Sapp dearly wants to retire trophy
By Barry Poe Journal sports writer | Posted: Wednesday, June 13, 2007
Todd Sapp didn't have to qualify for the 73rd annual Sioux Valley Amateur Match Play Tournament. Two-time defending champions are awarded that luxury.
However, the Sioux City resident made a trip to Cherokee Golf & Country Club last week simply to tune up. Sapp, you see, can make history this weekend.
Nobody in the long and storied history of this fantastic event has ever won three times in a row. It took Sapp about two-and-a-half decades to get his first title and he followed up with another victory last summer.
Now, the spotlight shines even brighter on the veteran shotmaker, who carded a 71 in his official "qualifying" round. Through Tuesday, and there are still three full days of qualifying left, Sapp's score was the lowest among those who've qualified.
Make no mistake about it, there will be plenty of good players on hand this week trying to make sure Sapp doesn't permanently retire the Frank Greenwood Trophy.
In each of the last two years, Sapp has defeated Michael Martin of Littleton, Colo., in the championship match. Martin is a junior on the Northern Colorado University golf team.
Then there's Brian Schultz of Le Mars, Iowa, who will shoot for his own three-peat at the River-Cade tournament next month. Schultz, the 2000 Sioux Valley Amateur champion, finished third last year and was heard calling Sapp out during a long rain delay in the Two Rivers clubhouse last weekend.
Jeff Campbell of Niles, Ohio, and a former Cherokee resident, lost a grueling 24-hole match to Sapp in last year's semifinal.
Those are just of few of what could be Sapp's closest rivals for the weekend.
Three-time winners automatically retire the tournament trophy, a feat accomplished twice by the late Mike Jividen of South Sioux City, who tragically died of a heart attack at age 45 in 1992. Other three-time winners are Loyal Martin of Cherokee, Norman Capps of Kansas City, Mo., and Pat O'Bryan of Sioux City.
The Jividen family was gracious enough to loan Mike's trophies to Cherokee Golf & Country Club for the duration of qualifying and tournament action. The trophies, as well as a couple of older models, are on display in the clubhouse.
Through Tuesday, Kyle Nielsen of Storm Lake had the second-lowest qualifying round with 73. Ray Team and Andrew Berg, a couple more Storm Lake residents, each carded 75. Among those with 76 are Ayron Corporon of Sioux City, Cody Scharf of Fort Dodge, Nick Baker of Orange City and Dennis Nelson of Cherokee. Nick Heath of Correctionville, Brady Baker of Orange City and Jon Rensink of Sheldon each shot 77.
Qualifying runs through Friday, with the match play tournament slated for Saturday and Sunday. To qualify, simply show up at the club, pay the $60 entry fee (which includes a nine-hole practice round) and take your chances.
After a total debacle last year, yours truly vowed to do my best Jack Lemmon imitation and show up every year in an attempt to qualify for this wonderful event. But unlike the late actor Lemmon, who tried valiantly to win the Pebble Beach Pro-Am for several decades and never succeeded, my wait turned out to be shorter than expected.
No, I won't reveal my score because it's nothing to brag about, but it looks like I'll be part of the field this weekend.
After an enjoyable afternoon playing with tournament director Bill Spindler, his son Jake and brother Tom, who traveled across the state to compete this weekend, my score appears to be low enough to make the cut. Of course, we're talking about a deep flight here, but it'll still be fun.
The Spindlers kept talking about that "q" word that has gotten in the way of a lot of good players here over the years. Somehow, I managed to stay somewhat focused on the task at hand and scraped it around 18 holes good enough to survive.
And believe me, after last year, it was a huge relief. Perhaps the fellowship had a lot to do with it.
Let me be the first to congratulate course superintendent Ryan Lux. The nine-hole beauty is in pristine condition and the greens are second to none. It was an honor and privilege for this hacker to play on Monday.
Whatever happens this weekend is icing on the cake.
Oh yes, there is another small tournament going on this week at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania this weekend.
Who's our pick to win the U.S. Open?
Here are some guys who won't: Phil Mickelson, Charles Howell III, Boo Weekly, Tom Lehman and Bubba Watson.
Here are some guys who might: Geoff Ogilvy, Colin Montgomerie, Vijay Singh, Sean O'Hair and Ryan Moore.
Here are some guys who really might: Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Zach Johnson and Retief Goosen.
My prediction is that even par will be a very good score. How's that for going out on a limb?
Green Valley had a fine showing at the Faith Regional Hospital Pro-Am sponsored by the Nebraska Section PGA last week.
Nick Wanderscheid, an assistant pro at Green Valley, tied for first with a 68 while head pro Scott Harmelink finished solo fourth with 70.
Wanderscheid, by the way, tied with Jim White of Lincoln and Scott Peterson of Omaha.
It wasn't an official hole in one, but Craig Schmidt knocked one in the cup during the Million Dollar Shootout sponsored by Big Brothers, Big Sisters on Saturday at Whispering Creek Golf Club.
Schmidt holed out from 150 yards during the first round of the shootout on the Whispering Creek driving range.
Journal sports writer Barry Poe can be reached at (712) 293-4205, or e-mail barrypoe@siouxcityjournal.com
However, the Sioux City resident made a trip to Cherokee Golf & Country Club last week simply to tune up. Sapp, you see, can make history this weekend.
Nobody in the long and storied history of this fantastic event has ever won three times in a row. It took Sapp about two-and-a-half decades to get his first title and he followed up with another victory last summer.
Now, the spotlight shines even brighter on the veteran shotmaker, who carded a 71 in his official "qualifying" round. Through Tuesday, and there are still three full days of qualifying left, Sapp's score was the lowest among those who've qualified.
Make no mistake about it, there will be plenty of good players on hand this week trying to make sure Sapp doesn't permanently retire the Frank Greenwood Trophy.
In each of the last two years, Sapp has defeated Michael Martin of Littleton, Colo., in the championship match. Martin is a junior on the Northern Colorado University golf team.
Then there's Brian Schultz of Le Mars, Iowa, who will shoot for his own three-peat at the River-Cade tournament next month. Schultz, the 2000 Sioux Valley Amateur champion, finished third last year and was heard calling Sapp out during a long rain delay in the Two Rivers clubhouse last weekend.
Jeff Campbell of Niles, Ohio, and a former Cherokee resident, lost a grueling 24-hole match to Sapp in last year's semifinal.
Those are just of few of what could be Sapp's closest rivals for the weekend.
Three-time winners automatically retire the tournament trophy, a feat accomplished twice by the late Mike Jividen of South Sioux City, who tragically died of a heart attack at age 45 in 1992. Other three-time winners are Loyal Martin of Cherokee, Norman Capps of Kansas City, Mo., and Pat O'Bryan of Sioux City.
The Jividen family was gracious enough to loan Mike's trophies to Cherokee Golf & Country Club for the duration of qualifying and tournament action. The trophies, as well as a couple of older models, are on display in the clubhouse.
Through Tuesday, Kyle Nielsen of Storm Lake had the second-lowest qualifying round with 73. Ray Team and Andrew Berg, a couple more Storm Lake residents, each carded 75. Among those with 76 are Ayron Corporon of Sioux City, Cody Scharf of Fort Dodge, Nick Baker of Orange City and Dennis Nelson of Cherokee. Nick Heath of Correctionville, Brady Baker of Orange City and Jon Rensink of Sheldon each shot 77.
Qualifying runs through Friday, with the match play tournament slated for Saturday and Sunday. To qualify, simply show up at the club, pay the $60 entry fee (which includes a nine-hole practice round) and take your chances.
After a total debacle last year, yours truly vowed to do my best Jack Lemmon imitation and show up every year in an attempt to qualify for this wonderful event. But unlike the late actor Lemmon, who tried valiantly to win the Pebble Beach Pro-Am for several decades and never succeeded, my wait turned out to be shorter than expected.
No, I won't reveal my score because it's nothing to brag about, but it looks like I'll be part of the field this weekend.
After an enjoyable afternoon playing with tournament director Bill Spindler, his son Jake and brother Tom, who traveled across the state to compete this weekend, my score appears to be low enough to make the cut. Of course, we're talking about a deep flight here, but it'll still be fun.
The Spindlers kept talking about that "q" word that has gotten in the way of a lot of good players here over the years. Somehow, I managed to stay somewhat focused on the task at hand and scraped it around 18 holes good enough to survive.
And believe me, after last year, it was a huge relief. Perhaps the fellowship had a lot to do with it.
Let me be the first to congratulate course superintendent Ryan Lux. The nine-hole beauty is in pristine condition and the greens are second to none. It was an honor and privilege for this hacker to play on Monday.
Whatever happens this weekend is icing on the cake.
Oh yes, there is another small tournament going on this week at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania this weekend.
Who's our pick to win the U.S. Open?
Here are some guys who won't: Phil Mickelson, Charles Howell III, Boo Weekly, Tom Lehman and Bubba Watson.
Here are some guys who might: Geoff Ogilvy, Colin Montgomerie, Vijay Singh, Sean O'Hair and Ryan Moore.
Here are some guys who really might: Tiger Woods, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Zach Johnson and Retief Goosen.
My prediction is that even par will be a very good score. How's that for going out on a limb?
Green Valley had a fine showing at the Faith Regional Hospital Pro-Am sponsored by the Nebraska Section PGA last week.
Nick Wanderscheid, an assistant pro at Green Valley, tied for first with a 68 while head pro Scott Harmelink finished solo fourth with 70.
Wanderscheid, by the way, tied with Jim White of Lincoln and Scott Peterson of Omaha.
It wasn't an official hole in one, but Craig Schmidt knocked one in the cup during the Million Dollar Shootout sponsored by Big Brothers, Big Sisters on Saturday at Whispering Creek Golf Club.
Schmidt holed out from 150 yards during the first round of the shootout on the Whispering Creek driving range.
Journal sports writer Barry Poe can be reached at (712) 293-4205, or e-mail barrypoe@siouxcityjournal.com
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