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

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Creamer's tee time set

The Pendelton School at IMG Academies alum, Paula Creamer, will look for her second major championship at the Ricoh Women's British Open after winning the U.S. Women's Open earlier this year.

Creamer starts her tournament at 7:17 a.m. BST Thursday and 11:59 a.m. BST on Friday.

The tournament venue is Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

West Florida Golf Tour event postponed

The West Florida Golf Tour event slated for Sunday at Old Corkscrew Golf Club has been postponed until Thursday, August 19.

The tournament was suspended by both the Tour and golf course due to the severe threat of Tropical Storm Bonnie, which was expected to dump lots of rain on the Estero track.

Chen wins U.S. Girls' Junior

Bradenton resident Doris Chen won the 62nd U.S. Girls' Junior Championship with a 3&2 victory over Katelyn Dambaugh.

Chen, a rising senior at The Pendleton School at IMG Academies, birdied No. 16 to clinch the title in the 36-hole final.

Pick up Sunday's edition of the Bradenton Herald for more on this story.

Chen's final televised

Doris Chen is in the final of the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship at The Country Club of North Carolina.

The 36-hole final is being shown on tape delay on the Golf Channel beginning at 4 p.m.

The rising Pendleton School senior is facing Katelyn Dambaugh, who is from Goose Creek, S.C.

Thursday, July 22, 2010

Fernandes prevails in AJGA event

Bradenton's Rigel Fernandes carded a final round 70 to nip second-round leader Zach Botts by a shot in winning the AJGA Hilton Head Junior All-Star in Bluffton, S.C.

Fernandes is originally from Dubai, United Arab Emirates and shot 71-75-70--216 for the victory in the boys division.

After posting consecutive 1-over 73s, rising Lakewood Ranch High freshman Ramsey Touchberry carded a 77 to tie for 10th with a 223 total.

Chen and Tanco in quarters; Howard eliminated

Bradenton's Doris Chen and Victoria Tanco are in the quarterfinals of the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship.

It's the 62nd annual edition of the tournament conducted by the USGA.

This year's event is at the Country Club of North Carolina.

Chen had no trouble dispatching Nicole Quinn 4&3 in the round of 32.

Tanco, on the other hand, needed 25 holes to defeat her second-round opponent, Ariya Jutanugarn.

Chen followed that up with a 3&1 victory over Elisabeth Bernabe to book a quarterfinal spot.

Tanco had her first easy match of the tournament, as she rolled over Kristen Park 5&3 to wrap up a long Thursday of golf.

Fellow Bradenton junior golfer Ginger Howard couldn't get past the round of 16.

She had finished second in the stroke play qualification portion of the tournament and entered Thursday's play looking to secure a quarterfinal berth.

Howard completed the morning round with a 22 hole victory over Kendall Martindale.

But she was eliminated in the afternoon round in 19 holes to Ally McDonald.

Tanco will play McDonald at 8:20 a.m. Friday, while Chen tees off at 8 a.m. against Danielle Kang.

Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Bradenton golfers faring well at U.S. Girls' Junior

Ginger Howard finished second in the U.S. Girls' Junior Championship stroke play portion.

Then she followed it up with a match play victory in the opening round.

The Bradenton junior golfer defeated Hannah Sodersten 1-up.

Howard joins Doris Chen and IMG Academies golfer Victoria Tanco as area juniors that have progressed to the round of 32, which tees off Thursday morning at the Country Club of North Carolina.

Chen beat Canada's Jisoo Keel 2&1, and Tanco downed Gabriella Then in 20 holes.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Past champs rained out at Open

Bradenton resident Tony Jacklin was set to play in The Open Champions' Challenge, but inclement weather - from heavy rain and high winds made the Old Course at St. Andrews unplayable.

The Royal & Ancient Golf Club, the governing body for golf outside the United States and its territories made the decision to cancel the event, according to the official website for The Open.

The tournament featured past champions of the British Open playing in a team format of three or four players per group the day before the third major of the year begins.

The players were to play four holes at St. Andrews (Nos. 1, 2, 17 and 18)

It was being played to celebrate the 150th anniversary of golf's oldest major and donated the 50,000 pounds (allotted for the winning team) to the Seve Ballesteros Foundation, according to The Open's website.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

An's tee time set for Open

Ben An, the reigning United States Amateur champion, will tee off in his third major this year as part of the spoils that go with winning the national amateur championship.

He missed the cut at The Masters and the U.S. Open.

Each major presents various hurdles to overcome and the British Open is no different.

The venue, The Old Course at St. Andrews, features too many pot bunkers to count - each one with its own name.

Add in Mother Nature (rain and wind) and the winner will be a golfer who not only performs well on the links-styled course, but one who can battle the elements the best.

An will seek his first made cut in his final major for 2010 - amateurs are not allowed entry into the PGA Championship.

He'll tee it up with 1998 Open champ Mark O'Meara and Stephen Gallacher for the first two rounds.

Thursday's tee time is 5:15 a.m. EST and 10:21 a.m. EST on Friday.

Monday, July 12, 2010

No local boys champions, but Creamer wins and Open Week is here

While I was away on vacation, there were several happenings in the golf world.

The FSGA's 56th Boys Junior Championship was held July 6-8 at the Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando.

No local juniors won either the 16-18 or 13-15 age divisions.

Bradenton's Danny Walker finished with the 54-hole event with a 226 total for the highest area finish in a tie for 14th.

That was 16 shots behind Tampa's Jimmy Stranger, who won the 13-15 age group.

Winter Springs' Hank Lebioda won the 16-18-years-old division with a final round 64 for a three-shot victory at a 209 total.

And in case you were too tuned into the World Cup final, Bradenton's Paula Creamer won her first major championship when she cruised to the finish line at the U.S. Women's Open on Sunday.

Creamer has battled through a nasty thumb injury and grabbed her first major by becoming the lone player to break par after 72 holes.

Then there is Steve Whidden.

The local club professional at Rosedale Golf & Country Club finished his requirements to become a Master PGA Professional.

It's the highest level of achievement for club pros.

Don't forget to look for Bradenton resident Paul Azinger on the television set this week.

ABC's golf coverage has dwindled in recent years, but they always showcase the British Open and Azinger should be taking his spot in the broadcast booth for analysis.

The third major of the year begins Thursday at St. Andrews.

The Old Course returns and despite his lack of success thus far, you can't count out Tiger Woods who has won the last two Opens at St. Andrews.