Official publication of the Oklahoma Golf Association
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TABLE OF CONTENTS APRIL/MAY 2018 Volume 8 Issue 2
The Goods 16
Tom Bedell’s book reviews, Ed Travis rates the best new drivers and balls, a good cigar for the front nine.
Chip Shots 22
26
Great day for Traden Karch, Hall of Fame offers scholarships and fundraiser, giveaway day at First Tee.
48 High School Preview
28 Oklahoma Course Update 28
Southern Hills to be updated, LaFortune Park par-3 rebuild begins, Quail Creek G&CC hires Bill Bergin, SilverHorn closes, White Hawk reborn and Meadowbrook CC to remain open for time being.
College Preview 38
OU, OSU seek berths in NCAA Women’s Championship at Karsten Creek.
40
Sooners are defending champs but dominant OSU ready for scrum in Stillwater.
44
Revamped Jimmie Austin OU Course to provide stern test for NCAA Regional.
48
Ryan Hybl has turned around the fortunes of OU men’s program.
50
Shaebug Scarberry, Logan McAllister head our first rankings of Top 10 prep players for boys and girls.
53
Yujeong Son to petition LPGA Tour
Departments 10 12 12 13 14 56 58 59 60 61
Letter from the Publisher OGA ED Mark Felder WOGA ED Susan Ferguson Rules, Gene Mortensen USGA by David Thompson Superintendent’s Corner: Russ Myers Instruction: Jim Young Instruction: Kyley Tetley Fitness: Clint Howard Schedules and results
On the cover Oklahoma State looks to snatch the NCAA Championship trophy away from the Oklahoma Sooners. Illustration by Chris Swafford.
Support junior golf by contributing to the OGA Foundation Call 405-848-0042 for more information 6
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GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
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APR/MAY 2018
FROM THE PUBLISHER KEN M AC LEOD
Fall makes sense for golf This spring marks a first for our state in that never previously have the Big 12 Championship, NCAA Men’s Regional and NCAA Men’s and Women’s National Championships all happened within the confines of Oklahoma. It’s a great chance for us to show off our great courses, wonderful hospitality and (cross fingers) our fine spring weather. On the other hand, all the courses, from Southern Hills to Jimmie Austin to Karsten Creek, will have evacuation plans in place in the event of spring thunderstorms or worse. Course conditions should be great. No one has the resources to get a jump out of dormancy like Southern Hills so the April 23-25 date will be fine. For good measure, the Sooner Athletic Conference event will be held April 23-24 at Gaillardia in Oklahoma City. Jimmie Austin will also be primed and ready for the NCAA Regional on May 14-16, as will Karsten Creek for both championships May 18-23 (women) and May 25-30 (men). However, that was not the case for some early spring collegiate events held at Kickingbird, Bailey Ranch and other venues in the state or for most of the high school teams as they began practice and tournament play getting ready for the regionals and state championships in late April and early May. Winds up to 50 mph marred some events; cold players bundled up hitting shots off dormant grasses and probably falling into a lot of bad habits. For the college players, spring practice is brutal but when they travel to most of their events in warmer climes, playing on green grass in winds less than 20 mph seems like such a relief they probably shoot much lower. For the high school kids, however, it seems crazy on the surface to even play in the spring. Oklahoma fall weather is among the best golf weather in all 50 states. Oklahoma spring weather is schizophrenic and the course conditions are tough as the Bermuda or zoysia is just beginning to come out of dormancy. There is no rough, no grass for pitch or flop shots, and many areas are thin and balls run all over. In chatting with course operators, two of 10
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whom are also coaches of prominent Class 6A programs, the courses would much rather have high school golf in the fall. The courses are in perfect shape and play has dropped off due to college football starting. The spring is hectic with aerification, junior camps, leagues starting, and many golfers returning after a winter layoff. This is no recent revelation. Bill Roller, the director of golf at Jenks High School, and Jeff Doherty, golf coach at Edmond North, made the proposal to the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association to move the golf season to fall for six consecutive years from 2010-15. It passed the Golf Advisory Council 8-0 each year and was then shot down by the Athletic Directors Advisory Group. David Glover, who oversees golf for the OSSAA, understands the sentiment for moving to the fall, but said the athletic directors are watching out for the smaller schools, where it takes all hands on deck to field a competitive football team. “It’s definitely a football-driven decision,” Roller said. “Every serious golf coach in this state would vote for fall golf. The courses are good, the golfers are coming out of the summer playing their best golf. It would be the ideal thing for golfers.” Oklahoma’s high school golfers – more than 40 of whom will go on to sign collegiate scholarships this year – find their interests have less weight than football. Many football and basketball coaches become golf coaches in the spring, which is understandable from a financial and manpower standpoint in our strapped public schools. If the decisions were about what’s best for golf and golfers, fall would be a no-brainer. One solution proposed by Roller is to play several events in the fall and then come back in early April for the spring season, allowing the golfers to avoid missing up to 14 days of school in a short span to cram in the full season in the spring. From every standpoint except the potential conflict with fielding football teams at small schools, moving prep golf to the fall makes sense. It would be great if the OSSAA could find a way to make that work.
Volume 8, Number 2 Golf Oklahoma Offices Southern Hills Plaza 6218 S. Lewis Ave., Ste. 200 LIKE US! Tulsa, OK 74136 FACEBOOK.COM/ 918-280-0787 GOLFOKLAHOMAMAGAZINE Oklahoma City Office 405-640-9996 Publisher Ken MacLeod ken@golfoklahoma.org
FOLLOW US! @GOLFOKMAGAZINE
COO/Marketing Director A.G. Meyers agm@golfoklahoma.org Art & Technology Director Chris Swafford chris@golfoklahoma.org Subscriptions to Golf Oklahoma are $15 for one year (five issues) or $25 for two years (10 issues). Call 918-280-0787 or go to www.golfoklahoma.org. Contributing photographers Rip Stell, Bill Powell Golf Oklahoma PGA Instructional Staff Jim Woodward Teaching Professional, Oak Tree National jwoodwardgolf@sbcglobal.net, 405-3482004 Jim Young Teaching Professional, River Oaks CC 405-630-8183 Pat McTigue Manager, GolfTec Tulsa pmctigue@golftec.com Tracy Phillips Director of Instruction, FlyingTee vt4u@yahoo.com, 918-352-1089 Maggie Roller Director of Instruction, Cedar Ridge CC maggie.roller@sbcglobal.net, 918-261-1441 Jerry Cozby PGA Professional jerrycozby@aol.com, 918-914-1784 Kyley Tetley, PGA Professional The Golf Studio 918-232-6564 Oklahoma Golf Association 2800 Coltrane Place, Suite 2 Edmond, OK 73034 405-848-0042 Executive Director Mark Felder mfelder@okgolf.org Director of Handicapping and Course Rating Jay Doudican jdoudican@okgolf.org Director of Junior Golf Morri Rose morose@okgolf.org Copyright 2018 by Golf Oklahoma Magazine. All rights reserved. Contents may not be reprinted or otherwise reproduced without written permission from Golf Oklahoma. Golf Oklahoma is published by South Central Golf, Inc.
MARK FELDER
FROM THE OGA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
OGA Executive Director
Meet Mark Budler, new to OGA staff Competitive golfers spanning the age spectrum will notice a new face at OGA events this season as we welcome Mark Budler as our new tournament director. Budler, 29, comes to the OGA after two seasons as head professional and general manager at Muskogee Golf Club, where he led the effort to bring a APT Tour professional event to the club which will take place in May. We worked closely with him at the 2017 OGA Stroke Play Championship at Muskogee GC won by Brady Richardson. Budler will work with Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour director Morri Rose to help run our booming junior tour and will be on the scene at all OGA events, including the 2018 State Amateur Championship on July 17-19 at The Patriot. As the OGA is now directly responsible for running all USGA qualifiers in the state, he will be on hand at those as well. Prior to Muskogee, Budler worked for respected PGA professional Mike Hansen at Duncan Golf & Tennis Club from 2011-16. Budler and his wife have a 1-year-old boy. Budler has a lot of good ideas that he
SUSAN FERGUSON
will be enacting, including possibly some new events. He has already organized an information day for our juniors in which they receive great information about instruction, fitness, college preparation and what’s necessary to play at that level. University of Oklahoma coach Ryan Hybl was the guest speaker at the event attended by close to
Mark Budler
2018 OGA SCHEDULE
60 young golfers. We are excited to have Mark on board for the support he will provide to Morri at OJGT events and all of us at the regular OGA events. As you can see below, we have a tremendous schedule lined up for 2018. Go to www.okgolf.org to sign up for events or call us for more information at 405-848-0042.
Visit www.okgolf.org for more information
Date Event
Location
May 21-22 Spring and Senior Four-Ball Championship The Club at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow June 4-7
Junior Boys and Girls Championship
June 11-13
Stroke Play Championship
Kickingbird GC, Edmond Tulsa Country Club, Tulsa
June 18-21 Senior State Amateur Championship
Muskogee Country Club, Muskogee
July 11-12
Senior Stroke Play Championship
Oak Tree CC (West), Edmond
July 17-19
State Amateur Championship
The Patriot, Owasso
Aug. 4-5
Mid Amateur Championship
Dornick Hills CC, Ardmore
Aug. 23-25 Oklahoma Open
Oak Tree CC (West), Edmond
WOMEN’S OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION
President WOGA
New president, same direction Spring is here and WOGA is underway for another fantastic year. This will be our 103rd season to be exact! For 103 years, women have gathered in Oklahoma to enjoy friendships and create great golf memories to last a lifetime. I am honored and excited to be WOGA’s new President. I am a Lawton native, where I learned to play golf at the Fort Sill golf club many years ago. I’ve lived in Edmond with my husband Tom for the past 39 years. I have owned a couple of businesses throughout my professional career, and retired in 2013 from the University of Central Oklahoma’s College of Business where I taught general and strategic management courses for 12 years. I have been a WOGA member for several years and have played in several WOGA tournaments. I have also served as President of the Oak Tree Women’s Golf Association and captained Oak Tree’s Interclub victory in 2017. I joined the WOGA board in 2014 and have served as our Junior Girls Fundraiser Tournament Chairman since that time. A big reason for WOGA’s success is our dedicated and enthusiastic group of volunteers. Officers and board members for 12
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2018 are Dawn Stork, Vice President; Laurie Campbell, Treasurer; Linda Cohlmia, Secretary; Sheila Dills, Past President; Cherie Rich, Website Administrator; Kathy West and Fran Derrick, Grants and Scholarships; Louise Blumenthal Johnson, Girls Junior and Fore State Chairman; Sonya Weese, Development; Diane Wheat, Membership; Marna Raburn, Tournaments; Pat McKamey, Rules; Tom Ferguson, Attorney; and Connie Glenn, Administrative Assistant. We are always looking for more volunteers to help continue WOGA’s success.
If you would like to serve on any of these committees, or any additional ways, please contact me or one of these members. You may visit our website at woga.us, for more information. WOGA has a very full and exciting tournament schedule this year at some of Oklahoma’s finest golf courses. The full schedule and all tournament information is on our website. Thank you for your continued support of WOGA. I’m looking forward to seeing you at WOGA tournaments and events where we can share stories about the game we all love.
2018 WOGA SCHEDULE Date
Visit www.woga.us for more information Event Location
May 15-16
WOGA Stableford Partnership
Lincoln Park GC, OKC
June 11-12
Stroke Play/Mid Am/Sr. Championship
Dornick Hills CC, Ardmore
June 25
6th Fundraiser for WOGA Jr. Programs
The Club at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow
June 26-27
68th WOGA Girls’ Junior State
The Club at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow
July 23-26
100th Women’s OK State Amateur
Meadowbrook CC, Tulsa
July 30-Aug 1 Fore State Championship
Muskogee GC, Muskogee
August 20-21 WOGA Partnership
Shangri-La GC, Grand Lake
Sept. 24-25
Hillcrest CC, Bartlesville
WOGA Cup
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
GENE MORTENSEN
OGA Rules Director
OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION NEWS
Rules review will save shots this spring As we move into another golf season it might be of some benefit to quickly review the basic Rules which we will have occasion to often use. Spring brings rain and that means “causal water” – see Rule 25. When your ball comes to rest in a puddle, establish the nearest point for relief and drop the ball within one club length of that point, no nearer the hole. When the puddle is in a bunker, the ball must be dropped in that bunker within one club length of the nearest point. On the green, you also get relief when the puddle intervenes on the line of putt and, in taking relief, you simply place the ball on the nearest point. There is no penalty when taking relief as described. But there is no relief from casual water which is in a water hazard, see Rule 26. When your ball comes to rest out of bounds, return to the spot where that unfortunate stroke was made and play again, adding one penalty stroke. The same ap-
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
plies for a lost ball. When it appears highly probable that your ball may be lost, or out of bounds, play a provisional ball to save yourself from having to make that return trip – see Rule 27. When your ball comes to rest in a water hazard (yellow stakes/ lines), you have two options -under penalty of one stroke you can return and play again from the spot of the last stroke or create an imaginary line from the flagstick through the point where the ball crossed into the hazard and drop a ball anywhere on an extension of the imaginary line, keeping the hazard between you and the flagstick. When your ball comes to rest in a lateral hazard (red stakes/lines) you have the same two above options and, you may drop a ball within two club lengths of the spot where your ball last crossed into the hazard, no nearer the hole. When your ball comes to rest on a cart path or other man-made obstruction (irrigation system, for example) you are en-
titled to free relief. Establish the nearest point and drop the ball within one club length of that point, no nearer the hole. You are not permitted to improve – (1) the spot on which your ball lies; (2) the area in which you take a stance; (3) the space you will occupy to complete a stroke; and (4) the spot on which you will take relief by: (a) bending or breaking anything growing; (b) pressing your club into the ground; or, (c) creating/eliminating irregularities of the surface. See Rule 13. Remember that the rain can be accompanied by storms. If you can hear thunder, it is possible to be struck by lightning. Remain alert to the weather conditions and opt for safety because, after all, golf is just a game.
Sign up for our enewsletter at golfoklahoma.org for the chance to win tickets, rounds and other prizes as well as keep up with all the breaking news
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13
DAVID THOMPSON
USGA Regional Affairs Committee
UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION
USGA rules changes a boon for golfers This year has started off with the USGA getting a lot of press in the golfing world. With Jack Nicklaus saying that USGA Executive Director Mike Davis is going to reduce the golf ball’s distance, there has been a uprising from those who think that is wrong along with those who believe that something like that needs to happen. As I read various opinions, it seems about 50-50 on each side. I don’t know the right answer, but I do believe that having one set of rules for the tours and a different set for others is not the direction to benefit the game of golf. If anyone believes that the touring professionals are the only players hitting the ball a long way, make your way to Stillwater this spring to watch how far the NCAA players hit it. Be warned, you may be depressed by your game after watching those young players. I think there is little doubt that technology has impacted the game. Thinking back a number of years, I can recall occasionally hitting a 270-yard drive with my persimmon driver and balata ball. After about 40 years, with my titanium driver and high-tech golf
14
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ball, I will approach that same distance sure one or two club lengths. Double hit: No penalty. every so often. I would hate to think how Relaxed putting green short those drives would rules: Players may repair be today if I was playing damage to the green inwith my old equipment. cluding spike marks, shoe The USGA and The damage, etc. Also, there is R&A have been busy dino penalty for ball striking gesting comments from a flagstick left in the hole. around the world about Relaxed bunker rules: proposed rule changes. Players may now remove On March 12, the adopted loose impediments plus rules for 2019 were puban extra relief option for lished. The USGA website an unplayable lie in a bunhas some very good maker, allowing the ball to be terials to help understand played from outside the the changes. There were bunker with a two-stroke some modifications to the penalty. proposed rules and some We will get into the major changes that were 2019 rules in more depth in the proposed, including in later columns, but I those listed below. Jack Nicklaus wants roll wanted to highlight some Dropping procedure: back of golf ball distance. of these changes. I encourPlayers will drop a ball age you to visit USGA.org and view the edfrom knee height Measuring for relief: Players will utilize ucational materials on these new rules. We the longest club (other than a putter) to mea- have about nine months to get ready.
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
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APR/MAY
The
GOODS
Some things we like to do before and after the round
The Bookshelf
described in just the sort of eye-opening prose such an invitation would provoke in anyone not involved in the government. In numerous sidebars scattered throughout the volume are comments on Bush from sporting and entertainment celebrities who encountered him in some way (usually through golf or fishing). What emerges is a portrait of two ingratiating men, Raynor and Bush. Though he stops short of hagiography (if barely), Raynor nonetheless evokes a sincere, gracious and generous man who lives by his oft-repeated saying, “It’s just as easy to say ‘yes’ as it is to say ‘no.’”
Old-timers, mostly by tom bedell
There’s always a bit of serendipity at the annual PGA Merchandise Show in Orlando, late each January. One is sure to run into an old colleague or a pro whose course you once played. This year, I was chatting with Graeme Pook at the booth for his Scottish Executive Golf & Travel company when Ken Raynor and his wife, Ann, showed up. I have indeed played at the Cape Arundel Golf Club in Kennebunkport, Maine, where Ken has been the pro for close to 40 years. Even more coincidentally, I was in the middle of reading Ken’s book, “I Call Him ‘Mr. President’ “ (Skyhorse Publishing, $24.99) that he wrote with the assistance of Michael Patrick Shiels. Subtitled “Stories of Golf, Fishing, and Life with My Friend George H.W. Bush,” the book is just that, a series of anecdotal tales about the 41st President of the United States, long a member at Cape Arundel, which is near the Bush summer compound on the Maine coast. Raynor admits he doesn’t quite recall the first time he met the future President, but their friendship ripened fairly quickly thanks to proximity, Bush’s love of golf (speedy golf at that) and because both men are also avid fishermen. There’s no political commentary in the book, but Raynor does take readers somewhat behind the scenes because Bush took him behind the scenes. One of the more amusing pieces in the book is Ken and Ann’s first overnighter at the White House, 16
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HARVEY PENICK One useful result of reading Kevin Robbins’ biography, “Harvey Penick: The Life and Wisdom of the Man Who Wrote the Book on Golf” (University of Texas Press, $17.95) was to send me excavating behind piles of debris in my office to find what I was pretty sure was a copy of “Harvey Penick’s Little Red Book.” Sure enough, I found it, and immediately started perusing again the 1992 book written with Bud Shrake that made Penick a celebrity in the world of golf. Penick was already something of a celebrity in the environs of the Austin Country Club in Texas, where he served as the golf professional for 50 years, until passing the torch unto his son, Tinsley. Some 10 years after he began his tenure at ACC at age 18, Harvey Penick purchased a bound red Scribbletext notebook, 50 pages, in which he began jotting down his thoughts on the swing and all matters pertaining to golf. He added to it over the years, kept it under lock and key and showed it to no one but Tinsley — not even to the players on his many
University of Texas golf teams and such noted students as Tom Kite and Ben Crenshaw (who adds a foreword here). Not until he was 87, frail and failing, did he show the notes to Shrake and ask him if could make something of them. The rest is golf and publishing history, as the book became an immediate phenomenon, spaw ned others, gave Penick a new lease on life and set up the dramatic and emotional Masters win by Ben Crenshaw in 1995 only days after Pen ick’s death at 90. A hardcover version of this book came out in 2016 and won the USGA Herbert Warren Wind Book Award while managing to escape my attention completely. But in this handsome paperback edition former journalist turned journalism instructor (at the University of Texas), Robbins does a remarkable job breathing life into the story of a man whose lessons were minimalist to a Zen-like degree, whose most remembered precept is surely the succinct, “Take dead aim.” Penick’s idea of a major swing change was a grip adjustment. He was anything but dashing in real life — modest to a fault, stingy with words, unfailingly polite and caring, and beloved by all who came under his tutelage, amateur or pro, man or woman. “And if you play golf, you’re my friend,” Penick once said to Shrake, and that became the title of one of their subsequent books. That’s how you’ll feel after reading about Penick, too: befriended. THE FINEST NINES I have witnesses, so I know I didn’t dream up one of the most unique golf shots I’ve ever hit, and indeed, perhaps anyone has ever hit. It came on the fifth hole at the Hooper Golf Course in Walpole, New GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
Hampshire. I took a new ball out of my golf bag and teed it up. I then hit a shot so poor that the ball went, presumably, through my legs, and right back into the pocket of the golf bag it had just come from. I suppose I should be proud that my pouch in one came at Hooper, a nine-hole course that is one of 25 that Anthony Pioppi calls, in his “The Finest Nines” (Skyhorse Publishing, $19.95) subtitled “The Best Nine-Hole Golf Courses in North America.” He actually calls Hooper the seventh best of the 25 and, as is the nature of such rankings, let the arguments begins. (I know Tony, and know he wouldn’t mind debating while our feet rest on a bar rail.) Hooper may well be, as Pioppi notes, “…a challenge to the highly skilled while remaining eminently enjoyable for the less adept.” But
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
I refuse to believe it’s a better course than another in New Hampshire, the Dublin Lake Club, which does not get a nod. The latter club dates from 1901 and the finished course from a few years later, with no architect of record. It’s a real prize, though an exclusive private course. But Pioppi makes no distinction between public and private in his choices, which are based solely, he says, on the architectural merits of each choice. Pioppi has been down this road before in an earlier volume called “To the Nines” which we reviewed in the 2015 June-July issue. So he knows his ninehole courses. This is a far more attractive volume, with splendid photos of the various picks. And it’s loaded with intriguing
historical notes on each track, 18 of them old-timers built before 1960. Twenty of the courses are in the United States, five in Canada. It gives little away, since it’s revealed in Chapter 1, that Pioppi ranks the Whitinsville Golf Club in Massachusetts as the best nine-hole course in North America, and says, “It can be played and enjoyed by golfers of all talent levels.” But not really, since this, as many of those listed in the book, is a private club. It’s not always crystal clear which courses are open to public play and those that are not, which would have been helpful to know. Otherwise Pioppi’s hole-by-hole descriptions of how a course plays won’t much help. He writes these as entertainingly as anyone, but they nonetheless become collectively wearying if reading the book cover to cover. Solution — don’t read it cover to cover. Dip into it as the mood arises, until the call comes from a member at Whitinsville. Then let the deep study begin. Tom Bedell took dead aim at becoming an oldtimer himself, and succeeded
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APR/MAY
EQUIPMENT
Best of show: Drivers, balls impressed Cobra King F8 driver
by ed travis
T
he warming weather of spring brings golf to mind, the specialness of the first rounds of the season and of course thoughts of possibly purchasing new equipment. Members of our staff spent a week in Orlando at the end of January investigating the manufacturers’ latest at the PGA Merchandise Show and want to give you the benefit of that research. We are not attempting to completely cover every new piece of equipment introduced and frankly some isn’t worth more than a cursory look. Having said that and confining our comments to drivers and golf balls we did find several we liked, some a lot, and here is the background Knuth Golf’s High information to Heat 257+ Driver, help you decide Fairway Metal and which may be Hybrid. worth handson testing.
DRIVERS Callaway Golf: The Great Big Bertha Epic from a year ago was a smashing success incorporating what they call Jailbreak Technology, two titanium rods running from crown to sole inside the head to reduce the energy lost when the crown deforms at impact. Epic was last season’s bestselling driver by far and for 2018 we now have what could be called Epic 2.0, the Rogue. Same Jailbreak rods but now they are hourglass shaped, and lighter. Aerodynamics of the larger carbon fiber crown have been improved and Rogue’s forgiveness in18
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creased by repositioning weight saved from added substitution in the crown of carbon fiber for titanium. The three versions, standard, draw (anti-slice) and Sub Zero (low spin) each carry a price of $500. Cobra Golf: Cobra is separating itself from the pack with the addition of the Arccos data collection sensor to all the clubs of the King F8 family plus they have made particularly interesting changes to the new F8 drivers. Rather than a typical face with the weld a r e a ground off to get rid of extra material the King F8 and F8+ have CNC milled faces. This gives them a thin and hot face with the added benefit of exacting tolerances… what Cobra calls “precise performance.” The face is their E9 elliptical pattern variable face thickness construction and there are polymer strips on the crown and sole to reduce downswing aerodynamic drag. Tuning of ball flight is done with weight swapping—back or toe--of 12 and 2-gram sole weights in the King F8 while the King F8+ has front and b a c k CG
Tour Edge Hot Launch 3 driver TaylorMade M3 driver
settings. The King F8 and King F8+ retail for $399 as does a King F8 Tour with 16 and 6-gram sole weights. TaylorMade Golf: TMaG may have relinquished their number one spot in metalwood sales to Callaway but they still are the most played driver on the PGA Tour by a wide margin. The M1 and M2 models have been redesigned as the M3 and M4 with a unique “Twist Face” to compensate for swings that produce a slice or a hook. To counteract a slice there is less loft towards the heel and the face is closed while to fight a hook, loft has been added near the toe and the face opened. From the results on Tour and the ready acceptance by pros, the goal seems to have been accomplished as judged by less curvature and more drives finding the fairway. Both M3 and M4 have a larger channel in the sole (Hammerhead Slot) and the M3 has increased adjustment from two weights in a Y-shaped track rather the two straight tracks of the M1. The M3 is $500 and the M4, without the sliding weights, is $430. Tour Edge Golf: The Hot Launch 3 driver has the features to produce distance with forgiveness but unlike the pricing of comparable competitive drivers it sells for the golfer-friendly price of $190. The clubhead made of forged titanium and the cup face is constructed with a variable thickness design to produce more ball speed when impact is either towards the heel or toe and not in the center of the face. Also aiding average golfers is the GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
2018 Golf Pass is BIGGER AND BETTER! Visit scspgagolfpass.com to order yours today! large sole channel that is particularly helpful when the ball is struck low on the face. There’s a rear sole weight that moves the center of gravity deep in the clubhead and produces a higher launch. In addition to the standard model there’s also the HL 3 Offset for those who have a tendency to slice. Knuth Golf: This small metalwoods company had lots of success with their first driver, the High Heat that carried a price of $399. That has now been updated with the introduction of the High Heat 257+ which retails for $499. However, there is a major difference between the old and the new. The USGA Rules of Golf allow for different areas of the clubface to have different rebound characteristics so the face of the new driver is divided into three sectors. Each has the maximum rebound or flex within the Rules along with the face thickness of the heel and toe sectors being made thinner to improve distance if the ball is struck there rather than in the center sector. Ping: The game-improvement category G400 Max at 460cc is 20cc larger than the popular G400 targeted for use by better players. The design of the Max provides more stability and forgiveness on mishits, but the differences don’t end there. Targeted at average golfer the G400 Max also has a thin forged face so there could be more back weighting which gives it the deepest center of gravity of any driver Ping has ever made. This all translates into a higher ball launch and better trajectory. Resistance to twisting (MOI) is also higher so dispersion decreases, and the ribbed construction makes a confidence-inspiring sound. Ping’s Dragonfly crown includes vanes called turbulators to reduce aerodynamic drag and the hosel is adjustable. Price is $400.
GOLF BALLS Callaway Golf: The new Ping G400 Max
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models in the Chrome Soft line have a larger inner core and a smaller outer core made possible by a graphene nano-lattice in the outer core. This lowers driver spin and helps give a higher launch for more yardage. The two core layers also give more control for mid and short irons plus the thinner urethane cover gives added spin for scoring shots around the green. Chrome Soft is the softer feeling of the two, somewhat more forgiving with less tendency for curvature meaning a straighter flight. Chrome Soft X will be available in white and yellow while Chrome Soft is available in four versions of the soccer ball-like Truvis pattern. Pricing is $44.99 per dozen. Snell Golf: There’s no other way to describe it, the original My Tour Ball was a smashing success for Snell and now they have followed up with two new MTB models that have a couple of refinements. Similar in construction to the first MTB, the new MTB Black is a 3-piece ball with a cast urethane 360 dimple cover, but the new Black has lower compression from a 7% softer core, so it spins less for more distance. The new MTB Red is a 4-piece construction and has a thicker thermoplastic urethane 338-dimple cover giving a firmer feel off the driver and long irons but with more spin from mid and short irons. Both retail for $31.99 per dozen.
Titleist: Replacing the popular NXT Tour and NXT Tour Soft was a big step for Titleist, but consumer testing showed the need for a more competitive product in the category just below the premium Tour-ball price point of the Pro V1, Pro V1x and the soon to be introduced AVX. The answer was to drop the two NXT models and add the Tour Soft. According to the company the Tour Soft has the largest core they have every made in any ball and that it is “the softest-feeling golf ball in its category.” The cover is made with a thin urethane by their TCU Process Technology with a new spherically tiled 342-dimple pattern. Also responding to consumer preferences it comes in either white or optic yellow and both are priced at $34.99 dozen.
TaylorMade Golf: Improvements have been made to the original Project (a), a cast urethane cover ball, made specifically for amateurs plus there’s now the Project (s) model, with a very soft 60 compression. To reduce spin and add distance for the longer clubs the Project (a) is a three-layer dual core construction with a softer inner core and firmer outer core plus the urethane cover uses the same 342LDP dimple pattern as their Tour category TP5 and TP5x balls. The Project (s) is even softer then the Project (a) but with a similar dual core and an ionomer cover that also has the 342LDP high lift dimple pattern. Project (a) is at retail for $34.99 dozen and Project (s) at $24.99.
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giving forth a buttery smoothness paired with a rich medium body that has hints of almond, cedar, and vanilla. The cigar burns with a nice even ash and produces an ample amount of smoke. Getting further into the smoke there is a touch of black pepper spice that helps gives the cigar depth and adds to the complexity. Total smoke time for this cigar can range from 60-90 minutes making it a great cigar to start the first 9.
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qualifying for events on the Web.com or PGA Tour. Mabrey has qualified his way into two Web.com events and one PGA Tour event as well as the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay. He missed qualifying for the final stage of qualifying school where Web.com Tour cards are earned by one shot in 2016 and two in 2017. From a ball-striking standpoint, you won’t see much difference from the top third of players on by ken macleod the APT Tour than you would watching a Oklahoma may be the center of the col- Web.Com or PGA Tour event. These guys legiate golf universe this spring, but profes- are young, crush it and are brimming with sional golf also returns in a big way with two confidence. Practically anyone will tell you events on the APT Tour, which has estab- it is just a matter of playing well at the right lished itself as the most well-run, consistent time to earn their shot. History proves it, proving ground for professionals outside of with many PGA Tour players, including Bubba Watson, having played their way up. the Web.com Tour. Mabrey, 25, is encouraged that despite the The APT Tour (formerly the Adams Pro Tour), will be at Muskogee Golf Club on great early success of players such as Jordan Spieth and Justin May 14-19 for the Muscogee Creek Nation Casinos Thomas, the averMuscogee Creek Naage age for a PGA tion Casinos Real Real Okie Championship Tour rookie is 29 Okie Championship Location: Muskogee Golf Club and it takes years and at The Club at InPurse: $135,000 of grinding before dian Springs in Broken Dates: many make it sucArrow on June 20-23 May 14: Practice Round cessfully. He has for the New Hope May 15: Pro-Am sponsors to help Oklahoma Classic. A May 16-19: Competition defray travel exstrong contingent of Tickets: $5 per day or $20 for week. Go to penses. Oklahomans are reguwww.visitmuskogee.com for details. “I really enjoy lars on the tour, which Volunteers or Pro-Am Info: Contact doing it,” he said. in 2018 will have 16 D.J. Thompson at Muskogee Chamber of “It’s a journey and events playing for Commerce at dj@muskogeechamber.org tough at times, but purses ranging from or call 918-682-2401. it’s been great to $100,000 to $175,000. travel around and The purse will be compete. There’s nothing I would rather be $135,000 for both Oklahoma events. That’s just enough to keep the top players doing.” Mabrey is single with an understanding going and the ones who are not performing hungry, said former University of Tulsa star girlfriend and enjoys the camaraderie of the Matt Mabrey, now in his third year on the tour, where the players help each other out APT Tour. Mabrey has five top-10 finishes the by doubling up for rooms and sharing some past two years, but has also missed his share expenses. He says the APT Tour goes out of of cuts (only 35 percent of the field makes its way to make life easier as well, helping the cut each week) and even in 2016 when players find rooms with local residents and he registered four top-10 finishes, he accumu- providing lunches. “It’s well known that the APT Tour is the lated just $17,894 for a 12-event schedule. The 130 golfers or so who make up a best tour not affiliated with the PGA Tour,” typical APT Tour field are not looking to he said. “It’s the best competition every week get rich quick. They are striving to sharpen that you could play. They play good courses. their games in time for PGA Tour Qualify- The players are great, and that’s why you see ing School each fall, where cards to move up such low scores every week. “If you’re good enough to do it, you’ll find to the Web.com Tour are available. Or they want to make the quick leap during Monday out on this tour because that’s what it takes to
to Muskogee, Broken Arrow
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make cuts. I know I’m good enough to play out there. It’s a matter of getting ready and dealing with the pressure those three weeks of the year when it matters most.” Mabrey, who plays out of Tulsa Matt Mabrey Country Club, where his instructor Jeff Combe is director of golf, said the strong crew of Oklahomans on tour will be glad to have two events back in the state this year. There was formerly an event in Miami at Peoria Ridge. Chris Worrel Two other former TU golfers are on the tour, including Chris Worrell, who had his Web.com Tour card in 2017, and Logan McCracken of Oklahoma City. Mabrey said they sometimes feel like men without a country Josh Creel since they come from a school that dropped its men’s golf program in 2016. “We’ll be out here talking with other guys about how their teams are doing and we don’t have anyone to follow,” Mabrey said. “It’s weird. I Logan McCracken basically don’t even keep up with college golf anymore.” Mabrey does still talk frequently with former college coach Bill Brogden, now helping out the Oral Roberts program. “He had such an impact on me and my game,” Mabrey said. “I learned more sitting next to him on airplane and car rides than I ever did with him standing behind me watching me hit balls. Course management, being tough. I have a unique swing that works for GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
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me and he just wanted to teach me how to be a better player week to week.” Besides the Tulsa contingent, here are some other Oklahomans who play frequently on the APT Tour. • Dillon Rust of Edmond. The last time the APT Tour had two events in Oklahoma, this former University of Central Oklahoma star won them both -- in Miami and following it up with a victory at Belmar Golf Club in the 2014 OK Kids Korral Championship. Rust has conditional status this year on the Web. com Tour, but opened up the APT Tour by finishing third at 19-under-par in Alexandria, La. • Max McGreevy, Edmond. A year after leading OU to the national championship, McGreevy has earned conditional status on the Web.com Tour but also will play some APT Tour events. He finished tied for 17th at 15-under in Alexandria. • Josh Creel. The former national champion at UCO finished 10th on the APT money list in 2017, making 9-of-12 cuts and winning $36,363. • Trent Whitekiller, Sallisaw. Former OSU star was one spot behind Holland at 27th. • Cameron Meyers, Edmond. Former
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
Oklahoma City University golfer placed eighth and 13th in his only two 2017 appearances while Monday qualifying into three Web.com Tour events.
fense for the length of the young tour players, but will be stressed by their length and precision. Look for the winning score to be 15 to 20-under unless the wind is severe.
ABOUT THE TOURNAMENT: This event does not have a designated single charity beneficiary. Funds raised between sponsors and the pro-am will be parceled out to various Muskogee charities by the Muskogee Chamber of Commerce, which is serving as the host organization, according to tournament chairman Chris Condley, CEO of Firstar Bank in Muskogee. “The community is excited and has really embraced the tournament,” Condley said. “It’s a unique event with amazing talent. You don’t know if you’re watching the next U.S. Open or PGA Tour champion.” Muskogee Golf Club is one of the state’s oldest continuous golf courses, having opened in 1907. It was put into more or less its current configuration by Perry Maxwell in 1924 and Tripp Davis updated the course in 2001. With bending tree-lined fairways and smaller greens that can run fast from back to front when firm, it offers some de-
2018 Patriot Cup The 2018 Patriot Cup Invitational, a proam which brings players from the PGA Tour, PGA Tour Champions as well as celebrities to The Patriot in Owasso to raise funds for the Folds of Honor, will be held on May 28. The event is not open to the public. However, those wishing to support FOH by attending the National Gala and Freedom Concert on May 27 at the Hard Rock Casino can do so. Various levels of tickets and sponsorship are available, contact Ben Leslie at bleslie@foldsofhonor.org for more information. The new clubhouse at The Patriot is scheduled to open May 19, so it will be completed in time to help support activities at the Patriot Cup Invitational. The Folds of Honor provides post-educational scholarships for the families of U.S. military servicemen or women killed or wounded in action.
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of a competitive team. Deadline for entry is April 15, 2018. Entries must be mailed to Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame, 6218 S. Lewis Ave., Suite 200, Tulsa, OK, 74136, or emailed to ken@golfoklahoma.org.
Sign up now for Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame Classic at Oak Tree National The Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame Classic, a fund-raiser for the Hall of Fame’s scholarship and Everett Dobson Award programs, will be held July 16 at Oak Tree National in Edmond. 2017 Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame recipients Chloe McKinney and Graham Cox. This year’s event will consist of five-man teams along with one current Hall of Fame member or other prominent professional golfer in a shamble format. Cost is $500 per player or $2,500 per team. There will be a shotgun start at 9 a.m. The Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame an- Oklahoma four-year college or university at Oak Tree National, site of the 1988 PGA Championship, 2006 Senior PGA Chamnounced it will again award two $5,000 who have an interest in golf. pionship and most recently the 2014 U.S. Previous recipients are not eligible. scholarships in 2018, one to a male and one The specifics of the criteria and the ap- Senior Open, among other championship to a female. The Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame Schol- plication form for the Hall of Fame schol- events. Breakfast will begin at 7:30 a.m. arships are for high school seniors graduat- arships are both available at www.oklaho- and lunch will follow play. Quality tee gifts and prizes will be ing in 2018 and going to attend an Okla- magolfhof.org. The recipients must have an homa four-year college or university. Also interest in and relationship with the sport awarded. Entry forms are available online eligible are students already enrolled in an of golf, though not necessarily as a member here, please email forms to ken@golfokla-
Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame offers two scholarships for 2018-19 academic year
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GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
homa.org. The Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame merged with the previous Women’s Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame in 2014. It has had induction classes in 2015, 2016 and 2017, after which the board elected to go to an every-other-year format for induction classes. The next class will be inducted in the fall of 2019 in Tulsa. Induction classes were: 2015: Charlie Cox, Mike Holder, Perry Maxwell, Bob Dickson, Willliam Spiller 2016: Tommy Bolt, Jerry Cozby, Labron Harris Sr., Nancy Lopez. Contributors to the Game, W.K. Warren Sr., W.K. Warren Jr. 2017: Mark Hayes, Doug Tewell, Bob Tway, Ernie Vossler, Joe Walser Jr. There is information on all of the Hall of Fame members, including highlight and induction videos, at www.oklahomagolfhof.org. As mentioned, the Hall of Fame awards at least two scholarships annually to Oklahoma high school seniors in the amounts of $5,000 each. It also presents a $5,000 annual award to a graduating collegiate player to help start his career. That award is named for Hall of Fame founder Everett Dobson, also the co-owner of Oak Tree National.
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SHOTS New clubs for First Tee kids Many members of the First Tee of Tulsa went home happy in March during the annual club giveaway day. Three truckloads of clubs and bags, many of them new models, were donated primarily by members of Southern Hills Country Club, which is one of the primary benefactors
Youngsters line up with their parents for giveaway day at First Tee of Tulsa. of the First Tee of Tulsa. “We had 39 sets of irons and about 49 bags
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and some individual From getting a clubs,” said First Tee full custom fitting of Tulsa director Janand new clubs from ice Gibson. “It’s like Cobra, new outfits Christmas in March from Puma to walkfor the kids. Most off ing inside the ropes of the ones that accept at the Honda Classic the donation could not with both Fowler and afford clubs for their Crane and a reunion kids otherwise.” with hero Rory McGibson and her coIlroy, the week was a workers reach thoublur of joy for Traden sands of young golfers and parents Chris and annually through the Manda. Traden Karch and Rickie Fowler. facility at Mohawk This episode began Park and by outreach programs that intro- when John Vollbrecht, CEO of the Flyingduce golf and First Tee values to golfers at Tee in Jenks, learned of Traden’s story of schools throughout northeastern Oklahoma. rebounding from a horrific car accident via Anyone wishing more information or to sup- a video story produced by the Golf Chanport the First Tee, please visit www.thefirst- nel last fall and had Traden and his family teetulsa.org. out to the FlyingTee, in September, where he awarded him a lifetime membership. Traden goes to Honda Cobra Puma, which works closely with Another unique chapter in the remark- Vollbrecht at the FlyingTee, began to plan a able life of Traden Karch was written this special treat for Traden. Read the complete details of Traden’s winter thanks to Rickie Fowler, Ben Crane and the good folks at FlyingTee and Cobra week at the Honda Classic at www.golfoklahoma.org. Puma Golf.
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
Summer golf camps abound for 2018 Looking for a golf camp this summer? Following are some camps sent in by area colleges and courses. This is not a comprehensive list, check with your local course for their offerings and we will be adding to this list on www.golfoklahoma.org. COLLEGE CAMPS UNIVERSITY OF OKLAHOMA RYAN HYBL GOLF CAMPS Tiny Tees Camp Ages 6-9, June 11-15, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. Cost $190 Junior Players Overnight Camp June 11-15, Ages 10-18 Day 1 check in: 12 p.m. – 2 p.m. Cost $975 (includes lodging, all meals and snacks) Junior Players Day Camp June 11-15, Ages 10-18, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Cost: $600 (includes lunch and snacks) OKLAHOMA STATE UNIVERSITY COWBOY GOLF CAMP www.cowboygolfcamp.com Dates: June 2-6, June 6-10 Location: Karsten Creek Ages: 11-19 Cost: $1,200 for one week, $2,200 for two-week session (includes lodging and meals) SOUTHERN NAZARENE UNIVERSITY CRIMSON STORM GOLF CAMP www.snugolfcamp.com Dates: June 11-17 Location: Lake Hefner Golf Course, OKC Ages 6-17, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., Cost $140 Registration: Derrick Taylor dtaylor@snu.edu
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
405-491-6699 or 405-514-2958 OTHER CAMPS BATTLE CREEK GOLF COURSE SHORT GAME CAMP Dates: June 4-7 Ages: 5-16 (all skill levels) 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Long Game Camp Dates: June 11-14, Ages 5-16 (all skill levels) 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. Course Play Camp Dates: June 18-21, 10 a.m. to Noon Course management, etiquette, rules, Cost: 1 week - $99, 2 weeks $180, 3 weeks - $250 All Equipment available Evening classes available online for ages 3-16 Registration: www.amandafisher.yourlpgapro.com Amanda Fisher, LPGA Class A instructor 918-5578762 THE FIRST TEE OF METROPOLITAN OKLAHOMA CITY June 11-July 23 all day Ages 7-17 Cost $25 Registration April 15-June 3 Call: 405-535-9606 HOUSE 53 CAMP ELITE 1.0 www.house53okc.com/camps Jimmy Shaw, Instructor Dates: July 9-13 Location: Rose Creek Golf Club, Edmond Ages: 13-18 Call: 405-464-2107 JIM YOUNG GOLF CAMPS www.jimyounggolf.com Location: River Oaks CC, Edmond
Dates: Tuesdays and Thursdays in June and July Contact: Jim Young, 405-630-8183 LAFORTUNE PARK GOLF COURSE June 4-7, June 18-21, July 9-12, July 23-26 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., Ages 5-17 Cost: $150 www.lafortuneparkgolf.com or 918-496-6200. MUSKOGEE GOLF CLUB JUNIOR CAMPS June 12-15 Ages 7-11 , 5 p.m.-6 p.m. Ages 12-16 , 6:15 p.m. – 7:15 p.m. Cost: $75/members; $100/non-members July 17-20 Ages 7-11, 8 a.m.-9 a.m. Ages 12-16, 9:15 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. Cost: $75/member; $100/ non-members SOUTH LAKES GOLF COURSE JENKS JUNIOR GOLF CAMPS Ages 7-17 May 29-June 1 (Grades 3-6) June 4-8 (Grades K-2 / 7-12) Cost: $85 Camp Time: 9 a.m. -11 a.m. South Lakes Summer Junior Golf Camps Ages 7-17 June 25-29, July 23-27 (no class on Wednesdays) Camp Time: 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Cost $150 (sibling discount: $135 per child) sibling must be signed up for same week) www.southlakesgolf.com or call 918-746-3760 Lil’ Hooks Ages 5-13 March 31-May 19 Saturdays at 3 p.m. June 20-August 15 Wednesdays at 8 a.m. Cost $125 Registration: 918-746-3760
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Renovation to begin at Southern Hills As first reported on www.golfoklahoma. org in November, Southern Hills Country Club will undergo a $19 million renovation in 2018 which will include a thorough renovation of its championship course and practice facilities including a new short game area and an indoor teaching facility for the first time at the historic club. The on-course renovations will be done as part of a master plan submitted by noted golf course architect Gil Hanse with the overriding theme being to restore and honor the original 1936 layout by architect Perry Maxwell as closely as possible while accounting for changing in modern technology and the game. The course will close to members on August 1, 2018 and reopen in June of 2019. Southern Hills has been the site of four PGA Championships and three U.S. Open Championships, along with numerous other USGA championships and top level events. The KitchenAid Senior PGA Championship will be held there in May of 2021, and a fifth PGA Championship has been promised by the year 2030 by the PGA of America, although a firm date has yet to be confirmed. It is hoped a date will be announced this summer. The upgrades at Southern Hills, however, are not a direct reflection of the upcoming championships, said Nick Sidorakis, general manager. “The decision was made to fold in a master plan on the golf course with the complete facilities upgrade plan we had been working on and do it all at one time,” Sidorakis said. 28
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“The changes keep us relevant as a premier face temperature as much as 17 degrees, country club for our members. The champi- a huge benefit for bent grass greens in the onships are secondary and it’s just great that months of July and August, particularly. the timing works.” “Studies how the ideal months for growing bent grass are June and September, and the average temperature difference in the On the course, the upgrades soil between those months and July and Auwill include: • Rebuilding each of the club’s estimated gust is 5-to-7 degrees,” Myers said. “So you 85 bunkers with new liners and in a style can see how much benefit you can derive more reminiscent of Maxwell’s original from adjusting the temperature just a few slightly more rugged looking bunkers rather degrees.” Myers had the system installed at Los Anthan the clean-edge saucer shapes on the geles Country Club, where he worked from course today. Several bunkers will be moved for stra- 2010-16 after his first stint at Southern Hills tegic purposes, including the fairway bun- from 2006-10. He saw first hand how well ker on the first hole shifting from the right it can work and during his tenure there Los side of the fairway to the left and the fair- Angeles CC was selected to host this year’s way bunker on the famous par-4 12th being Walker Cup and the 2021 U.S. Open. The greens will be rebuilt using a new bent moved farther toward the green requiring a grass variety on their existing locations uslonger carry to clear it from the tee box. • Rebuilding of every tee box on the ing mostly existing contours except for No. course. Many will be in same areas but built 7, which will move back some 40 yards and to fit better into the existing landforms and be hard against a creek. That hole will still not as noticeable. Additional distance will require pin-point accuracy on the tee shot. • A new state-of-the-art irrigation system be captured in a few instances, for example a tee box to the west of the 12th green for the will be installed. • All current cart paths will be replaced par-5 13th that will considerably lengthen that hole from the championship tees. The and many shifted to become visually unobfierce closing 18th hole will also be length- trusive. • The complete renovation of the practice ened by some 40 yards with a new tee. • All 18 greens will be cored out and re- facilities, cart barn and staging areas, includbuilt after installation of a hydronics system, ing the new indoor facility. .• The indoor facility, long overdue at a a series of flexible tubing just below the root surface that allows for the pumping of warm club of Southern Hills’ stature, will have four or cool water to raise or lower the tempera- bays with TrackMan, golf simulators, SAM Puttlab, V-1 Coaching System, and custom ture of the green surface. Myers said the system can lower the sur- fitting. Southern Hills will hire a director of GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
instruction once the facility is complete. Outside the lab, the changes to the practice facilities will be extensive, with the addition of a new short game area that will replicate three of the greens on the course. The current range and putting green will be rebuilt. The entire area west of the current pro shop including the cart and bag storage building, golf parking lot, staging area for the first tee and all current practice facilities will be renovated and shifted to ease the current congestion around the first tee. In addition to all the course improvements, Southern Hills will be updating its men’s locker room, renovating the Snug Harbor restaurant, resurfacing its eight outdoor tennis courts and the tennis patio area. The West Nine will remain open during construction and members will be afforded reciprocal playing privileges at premier clubs in and around Tulsa. Hanse, who designed the course used for the recent Olympic Course in Brazil, has acquired a reputation as a master at restoring and renovating courses from the co-called golden age of architecture as well as a firstrate designer of new courses that honor the early designers. His latest design recently opened at Streamsong Resort in central Florida, where his Streamsong Black joined earlier courses by Tom Doak as well as Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore.
LaFortune Park Par-3 to be redesigned The par-3 course at LaFortune Park Golf Course in Tulsa, where many thousands of Tulsans took their first swings, will be undergoing a complete redesign and rebuild this spring and summer. Architect Randy Heckenkemper has
rerouted the course and the new green complexes will have ultra dwarf TifEagle Bermuda surfaces. Golf Oklahoma will take an extensive look at the renovation with Heckenkemper for the JuneJuly issue.
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White Hawk reborn Meadowbrook CC to remain open for 2018 at least by ken macleod
This magazine put both White Hawk Golf Club in Bixby and Meadowbrook Country Club in Broken Arrow on the cover of its October 2017 issue and outlined the possibility that both could be facing closure within months. Thanks to a purchase by former minority owner and White Hawk neighborhood resident Roger Rodich, golfers in Bixby, south Tulsa and northeastern Oklahoma will be able to enjoy an improved White Hawk going forward. Meadowbrook, meanwhile, is remaining open as well for an undetermined time while new owners Chuck Ramsay and Glenn Shaw contemplate development plans. The club had contingency plans for a much shorter time frame but thus far membership has remained relatively stable even though the course has lost its head pro, superintendent and general manager
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since the announcement. Special offers to join for no initiation and begin paying modest dues have enticed new members in sufficient numbers to New owner Roger Rodich, center, at the grand reopening offset those who have sought out a new home for their golf and house and irrigation system and improved maintenance standards and practices were club activities. Rodich, President and CEO of Workspace among the priorities Rodich outlined. Rodich said he was optimistic that once Resource Inc., purchased White Hawk from majority owner Gerald Pope and an- improved and with better service, food, nounced plans for improvements through- conditions and marketing, the club would out the facility, including course condi- be able to break even, especially with the tions, food and beverage operations and support he is receiving in the form of mematmosphere. He made good on the interior berships purchased from neighborhood renovation when the course shut down for and Bixby residents. He did caution that he a month in late February and early March was not interested in sustained losses and and was gearing up for improvements on Plan B would be to develop the course. He reassured homeowners that in the event of the course in growing season. A new superintendent, new perimat- an eventual development, he would work er fencing, major upgrades to the pump toward making sure that any housing on
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the site met the standards of lot size and $9. We’re going to be priced competitively home covenants already set by the neigh- with other courses in our market. “We’re going to give it every chance. borhood surrounding the course to protect We’re going to capitalize it and improve current property values. At a grand opening party, neighbor- it. If it doesn’t work, we’re not going down hood residents and Bixby golfers lined up with the Titanic. If it can’t be profitable, we to purchase memberships and greens fees will then move to development.” Bixby City Manager Jared Cottle was and were enthusiastic about the future for among the dignitaries the course. White Hawk, at the re-grand opening a Randy Heckenkemper celebration on March design, opened in 1993 as 17 (St. Patrick’s Day) an upscale daily fee course and said the city would priced a notch below Fordo whatever it could to est Ridge in Broken Arlend support to Rodrow, another Heckenkemich’s venture. The area per design. Over time, it around White Hawk on struggled to compete fiHighway 67 between nancially with municipal Memorial Drive and courses that were supportHighway 75 is prime ed by city or county capiexpansion area for new tal improvement projects Golfers lined up to purchase development and the and operational subsidies. memberships in support. city was glad Rodich “This has got to be a community effort,” Rodich said. “The stepped forward to purchase White Hawk, prospect of it going away woke us all up. as it had not made the commitment to acWe’re going to do everything possible to quire it and operate it as a municipal course. “It’s important for us as a city from bring it back to its original state. It’s not going to be a discount golf course. You can’t a quality of life standpoint and a qualcome out here anymore and play for $8 or ity of destination to have the golf
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The renovated clubhouse interior. course,” Cottle said. “We will certainly do everything we can to promote the course. There is a lot of enthusiasm and support, as you can see out there today. As a private enterprise, it’s a little limited what direct involvement we can have, but there are certain things we can do.” Meadowbrook CC continues to be managed by Arcis Golf, the previous owners who now run the course for Ramsay. Insiders say the course could remain open for several seasons or more depending on how rapidly development plans are made. The longer it remains open, there is also the possibility it could be sold again to a group or individual wanting it to remain a golf course.
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Quail Creek G&CC asks Bergin to lead restoration by ken macleod
Many public courses in Oklahoma have made the transition from bent grass greens to a variety of ultra dwarf Bermuda, but only a handful of private clubs have made the leap. Quail Creek Golf & Country Club in Oklahoma City is converting this spring, installing Tif-Eagle Bermuda greens under the supervision of architect Bill Bergin of Atlanta, who also was in charge of the recent renovation of The Oaks Country Club in Tulsa. The bent grass greens at Quail Creek had struggled for most of the past three years and rather than try again for a repair or even rebuild of those, the club elected to go with a grass that Bergin said will match its peak performance with the demand. “There is no bad time for these greens, but they are at their best in the summer and fall when most golfers play,” Bergin said. “You will just have more rounds under better conditions.” Tif-Eagle, one of the original ultra dwarf varieties, has been used less frequently in
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Oklahoma than Champion or Mini-Verde, but each variety has its strengths. Kyle Flinton, director of golf at Quail Creek, said Tif-Eagle had proven more cold tolerant at recent tests in Arkansas, and Bergin said that Tif-Eagle greens match or exceed the performance of bent grass in terms of a true roll. “The quality of the roll is just Above, the fourth hole today and below, as it will look excellent,” Bergin said. “You wouldn’t see all these great clubs going to Bermuda if the roll was inferior.” He pointed out that both Atlanta Athletic Club and Cherokee Town & Country Club in Atlanta have 36 holes and both had installed Bermuda on one and kept the second with bent grass, hoping for the best of both worlds. Now all 36 at each facility have after the renovation by architect Bill Bergin. Bermuda greens. The renovation at Quail Creek began in opening in early September. late March and greens are expected to be In addition to the conversion, Bergin sprigged in early June with the course re- is making changes to the bunkering and green surrounds designed to open up more avenues for ground golf as well. A former professional golfer and teacher, Bergin said the teaching side made him acutely sensitive to the needs of the average golfer to have ground options. “I’m always thinking about those guys,” he said. “I’m very ground sensitive. For most golfers, what happens to the ball on the ground is a very big deal. What the recreational golfer deals with and has to overcome is very different from the top players.” The bunkers will change from high sand flashing to grass faced bunkers with bold lines that offer deep shadows and clear definition. “We’re going to add a great deal of shortgame diversity to the course with more chipping areas and not just bunkers and deep rough around the greens,” Bergin said. “And we want bunkers that really perform for the members. When we rebuild, bunkers will be less deep but look deeper. “ Quail Creek G&CC was originally designed by Floyd Farley and opened in 1961, with a major renovation performed by D.A. Weibring in the 1990s. It has hosted professional events, including the Oklahoma City Open 1962 to 1968 (won by Arnold Palmer in 1964 and Tony Lema in 1966), and the Southwestern Bell Golf Classic, a PGA Se-
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
2018 Golf Pass is BIGGER AND BETTER! Visit scspgagolfpass.com to order yours today! nior Tour event, from 1987 to 1990. Sports Illustrated in 1965 named the 17th hole the best 17th hole in America, a distinction that may have had more to do with the friendship of Sports Illustrated golf writer Dan Jenkins with his childhood friend and first Quail Creek professional Ernie Vossler than with the merits of the hole. Vossler was inducted into the Oklahoma Golf Hall of Fame in 2017. Flinton said he, superintendent Chris Garrett, who was hired from Lake Hefner Golf Course, and the membership are all excited about the renovation. “We were either going to play on bad greens and struggle along or go a different route,” Flinton said. “A lot of us went over to see the test green that Josh Cook had built at Oak Tree National and how well it performed. That’s what we’re looking forward to having in the future.” The West Nine at Southern Hills Country Club installed Bermuda greens as did The Club at Indian Springs on its River Course. In 2017, The Greens Country Club in Oklahoma City converted to ultra dwarf Bermuda. Quail Creek becomes the second major private club that far north in Oklahoma to go with Bermuda on its main course.
Discount golf is great until the golf courses shut their doors by ken macleod
When nearby Coffee Creek Golf Course closed in 2016, Brian Soerensen, director of golf at Kickingbird Golf Course, figured his course would see a significant bump in rounds. After all, Kickingbird was only a few miles away and offers what most consider a tremendous layout with course conditions the match of most private clubs. Kickingbird went up – but only by about 800 of the roughly 20,000 rounds that were being played at Coffee Creek. The Golf Club of Edmond (formerly Fairfax GC) also saw a small bump. Some of the discount seekers that frequented Coffee Creek went over to SilverHorn Golf Course, a course with a solid design but one noted for offering deep discounts on various websites to attract play. SilverHorn closed in December at the end of a 20-year lease between course operator American Golf and an ownership group
comprised of Oklahoma City businessmen. Brennan Dolan, president of Urban Works in Oklahoma City, a broker and spokesman for the owners, said the group will look to sell the acreage to a developer or develop it themselves. The closings of SilverHorn and Coffee Creek will affect the Oklahoma City market significantly going forward only if the majority of those golfers accept that it costs in the $35 (walking) to $50 range for a course to meet expenses and maintain service and course conditions that golfers prefer. Courses that extensively utilize discount services reflect the direction of the Oklahoma State Legislature, continual reductions in revenue that ultimately lead to major problems. White Hawk Golf Course in Bixby, another course that was managed until recently by American Golf, announced that deep discounts would no longer be available when it reopens in late March under new owner Roger Rodich. Alsie Hyden, director of golf at Lake He-
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fner Golf Course, said his course and Lin- to close across Oklahoma until an equilibricoln Park in Oklahoma City could pick up um between supply and demand is achieved a few of SilverHorn’s regulars, but again in our area. The impact of these closings is those courses will not be found on any dis- not necessarily a bad situation, but a positive for the golf industry in our region. count sites. “In my case, The Golf Club of Edmond “I really thought we would pick up more than 3,000 rounds when Coffee Creek will not see a major increase in revenue. The closed,” Soerensen said. “But the reality is toward the tail end they had a lot of tournament rounds and extreme discount rounds. You can’t provide the quality that people expect without the revenue. “I still think that this area has the best quality golf courses for the prices anywhere in the United States. But when you see courses start doing really inexpenSilverhorn Golf Course closed in December. sive golf, that’s a signal the bargain-hunting golf consumer will move to business is struggling.” Golf Club of Edmond owner Michael another discount facility until they drive it Henderson said, “Silverhorn Golf Club was out of business as well.” SilverHorn was built in 1991 by a group the perfect example of a course offering discount pricing with subpar conditioning that then known as O-Sports Development, could not generate enough revenue to stay headed by Elby Beal and David Hardin, viable. Facilities like Silverhorn will continue with Randy Heckenkemper as the course
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architect. It was intended to be the Oklahoma City area’s first foray into the upscale daily fee market that was the model for new courses across the country at the time. Although it started off as a popular alternative, SilverHorn had a few issues that may have prevented its rise to the status it originally aspired to, including constricted acreage on a piece of property intersected with creeks. American Golf leased the facility in 1997, a lease that lasted through several ownership groups and expired at the end of 2017. Ownership determined at the conclusion of the lease not too continue as a golf course and shut it down in December. Discounted rounds had become commonplace and the number of rounds played there annually did not keep pace with its competitors, namely the Oklahoma City municipal courses. SilverHorn faced frequent criticism about its agronomic and clubhouse conditions on online forums, but did make a recent conversion to Bermuda greens which alleviated some concerns. Heckenkemper, who designed SilverHorn in San Antonio as well for the original ownership group, said he was sorry but not surprised at the outcome. “Anytime you put a lot of time, effort and thought into a project you would like to see it succeed,” he said. “On the other hand, I understand the economics of golf and I think they’ve been on the wrong path for a long time. “The original intent was to be operated and maintained a little above the OKC public courses for people who wanted an upscale image. Did they do that? Probably not.” Both the Oklahoma City and Tulsa markets have been constricting. The Tulsa area in the past five years has lost Emerald Falls in Broken Arrow, Scissortail Golf Course in Catoosa, Clary Fields in Sapulpa, Cotton Creek in Glenpool and the Okmulgee Country Club and Meadowbrook Country Club has announced it will close as early as 2019. White Hawk has been saved, at least temporarily, by a homeowner purchasing the course. In 2017, 175 courses closed nationally and 25 opened. Golf analysts say the rate of closings to openings needs to accelerate even more for golf to reach an equilibrium where supply meets demand and most public courses will be successful. GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
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2018 GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
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Alexis Sadeghy, Emma Broze, Kenzie Neisen and Maddie McCrary.
Cowgirls, Sooners have high hopes for NCAA OKLAHOMA STATE COWGIRLS The Cowgirls lost their best player in the fall when Maddie McCrary turned tillwater will be busting at the professional after going through LPGA seams with collegiate golfers Qualifying School. Players 2-5 moved when the Women’s NCAA up a spot, but finding consistency in the Championship is held for the fifth position has been a challenge. first time at Karsten Creek Golf Club Emma Broze, a senior from Nervieux, on May 18-23. France, has stepped up and joined juThe burning question for the nior Chih-Min Chen, senior Alexis coaches at Oklahoma and OklaSadeghy from Edmond and senior homa State, will the young laKenzie Neisen from New Prague, dies in Crimson and Cream and Minn., in giving Jones fairly conburnt Orange be among them? sistent play. Neisen, who won the Both teams must advance Big 12 Championship as a freshthrough regional play to make man and sophomore and finished certain they are among the 24 third as a junior, struggled in teams invited to Karsten Creek. Courtney Jones Veronique Drouin-Luttrell early second-semester events, There are four regionals May 7-9 but Jones fully experts her best and the top six of 18 teams inplay as post-season approaches. see what they can do.” vited to each site will advance. “Kenzie is a 4.0 student balancing Both teams have had to overcome “What an opportunity for our seniors, to play Karsten Creek and have setbacks but were on the rise entering school and golf and she’s trending in the a chance to play for the national cham- the final six weeks prior to the cham- right direction,” Jones said. Freshman Stephanie Astrup, who had pionship,” said Oklahoma State coach pionship. Oklahoma State was ranked Courtney Jones. “It’s a championship 15th and Oklahoma 16th in the Golf- two top-15 performances in the fall, has test, a true test of golf that will bring week team rankings, meaning they been the fifth starter in the spring. Having the chance to play Karstenout the very best of college golf. It’s were expected, but not guaranteed, to Creek on a daily basis will be a considwhat you want when it comes to the be in the field.
by ken macleod
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highest level of competition.” “It would be awesome to be there and get a chance to compete at home and in front of our fans,” said Oklahoma coach Veronique Drouin-Luttrell. “We have four seniors and they would all love to make it to nationals and be able to compete and
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
Rylee Pedigo, Hannah Wood, Kaitlin Milligan and Julienne Soo.
erable advantage for OSU. “We have a long and powerful team off the tee and that’s a very good quality to have at Karsten Creek,” Jones said.
NCAA Women’s Championship Dates: May 18-23
OKLAHOMA SOONERS The four seniors mentioned above by Drouin-Luttrell – HanKarsten Creek Golf Club, Stillwater nah Wood, Ana Ruiz, Rylee Pedigo and Valerie Tanquay – give the Sooners a solid foundation, but the potential for a breakthrough at Karsten Creek is Par 72, Yardage TBD enhanced by junior Julienne Soo, who is probably the Sooners’ most consistent Format: 24 teams playing 72 holes of player, and by dynamic freshman Kaitlin Milligan of Norman. Soo leads the Sooners with a 71.0 stroke average in 2017-18 and has recorded seven Stroke Play with cut to top 15 teams top-10 finishes for OU by press time. after 54 holes. Top eight teams after The length of Milligan, the freshman who was the Class 6A champion at Norman North final round advance to match play last spring, presents a new dynamic for OU. Milligan, who can effortlessly hit drives of 290 yards or more, recently opened the West(May 22-23). brook Invitational with a Sooner and Big 12-record 62 and went on to finish in second at 17-unTickets: All session ($50), single der, shattering another OU record. She was the first Sooner golfer to shoot under 200 in a threeround tournament at 199. session ($30) and individual day Drouin-Luttrell marvels at Milligan’s potential and said her length is a bigger advantage as a coltickets ($5) available at http:// legian than it was on shorter tracks in high school. orange.okstate.com/tickets/ “She has so much upside to her game, it could be unbelievable to watch,” Drouin-Luttrell said. “It’s going to be fun to watch her grow as a player and person. The sky is the limit for her. She’s a hard Website: www.ncaa.com/ worker and knows what she wants.” sports/golf-women/d1 Another home-state Sooner that would love to be competing at Karsten Creek is Sydney Youngblood, the four-time state champion from Durant. In two fall events she led the Sooners with a 69.67 Parking: Shuttle buses from stroke average, but suffered a shoulder injury and was only beginning to make full swings in mid Lake Carl Blackwell. March. “She’s a great player and a great leader for us and we’ll see if she can play her way into the lineup. Golf Channel Live television: We have a lot of depth and the girls will be pushing each other right up until we make the final lineup May 21, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. decisions,” Drouin-Luttrell said. “That’s something not every team can say.” ORAL ROBERTS UNIVERSITY, UNIVERSITY OF TULSA With rankings of 127 for ORU and 153 for Tulsa, it is unlikely either team will make a regional field unless they win their conference tournaments, and both would be longshots to advance to the NCAA. GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
May 22, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.; May 23, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
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2018 GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Matthew Wolff
Viktor Hovland
OSU on historic roll,
but will it prevail this time at Karsten? team that was threatening at press time to set a record for consecutive victories to air or not, there’s likely only close out the regular season. The deep Cowboys had won six conone result that will please Oklahoma State players, coaches and secutive events (seven of eight overall) and fans when the 2018 collegiate had two left prior to the Big 12 Champigolf season concludes May 30 at Karsten onship on April 23-25 at Southern Hills Creek, and that’s for the Cowboys to win Country Club. The record of seven consecthe school’s 11th national championship utive wins was set in the 1986-87 season. From the Big 12, the Cowboys’ likely and first since 2006. Just a strong showing in stroke play or destination for regional play is Jimmie being one of the eight finalists for match Austin OU Golf Course in Norman on May play certainly will not be enough for a 14-16 before returning to Karsten Creek
by ken mac leod
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OSU coach Alan Bratton has assembled a power house team as he seeks his first national championship. 40
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NCAA Men’s Championship DATES:
Karsten Creek Golf t h e season’s Club, Stillwater first eight Par 72, Yardage TBD events. They are certain to be Format: 30 teams playing 72 holes of Stroke Play post-season startwith cut to top 15 teams after 54 holes. Top eight ers, while the other teams after final round advance to match play two from coach Alan Bratton’s deeply talent(May 29-30). ed squad are likely to be Tickets: All session ($50), single session senior Kristoffer Ventura and freshman Austin Eck($30) and individual day tickets ($5) roat, although a shakeup is available at http://orange.okstate.com/tickets/ certainly possible. Bratton began the season with Website: seven golfers who had started for www.ncaa.com/sports/golf-men/d1 OSU in a previous NCAA Championship and added the standout Parking: Shuttle buses from Lake freshmen Wolff and Eckroat. Carl Blackwell. Having players who have won colleGolf Channel Live television: giate events and May 28, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. May 29, competed at 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and 4 p.m. to the highest levels forced 8 p.m.; May 30, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. to sit could lead to issues, but that hasn’t been the case. “It hasn’t been and that’s a credit to those kids,” Bratton said. ‘We treat them fair and provide playing opportunities. They’ve all done their jobs and the leaders have pulled everybody up as well. The chemistry has been good.” Hovland and Ventura are rare top amateurs from Norway where the season is short and much practicing is done inside. ADMISSION: Free Bratton became aware of Hovland while PARKING: Free recruiting Ventura. Hovland has quickly developed into one of the top collegians CARTS: Not available to spectators in the country and his first victory in the FORMAT: 72 holes stroke play, 36 Valspar Collegiate in March came in domholes Monday April 23, 18 on Tuesday inant fashion at 13-under. He was also and Wednesday. Tee times begin at 13-under the previous week in finishing second in the Lamkin San Diego Classic. 8:30 a.m. Teams grouped by scores for “He’s very good,” Bratton said. “A tough rounds three and four.
May 24-30
Zach Bachou for the NCAA Division I Cha mpionship on May 25-30. If Austin Eckroat the Sooners move up to a No. 1 seed themselves, OSU will be forced to go elsewhere for regional play. Make no mistake, the Cowboys are well aware that their Bedlam rivals will be the defending national champions in Stillwater and that plenty of crimson clad fans will be on hand amidst the throngs of OSU supporters. “Certainly it’s more motivation for us knowing that OU won last year and that we’ll hear that from fans,” OSU junior standout Zach Bauchou said. “That’s been motivation for us all year. We were happy for them last year, but this year we hope it’s us holding that trophy.” Bauchou, freshman Matthew Wolff and sophomore Viktor Hovland have been fixtures in the top 10, each with five through GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
CHAMPIONSHIP
April 23-25 Southern Hills
Country Club, Tulsa Par 71, 7218 yards
DEFENDING CHAMPION: Texas W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
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2018 GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS competitor and a very good ball striker. His misses are better than most. All of these kids, when they hit it well it’s going to be good. But golf is a game of minimizing your misses and he is really good at that. “ Wolff, the runner-up in the 2017 U.S. Junior Amateur before coming to OSU, has burst on the scene with three runner-up finishes along with a third-place showing. The confident Californian is already the third-ranked collegian in the country, with Hovland fourth and Bauchou 12th. “I just realized when I got here I just needed to keep practicing and getting better,” Wolff said. “I thought I could really help the team. My goal is to be the best player in the world and these guys push me every single day to be the best in the world.” Bratton, now in his fifth season at the helm, is ready for his players to flash some of the steel that helped amass those previous 11 championships, including the 1995 championship during his senior season in which OSU took down Stanford and Tiger Woods in a playoff at Ohio State, one of the most dramatic college events in history.
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Karsten Creek will be a beautiful but demanding challenge for the best collegiate golfers. “There’s always pressure here because of the expectations of the program and playing at home you want to play well,” Bratton said. “I take comfort in that we’ve got a very good team and they’re starting to show the toughness you want to see develop. If we do a good job of preparing and taking care of what’s in front of us, then I like our chances for good results. “I’d certainly rather have a team with a lot of wins and talent than the opposite. And hopefully the crowd will inspire us to
do something really good.” Notes: It’s likely only one of OSU’s strong contingent of home-grown players will see action in the postseason in either Eckroat or junior Hayden Wood of Edmond. Senior Brendon Jelley of Tulsa and junior Nick Heinen of Edmond would start for most programs across the country. Tyson Reeder of Edmond, buried deep on the Cowboys’ bench, transferred to Arkansas, where he is now starting for the 16thranked Razorbacks.
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
Past NCAA Championships at Karsten Creek 2011:
Patrick Reed
• Oklahoma State faced defending champion Augusta State and the brash Patrick Reed in a semifinal match. Reed hammered Peter Uihlein 8 and 7, with Reed at 5-under when the match concluded. That set the stage for Augusta State to advance 3 and 2 despite OSU victories by Talor Gooch and Morgan Hoffmann. Kevin Tway lost his match and Sean Einhaus lost in a extra hole playoff. • Augusta State went on to defeat Georgia and future PGA Tour players Russell Henley, Hudson Swafford and Harris Peter Uihlein English to repeat as champions. Reed won the deciding match against English.
Hunter Mahan
• John Petersen of LSU won the individual title.
2003: • A final-round 76 by Player of the Year Hunter Mahan doomed OSU in a two-shot loss to Clemson in 2003. The tournament was marked by long, slogging rounds of up to six hours and the highest winning score since 1977. Mahan finished eighth individually and went on to PGA Tour stardom. Also for OSU, Alex Noren tied for 31st and has just started to peak as a professional.
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2018 GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Rugged bunker complexes at the renovated Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course.
Renovated Jimmie Austin to provide stiff challenge for regional field by ken macleod
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ne program is the defending national champion, has a beautiful newly renovated golf course ready to show the nation while hosting a regional championship and has a top-five team led by a superstar ready to go forth and defend the crown. And yet, there is still a hint of a shadow coming from the north. Rival Oklahoma State has, at this writing, a six-tournament winning streak, is the consensus No. 1 team in all rankings, has multiple stars and is hosting the NCAA Championship on its home course, the venerated Karsten Creek. All of which should make for a threetournament run of great golf theater in Oklahoma, beginning with the Big 12 Championship on April 23-25 at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, followed by an NCAA Regional on May 14-16 at Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course in Norman and the NCAA Division I Men’s Championship on May 25-30 at Karsten Creek in Stillwater. “For our state, it’s a very important six weeks,” said OU coach Ryan Hybl. “Everyone in college golf will be here.” While it is far too early to know who will be in the field for the regional in Norman, 44
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it is safe to say they will be challenged by a course that has been renovated by Tripp Davis, a former All-American and member of OU’s 1988 national championship team. Five greens have been moved and rebuilt, and all the bunkers have been redone with a more rugged feel reminiscent of original architect Perry Maxwell’s work at Prairie Dunes. Some trees have been removed, but more than 300 added. Greens are fast and firm and with any wind, even the incredibly talented collegians will struggle to break par. “Tripp did a great job throughout the whole process,” Hybl said. “The green complexes are really solid. It’s going to be more fun and more exciting as a player, but it’s got some really challenging spots. “In the second week of May, even-par will be a great score as a team. Unless the weather is perfect with no wind, I think anyone who gets around in even- par will be happy.” The improvements at Jimmie Austin go beyond what
spectators will see. The addition of the Ransom (named for donor Jerry Ransom)
Grant Hirschman GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
NCAA Men’s
REGIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP
May 14-16
Jimmie Austin
OU Golf Course, Norman Par 72, 7452 yards Quade Cummins Short Course, four greens that can be played from multiple angles, has given the men’s and women’s teams a gem that few programs have and raised the level of their practice and indoor facilities to match any program. “The intent was to let the kids practice any kind of shot you can imagine and have it be much more realistic than a driving range,” Davis said. “You can hit drivers
Blaine Hale GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
Admission: Free Parking: Free Carts: Not available to spectators Format: 72 holes of Stroke Play. 13-14 teams compete. Top six advance to NCAA Championship.
from 340 yards away, short shots, practice your bunker play, putting. It’s got a little bit of everything.” Hybl said, “We’ve been working on that for nine years and it turned out better than what I anticipated. I wanted a playground where you can drop a ball from anywhere There’s nothing to keep us from getting better. We’ve just got to keep recruiting the and go have fun. “I would not put our facilities up with right guys who love getting after it.” anybody. What we have is pretty special. The Sooners, who return four starters
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2018 GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS from the chaampionship team, won consecutive events in late March and were threatening to move up into a top seed, which would send Oklahoma State to a different regional if it is also a top seed. OU has a feisty leader in Ryan Hybl and a powerful All-American in junior Brad Dalke, who also is playing the best golf of his collegiate career. The Sooners have three other starters back from the championship squad in Grant Hirschman, Rylee Reinertson and Blaine Hale. Redshirt sophomores Quade Cummins of Weatherford and Thomas Johnson of Norman as well as sophomore Garett Reband have been seeing significant action and there is much to be determined before Hybl sets his starting post season lineup. “I’d like to have it all settled right now, but it doesn’t work that way,” Hybl said. “We’re changing almost every tournament.” Dalke had four top-10 finishes in his previous five starts going into mid-March and had lowered his scoring average as a junior to 70.37 after 72.13 as a sophomore. “Brad has been very consistent,” Hybl said. “Since the end of playing in the Masters last year, he has turned into a much
Thomas Johnson and Ryan Hybl at the Lone Star Invitational. more consistent player. He hasn’t won yet this year, but keeps doing his job.” Hybl was optimistic the Sooners can get on a similar roll as they did at the right time a year ago. The Big 12 Championship April 23-25 at Southern Hills CC will be a great measuring stick. “The excitement level is very high,” he said. “Guys will be ready to roll this spring.
It’s time to really focus in on the job at hand. I do think winning last year gives our guys confidence, but a lot of time has passed and it’s time to go out and execute.” Oral Roberts University needed to win the Summit League championship to make a regional field. Cody Burrows of Chickasha and Mike Biata of Owasso have helped lead a modest resurgence of that program.
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GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
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2018 GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS
Rebuild of OU golf program remarkable by john rohde
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hen Ryan Hybl became Oklahoma men’s golf coach in June of 2009, he inherited a program that struggled to crack the Top 100 in national team rankings. The Sooners have since become a perennial national power and are in the midst of defending their 2017 NCAA championship. Though Hybl had never previously served as a head coach, he was no stranger to success having been the nation’s No. 1-ranked junior golfer while growing up in Georgia. He then played and became an assistant coach as a member of the powerhouse University of Georgia program. Known for his incessant competitiveness and drive, Hybl has confidently rekindled a once proud program. OU’s only previous NCAA crown came in 1989 and along the way its rosters have included magnificent individual talent such as Charlie Coe, one of the greatest amateurs in history, plus NCAA medalists Walter Emery (1933) and Jim Vickers (1952). Other notable All-Americans include Robert O. Smith, Mark Witt, Andrew Magee, Grant Waite, Craig Perks, Greg Turner, Todd Hamilton, Glen Day, Doug Martin, Tripp Davis, Matthew Lane, Jeff Lee, Patrick Lee, Craig Cozby, Grant Masson, Hunter Haas and Anthony Kim. How long did Hybl think it would take to rebuild OU? “I don’t think I ever really had a timetable,” Hybl recalled. “I’m very simple-minded and my simplicity at times is probably a good thing because it’s all about the next day, trying to get the best recruit we can get, trying to get into the best tournaments and getting our guys better. It was more about just doing what’s in front of us. What’s been fun is looking back on it. Sometimes it makes me laugh and smile and think, ‘Wow, we have come a long ways.’ ” Hybl inherited a program that had fin48
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ished 10th in the 2009 Big 12 Championship and had placed in the top nine only once that spring season. Amazingly, in their first competition under Hybl, the Sooners won the 14-team Kansas Invitational that fall at Alvamar Country Club in Lawrence. Hybl kept the scoresheet from that tournament and it still hangs on his office wall inside the Charlie Coe Golf Center. “And I’ll never take it down,” Hybl said proudly. “It’s always a reminder of Ryan Hybl with Max McGreevy at 2017 NCAA Championship. where we’ve come from the championships and finished the season and that’s why I keep it up.” Hybl freely admits the overall compe- ranked No. 24 in the final Golfweek/Sagatition at that particular tournament was rin poll of the season – up 76 spots from weak, but the victory quickly gave his when Hybl arrived three seasons earlier. • The 2013-14 Sooners won three tourplayers a much-needed shot of confidence. “It’s probably the worst golf tournament naments, the most at OU since 1999-2000. • The 2014-15 season was highlighted at that I’ve ever taken a team to – or that I’ve ever been to as far as the competition the NCAA San Diego Regional, where the – but it was a big step for us,” Hybl said. Sooners steamrolled to a 20-stroke, wire“It helped set our culture. It doesn’t matter to-wire victory. It was OU’s fourth regional what we’re playing in, whether it’s the best title in program history and first since 2001. tournament in the country or the worst The win also marked the Sooners’ third of tournament. We’re going to try and bring the season and 10th overall under Hybl. • Hybl’s 2015-16 squad advanced to the it with whatever guys.” OU qualified for the NCAA Champion- match-play competition at the NCAA ships in Hybl’s second season, has returned Championships (top eight qualifiers) and every year since and is one of only five pro- marked the first time in school history OU grams to advance to each of the last seven had ever qualified. • Then came an encore match-play apNCAAs. “Expectations were raised fairly pearance to cap the 2016-17 season, when quickly,” Hybl said. Season-by-season under Hybl, the Soon- the Sooners defeated Baylor (3-2), Illinois (3-1-1) and Oregon (3-1-1) to claim their ers have built on their success: • After the 2010-11 squad advanced to second-ever national crown. Hybl said his players’ day-to-day comthe NCAA Championships, the Sooners made their second straight trip in 2011-12 bat against each other has had a key role and placed 11th, the program’s best NCAA in OU’s steady advancement on the elite programs. finish since placing ninth in 1993. “Prior to me getting here, a lot of spots • The 2012-13 squad also placed 11th a GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
year,” Hybl said. “We spend a lot of time developing our guys. Our recruiting definitely keeps getting better and better. We have to get the kids that fit our system here. It’s not just about getting the most talented guy. I’ve had a couple of guys who were a little more talented, but they didn’t last very long because they weren’t the right fit.” Hybl’s roster is an extension of his personality. When forced to choose between recruits, Hybl said a player’s overall toughness likely will be used as the ultimate tiebreaker. “I like the guys who can show me some toughness, for sure,” Hybl said. “No doubt about that.” Hybl said in-state recruiting has long been a priority, which has resulted in luring local All-Americans in Will Kropp (2012), Max McGreevy (201617) and Brad Dalke (2017). The now-departed McGreevy Ryan Hybl has made Oklahoma a two-program led last year’s championship power again in collegiate golf. squad. Dalke and fellow hongo make some money when they’re done orable mention All-Americans Blaine Hale and Grant Hirschman all returned this seafrom here.” Hybl was exposed to this philosophy at Georgia and continues to cling to the same approach. Hybl’s approach toward other aspects of coaching have been adjusted accordingly. “We’ve evolved over the years,” Hybl said. “I’m way different now than what I was when I first got to OU. One of the things I did carryover from Georgia – because we had so many good players there – was the constant battle every week. It was very competitive week in and week out just to make the squad. Even though we weren’t very good talent-wise when I first got here, there was still a mentality knowing I have to bring it every single week.” Though he is competing in a different sport, Hybl carries the same competitive spirit of older brother, Nate, who transferred from Georgia to play quarterback for the Sooners (2000-02). “My mentality has always been kind of tough, gritty, let’s go try and beat everybody,” Ryan said. “We have the mentally that we’re tougher than anybody. Our guys feel that we’re as tough as anybody out there and we’re going to be as prepared as anybody.” In the fierce world of recruiting, Hybl said he doesn’t always land the most polished prospect, and that’s OK. “We’re not getting the ‘5-star’ guys every (in the Sooners’ starting lineup) were always handed out,” Hybl said. “My coaching philosophy is our guys are always going to have to earn it every week, because that’s what they’ll have to do on the PGA Tour. I’m trying to get them ready so they’ll
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
son for the Sooners, who were ranked No. 6 nationally at the end of March. “I like where we’re at,” Hybl said. “We’re always going to have a big-time presence within our state. I love our Oklahoma kids. Oklahoma is a tough place. I think that’s why the people are so great. You can’t be soft living in Oklahoma, in my opinion. I genuinely love that. It’s not just the weather. I’m talking about Oklahoma in general. It’s just a good, solid, hard, tough place that has great qualities within the people. I find that in our golfers a lot of the time.” This is Hybl’s ninth season at OU and although other suitors have called, he has opted to remain in Norman. “It’s been fun realizing more and more for us as a family that’s this has been a great place for us,” said Hybl, who is married to the former Rebecca Booker and has two daughters in Adyline and Harper. “This is a great spot to be, it really is, with everything that’s going on with OU athletics. It’s a very special place to be. How does somebody like (24-year OU softball coach and four-time NCAA champ) Patty Gasso stay here as long as she has? And (18-year football coach and 2000 national champion) Bob Stoops? It’s the people here. It makes it very difficult to ever want to leave.”
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H IGH SCHOOL PR EV I EW
McAllister, Scarberry top prep rankings by scott wright
With the Oklahoma High School Championships coming up across the state in early May, Golf Oklahoma for the first time offers a ranking of the top 10 prep players for both boys and girls. The rankings reflect to a heavy degree how the young players have performed on the Oklahoma Junior Golf Tour and in national and regional amateur events as there are no specific rankings for high school events and also takes into account the opinions of some experts who closely follow prep golf. Many of these fine players have or will be committing to play collegiate golf. If you get a chance to watch the high school state championships, here are some players to keep an eye on. BOYS TOP 10 Player, Class, High school (College of choice) 1. Logan McAllister, Sr., Christian Heritage (Oklahoma)
Logan McAllister of Christian Heritage. 50
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2 018 O k l a h o m a H i g h S c h o o l STATE GOLF CHAMPIONSHIPS Boys, May 7 - 8 Class Course 6A 5A 4A 3A 2A
Forest Ridge Golf Club Cimarron Trails Buffalo Rock Trosper Park Lake Hefner North Course
Girls, May 2 - 3
City
Broken Arrow Perkins Cushing Oklahoma City Oklahoma City
Class Course City Already a two-time state 6A Hillcrest Country Club Bartlesville 5A Muskogee Golf Club Muskogee champion, and having won 4A Lake Hefner South Course Oklahoma City in dominating fashion, McAl3A Westwood Park Golf Course Norman lister will look to go out with 2A Aqua Canyon GC Guthrie a three-peat in Class 3A — a rare accomplishment in Oklahoma boys golf, regardless of classification. last year’s seniors, Austin Eckroat and He has finished in the top 20 in his last six Laken Hinton, handed over the reins. PolAJGA national events, including a tie for hill took third at state last year, and will try to help the Huskies’ second at the Junior Players Championship pursuit of a 13th state last August, and a runner-up finish at the championship in the Simplify Boys Championship in February. last 14 years. With that, he has climbed to No. 8 in the 5. Jaxon Dowell, AJGA national rankings, and is in line to Soph., Oklahoma join the recent line of Sooners with OklaChristian homa ties to be significant contributors to Dowell burst onto coach Ryan Hybl’s program. the high school scene 2. Carson Griggs, Sr., Jaxon Dowell as a freshman last year, Sand Springs (Denver) finishing behind McGriggs handled the Callister as the Class late, weather-forced 3A runner-up at state, venue change at last while helping restore year’s Class 6A state the fire in the Oklatournament to finhoma Christian School ish as the runner-up. golf program. Now, he’s among a Carson Griggs hefty group of legiti6. James Roller, Soph., Regent Prep mate contenders in the James Roller The Class 2A runstate’s largest class. ner-up last year, Roller 3. Jared Strathe, Sr., is looking to make anOwasso (Kansas State) other run after a strong After beginning his summer that included career on the smallan AJGA win in the school level at Rejoice McCormick Junior Christian, Strathe All-Star in Lubbock, moved to 6A last seaJared Strathe Texas. son and had an imme7. Andrew Gooddiate impact at Owasso, finishing fourth at state and leading the Rams to a runner-up Andrew Goodman man, Fr., Norman Goodman joins the team finish. He joins crop of talented young Griggs and others as players on the state’s the top players in the high school golf scene class this season. this year, and he’s al4. Brock Polhill, Sr., ready made a name for Edmond North (Wichhimself on the OJGT ita State) Tour. He defeated Polhill is the veteran Kolton Baber of Big leader of the Edmond Jordan Wilson Brock Polhill Pasture in a playoff to North dynasty after GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
win the OJGT Tour Championship last October. 8. Jordan Wilson, Fr., Edmond North So deep with talent the last several years, Edmond North hasn’t seen many freshmen break into the top five, but Wilson will get his shot as the Matthew Braley Huskies try to reload. 9. Matthew Braley, Sr., Cascia Hall (Grand Canyon) Cascia Hall’s No. 1 bag virtually his entire career, Braley will try to add another state tournament title to his 2016 championship in Class 4A. 10. Grayson WalGrayson Wallace lace, Sr., Guymon (Wichita State) Wallace had a successful summer both on the OJGT and in junior events throughout the Texas panhandle. He should be
415 S. Owasso Ave Tulsa, OK 74120 918.832.5544 www.jonesplan.com
May 14 - 19 Muskogee, Ok
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
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Photo by Rip Stell
H IGH SCHOOL PR EV I EW among the favorites in Class 5A. PLAYERS TO WATCH Kolton Baber, Sr., Big Pasture (Midwestern State) Blake Blaser, Sr., Edmond North Austin Enzbrenner, Sr., Owasso (Missouri State) Jack Glenn, Sr., Stillwater High School Trent Lutze, Sr., Edmond Memorial Christian McAllister, Jr., Putnam City William McDonald, Jr., Heritage Hall Luke Morgan, Soph., Guthrie Said Powers, Jr., Oklahoma Christian Carson Tewell, Sr., Oklahoma Christian Ryan Ward, Sr., Poteau Connor Wilson, Sr., Edmond North (Arkansas State) GIRLS TOP 10 Player, Class, High school, College of choice 1. ShaeBug Scarberry, Sr., Purcell (Tulsa) A two-time state champion in 2015-16, Scarberry missed most of last season with a broken hand suffered in a freak accident when she was hit by an errant tee shot while standing on the driving range at her home course in Purcell. Otherwise, she might be pursuing a fourth straight title this year. Next fall, she’ll head to Tulsa,
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Faith Hopkins
Katie Finley
Taylor Towers
where she’ll try to help rebuild the onceproud Golden Hurricane program that has produced some of the state’s top female golfers. 2. Faith Hopkins, Sr., Bartlesville (Oklahoma State) The future Cowgirl finished fifth at state in Class 6A last season and will be among the contenders in what appears to be a highly competitive class this spring. 3. Katie Finley, Sr., Plainview (Texas A&M) Finley made one of the biggest turnarounds at state last year, surging from four shots back to win by five with a final-round 71 in the 36-hole Class 4A
ShaeBug Scarberry.
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
Son is rising Norman’s Yujeong Son, 17, taking aim at Q School, LPGA Tour by patrick prince
This could be a seminal year for Yujeong Son as the prodigy becomes a professional. Son, the 17-year-old Norman resident who has been a golf phenom since preadolescence, plans to participate in Q School, three qualifying events with a LPGA Tour card for 2019 at stake. “This year is really big for me,” Son said. But there’s one wrinkle: LPGA rules state golfers must be at least 18 to participate in Q School. Son is hoping to petition the LPGA to allow her to enter Q School this year. Stage 1 of Q School is in August. Stage 2 is in October.
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
Yujeong Son takes direct aim at the LPGA Tour. The third and final stage, called Q Series, begins in November. Petitions are granted at the discretion of LPGA Tour Commissioner Michael Whan. “The nature of the petition is between the commissioner and the player,” said Heather Donofrio, the LPGA’s chief communications
Photo by Rip Stell
and tour operations officer. Last year, only Youngin Chun, 17, successfully petitioned the LPGA to participate in Q School. She, however, only requested to play in Stage I and Stage 2 in an effort to earn a
See SON RISING page 55
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H IGH SCHOOL PR EV I EW
Alesia Gonzales
Natalie Gough
Faith Belmear
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tournament. She was also among the strokeaverage leaders on the OJGT Tour last year. 4. Taylor Towers, Jr., Rejoice Christian A late starter in the game of golf, Towers has emerged quickly as one of the state’s elite. She will try to defend her Class 3A title after edging Scarberry by five shots a year ago. 5. Alesia Gonzales, Sr., Booker T. Washington (Missouri-St. Louis) Another name to add to the list of Class 6A contenders, Gonzales finished eighth at state last year and has had a successful junior career. 6. Faith Belmear, Sr., Owasso (Missouri State) Last year’s third-place finisher at the Class 6A tournament, Belmear
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Mika Ramos
Chloe Black
Sydney Hermann
will try to put a strong finish on a consistent career that included a team state title a year ago. 7. Natalie Gough, Sr., Bixby (Oklahoma City) Gough finished tied for fifth at 6A state last year and put together a solid OJGT season. Once she caps her high school career, she’s set to join one of the NAIA’s top golf programs. 8. Mika Ramos, Soph., Bishop Kelley You can’t win four consecutive state championships if you don’t win the first one, and that’s what Mika Ramos did in her freshman season a year ago, cruising to a five-shot victory in Class 5A. 9. Chloe Black, Sr., Newcastle (Central Oklahoma) The Class 4A state
champion form 2016 is positioned to bounce back in her senior season. She’s never finished worse than sixth at state in her career. 10. Sydney Hermann, Jr., Ponca City The Class 6A runner-up from a year ago behind current Oklahoma Sooner Kaitlin Milligan, Hermann is emerging as a consistent and talented young player. Players to Watch Rachel Eckert, Sr., Bixby (Oklahoma City University) Nina Lee, Sr., Collinsville (Northeastern State) Summer Marshall, Jr., Norman North (Dallas Baptist) Hayden Meiser, Sr., Norman (Oklahoma Baptist) Madison O’Dell, Sr., Collinsville, (Central Oklahoma) Josie Patterson, Sr., Chandler (Oklahoma Baptist) Mikaela Rindermann, Sr., Mount St. Mary Olivia Schmidt, Sr., Bishop McGuinness (Arkansas State) Madison Smith, Sr., Norman (Arkansas State) Faith Stewart, Sr., Edmond Deer Creek (Central Oklahoma) Lilly Whitley, Fr., Edmond Memorial
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Son rising, continued from 53 spot on the Symetra Tour, the LPGA’s developmental tour, formerly called the Futures Tour. Donofrio says the LPGA doesn’t like to release the number of petitions it receives each year, but said the tour considers a player’s background, education, recommendations and asks them why they want to join the tour. Son, who is ninth in Golfweek’s junior girls rankings, also has opportunities this year to play in LPGA events through qualifying events. Despite being only a teenager, she’s had laser-like focus on her longtime dream of pro golf. “I tell people all the time, I’ve been teaching golf for 30 years and there’s been three people that have had the same sort of, I call it tunnel vision, where at a very young age they already know what they want and she’s one of the three,” said her golf coach Rob Noel, who runs a golf academy in Louisiana. “The other was Patrick Reed, who I worked with for eight years, and then (LSU’s) Jacob Bergeron.” Reed has five Tour wins and placed second at last year’s PGA Championship. Bergeron, a freshman, is one of the Tigers’ top players. New for 2018, getting through Q School is more difficult for golfers like Son after changes to the format and how the Q School field is determined. In a November 2017 GolfWorld story, Whan explained the new format: “When we go to [2017 Q School] stage three in a week, you’ll probably have 80 or 85 players in that field that came from Stage 2. In 2018, I’ll bet that number will be somewhere around 20 to 30, maybe 20 to 25 that will come from Stage 2. So what that means is you can still go Stage 1, Stage 2, Q Series, LPGA card. But that will be a much tighter funnel and harder to do. The superstars of the time will still get through that, but generally speaking most players will get to Stage 2, play a year on the Symetra Tour and play their way on to the LPGA.” The new format doesn’t concern Son. “If I play my best, I know I can do it,” Son said. “Even though I guess you could say it’s gotten harder, it doesn’t change how I play.” Said her mom, Mija: “I think she has a little bit of pressure, but she manages everything. She told me, ‘Mom, I’m ready to go to qualifying school.’ I did not say, ‘Right now you should go to qualifying school.’ I didn’t say anything about it. But she wanted it.” If Son doesn’t earn her Tour card, she could still qualify for the Symetra Tour (as Chun did last year), where she would be GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
among the few teenagers, and will still get a year’s worth of pro experience before taking aim at Q School again in 2019. “It would be cool to go through all three stages and go to the LPGA Tour right away, but that might not happen because it’s really hard,” Son said. “A year on the Symetra Tour, I don’t think that would be a bad idea either.” Son got a taste of the LPGA Tour last year, finishing tied for 67th in the 80-player field at the LPGA Taiwan Championship. She said nerves got the best of her during an openinground 79, but rebounded with a final-round 72. “I learned a lot from watching the pros and trying to play with them,” Son said. “It was such a nice experience. I loved it.” Son, a native of Busan, South Korea, came to the United States when she was 6 years old. Her mom wanted to study English and further her education. Son first picked up a club at age 9. By 11, she was named the U.S. Kids National Player of the Year and has since piled up wins at the amateur level, the Oklahoma Junior Golf level and the American Junior Golf Association level. Her star is definitely on the rise. “No one knows what the future holds
with something like that, but if she stays healthy and she continues on her path, I think the sky’s the limit,” said Sheila Dills, the former president of the Women’s Oklahoma Golf Association and a family friend. “I definitely Son never lost a match think she has all in three WOGA State the makeup for Amateurs. greatness.” Added Noel: “I think she could be one of the top ever. She’s pretty special.” Son, who is homeschooled, plays golf seven days a week, and with her coach in Louisiana, is mostly on her own. She also has a mental coach and together they compiled a list of ambitious goals that Son keeps on her phone. One goal reads that she’ll be on the LPGA Tour by Jan. 1, 2019. “Right now I am not growing up like a normal teenager would,” Son said. “I am missing out on a lot of experiences, but I’m doing what I love. I love to play golf.”
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SU PER I N T EN DEN T’S COR N ER
Distance does limit classic courses Since the days of Old Tom Morris, golf’s great golf courses have been defined by the one simple principle of risk vs. reward. Well-placed hazards which capitalize on this principle have Russ Myers forced golfers to incorporate strategy, skill and execution in order to celebrate the navigation of the “Road Hole Bunker” or share in the frustration of dunking a ball in Rae’s Creek. The opportunity to experience the same shot as the greats who often inspired us to play the game is what makes golf unique. Most of us never got the chance to play basketball at the Boston Garden or baseball at Ebbets Field. However, if you want to experience the 1-irons of Nicklaus and Hogan, one only needs to step on the 17th tee at Pebble Beach or 18th fairway at Merion. Very cool indeed. Today’s best golfers, unfortunately, have the ability with power to diminish the importance of strategy, skill and execution.
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The recreational golfer can no longer identify with the game of today’s top players. While power should have a benefit, the total loss of strategy as a result has effectively bi-furcated the game already. Top golfers are hitting the ball and maybe more importantly, carrying the ball so far that reward is too easily achieved as risk is almost eliminated. Many will remember when Vijay Singh openly decided he would rather have a 120-yard shot from the rough than a 170yard one from the fairway. Once golfers no longer feared hitting the ball in the rough off the tee, they effectively eliminated the risk/ reward aspect of a hazard by simply bombing it over it without concern. Over the past three decades, the ruling bodies in golf; in order to hold championships on the same courses Jones, Hogan, Snead and Nicklaus competed on (without re-designing them) were forced to: lengthen holes, re-locate (or add) hazards, narrow fairways, push the limits of hole locations and change par-5s to par-4s. For more than 25 years, such tactics have been implemented to counter the impacts of increased driving
distance on tournament courses. The impact of these efforts on the game can be debated. Ultimately, the previously mentioned tactics are less effective; leaving only the longest of courses as options. With no tools left in the belt, courses are left to choose between original architecture and a future as a tournament site. The wider the gap between the professional competitor and the recreational golfer, the more difficult this is to achieve. Without a shift in direction, more classic courses will no longer test the tour player; thus, they will no longer host major championships. If efforts ensue to bridge the distance divide between the Tour professional and recreational golfer, the potential benefits are many – such as reduced capital costs, reduced operating expenses, more variety in course set-up, improved course conditions, return of the recovery shot, and faster rounds of golf to name a few. Baseball bans “corked” bats and the “spitball.” Football goes to court over deflated footballs. The most notable changes in equipment over time have occurred in golf. Since around 1996, Augusta National Golf Club
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has added length to every hole (except 12), relocated bunkers and temporarily planted trees in an effort to force today’s Tour player to hit comparable shots into greens to those of the past. In 1935 Gene Sarazen’s “shot heard round the world” was a 235-yard, 4-wood for double eagle on No. 15 while in 1997 Tiger Woods hit wedge into the same green twice during his 12-shot victory. The goal is not for Tiger to hit 4-wood, however it would be nice to see something in the same ballpark. As a point of reference, at the same time Augusta began adding substantial length, the last of the holdout PGA Tour members were shifting to metal woods from a persimmon driver. The technological “arms race” was off and running. Any discussion of “rollback” or “bifurcation” will no doubt be met with the counter argument relative to the difficulty of getting used to the new equipment. We might want to pump the brakes on that argument. History has shown, the best in the game adjust pretty quick. Straight from the Titleist web site, celebrating the history of the Pro V1 ball (est. 2000); “47 players switched to the new multi-component, solid technology Pro V1 the first week it was available, represent-
ing the single greatest pluralistic shift in equipment usage ever at a PGA Tour event.“ Even more amazing, this occurred without the use of Trackman. Joey Sindelar was my favorite golfer growing up and inspired me to pursue a career in the game of golf. In 1984, Joey was fourth in driving distance on tour at 271 yards, behind Fred Couples at 274. Thirty years later, Joey in- Southern Hills is building a new tee to lengthen par-5 13th. creased his driving distance to 276 and Fred to turers, respective organizations and certainly 295 while competing on the Champions Tour the golfer are important to any proposed rule in 2014. On the PGA Tour website through changes. Each will understandably caucus the Valspar Championship, there are 205 with its own best interest in mind “for the players listed on the Driving Distance stats. good of the game” – hopefully the classic Only 49-year old Ken Duke is averaging less courses of the world have a voice. I share these thoughts not as a representhan the 271 yards that Sindelar averaged in 1984. Let me repeat, 204 players are averag- tative of Southern Hills Country Club, nor ing more distance off the tee than one of the should my views be construed to reflect longer players of 34 years ago. Athleticism the opinions of the membership. My views and fitness has improved, no doubt. Without represent my individual thoughts developed naming names, not all 204 players are eating over 35 years in the game of golf as a player, fan and employee. kale and working out with the SEALS. The game is going to adapt, regardless of - Russ Myers is the superintendent at Southern which direction the governing bodies propose. Consideration of equipment manufac- Hills Country Club in Tulsa.
Book your 2018 event now!
South Lakes 9253 S. Elwood Jenks, America
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5501 S. Yale Ave., Tulsa, Okla.
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Where did the yards go? We investigate If you took the winter off (or even if you didn’t) one of the first things you might be looking for is the distance you have lost since last September. Let’s take a look Jim Young at some places where power leaks might be hiding.
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Grip: If your hands sit on the club like this (Figure 1) instead of like this (Figure 2), there is a good chance you fight a slice or a pull. This is the grip that most people who be2 gin golf without instruction, particularly if they begin as adults, take on the club. It’s logical. The palms face one another. The thumbs go more or less straight down the grip. It appeals to our adult brain in those ways. The reason it leads to a slice or pull: this grip more often than not causes the clubface to be very open to the path the club is swinging on. That path is almost always to the left of the target for a right-handed player. Think of slicing a Ping-Pong paddle across a Ping-Pong ball. The ball spins away from the player. Same thing with the golf ball. The player occasionally twists the grip hard enough to get the club face to match the path of the club and the player hits a pull instead of a slice. Takeaway: We’re talking about the first couple of feet back from the ball, up to about hip or chest high. If you look like this (Figure 3) or like this (Figure 4) instead of like this (Figure 5), you are most likely going to have to make a series of compensatory movements to allow your body, hands, arms and club to move in a sequence that creates power and accuracy. It can cer58
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tainly be done, but it’s often tricky and unreliable. Consistent distance and accuracy most often happens from the club not moving quickly behind the player on the takeaway.
The answer is – No. A well-trained set of sympathetic eyeballs can help you set these things straight, but more importantly can help you sort out which things may apply to you and which may not. You may need to change your grip a little or a lot. Your takeaway may need to change quite a bit or not at all. Your pivot and arm position may be just fine, despite how they compare to my photos. These are places to start, but they are only pieces of the whole. A PGA professional will be able to look at the whole picture and create a plan to get you on the road to more distance. Get help. A good teacher, and we are fortunate in Oklahoma to have a large number of them, will help you almost immediately. I promise you will not get worse. If you do or have, call me and I will send you to someone else who will help you. It will be worth the time, money and effort. As always, please let me know if I can help.
Top of backswing: If the top of your backswing looks like these: Figures 6,7,8 instead of these: Figures 9 and 10, then your pivot and arm swing are probably costing you yards in a big way. In Figure 6, if you lean toward the target on the backswing, you will most likely lean away from it on the downswing, which does not create speed and power. In Figure 7, if you pick the club up with just your hands and wrists and drop them on top of your trail shoulder with no stretch away from you, you will spend all of your downswing trying to create that stretch and no time building speed. In Figure 8, if you keep all of the flex in your trail knee on the way back, your upper body will stand itself up and you will not be able to turn your lower body out of the way on the downswing, at least not in the Jim Young PGA Teaching Professional way you should. River Oaks Golf Club THE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTION: Edmond, OK If you identify any or all of these poten- 405-630-8183 tial power leaks in your own game, should jpygolf12@gmail.com you attempt to change or fix them your- www.jimyounggolf.com self (or with the help of a well- meaning Instagram: @jpygolf golf buddy, spouse or friendly stranger on Twitter: @jpygolf Facebook: Jim Young Golf the driving range)?
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Clock your distances for accuracy Most amateur golfers, at all levels, waste the majority of their shots from within 100 yards of the green. Scratch golfers can usually get the ball on the green, but can probably work on Kyley Tetley getting it a little closer. This is what separates them from the best in the world. The No. 1 player on the PGA Tour averages 10-feet, 7-inches proximity to the hole from inside 100 yards and the last ranked at 209th averages just over 32 feet. Most amateurs are happy to get the ball on the putting surface and are relying mostly on luck or chance. If you were to look at your total number of strokes taken from inside 100 yards, it is about 65 percent of all your shots, yet it is the part of the game that is most neglected. While hitting a longer tee ball and more greens seem like the easiest ways to reduce your scores, it doesn’t usually work out. Hitting 18 greens a round would take care of a lot of those shots, but it’s just not realistic. The top player on the PGA Tour in greens in regulation averages 12.9 per round. Even good amateurs are going to miss 8-to-10 greens per round. What separates players of all levels is their ability to hit a ball a specific yardage and know how far the ball will travel with each club. This can seem tedious and not as much fun as seeing how far you can hit a driver on the range, but the best players spend the majority of their practice time working on these vital yardages. They use high-dollar launch monitors to dial in specific numbers when they practice. Most of us cannot afford such equipment, but we can achieve the same feedback from our practice with a simple laser range finder. What you need to do is find some existing balls or patches of grass on the range or if your golf course has an extensive shortgame facility you can shoot at the pins. Work on distances in 10-yard increments from 30-to-100 yards. Your goal is to focus on the landing spot not the total distance. While doing so there are several ways to gain that knowledge of how far the ball is traveling for each set of distances. Some are more “feel” players and gain GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
the confidence in those shots through repe- my club or my lead arm to a specific point. tition. I personally prefer the clock method Your starting point would be 6:00, halfway where I feel how far back I am swinging back or your belt line would be 9:00 and a full swing would be 12:00. Start with a baseline, this can be any of your wedges. For example, see how far your 56- degree wedge carries when you feel the club at 9:00. That may carry 50 yards. So from there, you swing the club to what feels like the 10:00 position and that may be a 60-yard carry. The goal is to practice this with all your wedges and actually know how far you carry each with a given swing to a certain point on the clock. Several tour players have a chart that they work off of and I would recommend creating your own in order to eliminate doubt and guessing, and to gain knowledge and confidence in your short game.
Learn your distances from 6 o’clock to 12 and it will help you make the correct swiing on the course.
Kyley Tetley ktetley@pga.com 918.232.6564, www.thegolfstudiook.com
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Mobility and stability; two keys to kicking off your golf fitness program By now, you’ve probably dumped your New Year’s fitness resolutions, but with golf seaClint Howard son ramping up it’s Golf Fitness Systems the perfect time to make your golf fitness resolutions –so let’s get started. Your golf fitness training program should start out by looking at your mobility and stability – two things that a good golf swing requires. You need mobility to get your body and the club into the correct positions to maximize power. You need stability to allow your body to work efficiently and swing your club in the correct path. Mobility is the combined effect of the normal range of motion of a joint and the muscles around that joint. That simply means, can a joint properly move through its full range of motion? Mobility is important because the range of motion allows muscles to stretch and generate elastic energy that produces power in your golf swing. Therefore, if you lose mobility, you also lose the ability to generate as much power as you could once produce. Proper mobility also helps prevent compensations which lead to swing flaws as well as potential injury or pain. Stability is the ability of the body to maintain position and control movements by the surrounding muscles. Being able to control and activate muscles at the right time is a large part of stability. Stability exercises allow you to control the muscles that increase your range of motion. The human body has an alternating pattern of mobile and stable joints. The mobility of a joint depends on the stability of the adjacent joint and the muscles that control it. A golfing example would be when swinging a golf club, can your ankle hold its position to drive off the ground while your body is moving above it? Or can your shoulder hold the club at the top of your backswing while the lower body starts the downswing? The movement of a person with poor stability will be inefficient, and a person with reduced mobility will not swing with full power. If one is off, they’re both off. The golf swing puts a lot of rotational force on 60
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the body and relies on the mobile joints to rotate while the stable sections of the body support the movement and resist the forces. If those mobile joints are dysfunctional, then the rotational energy is transferred to the stable joints that are not designed to rotate. The result of this is pain or injury. This is a great reason why everyone should go through a full screening process and golf fitness evaluation before they start a workout program – to find out your limitations and what areas of your body you may have mobility and stability issues that need to be addressed and corrected. Below in the pictures are four great exercises (two for mobility and two for stability) that you can start doing today to help improve your mobility and stability and start getting your body ready for golf season. Stay tuned for the next issue as I’ll be back with some great exercises for strength, power and speed. So get your mobility and stability dialed in and on point, then we’ll take it to the next level and add speed and power for more explosive shots.
ed to swing on the proper plane. Stability Exercises Medicine-Ball-Lift Kneel on one leg with the foot of the other leg directly in line with it. Hold a medicine ball down by the hip of the kneeling leg. Bring the ball to your chest and lift it across your body above the opposite shoulder. Do 10 reps. Switch leg positions and repeat in the opposite direction. Improves balance, core strength and crossbody coordination needed for the golf swing.
Stability Ball Dead Bug Lying flat on your back, bend both legs 90 degrees and hold a stability ball with your arms and legs. Lower one arm behind your head while straightening and lowering the opposite leg. The Mobility Exercises Bretzel Lie on your side with your other leg and arm top leg bent at 90 degrees, use should push into the your underneath arm to hold ball. Keep your back it down. Rotate the other leg from arching. Return with your thigh down. Lift that to start. Do 10 reps, foot and grab with your other alternating arms and arm and pull it toward your butt. legs. Improves core Then rotate your torso away from stability to control the top leg. Hold for a few seconds, then faster swings. return to start. Do five reps, each direction, to Clint Howard is the improve trunk, thigh and hip mobility. Owner/Director of Golf Fitness Systems and Standing Wall Slides Keep your back, shoulders, head and arms was recently recognized as one of the Top 50 Golf against a wall. With your eyes straight forward Fitness Professionals in the country by Golf Digest. PGA Tour Pros, Oklahoma State and your feet men’s and women’s golf, Univer12 inches from sity of Tulsa golf, and many other the wall, slide collegiate and high school golfers, your arms up world long drive champions, and as high as you golfers of all levels go to Clint and can, maintainGolf Fitness Systems to improve ing all points their body, and their game. To of contact with learn more and find out why so the wall. Don’t many golfers go to Clint, go to his arch your back. Golf Fitness Systems website at Do 10 reps. Imwww.GolfFitnessSystems.com or proves shoulder call at 918-296-7418. mobility needGOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
SCH E DU L E S & R E SU LTS : More at w w w.gol fok la homa.org COLLEGE MEN BRONCHO INVITATIONAL AT OAK TREE CC (EAST), OKLA. CITY (PAR-72) MARCH 19-20 Team scores: 1, Central Oklahoma 300-297 – 597; 2, Harding 318-290 – 608; 3, Arkansas Tech 313-299 – 612; 4, Okla. Christian 320-298 – 618; 5, Midwestern State 323-298 – 621; 6, Southern Nazarene 320-302 – 622; 7, Northeastern State 317-309 – 626; 8 (tie), Southwestern State 320-308 – 628 and Newman 324-304 – 628; 10, Okla. Baptist 319-312 – 631; 11, Mo. Southern 331-306 – 637; 12, Henderson State 323-317 – 640; 13, SW Baptist 336-311 – 647; 14, Southern Arkansas 331-317 -- 648. Individual leaders: Alexander Hughes (UCO) 69-70 – 139; 2, Jacob Prentice (SN) 72-71 – 143; 3, Sam Stevens (Okla. St.-ind.) 70-75 – 145; 4 (tie), Brendon Jelley (OSU-ind.) 73-75 – 148, Luke Cornett (AT) 78-70 – 148 and Rhett Bechtel (SN) 81-67 – 148; 7 (tie), Holden Crago (UCO) 74-75 – 149 and Austin Gean (AT) 71-78 – 149; 9, Cooper Dunn (Harding) 77-73 – 150;; 10 (tie), Casey Paul (NSU) 76-75 – 151 and Juan Pallach (Okla. Chr.) 75-76 – 151; 12, (tie) Garrett White (Okla. Chr.) 79-73 – 152, Gustavo Tineo (SWOSU) 77-75 – 152, Yannie Oppenheimer (UC) 79-73 – 152, Connor Neil (Mo. So.) 79-73 – 152 and Trip Hobson (Midwestern) 76-76 – 152. Other scores: Dakota Clark (OBU) 77-76 – 153, Wesley Jackson (UCO) 78-75 – 153, Dalton Rhoden (OBU) 78-76 – 154, Eli Armstrong (UCO) 74-80 – 154. WOMEN HILLCAT CLASSIC AT BAILEY RANCH GC, OWASSO (PAR-72) MARCH 19-20 Team scores: 1, Okla. Christian 308-315 – 623; 2, Newman 324-322 – 646; 3, Rogers State 321-326 – 647; 4, Ark.-Monticello 340-341 – 681; 5, Bellevue 342-346 – 688; 6, MSU-Denver 349-340 – 689; 7, Redland CC 354-339 – 693. Individual leaders: 1, Jess Whitting (RSU) 7473 – 147; 2, Kate Goodwin (Okla. Chr.) 72-80 – 152; 3, Abigail Rigsby (Okla. Chr.) 78-75 – 153; 4, Imkeleen Meyer (Newman) 77-77 – 154; 5, Faustina Peve (Bellevue) 78-79 – 157; 6, Elizabeth Freeman (Okla. Chr.) 79-81 – 160; 7 (tie), Anna Wiklund (Redlands) 81-80 – 161 and Frida Ryberg (Ark.-Mont.) 81-80 – 161; 9 (tie), Felicity Wittenberg (Okla. Chr.) 79-83 – 162 and Ximena Name (Newman) 81-81 – 162; 11, Mica Eastin (RSU) 79-84 – 163. Other scores: Ashton Nemechek (Okla. Chr.) 85-79 – 164, Jessica Green (RSU) 80-84 – 164, Shaley Goad (Okla. Chr.) 79-85 – 164,, Mariana Flores (RSU) 84-81 – 165, Alex Massie (RSU) 85-86 – 171. DIFFEE FORD LINCOLN INVITATIONAL AT KICKINGBIRD GC, EDMOND (PAR-70) MARCH 5-6 Team scores: 1, Henderson State 306-316 – 622; 2, Okla. Christian 314-314 – 628; 3 (tie), Arkansas Tech 323-313 – 636 and Northeastern State 308-328 – 636; 5, Southwestern State 312-325 – 637; 6, Central Oklahoma 318-322 – 640; 7. Newman 317-326 – 643; 8, Central Missouri 327-318 – 645; 9, Okla. Baptist 331-335 – 666; 10, Ark.-Fort Smith 331-337 – 668; 11, Southern Arkansas 336-337 – 673; 12, Southern Nazarene 338-338 – 676; 13, Ark.Monticello 327-353 – 680; 14, SW Christian 345-340 – 685; 15, Redlands 345-348 – 693; 16, SW Baptist 397-383 – 780. Individual leaders: 1, Imkeleen Meyer (Newman) 72-75 – 147; 2 (tie), Abigail Rigsby (Okla. Chr.) 74-75 – 149 and Sarah Wright (HS) 75-74 – 149; 4, Anna Pool (UCO) 77-77 – 154; 5 (ite), Ebba Moberg (NSU) 73-82 – 155, Elin Wahlin (SWOSU) 74-81 – 155, Olivia Gibbs (Ark.-FS) 75-80 – 155 and Taylor Loeb (HS) 71-84 – 155. Other scores: Elizabeth Freeman (Okla. Chr.) 80-77 – 157, Glorida Choi (SWOSU) 80-78 GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
– 158, Lexi Armon (NSU) 79-80 – 159, Kate Goodwin (Okla. Chr.) 79-80 – 159, Marla Souvannasing (UCO) 77-83 – 160; Emily Folsom (SWOSU) 79-82 – 161. OKLA. JUNIOR GOLF TOUR MUSKOGEE SPRING BREAK CLASSIC AT MUSKOGEE GC (PAR-71) MARCH 22-23 BOYS 1, Christian McAllister 70-77 – 147; 2, Jack Glenn 78-70 – 148; 3 (tie), Gabe Replogle 78-73 – 151 and Buddy Wehrli 76-75 – 151; 5, Logan Brooks 72-80 – 152; 6, Carlos Gomez 79-74 – 153; 7 (tie), Logan Bradley 77-78 – 155, Parker Rose 77-78 – 155 and Brayden Strickland 79-76 – 155; 10 (tie), Cole Dibler 79-77 – 156, Hayden Hall 79-77 – 156, Cooper Wilguess 78-78 – 156 and Zane Heusel 79-77 – 156; 14, Brodey Claborn 79-79 – 158; 15 (tie), Craig Sanders 78-81 – 159, Jacob Grellner 83-76 – 159 and Conner Boydston 82-77 – 159. GIRLS 1, Jenni Roller 76-79 – 155; 2, ShaeBug Scarberry 77-79 – 156; 3, Raychel Nelke 78-82 – 160; 4, Blayne Barker 79-82 – 161; 5, Jordan Clayborn 8-78 – 162; 6 (tie), Jenna Teeter 8480 – 164 and Lilly Whitley 84-80 – 164; 8, Josie Patterson 82-83 – 165; 9, Nina Lee 83-83 – 166; 10, Kenzie Kirkhart 85-82 – 167; 11, Sydney Hermann 87-82 – 169; 12, Emily Miller 86-88 – 174. JOHN CONRAD SPRING CHALLENGE AT JOHN CONRAD GC, MIDWEST CITY (PAR-72) MARCH 3-4 BOYS 1, Christian McAllister 72-73 – 145; 2, Luke Morgan 75-72 – 147; 3 (tie), Denver Davis 73-75 – 148, Cooper Schultz 76-72 – 148 and Zane Heusel 74-74 – 148; 6 (tie), Trent Lutze 75-74 – 149 and Cooper Wilguess 77-72 – 149; 8 (tie), Charlie Jackson 78-72 – 150 and Max Roberts 74-76 – 150; 10 (tie), Carson Tewell 76-75 – 151, Andrew Goodman 74-77 – 151 and Brodey Claborn 76-75 – 151; 13, William Sides 73-79 – 152; 14 (tie), Said Powers 80-74 – 154, Cooper Steiner 82-72 – 154 and Bosten Benn 74-80 – 154. GIRLS 1, Yujeong Son 68-65 – 133; 2, ShaeBug Scarberry 74-71 – 145; 3 (tie), Raychel Nelke 75-75 –150 and Lilly Whitley 75-75 – 150; 5, Faith Stewart 77-74 – 151; 6, Sydney Staton 81-71 – 152; 7 (tie), Lauren Behnken 76-77 – 153, and Sydney Hermann 80-73 – 153; 9 (tie), Abby Glynn 78-77 – 155, Adeline Norton 76-79 – 155 and Natalie Gough 80-75 – 155; 12, Josie Patterson 77-79 – 156; 13, Faith Belmear 82-75 – 157; 14, Kate Strickland 83-75 – 158; 15, Brooklyn Benn 79-80 – 159. FAIRWAY TOUR LINCOLN WEST AT LINCOLN PARK GC (WEST), OKLA. CITY (PAR-71) MARCH 24 Net: 1, Zach Fichte 69.5 ($1,000); 2, Bryan DonCarlos 69.7 ($525); 3, Gary Rowlett 70.5 ($300); 4, Jonathan Hart 70.9 ($200); 5, Andrew Green 71 ($175); 7, Tyler Bayless 71.2; 8, Cameron Meyers 71.6; 9, Jay Singley 71.8; 10, Kreg Callery 72.6. Senior Net: 1, Jay Singley 71.8 ($150); 2, Ted Ertel 79.6 ($50); 3, Ernie Harmon 83. Best Ball: 1, Cameron Meyers/Zach Fichte 64 ($200); 2, Evan Casper/Jonathan Hart 66; 3, Dakota Green/Andrew Green 68. ROSE CREEK AT ROSE CREEK GC, EDMOND (PAR-72) MARCH 17 Net: 1, Ryan Cummings 70.3 ($1,100); 2, Chase Lindsey 71.4 ($500); 3, William Belknap 724 ($300); 4, Kreg Callery 72.7 ($250);5, Dakota Green 73.2 ($200); 6, Tyler Bayless 73.5 ($175; 7, Bobby Stark 73.8; 8, Eric Kline 74.2; 9 (tie), Shane Gilbert and Mason Heald 75. Senior Net: 1, William Belknap 72.4 ($150); 2, Bobby Stark 73.8 ($50); 3, a-Gregory Brasher 81. Best Ball: 1, Chase Lindsey/Jay Singley 68
($80); 1.1, Ryan Cummings/a-Gregory Brasher 68 ($80); 3, Evan Casper/Jonathan Hart 71. OAK TREE AT OAK TREE CC, EDMOND MARCH 3 Net: 1, Jay Singley 70 ($1,000); 2, James Doucettperry 70.2 ($500); 3, Jonathan Hart 72 ($300), 4, Shane Gilbert 73 ($200); 5, Jackson Ogle 73.6 ($175); 6, Cameron Meyers 74.5; 7, Tyler Bayless 75; 8, Michael Gellerman 76.4; 9, Ian Davis 76.5; 10, Mike Higgins 77.1. Gross: 1, Cameron Meyers 72 ($175), 2, Jackson Ogle 73 ($75); 3 (tie), Ian Davis and Michael Gellerman 74. Best Ball: 1, Ian Davis/Michael Gellerman 67 ($100); 1.1, Jackson Ogle/Cameron Meyers 67 ($100); 3, Jacob Bell/Jay Singley 69. SCHEDULES OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION May 21-22: Spring 4 Ball & Senior Spring 4 Ball, The Club at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow June 4-7: Junior Boys & Girls, Kickingbird GC, Edmond June 11-13: Stroke Play, Tulsa CC, Tulsa June 18-21: Senior State Amateur, Muskogee CC, Muskogee July 2: State Amateur Qualifying, Lincoln Park (West), OKC July 6: State Amateur Qualifying, Bailey Ranch GC, Owasso July 11-12: Senior Stroke Play, Oak Tree CC (West), Edmond July 17-19: State Amateur, The Patriot, Owasso August 4-5: Mid Amateur, Dornick Hills CC, Ardmore August 16: Oklahoma Open Qualifying, Oak Tree CC (West), Edmond August 23-25: Oklahoma Open, Oak Tree CC (West), Edmond WOMEN’S OKLAHOMA GOLF ASSOCIATION May 15-16: WOGA Stableford Partnership, Lincoln Park GC (West), OKC June 11-12: WOG Stroke Play/Mid-Am/Senior Championship, Dornick Hills CC, Ardmore June 25: WOGA Fundraiser benefiting WOGA Junior Programs, The Club at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow June 26-27: 68th WOGA Girls Junior State Championship, The Club at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow July 23-26: 100th Women’s Oklahoma State Amateur Championship, Meadowbrook CC, Tulsa July 30-Aug. 1: Fore State Championship, Muskogee CC, Muskogee Aug. 20-21: WOGA Partnership, Shangri-La Resort & Golf Club, Monkey Island Sept. 24-25: WOGA Cup, Hillcrest CC, Bartlesville USGA LOCAL QUALIFIERS May 15: US Open Qualifying, Cedar Ridge CC, Broken Arrow June 18: USGA Boys Amateur, Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club, Norman June 18: USGA Girls Amateur, Jimmie Austin OU Golf Club, Norman July 10: USGA US Amateur Qualifying, Oak Tree National, Edmond July 23: USGA Senior Amateur Qualifying, The Patriot GC , Owasso August 13: USGA Mid-Amateur Qualifying, Oklahoma City G & CC, OKC August 13: USGA Women’s Mid-Amateur Qualifying, Oklahoma City G & CC, OKC Sept. 10: USGA Senior Women’s Amateur Qualifying, The Patriot GC, Owasso Oct. 4: USGA Fourball Amateur Qualifying, Golf Club of Edmond Oct. 4: USGA Women’s Fourball Amateur Qualifying, Golf Club of Edmond OKLAHOMA SENIOR GOLF ASSOCIATION May 7-8: West Medal Play Tournament, The Golf Club of Edmond July 9-10: 4-Ball Tournament, Oakwood CC, Enid Sept. 17-18: East Medal Play Tournament, Bailey W W W.GOLFOKL AHOMA.ORG
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SCH E DU L E S & R E SU LTS : More at w w w.gol fok la homa.org Ranch, Owasso Oct. 22-23: Fall Golf Outing, Dornick Hills, Ardmore OKLAHOMA JUNIOR GOLF TOUR June 4-7: OGA Junior Boys & Girls Championship, Kickingbird GC, Edmond July 12-13: Kickoff Classic & Big I Qualifier, Lincoln Park GC (East), OKC July 25-26: Bailey Ranch Bash, Bailey Ranch GC, Owasso Aug. 18-19: Forest Ridge Fall Challenge, Forest Ridge GC, GC, Broken Arrow Aug. 25-26: Jo’s Famous Pizza Kickingbird Fall Classic, Kickingbird GC, OKC Sept. 2-3: John Conrad Labor Day Classic, John Conrad GC, Midwest City Sept. 8-9: Robert Flanary Memorial Muskogee Jr. Championship, Muskogee GC, Muskogee Sept. 15-16: Lake Hefner Fall Shootout, Lake Hefner GC, OKC Sept. 22-23: Battle for Broken Arrow (River), The Club at Indian Springs, Broken Arrow Sept. 29-30: Lincoln Park Best of the West Classic, Lincoln Park GC, OKC Oct. 6-7: South Lakes Junior Shootout, South Lakes GC, Jenks AJGA July 23-26, Gateway Mortgage Group Tulsa Junior, Oaks Country Club Oct. 5-8; The Ping Invitational, Karsten Creek, Stillwater GOLF INC (OKLAHOMA CITY) June 2-3: City Amateur, Lake Hefner (North), OKC July 14-15: Two Person Best Ball, Lincoln Park GC, OKCMarch 24-25: Big Six, Earlywine Park GC, OKC March 19-20: Two-Man Scramble, Trosper Park GC, OKC June 2-3: City Amateur, Lake Hefner (North), OKC July 14-15: Two Person Best Ball, Lincoln Park GC, OKC TULSA GOLF ASSOCIATION April 14-15: 2-Man Challenge, South Lakes GC April 26: 3-Man Team Best Ball Shamble Net, Tulsa CC May 8-9: Senior Stroke Play, South Lakes, GC (Tues), LaFortune Park GC (Wed) May 15: 3-Man Team Best Ball Shamble Net, Oaks CC June 1-3: 4-Ball Match Play Championship, Battle Creek GC (Separate Senior Division) June 7: 3-Man Team Best Ball Shamble Net, Forest Ridge GC June 30-July 1: Stroke Play Championship, LaFortune Park (Separate Senior Division) July 21-22: Four-Ball Stroke Play Championship), Battle Creek GC (Separate Senior Division) Sept. 7: Par-3 Member/Guest or Member/Member (Scramble and Best Ball) Lafortune Park GC (Par 3 course) SOUTH CENTRAL PGA EVENTS April 2-4: Oakley Assistant Match Play, Hillcrest CC, Bartlesville, OK April 8-9: Yamaha Stroke Play Series, Diamante GC & CC, Hot Springs Village, AR April 16-17: Justice Shangri-La Shoot Out, Shangri-La GC, Monkey Island, OK April 30: Justice Facility Cup, Pinnacle CC, Rogers, AR May 7: Yamaha Team/Sr. Team, The Golf Club of Oklahoma, Broken Arrow, OK May 21-22: Senior Match Play, Terradyne CC, Andover, KS June 18: Web.com Monday Qualifier: Willowbend GC,Wichita, KS June 18: Web.com Monday Qualifier: Auburn Hills Municipal GC, Wichita, KS July 2: Justice Pro-Scratch, Gaillardia CC, OKC, OK July 9-11: Yamaha Match Play, Winter Creek GC, Blanchard, OK July 23: Justice Stroke Play Series WOK, Oak Tree CC (West), Edmond, OK July 30-31: Yamaha Senior Section/PC, Hot Springs CC Arlington, Hot Springs, AR
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Aug. 6: National Car Rental Asst. Championship, Hardscrabble CC, Fort Smith, AR Aug. 20-21: SCPGA Professional Championship, Jimmie Austin GC, Norman, OK Sept. 4: Justice Pro-Assistant Championship, Shangri-La Resort & Golf Club, Monkey Island, OK Sept. 10: TaylorMade Stroke Play Series KS, Crestview CC (North), Wichita, KS Sept 17: Omega Stroke Play Series EOK, Forest Ridge, Broken Arrow, OK Sept. 17-18: Sr. Hall of Fame Championship, Forest Ridge, Broken Arrow, OK Sept. 24-25: Yamaha Section Championship, Texarkana CC, Texarkana, AR Oct. 9: TaylorMade Players Championship, Flint Hills National GC, Andover, KS Oct. 15-17: Lake Team Event (GPGA), The Club at Porto Cima, Sunrise Beach, MO, Old Kinderhook GC, Camdenton, MO, Osage National GC-LR, Lake Ozark, MO Oct. 22-23: Bob Philbrick Cup Matches, Hardscrabble CC, Fort Smith, AR Nov. 5-7: SCPGA Las Vegas Pro-Am, Shadow Creek GC, North Las Vegas, NV, Cascata, Boulder City, NV, Southern Highlands, Las Vegas, NV Nov. 12-14: SCPGA Las Vegas Pro-Am, Cascata, Boulder City, NV, Bali Hai, Las Vegas, NV, Reflection Bay, Henderson, NV SOUTH CENTRAL PGA JUNIOR TOUR May 30: LaFortune Park Parent Child, Tulsa May 31: Canyons at Blackjack Ridge Junior, Sand Springs June 1: James E. Stewart Junior, OKC June 4: Broken Arrow Junior, Broken Arrow June 5: Pryor Junior, Pryor June 6: Bailey Ranch Junior, Owasso June 6: LW Clapp Junior, Wichita June 7: Lakeside Junior, Stillwater June 11: Golf Club of Edmond Junior Championship, Edmond June 12: LaFortune Park Junior, Tulsa June 13: Meadowlake Junior, Enid June 14: Heart of Oklahoma Junior, Purcell June 18: Winter Creek Junior, Blanchard June 19, Westwood Junior, Norman June 20: Bill Nicklas Junior, Kickingbird GC, Edmond June 21, Trosper Park Junior, OKC June 22: Riverside Junior, Clinton June 25-26: Junior PGA Championship Qualifier, Battle Creek GC, Broken Arrow June 25: Ponca City CC Junior, Ponca City June 26: Lew Wentz Junior, Ponca City June 27: George Phillips Junior, South Lakes GC, Jenks June 28: AB Sims Park Junior Tournament, Wichita June 28: John Conrad Junior, Midwest City July 2: Dornick Hills Junior, Ardmore July 2: Muskogee Junior, Muskogee July 9: Reflection Ridge Junior,Wichita July 9: The Trails Junior, Norman July 10: Owasso Junior, Bailey Ranch GC, Owasso July 11: Adams Junior, Bartlesville July 12: Elk City Junior, Elk City July 12: Page Belcher Junior, Tulsa July 13: Auburn Hills Junior, Wichita July 16: Hidden Trails Junior, OKC July 17: Lincoln Park Junior, OKC July 18: Lake Murray Junior, Ardmore July 19: Lake Hefner Junior, OKC July 20: Fianna Hills Junior Fort Smith, AR July 21: South Lakes Team Championship, Jenks July 23: Battle Creek Junior, Broken Arrow July 24: Hoedebeck Junior, Duncan July 25: Shelby Ross Junior, Lakeview GC, Ardmore July 30-31: Walter Hopper Championship, Muskogee GC August 4: The Oakley Cup SOUTH CENTRAL SECTION PLAYERS TOUR June 11-12: Players Tour #1, Stillwater CC, Stillwater July 9-10: Players Tour #2, Jimmie Austin-University of Oklahoma GC, Norman July 16-17: Players Tour #3, Country Club of Arkansas
July 23-24: Players Tour #4, Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow COLLEGE EVENTS IN OKLAHOMA April 9-10: Women’s Oklahoma Spring Classic, Lincoln Park GC, OKC April 9-10: Dale McNamara Invitational, Tulsa CC, Tulsa April 23-25: Big 12 Championship, Southern Hills CC, Tulsa April 23-24: Sooner Athletic Conference Men’s and Women’s Championship, Gaillardia CC, OKC May 14-16: NCAA Regional, Jimmie Austin OU Golf Course, Norman May 18-23: NCAA Division 1 Women’s Championship, Karsten Creek, Stillwater May 25-30: NCAA Division 1 Men’s Championship, Karsten Creek, Stillwater Aug. 31-Sept. 2: Lady Maxwell hosted by ORU & Texas A & M, Dornick Hills, OKC ADAMS TOUR May 16-19: Real Okie Championship, Muskogee GC, Muskogee June 20-23: New Hope Oklahoma Championship, The Club at Indian Springs, (River), Broken Arrow GOLF AM TOUR April 7: Edmond Masters at Kickingbird, Kickingbird GC, Edmond April 15: Tax Day Open at The Territory, The Territory GC, Duncan April 29: Muskogee Springs Open, Muskogee GC, Muskogee May 5: Edmond Open at The Golf Club of Edmond, Edmond May 19: Cowboy Classic at Lakeside, Lakeside GC, Stillwater May 20: Tulsa Spring Classic at Forest Ridge, Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow June 2: The Maxwell at Dornick Hills, Dornick Hills G & CC, Ardmore June 9: Hard Rock Open at Cherokee Hills, Cherokee Hills GC, Catoosa LONG SHOTS TOUR April 7: Firelake GC, Shawnee April 21: Shangri-La Resort & Golf Club, Monkey Island May 5: Cimarron Trails GC, Perkins May 19: Rose Creek CC, Edmond June 2: Cherokee Hills GC, Tulsa June 23: Winter Creek CC, Blanchard July 7: Lakeside GC, Stillwater July 28: TBD, OKC Aug. 11: Forest Ridge GC, Broken Arrow Aug. 25: Buffalo Rock Golf & Gun, Cushing Sept. 8: TBD, OKC Oct. 13: The Territory G & CC, Duncan U.S. KIDS TOUR (OKLAHOMA CITY) April 8: Lake Hefner GC (South) April 15: Lincoln Park GC (East) April 22: Trosper Park GC April 29: Earlywine GC (South) May 6: Westwood GC June 10: Westwood GC June 18: Kickingbird GC June 24: Lincoln Park GC (East) – Tour Championship U.S. KIDS TOUR (TULSA) April 8: LaFortune Park GC April 15: The Club at Indian Springs April 22: Battle Creek GC April 29: Forest Ridge GC May 6: Bailey Ranch GC June 3: South Lakes GC June 10: Cherokee Hills GC – Tour Championship OKLAHOMA HIGH SCHOOLS April 24: Girls Regionals April 30: Boys Regionals May 2-3: Girls State May 7-8: Boys State LPGA June 22-24: Walmart NW Arkansas Championship, Pinnacle CC, Rogers, AR
GOLF OKL AHOMA • APRIL/MAY 2018
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