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Golf Blog - May 6, 2011
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Updated: Fri 5/6/2011 9:51 pm
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If the first in week in May is any indication to what kind of golf season we can expect in St. Louis, 2011 is going to be one of St. Louis' best.
Earlier today it was made official that the PGA of America is coming back to the Gateway City to contest two major championships over the next 7 years. First, the PGA will bring the Senior PGA Championship to the market in 2013. Five years later, it will be the 100th playing of the PGA Championship making its return to Bellerive Country Club - site of the 1992 PGA Championship. Let's just say thank you to the Members of Bellerive Country Club for their willingness to give up their golf course to the world's top players twice over the next 7 years.
Congratulations to the University of Missouri-St. Louis Tritons and head golf coach, Troy Halterman. The Tritons finished off a fantastic 2010-2011 regular season by earning a spot in the NCAA Division II National Championship, May 2-4 in Muscle Shoals, AL at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club. This marks the 8th time in school history that the Men's Golf program has participated in the national championship. The most recent teams to qualify for the NCAA Championships were back in 2000 and 2001 with the likes of Scott Kirchoff, Kyle Scesniak, Doug Kreitner and Andy Schwob leading the way. Prior to the '00-'01 run, it was the group of David Rhoads, Chris Sanders, Levi Gonzales, James Trittler, Scott Worley, Tom Cullinane and Morgan Gonzales back in '92-'93 led by Hall of Fame Coach, Jim Niederkorn. This year's team competing for the Tritons will be represented by three seniors, Matt Rau, Tim Cochran and Ryan Penfield along with underclassmen, Jason Chun and Joe Atkisson.
Also need to send props to the University of Missouri and University of Illinois golf teams. The Illini captured yet another Big 10 Title and Luke Guthrie finished 1st individually as well, edging out St. Louis native Chris Brandt. Check out the scores HERE. Scott Langley finished T5.
Jeff Johnson is ready to stake his claim as the state's top player 50 and over. JJ fired a blistering 66 to win the rain shortened 2011 Ozark Senior Amateur Championship at Westwood Hills CC in Poplar Bluff, MO. Just last year, Johnson finished 2nd in the regular division.
Joe Molitor gave up playing professional golf to raise a family, returning to amateur golf in 2011. Playing competitive golf only occasionally, Molitor got off to a great start with his 2011 season with a win at the Publinx Open in some very difficult conditions. Playing in one of the last groups of the day in the toughest conditions of any of the competitors, the 41-year old Molitor posted a 3-under par 67 to edge last year's runner-up Ryan Haxel.
Jeff Pelizzaro of Performance United (www.performanceunited.com) is hosting a Total Body Transformation class which begins Saturday, May 14th. Each participant in the class receives a USANA RESET Kit to kick start their healthy eating and only a few spots remain. Each Saturday morning session will be led by a new instructor with a unique workout. Check out http://www.performanceunited.com to get more information and to register.
Note to Bubba Watson - You are a blast to watch play the game, but shut up will you please. I don't really care what you think about the state of Tiger Woods' game and mental mindset. Reporters are going to ask you the question, but you don't need to be an idiot and actually tell them what you very well may be thinking. Tiger may think you're an airhead who will never finish off a major championship and he is probably just as right as you are, but you don't hear him answering every question tossed his way.
Note to Rory McIlroy - You don't have to celebrate every birthday with a kegger. I'm not sure what happened on Thursday and Friday at Quail Hollow, but that's not the way you get over two near misses in big tournaments. I know you're only a kid, but c'mon man.
Lucas Glover - How hot is that beard going to get at Congressional? It's nice to see you back on a leader board - welcome back.
Shawn Jasper continues to learn his way on the Nationwide Tour. The University of Missouri graduate earned full-exempt status on the Nationwide Tour this year but has yet to see the weekend. But just ask fellow alum Jason Schultz what it's like on the big tours. It took Schultz a few years of getting his brains beat in before he finally made his way to the PGA Tour. Stay patient Shawn and keep believing in yourself. The work you've been doing will pay off.
If you haven't checked out the Tourplayers.com media player on the home page at www.espnbacknine.com, what are you waiting for? Watch unique interviews and insight into the lives of many of the top players on the PGA Tour as part of the partnership between TourPlayers.com and the ESPN Back Nine.
The entry deadline for the 2011 USGA Public Links Qualifying is quickly approaching. Enter by May 11th for your shot at playing at Bandon Dunes later this summer. Check out http://www.metga.org for more information. Qualifying takes place at Gateway National Golf Links.
Have you considered joining a Country Club? If so, you have to check out WingHaven CC. The new owners are doing some great things with the clubhouse and the energy around the club is amazing. Head Golf Professional, Nathan Charnes, has almost 60 two man teams competing in the Two Man Progressive Tournament which is all-time record. The qualifying takes place on Saturday, May 7th and I'm looking forward to teeing it up with the Members of WingHaven Country Club. If you have any thoughts about giving your family access to the area's hottest club - call 636-561-9464 and check it out for yourself.
Are you on Twitter? If so, be sure to follow @BackNineSTL.
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