There's still some golf left to be played
By Barry Poe, Journal sports writer | Posted: Wednesday, September 03, 2008
The summer has indeed flown by quickly and the beginning of football season signifies that fall is fast approaching. That, however, doesn't mean it's time to pack away the golf equipment just yet.
There are, in fact, a couple of local tournaments still to be contested, beginning with the second annual Covington Fall Classic Saturday and Sunday at beautiful Covington Links Golf Course in South Sioux City.
Brian Barto, who grew up playing Covington, is the defending champion of the 36-hole stroke play event. Barto, a 1998 South Sioux City High School graduate, beat Sioux Cityan Todd Sapp by one stroke in last year's inaugural event while Tyson Bodlak, another Covington member, finished third.
The entry deadline is tomorrow and the field is limited to the first 120 paid entries. Those wishing to play in the championship flight or take part in a Saturday night calcutta must declare when signing up.
As I've stated many times before, Covington Links is one of the best kept secrets in the area, although it's long been a favorite of Siouxland golfers, including yours truly. Marty Johnson and his staff once again have the course in magnificent shape and after hosting its first men's open tournament in over two decades last year, the tree-lined beauty with big, receptive greens is sure to offer a challenge this weekend.
If you haven't already signed up (at a cost of $75 per player, not including cart fees), give Bobbi a call at the Covington Links clubhouse at (402) 494-9841.
Registration forms for the first Dakota Dunes Super Amateur, slated for Sept. 20-21 at Dakota Dunes Country Club, are being accepted through Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m.. Both qualifiers and non-qualifiers can sign up on a first-come, first-served basis.
Thus far, a total of 89 players have earned automatic spots if they are interested in competing. Those spots were earned through finishes in Sioux City's four "major" tournaments -- the Tri-State Maters, Interstate Amateur, River-Cade and Men's City Championship.
Justin Arlt, PGA Professional at Dakota Dunes, reports that the course, which is hosting its first amateur event, will play to a similar or shorter yardage than the city tournament, for both championship and other flights.
Following are a list of the 89 players who have already qualified. A reminder, official entry forms need to be sent to Dakota Dunes with the $195 entry fee, or interested players are asked to contact Arlt at (605) 232-3080.
The entry fee, by the way, includes two rounds of tournament golf at Dakota Dunes Country Club (which hosted the Dakota Dunes Open for 12 years), trophies, a golf cart for both days, range balls, an awards dinner, all prizes and purse (paid in gift certificates) and a drawing for a one-year courtesy golf membership.
The Super Am qualifiers, listed in alphabetical order:
Rick Admire, Mark Albert, Trent Allen, J.D. Anderson, Jim Anderson, Troy Arends, David Avery, Nate Barbee, Paul Bartlett, Brian Barto, Tim Bauer, Derek Benson, Tom Berglund, Dan Bernholtz, Tyson Bodlak, Bob Boote, Collin Breyfogle, Eric Bricker, Mark Brown, Bob Brummel, Ayron Corporon, Todd DeWeerd, Jeff Donaldson, Nick Dreckman, Don Droke, Ben Edwards, Chad Edwards, Dale Erwin, Brian Evans, Adam Fields, Larry Franzen, Adam Freed, Dan Freed, Tom Gates, Mark Hilts, Bill Hornbeck, Cam Jacobs, Ben Keane, Billy Keane, Mike Kelley, Scott Knowles, Jared Kvidera, Kevin Lacey, Jim LeMoine, Jesse Lewter, Adam Lloyd, Craig Manker, Jamie Marksbury, Bill Mathers, Zach Mathers, Emery Moody, Mike Moody, Brandon Morehead, Mike Neswick, Brad Newton, Pat O'Brien, Jason Pease, M.L. Petersen, Steve Petersen, John Peterson, Barry Poe, Al Pottebaum, Sam Prue, Chris Rager, Troy Rodecker, Todd Sapp, Pat Schiltz, Kelly Schmidt, Brian Schultz, Jake Sitzmann, Josh Solma, Gary Stieneke, Brandon Swift, Brett
Taylor, J.D. Thacker, Dan Tjaden, J.R. Trembly, Jim Tritz, Ray Van Buskirk IV, Steve Van Ginkel, Vern Van Peursem, Brad Van Roekel, Tom Ward, Jeff Warden, Josh Wendling, Cory Westphal, Tom Yaneff, David Young.
Perhaps lightning will strike twice for Justin Leonard, who made a 45-foot putt back in 1999 to clinch the United States' last victory in the Ryder Cup.
Leonard was one of the eight automatic qualifiers for captain Paul Azinger's squad, which will host the Europeans Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla Golf Club in Lousville, Ky. The other qualifiers were Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Ben Curtis and Boo Weekley.
On Tuesday, Azinger, named Chad Campbell, Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan and J.B. Holmes as captain's picks.
Meanwhile, European captain Nick Faldo used his two picks on Ian Poulter and Paul Casey. The Euro roster already included two-time major champion Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson.
Europe has captured the cup eight of the last 11 times dating back to 1985. By the looks of things, this European team is stacked, which makes the Americans decided underdogs when play commences in a couple of weeks.
Azinger, though, thinks it's OK to be the underdog. Sometimes it's better to be the hunter instead of the hunted.
Journal sports writer Barry Poe can be reached at (712) 293-4205, or e-mail barrypoe@siouxcityjournal.com.
There are, in fact, a couple of local tournaments still to be contested, beginning with the second annual Covington Fall Classic Saturday and Sunday at beautiful Covington Links Golf Course in South Sioux City.
Brian Barto, who grew up playing Covington, is the defending champion of the 36-hole stroke play event. Barto, a 1998 South Sioux City High School graduate, beat Sioux Cityan Todd Sapp by one stroke in last year's inaugural event while Tyson Bodlak, another Covington member, finished third.
The entry deadline is tomorrow and the field is limited to the first 120 paid entries. Those wishing to play in the championship flight or take part in a Saturday night calcutta must declare when signing up.
As I've stated many times before, Covington Links is one of the best kept secrets in the area, although it's long been a favorite of Siouxland golfers, including yours truly. Marty Johnson and his staff once again have the course in magnificent shape and after hosting its first men's open tournament in over two decades last year, the tree-lined beauty with big, receptive greens is sure to offer a challenge this weekend.
If you haven't already signed up (at a cost of $75 per player, not including cart fees), give Bobbi a call at the Covington Links clubhouse at (402) 494-9841.
Registration forms for the first Dakota Dunes Super Amateur, slated for Sept. 20-21 at Dakota Dunes Country Club, are being accepted through Tuesday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m.. Both qualifiers and non-qualifiers can sign up on a first-come, first-served basis.
Thus far, a total of 89 players have earned automatic spots if they are interested in competing. Those spots were earned through finishes in Sioux City's four "major" tournaments -- the Tri-State Maters, Interstate Amateur, River-Cade and Men's City Championship.
Justin Arlt, PGA Professional at Dakota Dunes, reports that the course, which is hosting its first amateur event, will play to a similar or shorter yardage than the city tournament, for both championship and other flights.
Following are a list of the 89 players who have already qualified. A reminder, official entry forms need to be sent to Dakota Dunes with the $195 entry fee, or interested players are asked to contact Arlt at (605) 232-3080.
The entry fee, by the way, includes two rounds of tournament golf at Dakota Dunes Country Club (which hosted the Dakota Dunes Open for 12 years), trophies, a golf cart for both days, range balls, an awards dinner, all prizes and purse (paid in gift certificates) and a drawing for a one-year courtesy golf membership.
The Super Am qualifiers, listed in alphabetical order:
Rick Admire, Mark Albert, Trent Allen, J.D. Anderson, Jim Anderson, Troy Arends, David Avery, Nate Barbee, Paul Bartlett, Brian Barto, Tim Bauer, Derek Benson, Tom Berglund, Dan Bernholtz, Tyson Bodlak, Bob Boote, Collin Breyfogle, Eric Bricker, Mark Brown, Bob Brummel, Ayron Corporon, Todd DeWeerd, Jeff Donaldson, Nick Dreckman, Don Droke, Ben Edwards, Chad Edwards, Dale Erwin, Brian Evans, Adam Fields, Larry Franzen, Adam Freed, Dan Freed, Tom Gates, Mark Hilts, Bill Hornbeck, Cam Jacobs, Ben Keane, Billy Keane, Mike Kelley, Scott Knowles, Jared Kvidera, Kevin Lacey, Jim LeMoine, Jesse Lewter, Adam Lloyd, Craig Manker, Jamie Marksbury, Bill Mathers, Zach Mathers, Emery Moody, Mike Moody, Brandon Morehead, Mike Neswick, Brad Newton, Pat O'Brien, Jason Pease, M.L. Petersen, Steve Petersen, John Peterson, Barry Poe, Al Pottebaum, Sam Prue, Chris Rager, Troy Rodecker, Todd Sapp, Pat Schiltz, Kelly Schmidt, Brian Schultz, Jake Sitzmann, Josh Solma, Gary Stieneke, Brandon Swift, Brett
Taylor, J.D. Thacker, Dan Tjaden, J.R. Trembly, Jim Tritz, Ray Van Buskirk IV, Steve Van Ginkel, Vern Van Peursem, Brad Van Roekel, Tom Ward, Jeff Warden, Josh Wendling, Cory Westphal, Tom Yaneff, David Young.
Perhaps lightning will strike twice for Justin Leonard, who made a 45-foot putt back in 1999 to clinch the United States' last victory in the Ryder Cup.
Leonard was one of the eight automatic qualifiers for captain Paul Azinger's squad, which will host the Europeans Sept. 19-21 at Valhalla Golf Club in Lousville, Ky. The other qualifiers were Phil Mickelson, Stewart Cink, Kenny Perry, Jim Furyk, Anthony Kim, Ben Curtis and Boo Weekley.
On Tuesday, Azinger, named Chad Campbell, Steve Stricker, Hunter Mahan and J.B. Holmes as captain's picks.
Meanwhile, European captain Nick Faldo used his two picks on Ian Poulter and Paul Casey. The Euro roster already included two-time major champion Padraig Harrington, Sergio Garcia, Lee Westwood, Henrik Stenson, Robert Karlsson, Miguel Angel Jimenez, Graeme McDowell, Justin Rose, Soren Hansen and Oliver Wilson.
Europe has captured the cup eight of the last 11 times dating back to 1985. By the looks of things, this European team is stacked, which makes the Americans decided underdogs when play commences in a couple of weeks.
Azinger, though, thinks it's OK to be the underdog. Sometimes it's better to be the hunter instead of the hunted.
Journal sports writer Barry Poe can be reached at (712) 293-4205, or e-mail barrypoe@siouxcityjournal.com.
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