER BROOK G.C. (9) P 183 Main St. Haydenville, MA, 413-268-7229 32. BLACKSTONE NATIONAL G.C. (18) SP 227 Putnam Hill Rd. Sutton, MA, 508-865-2111 www.bngc.net, CR,CL,CH,PS,O,DR 33. BLISSFUL MEADOWS G.C. (18) SP 801 Chocalog Rd. Uxbridge, MA, 508-278-6110 www.blissfulmeadows.com, CR,CL,CH,DR,PS,O 34. BUNGAY BROOK G.C. (9) P 30 Locust St. Bellingham, MA, 508-883-1600 www.bungaybrook.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 35. CAPTAINS COURSE (36) P 1000 Freemans Way, Brewster, MA, 508-896-1716 www.captainsgolfcourse.com CR,CL,CH,PS,O 36. CHEMAWA GOLF COURSE (18) P 350 Cushman Rd. N. Attleboro, MA, 508-3997330, http://chemawagolf.com CR,CH,O,CL

37. CHICOPEE C.C. (18) P 1290 Burnett Rd. Chicopee, MA, 413-594-9295 38. CRESTVIEW (18) SP 281 Shoemaker Ln. Agawam, MA 413-786-2593, www.crestviewcc.org 39. CRUMPIN-FOX (18) P 87 Parmenter Rd. Bernardston, MA 508-413-648-9101, www.golfthefox.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O 40. EASTON C.C. (18) SP 265 Purchase St. Easton, MA 508-238-2500, www.eastoncountryclub.com CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 41. ELLINWOOD C.C. (18) SP 1928 Pleasant St. Athol, MA, 978-249-7460 www.ellinwoodcc.com, CR,CH,PS,O 42. ELMCREST C.C. (18) Private 105 Somersville Rd. E. Longmeadow, MA 413-575-7477, www.golfelmcrest.cc.com 43. FENWAY GOLF RANGE & PITCH & PUTT (DR) 112 Allen St. E. Longmeadow, MA 413-525-4444, www.fenwaygolf.com 44. FOXBOROUGH C.C. (18) SP 33 Walnut St. Foxborough, MA 508-543-4661x4, www.foxboroughcc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,DR,O 45. GLEN ELLEN C.C. (18) SP 84 Orchard St., Millis, MA, 508-376-2775 www.theglencc.com, CR,CL,CH,Rest.,DR,O 46. HICKORY RIDGE C.C. (18) SP 191 W. Pomeroy Ln. Amherst, MA, 413-253-9320 www.hickoryridgecc.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 47. JOHN E. PARKER MUNICIPAL G.C. (9) P 17 Fisher St. Taunton, MA, 508-822-1797 CR,DR,CH,SB, Skins Thurs. at 3:45 48. JUNIPER HILL G.C. (36) P 202 Brigham St. Northboro, MA, 508-393-2444 www.juniperhillgc.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O 49. LOCUST VALLEY G.C. (9) P 106 Locust St. Attleboro, MA, 508-222-1500 CR,CH,SB,O, new low rates 50. MAPLEGATE COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 160 Maple St. Bellingham, MA, 508-966-4040 www.maplegate.com, CR,CL,PS,CH 51. MGA LINKS AT MAMANTAPETT (18) P, X 300 W. Maine Rd. (Rt 123) Norton, MA 508-222-0555, www.mamantapett.com CL,PS,CH,SB,O 52. MIDDLEBROOK C.C. (9) P 149 Pleasant St. Rehoboth, MA 508-252-9393, CR,PS,CH,SB 53. NEW ENGLAND C.C. (18) SP 180 Paine St. Bellingham, MA, 508-883-2300, www.newenglandcountryclub.com CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 54. NORTON COUNTRY CLUB (18) SP 188 Oak St. Norton, MA, 508-285-2400 www.nortoncountryclub.com, CR,CL,CH,SB,O 55. OAK RIDGE G.C. (18) P 850 S. Westfield St. Feeding Hills, MA 413-789-7307, www.oakridgegc.com 56. OLDE SCOTLAND LINKS (18) P 695 Pine St. Bridgewater, MA, 508-279-3344 www.oldescotlandlinks.com, CR,CL,SB,DR,O 57. PINE OAKS G.C. (9) P 68 Prospect St., S. Easton, MA, 508-238-2320 www.pineoaks.com, CR,CL,CH,O,Retail Store 58. REHOBOTH C.C. (18) P 155 Perryville Rd Rehoboth, MA, 508-252-6259 www.rehobothcountryclub.com, CR,CH,PS,O

59. RIDDER G.C. (18) P 389 Oak St. E. Bridgewater, MA 781-447-9003, www.ridderfarm.com CR,CL,PS,SB 60. SHINING ROCK G.C. (18) SP 91 Clubhouse Way, Northbridge, MA, 508-234-0400, www.shiningrock.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 61. THE RANCH G.C. (18) P 65 Sunnyside Rd. Southwick, MA, 413-569-9333 www.theranchgolfclub.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O 62. WAMPANOAG G.C. (9) P 168 Old Providence Rd. Swansea, MA, 508-3799832, www.wampanoaggolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS 63. WENTWORTH HILLS G.C. (18) SP 27 Bow St. Plainville, MA, 508-316-0240 www.wntworthhillsgc.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O

MASSACHUSETTS DRIVING RANGES

E. ATLANTIC DRIVING RANGE/ SHADOWBROOK (9) X 754 Newport Ave. So. Attleboro, MA www.atlanticgolfcenter.com, heated tees, retail shop, mini golf, chip and putt F. GOLF LEARNING CENTER OF NEW ENGLAND 19 Leonard St. Norton, MA (Exit 10 off Rt.495), 508-285-4500, www.golflearningcenter.com 1,000 ft. grass teeline, heated bays, putting, chipping, bunkers G. SEEKONK DRIVING RANGE 1977 Fall River Ave. (Rt. 6) Seekonk, MA 508-336-8074, www.seekonkdrivingrange.com covered heated tees, batting cages, mini golf, lessons, available, grass hitting area H. STIX GOLF & BASEBALL FUN CENTER 582 Kelley Blvd., No. Attleboro, MA 508-695-0091, www.stixfuncenter.com, TrueStrike golf mats, grass tees, minigolf, batting cages, putting green, bunker, lessons

CONNECTICUT COURSES

64. AIRWAYS G.C. (18) P 1070 S. Grand St., W. Suffield, CT 860-668-4973, www.airwaysgolf.com CR,CL,CH,SB,O 65. CEDAR KNOB GC (18) P 446 Billings Rd. Somers, CT, 860-749-3550 www.cedarknobgolfcourse.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O 66. CONNECTICUT NATIONAL (18) P 136 Chase Rd. Putnam, CT, 860-928-7748 www.ctnationalgolf.com, CR,CL,PS,CH,SB,O 67. ELMRIDGE GOLF CLUB (27) P 229 Elmridge Rd. Pawcatuck, CT, 860-599-2248 www.elmridgegolf.com, CR,CL,DR,PS,CH,O 68. FOX HOPYARD (18) SP 1 Hopyard Rd. East Haddam, CT 860-434-6644, www.golfthefox.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O

KEY Golf Course Driving Range DR = Driving Range ( ) = Holes PS = Pro Shop P = Public CH = Clubhouse SP = Semi Private O = Outings X = Executive SB = Snack Bar CR = Car Rental CL = Club Rental

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

SNE GOLFER LOCATOR MAP

69. LAKE OF ISLES C.C. (18) P Foxwoods Casino, Mashantucket, CT, 860-3123636, www.lakeoямБsles.com CR,CL,PS,SB,Rest.,O, Golf School 70. RACEWAY GOLF COURSE (18) SP 205 E. Thompson Rd. Thompson, CT 860-923-9591, www.racewaygolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS,DR,O 71. RIVER RIDGE GOLF CLUB (18) P 259 Preston Rd. Griswold, CT 860-376-3268, www.riverridgegolf.com CR,CL,PS,CH,O 72. SHENNECOSSETT G.C. (18) P 93 Plant St. Groton, CT, 860-445-0262 (PS 448-1867), www.shennygolf.com CR,CL,CH,PS,Rest.,O 73. SKUNGAMAUG RIVER G.C. (18) SP 104 Folly Ln., Coventry, CT, 860-742-9348 www.skungamauggolf.com, CR,CL,CH,PS,O

SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

37

SNE GOLFER Continued from page 34 It worked. “We are only 60 miles from the George Washington Bridge and the huge populations of New Jersey and New York, and New England is an easy ride away on Route 80. We thought that this course was worth the effort to save, and be good for our other course and also the Inn,” said Kirkwood.

Great Bear is fine layout. “We were fortunate to be able to keep the Jack Nicklaus Signature, because we actually bought only the property at auction. We talked to Mr. Nicklaus and he said that as long as we maintain the course at a high standard, we are free to use his name,” said Kirkwood. They have.

The 18 holes at Great Bear are all unique, and you hardly ever see another group. The course seems intimidating with its elevation changes and tall pines and hardwoods, but the fairways are generous and the conditions throughout the course are pristine.

There are many memorable holes, but the last might be the best. Number 18 is a long dogleg left par 5 with water and marshland in front and behind the green.

A lay-up second shot and precise third is required to make par.

With the addition of the second course at Great Bear, the Shawnee Inn makes a great place for Stay and Play packages. You even get a discount if you live far enough away. We New Englanders would qualify, and it makes a great golf getaway for groups of golfers or couples. You can get more information at www.shawneeinn. com and www.GreatBearGC.com, or by calling 800-SHAWNEE.

Werenski Ends IJGT Career in Style The International Junior Golf Tour (IJGT) hosted its 18th Annual Bridgestone Golf Tournament of Champions at Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, Fla. May 25-27. Grand Cypress Golf Club features 45 holes of Jack Nicklaus Signature golf design with juniors playing the New Course and East and North nine-hole courses.

Mickey Werenski of So. Hadley, Mass., a full-time student at Hank Haney International Junior Golf Academy on Hilton Head Island, S.C.

captured the Boys 15-19 Division after an impressive final round of even-par 72.

Werenski’s score equaled the lowest round of the day in the division as other players on the leaderboard faltered.

Werenski opened his tournament with a one-under par 71 to put himself in a prime position to climb the leaderboard for the rest of the tournament. He never dipped outside the top five at any point as his consistent play outlasted everyone.

Back-to-back even par 72’s on the final two days were good enough for a threestroke victory.

A turning point in the tournament came early on the back nine during the final round. Werenski was coming off a double-bogey on the par-5 ninth, but birdies on the next three holes gave him some breathing room.

“This is probably the best I have been playing lately these past few weeks, Werenski said. “I definitely had a good feeling about it for two weeks now. I wanted to close with a bang because I have been so close so many times this year.”

Target Your Audience in SNE Golfer!

For advertising information, call Bruce Vittner at 401-464-8445 or email bruce@snegolfer.com.

answer on page 4

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

DBC SNE GOLF MONTHLY AD 9.5 X 10.75

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SOUTHERN NEW ENGLAND GOLFER / June 2013 / 401-464-8445 / www.snegolfer.com

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Making a difference, one swing at a time 20 of the world’s best golfers are set to tee it off this June 23-25 for the 15th annual CVS Caremark Charity Classic. While Annika, Rickie and Bubba go low, you can help us aim high for children and families in need. Each ticket purchased helps drive much needed funding to local nonprofit organizations, so get to your local CVS/pharmacy or visit www.cvscaremarkcharityclassic.com to get your ticket!

RECEIVE $10 OFF MONDAY WINE PAVILION TICKET Use code SNEGOLF06 prior to June 23 (Limit 2 per customer, must be 21 years or older. See ticket information below.)

CVS CAREMARK CHARITY CLASSIC

Stricker Presented by:

Bubba For volunteer or ticket information, visit www.cvscaremarkcharityclassic.com or call 1-866-CVS-9441