Who won the first-ever Donald Ross Memorial Invitational boys individual title?

Friday, May 28, 2010

Local golfers qualify for State Amateur

Bradenton golfers dominated the local qualifier for the 93rd Florida State Golf Association State Amateur at Sarasota National.

Nicholas Mullhaupt, Chris Kennedy and Namsub Padung took three of the seven qualifying spots from the Sarasota National venue.

Sebring's Rocky Khara, who played his high school golf at Lakewood Ranch, also qualified.

Blake Soni, who finished runner-up in last year's tournament, is one of several exempt players into this year's tourney which makes the state amateur the crown jewel in the Florida amateur scene.

Mullhaupt shot 71, with Kennedy and Padung carding 72s and Khara one shot back of those two for one of the final berths.

Sarasota's Jordan Rizzo earned medalist honors with a 3-under par 69, which was two clear of the field.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

When in doubt, ask an official

BRADENTON - In the recent United States Open local qualifier held this past Monday at Waterlefe Golf & River Club, one of the 54 players in the field competing for three spots was disqualified fairly early.

If you missed the Tuesday's edition of The Herald on who qualified, you can click here

Bradenton's Tory Henderson earned the DQ after using a rangefinder device in the fairway on his first hole.

The Florida State Golf Association allows GPS/rangefinders in its events.

However, the United States Golf Association, which is the governing body in the rules of golf in this country, does not allow those yardage devices.

This rule was stated in the attached rules section provided by the FSGA, the state governing body that runs the USGA's qualifiers in the state of Florida.

But, Henderson didn't heed that rule and ultimately paid the price with a DQ without ever finishing a hole.

So the lesson here is, when in doubt, ask an official.

The U.S. Open' sectional qualifiers begin May 24 in England and Japan. The qualifiers in America aren't until June 7, with Florida's lone sectional taking place in Hobe Sound at McArthur Golf Club.

The 2010 U.S. Open is being played at Pebble Beach Golf Links runs the week of June 14-20.

Thursday, May 13, 2010

Manatee County venue hosting Open qualifier

Waterlefe Golf & River Club in east Manatee County is hosting the United States Open local qualifier on Monday. Last year's site was the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club.

And the field is quite difficult, as most local qualifiers are, with such a small number of spots available for the sectional stage.

Several professionals and amateurs begin their quest for a coveted spot in this year's U.S. Open at Pebble Beach in June.

Tee times start at 8:00 a.m. and run through 9:20 a.m. off both Nos. 1 and 10.

Looking for a game?

BRADENTON - There's a skins game this Sunday for area players looking to play in a competitive atmosphere.

The plan is for a once a month gathering, and this Sunday's game takes place at Pinebrook/Ironwood Golf Club. The course is an executive at a par-61.

However, the track features plenty of tricky greens and hazards to make it a challenging venue.

The cost is $25 per person, and it's a 3:30 p.m. shotgun start.

For more information contact Drew Mitchell at 526-5659.

Monday, May 10, 2010

Geminiani misses cut

Domenico Geminiani missed the cut this past weekend at the European PGA Tour's BMW Italian Open in Turin.

Geminiani is a 14-year-old Edison Academics student, who will graduate from high school this year, and became the youngest player in the tour's history.

The event was largely a coming out party for fellow boy wonder, Matteo Manassero, who captivated American audiences with his stellar play at Augusta National as a the then 16-year-old.

Manassero took home low amateur honors at The Masters and turned his sight toward Italy and his national championship to mark his pro debut.

The Italian shot 5-under, 283 to grab a 29th place finish in his European Tour debut.

So while Manassero grabbed the headlines early in the tournament, Geminiani had to settle for 36 holes and a missed cut.

The amateur carded rounds of 80-78.

However, there is promise.

The right-hander took Stewart Cink down to the wire in a match at Old Corkscrew in Naples.

Yes, the same Stewart Cink, who defeated Tom Watson in last year's British Open playoff.

"He had Stewart Cink one down through 13 holes," coach Jacques Panet-Raymond said. "And then Stewart Cink made a birdie coming in, and Domenico made a double bogey coming down the stretch. And he ended up losing by two or three. And it was just the whole point that ... Stewart is sitting there saying, 'This is nuts. I'm telling all my friends about you.'"

Thursday, May 6, 2010

Geminiani struggles in Thursday's round

Domenico Geminiani said a couple days before he left for the BMW Italian Open, that he was just going to have fun.

After rain delayed the opening round in Turin, Geminiani finally got his round started, but ran out of light and will finish his opening 18 Friday.

Geminiani is 7-over par through his first 14 holes as the 14-year-old Edison Academics student is the youngest competitor in European PGA Tour history.

Geminiani, an amateur, didn't record a birdie Thursday, as he started his round on the back nine at the 7,282-yard layout.

He had three bogeys and two double bogeys in his first 14 holes of the tournament.