GSO: A great event for young linksters
By Barry Poe, Journal sports writer | Posted: Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Another of the many wonderful things about the game of golf is that age is not an issue.
Unlike other sports, when at a certain age you are forced to step aside (although some people like me think they can go on playing forever), golf has no age limit.
It's not uncommon on any given day to see players ranging in age from single to near triple digits on the golf course. They're starting much earlier these days and on the other end of the spectrum, as long as you're healthy enough to be out there, more power to you.
Here's an example:
In his four appearances over the last two years at the Greater Siouxland Open, a tournament for boys and girls 12 and younger, Sioux Cityan Jackson Sitzmann has shot a 31, 33, 29 and 27. Granted, that was for six holes and from no more than 150 yards out, but then again, Jackson is 6 years old.
More parents are getting their kids started early in golf and, fortunately, Sioux City has a unique tournament for youthful players. The first of two Greater Siouxland Opens is set for Saturday, June 2 at Floyd Golf Course, with the second tournament Saturday, Sept. 8.
Through the four tournaments in the last two years, the GSO has given $4,700 to local charities. There have been around 200 entrants in each event.
The entry fee is just $20, with all net proceeds from the June event going to the Sioux City Gospel Mission.
What makes this tournament so special for Sioux City is that there is no other event like it. The closest is at least a three-hour drive away. There are tournaments that allow 7-12-year-olds, but none for 6 and younger.
The Greater Siouxland Open has six flights for boys and girls ages 10-12, 7-9 and 6 and younger. Boys and girls 10-12 play the front nine holes from the respective tees.
Boys 7-9 play the back nine holes from modified tees (usually no more than 200 yards), while girls 7-9 hit from no more than 150 yards. Boys and girls 6 and younger play six holes (No. 11-16), with tee shots measuring no more than 150 yards.
Each golfer gets a welcome kit, which usually includes balls, tees and other items, and every golfer receives a commemorative pendant. Each flight has trophies for the top three finishers, plus a putting champion.
And yes, since this is a tournament, the rules and etiquette of golf apply. Each golfer must have played at least three times in their life on a regulation course.
Entry forms for the June 2 event are due by Sunday, so it's not too late to enter. For more information, log on to www.greatersiouxlandopen.org.
Kids like Jackson Sitzmann have proven that it's never too early to take up the game of golf.
There's still more than a week left before the entry deadline for the 73rd Interstate Amateur Championship June 2-3 at Two Rivers Golf Club.
Entry fee for the 36-hole medal play tournament, sometimes referred to as "the granddaddy of them all," is $95, which includes a delicious steak dinner following Saturday's round. The entry deadline, according to tournament director Rodd Slater, is 5 p.m. May 31, with the field limited to the first 96 entrants.
The top 30 and ties play a final nine on Sunday, June 3 to determine the eventual champion.
J.D. Anderson of West Des Moines, a former Pocahontas High School and Wayne State player, and one of the top amateurs in the state, is the two-time defending champion.
Interestingly, a similar situation exists in two more of Siouxland's marquee tournaments.
Sioux Cityan Todd Sapp will shoot for his third straight Sioux Valley Amateur Match-Play championship in mid-June. Then, in July, Brian Schultz of Le Mars guns for his third consecutive River-Cade crown.
It's nice to see Siouxland well-represented in the first two Iowa Golf Association events of the season.
Justin Hamilton and Chris Rager, a pair of Morningside College standouts, tied for third in the IGA Four-Ball Championship last weekend at the Amana Colonies.
Hamilton, from Omaha and Rager, from South Sioux City, finished at 5-under-par 139, three shots in back of champions Nate Dunn and Justin Schulte. Hamilton and Rager shot 73-66 in the 36-hole event.
Todd Sapp and Al Pottebaum, another accomplished Le Mars linkster, tied for fifth at 72-69-141, or 3-under-par.
Thought for the day:
Is Zach Johnson about to take off and win several more golf tournaments this season?
Journal sports writer Barry Poe can be reached at (712) 293-4205 or e-mail barrypoe@siouxcityjournal.com
Unlike other sports, when at a certain age you are forced to step aside (although some people like me think they can go on playing forever), golf has no age limit.
It's not uncommon on any given day to see players ranging in age from single to near triple digits on the golf course. They're starting much earlier these days and on the other end of the spectrum, as long as you're healthy enough to be out there, more power to you.
Here's an example:
In his four appearances over the last two years at the Greater Siouxland Open, a tournament for boys and girls 12 and younger, Sioux Cityan Jackson Sitzmann has shot a 31, 33, 29 and 27. Granted, that was for six holes and from no more than 150 yards out, but then again, Jackson is 6 years old.
More parents are getting their kids started early in golf and, fortunately, Sioux City has a unique tournament for youthful players. The first of two Greater Siouxland Opens is set for Saturday, June 2 at Floyd Golf Course, with the second tournament Saturday, Sept. 8.
Through the four tournaments in the last two years, the GSO has given $4,700 to local charities. There have been around 200 entrants in each event.
The entry fee is just $20, with all net proceeds from the June event going to the Sioux City Gospel Mission.
What makes this tournament so special for Sioux City is that there is no other event like it. The closest is at least a three-hour drive away. There are tournaments that allow 7-12-year-olds, but none for 6 and younger.
The Greater Siouxland Open has six flights for boys and girls ages 10-12, 7-9 and 6 and younger. Boys and girls 10-12 play the front nine holes from the respective tees.
Boys 7-9 play the back nine holes from modified tees (usually no more than 200 yards), while girls 7-9 hit from no more than 150 yards. Boys and girls 6 and younger play six holes (No. 11-16), with tee shots measuring no more than 150 yards.
Each golfer gets a welcome kit, which usually includes balls, tees and other items, and every golfer receives a commemorative pendant. Each flight has trophies for the top three finishers, plus a putting champion.
And yes, since this is a tournament, the rules and etiquette of golf apply. Each golfer must have played at least three times in their life on a regulation course.
Entry forms for the June 2 event are due by Sunday, so it's not too late to enter. For more information, log on to www.greatersiouxlandopen.org.
Kids like Jackson Sitzmann have proven that it's never too early to take up the game of golf.
There's still more than a week left before the entry deadline for the 73rd Interstate Amateur Championship June 2-3 at Two Rivers Golf Club.
Entry fee for the 36-hole medal play tournament, sometimes referred to as "the granddaddy of them all," is $95, which includes a delicious steak dinner following Saturday's round. The entry deadline, according to tournament director Rodd Slater, is 5 p.m. May 31, with the field limited to the first 96 entrants.
The top 30 and ties play a final nine on Sunday, June 3 to determine the eventual champion.
J.D. Anderson of West Des Moines, a former Pocahontas High School and Wayne State player, and one of the top amateurs in the state, is the two-time defending champion.
Interestingly, a similar situation exists in two more of Siouxland's marquee tournaments.
Sioux Cityan Todd Sapp will shoot for his third straight Sioux Valley Amateur Match-Play championship in mid-June. Then, in July, Brian Schultz of Le Mars guns for his third consecutive River-Cade crown.
It's nice to see Siouxland well-represented in the first two Iowa Golf Association events of the season.
Justin Hamilton and Chris Rager, a pair of Morningside College standouts, tied for third in the IGA Four-Ball Championship last weekend at the Amana Colonies.
Hamilton, from Omaha and Rager, from South Sioux City, finished at 5-under-par 139, three shots in back of champions Nate Dunn and Justin Schulte. Hamilton and Rager shot 73-66 in the 36-hole event.
Todd Sapp and Al Pottebaum, another accomplished Le Mars linkster, tied for fifth at 72-69-141, or 3-under-par.
Thought for the day:
Is Zach Johnson about to take off and win several more golf tournaments this season?
Journal sports writer Barry Poe can be reached at (712) 293-4205 or e-mail barrypoe@siouxcityjournal.com
Story Comments
Read More and Post Comments 0 comment(s)
Please note: The following are comments from readers. In no way do they represent the views of The Sioux City Journal or Lee Enterprises. We will not edit or alter your comments, but we do reserve the right to not post or to remove comments that violate our code of conduct. No comment may contain potentially libelous statements; obscene, explicit or racist language; personal attacks, insults or threats. Terms of Service
