TERRE HAUTE — What’s going on in the world of professional golf? Taking Tiger Woods out of the equation, it appears that old-timers continue to make their marks on various PGA circuits these days.
Not to be outdone by old Allen Doyle’s win in the recent U.S. Senior Open, Corey Pavin stepped up to take his first victory in 10 years with a wire to wire win in the PGA’s U.S. Bank Championship played at Brown Deer Park Golf Club in Milwaukee. All Pavin did to kick start the first nine of his winning performance was play his front nine in one under — that’s one under threes to be specific. That totaled an amazing 26 to go with a cooled-down 35 on the back side for a smooth 61, a lead the gritty shotmaker would not relinquish.
You might recall Corey’s performance in the U.S. Open a decade ago when he won his only major title by outdueling Greg Norman at Shinnecock Hills. Pavin’s four wood to the green on the 72nd hole almost went into the cup in a dramatic, down to the wire finish. That shot has been shown on TV dozens of times since. What hasn’t been shown was Pavin missing the three-foot putt after authoring that historic approach. The miss really didn’t matter anyway since Pavin won by two shots.
It’s refreshing to see a short hitter who relies on a bull’s-eye short game to finish ahead of all the big blasters.
It also appears that distaff players who are getting along in years are still capable of some outstanding golf. Juli Inkster, at four years short of 50, had a three-shot lead at the halfway mark in the recent Women’s British Open. She ultimately finished in a tie for fourth, just four shots behind the winner, Sherri Steinhauer.
So even though a golfer’s skills may diminish as the years roll by, there is no reason a player can’t enjoy the game for many years after being tagged with the “senior” label.
I I I
n Where’s the ringer? — An old competition that you seldom see these days is called a ringer tournament. Players would put up a modest entry, sometimes only a dollar or two, and the tourney usually ran for one month.
Each person’s name would be placed on a prominently placed scoresheet, and the honor system would prevail as each player would write with a pencil his or her score on the sheet. In each subsequent round, if a score on any hole was lower than the one on the scoresheet, it would be erased and replaced with the recent score. At the end of the month, the player with the lowest total would win the money or perhaps merchandise from the pro shop. This was a popular contest among members of The Phoenix Club, which was located on what is now Phoenix Hills subdivision.
Sometimes it’s fun to determine how your lifetime ringer score adds up on a given course. Ted Kaperak figured that at Hulman Links, he was a whopping 32 under par, which included three holes in one. This gave him a career ringer total of 40 under par for 18 holes. If anyone can match that number, I’d like to hear about it.
Kaperak also hasn’t allowed the fact that he passed the age of 50 a couple of years ago to affect his golf game. A week ago, Ted won the Elks’ Club Championship for the third time in a row with a five under par effort which included rounds of 69 and 70. Steve Thompson finished second, two shots back, and Devon Klutey placed third. Ken “Give me some ink” Bosc won the first flight with rounds of 72 and 75.
n Way to go — Congrats to Cara Stuckey, who made it seven championships in seven tries in the ladies’ city tourney, which concluded last Monday. The South Vigo Girls’ golf coach has all the shots. It wasn’t that runner-up Gennifer Marrs played poorly, shooting two over par for 13 holes, it was just a matter of subpar play being no problem for long-hitting Stuckey.
n Tip of the Week — Question: what sort of feedback do you get when the exact sweet spot on the ball is struck by the exact sweet spot on the club? Answer: No feeling at all of the impact between the club and ball. This may sound strange, but it’s true. Remember, I said “exact.”
Keep your head down and your shoestrings tied. We’ll be back.
Vigo County Golf Leagues
Paitson’s Roofing Eastside Ladies — Standings: Advance Chiropractic 584, Sandy’s Touch of Magic 564, Mowbray Consulting 526, Turner Coach 524, Coaches Corner 510, Page’s Market 509, Tabco 486, Baesler’s Market 477. Low gross: Sandy Siegelin, 40. Low net: Loeva Piepenbrink 26. Play of the day: Betty Swanson. Chip-ins: Rose Mills (No. 13)
Elks Ladies 9-hole — Low gross: Darby Guglielmetti. Low net: Betty McKee, Low putts: Mary Shake. Play of the day: Guglielmetti. Chip-in: Rita Neal.
Elks Ladies 18-hole — Low gross and Play of the day: Terry Mahalek. Birdies: Mary Jean Petty (No. 17). Chip-ins: Petty (No. 12), Shirley Pruett (No. 10), Mary Shake (No. 1).
Rea Park Wednesday Evening Ladies — Standings: Meyer-Lanke 29, McCord-Rusk 21, Padgett-Spurr 20, Cannon-Ugo 19, Mann-Luttrell 18, Honselman-Arnett 18, Gosnell-Pair 17, Horrall-Bocard 17, Francis-Snow 17, Swalls-Bewell 16, Newton-Atterson 16, Clements-Malone 6. Low gross: Sharon Horrall and Candy McCord 40. Low net: Linda Francis 33. Chip-ins: McCord and Rusk (No. 4).
Mark’s Par Three Men’s Senior — Standings: Midwest Gas and Tabco 253, Fuson Cadillac 241, Dew Drop Inn 228, Vigo Bowl 210, Old National Trust 203, Mattingly Collision 193, Don Wills Cash Register 178. Low gross: Bill Turner 31. Low net: Jim Schurpel 24. Longest putt: Dennis Hays (No. 1). Longest drive: Ray Boatman (No. 4). Closest to pin: Gordon Geckeler (No. 7).
Rea Park Women’s Tuesday 18-hole — Low gross: Myra Eble, Sharon Hamilson, Sandy Sears 85. Low net: Pat Wardell 68. Birdies: Sears (No. 3), Terry Mahalek (No. 18), Eble (Nos. 13, 15), Hamilton (Nos. 1, 14). Chip-ins: Wardell (No. 12), Hamilton (No. 14), Mahalek (No. 18). Play of the day: Verla Talkington and Wardell.
Rea Park First Financial Bank Ladies 9-hole — Standings: VFW No. 1 533, Elliott Jewelers 511, Shephard’s Gas 482, VFW No. 2 463, Baesler’s Market 457, Bratt Animal Hospital 434. Low gross: Gard 47. Low net: Gard, Handley, P.Miller 37. Birdies: Hoy (No. 1). Chip-ins: Farmer (No. 9), Long (No. 8), P.Miller (No. 5). Play of the day: Foster, Gard, Handley, Talkington, G.Miller, Latta, P.Miller.
Terre Haute Savings Bank Senior Men — National Division standings: SMC 234, Bush Restaurant 231, Bogey’s Family Fun Center 222, Pizza Hut 219, McGuire Excavating 209, Lough Bros. 205, T.H. Savings Bank 203, Paitson Bros. 195. Low gross: Bob Boyer 38. Low net: Ed Smith 29. American Division standings: Poplar Flower Shop 272, Salt of the Earth 255, Callahan Funeral Home 242, Lee Appraisal Service 229, Spring Clean Car Wash 207, VFW No. 972 201, Gurman Container 194, Pabst Painting 192. Low gross: Herschell Allen 36. Low net: Allen 31.
Rub of the Green
Rub of the Green: Pavin finally gets a win
- Rub of the Green
-
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Ryder Cub drama a great part of American sports scene
The recent Ryder Cup matches are over, but not done with! At the time the final match had concluded the “talking heads” had already gone to work assessing blame to those who didn’t live up to their preconceived expectations.
-
Snedeker the big winner after FedEx Championship
The season-long FedEx Championship has finally come to an end and Brandt Snedeker may need a Brinks truck to haul his winnings to the bank.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Memories of Crooked Stick
The BMW tournament that concluded Sept. 9 at Crooked Stick in Carmel brought back a flood of memories.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: "Fair Joe" known expects rules to be followed in local hunts
Fair Joe is the name and golf is the game when referring to Joe Bukovack, who has sponsored hunts in Terre Haute as well as throughout Indiana during the past 25 years.
The “Fair” in Joe’s title refers to the fact that players who wish to participate in Bukovack’s competition must be willing to follow the rules of golf to the letter, otherwise they will not be invited to participate. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Enjoying the game after all these years
When golf is referred to as “The Game for a Lifetime,” you’ve got to believe that description is definitely on target. For example, there is the Danny Williams hunt that converges on the first tee at The Landing on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Many players are in their 70s and retired dentist, Bill Aikin, has seen 92 birthdays.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Hunts still popular on golf course
There is something about golf that lends itself to some friendly competition and in times gone by, the competitions were called “choose-ups.” Somewhere along the line, choose-ups became “hunts.” Regardless of what you call them, they remain a most popular mode of play for Terre Haute divot-diggers on courses throughout the Wabash Valley.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Heat doesn’t deter Terre Haute golfers
“When you’re hot, you’re hot, and when you’re not, you’re not.” Those are the words of country singer Jerry Reed and they apply to golfers as well.
-
Rub of the Green: Father’s golf imprint still evident today
I was lucky and I knew it. My father, Robert Erwin Arnett, was one of the best dads any youngster could hope for.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Hogan, small of stature, left big footprints
With the Crowne Plaza Invitational being played at Colonial Country Club today, it conjures up images of the man himself, Bantam Ben Hogan, who won so often at Colonial it became known as “Hogan’s Alley.”
-
Rub of the Green: Bowling or golf? Both provide plenty of challenge
The question has been raised in the past, is it bowling or golf that is the more difficult endeavor?
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Sometimes this can be a confounding game
To be sure, the great Sam Snead certainly knew what he was talking about when he delivered his favorite axiom, “The sun don’t shine on the same dog every day.”
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Grayless takes over as golf professional at Hulman Links
Ed Grayless has assumed the “head man’s” position at the Links after Ryan Klopfenstein resigned as Hulman Links golf professional in order to pursue other interests.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Young players should match course to skills
One of the biggest mistakes a beginning golfer can make is to keep playing a golf course that is far too difficult for the ability demonstrated by that player.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: On the lanes or links, Davis is competitive
Darrell Davis carries a 240 bowling average which obviously puts him in some strong company on the alleys, but he feels that golf is a much more difficult sport than keggling.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Loquacious golfers can provide priceless quotes
Golfers always seem to have a great deal to say, but determining who said what and who said it first can be a problem.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Rick Fernandes can look back on a great golf career
What does an outstanding golfer have left when an accident has robbed him of the consummate skills he once possessed? The answer most assuredly would be one word, “Memories.”
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Feherty’s humor good for golf
David Feherty is an extremely funny man. If you have read his book written a few years ago, you might have guessed what to expect from him. The book, entitled “Somewhere in Ireland a Village is Missing an Idiot,” set the stage for his far out brand of humor, most of which is directed at himself.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: It's all in your head
A pair of divot diggers had been discussing their favorite sport when one could be heard saying, “You know, I think this game is 90 percent mental.” After a short pause his friend replied, “Well, I think you’re about 10 percent short in your estimation.”
-
Golf: ‘The Game You Love to Hate’
Golf has been called “The Game You Love to Hate.” In addition, love-hate relationships have been around since the beginning of time.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf is only sport that offers both hilarity, pathos
It’s been stated more than once that “golf is a microcosm for life itself.”
This writer would heartily agree. No sport or game can offer combinations of happiness and sadness, hilarity and pathos as evidenced by an activity called “cow pasture pool” by some of its practitioners. -
RUB OF THE GREEN: Even golfers say there is drug problem on Tour
Are professional golfers using performance-enhancing drugs? This writer wouldn’t have the foggiest, but if you asked Gary Player, one of the game’s greatest, the answer would be a resounding, “Yes.”
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Not all golfers display their trophies
Back in the “old days,” let’s say the 1940s, most of the time when you won something in a golf tournament your prize came in the form of a trophy. That was it, just a dust catcher. Later, merchandise prizes were added.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf full of colorful characters
Every sport has its own cast of characters and golf is definitely no exception. Whether it is diving head first into a greenside bunker or tying an unreliable putter to a car’s bumper and dragging it down the road, golfers can do some strange things.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Winter made golf impossible this year
Old Man Winter along with Mother Nature must have something against area golfers. They have joined forces to sabotage a sport called winter golf, an activity many Wabash Valley players have enjoyed in years gone by.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Golf instruction a strenuous art
Few who have ever tried their hands at playing the game of golf would describe the sport as “easy”. In fact, just the opposite would be the case.
-
BOB ARNETT: No matter what your level, watch out for pressure
What is the affliction that can affect most any golfer from those who can’t break an egg to skilled golfers who can break 70?
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: THGA tournaments include variety, long history
In days gone by, the Terre Haute Golf Association has always offered more than just a 72-hole stroke play tournament.
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: PGA playoff system still needs work
Is anyone fed up with the convoluted Fed Ex playoffs? The PGA has been tweaking its so-called Fed Ex playoff system for years, and they never seem to get it right.
-
Rub of the Green: Golf can be roller coaster for young pros
Dustin Johnson may be best remembered for his appearances in the major tournaments in 2010, but not because he won. He didn’t win. But he came awfully close.
-
Rub of the Green: One size does NOT fit all when it comes to golfing ability
Literally hundreds of books have been written on the subject of golf instruction, and we can be certain they all agree on one fundamental, always keep your head stationary throughout the swing.
Right? Nope, wrong as it could be! How’s that, you say? As examples both David Duval and Annika Sorenstam at one time were rated the world’s No. 1 professional golfers, respectively, and both swiveled their heads well before their clubheads reached the impact zone. In fact, Duval is one of a select few who has a 59 to his credit on the PGA Tour. - More Rub of the Green Headlines
-
RUB OF THE GREEN: Ryder Cub drama a great part of American sports scene
Obama: US Has Helped Syrian Rebels
Robot Action Connected to Human Thought
Obama: NSA Secret Data Gathering 'Transparent'
California Cops Cruise on Stand-up Paddle Patrol
Man Who Disrupted Flight Ranted About CIA
Feds: 7-Eleven Stores Exploited Immigrants
Transgender Candidate Running in NYC
Tiger on Sergio: 'It's Time to Move On'
Raw: 100K Protesters Flood Brazilian Streets
Afghan Forces Take Afghanistan Security Lead
Rain Damages Brazil Soccer Stadium
Ex-NFL Star Chad Johnson Out of Jail
Iran's Rowhani Urges 'Path of Moderation'
Falling Cable Hurts 10 NASCAR Fans
Today in History June 18
Raw: NASCAR Driver Jason Leffler Dies in Wreck
Raw: First Lady, Daughters Enjoy Irish Sights
Daughter: Mandela Doing 'Very Well'
Raw: Prince Philip Leaves Hospital After Surgery
G8 Leaders Huddle on Syria
RAW: NSA Director Says 50 Plots Foiled
Video: worst way to load cargo onto a plane
Never-before-seen footage of '08 Times Square bomber
Mariah Carey Looks Beautiful in a Tiny Cut-Out Swimsuit
WATCH IT: Lil Wayne tramples American flag
Out of Control Boat Throws Passengers Overboard
See Lindsay Lohan in Rehab
Sofia Vergara Posts Perky Backside Pic in Thong
Gaga Ditches Her Crazy Couture
Caught on Tape: Teacher Accused of Beating Autistic Child
"Stay Classy" Campaign Aims to Curb Binge Drinking
Sesame Street Tackling Tough Topic Parents in Jail
Miss Utah Fumbles Interview Question
Deranged man claims Newark-bound flight was poisoned
Cameron Diaz and Kate Upton Show Off Their Amazing Bikini Bodies
NBA FINALS: Spurs Win Game 5, Lead Series
Exclusive Clip: Jodi Arias: 'Dirty Little Secret'
Amphibious bus filled with tourists sinks
Best Bikini Abs
