The Kennebec Journal

ON THE GREEN

Juniors gear up for golf championships

By Gary Hawkins ghawkins@centralmaine.com
Staff Writer

Maine Junior Tour director Dan Sweet said about 100 golfers have signed up for this week's Maine Junior Championships at Val Halla. The event runs Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with titles decided for girls, as well as 12-and-under, 13-14- and 15-17-year-old boys.

Sweet said between 150 and 200 were involved in the program this season, his first as director.

"There were more events for the kids," he said. "I saw a lot of new faces."

The championship consists of stroke play the first day with the field cut to 16 for match play the final two days.

Girls will also play stroke play for seeding but may skip a day if no more than eight sign up for the tournament. Sweet said about 12 played on and off throughout the season.

"We had eight girls playing at Natanis," he said. "They have a lot of fun playing with each other, I think they get intimidated because they think they have to play with the boys."

Dan's son Seth, 16, is shooting for his third age group championship but expects a challenge from Topsham's Henry Fall and Wiscasset's Jordan Jones.

"It's a pretty big deal," said Seth, who tied for fourth place in the Maine Amateur this month. "It proves who put in the most work and who's the best junior."

A junior banquet will be held Monday honoring individual tournament winners as well as MSGA scholarship recipients. Former PGA Tour commissioner Dean Beman is the guest speaker.

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PGA Tour caddie Jeff Willett of Waterville had a bit of a roller coaster ride last week at the Canadian Open. Willett is on the bag for first-year player Brent Delahoussaye and after shooting a 62 in the first round Thursday, the rookie found himself in the lead.

"He made some putts," Willett said. "He backed it up with a one under the next day."

Delahoussaye ballooned to 76 and fell out of contention Saturday, but Willett said it wasn't nerves that caused his score to soar

"We got poured on Saturday for 15 holes and it just became unplayable for him," Willett said. "He's not that long off the tee. I would have loved seeing him play the same conditions as the morning guys."

Willett said after the fifth hole he and Delahoussaye went into survival mode.

"I was just trying to get him to hang in there," he said. "I couldn't believe they didn't stop play."

Delahoussaye and Willett are playing in the Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia this week and head to Turningstone Resort in New York the following week. Delahoussaye would have to win one of those events to qualify for the upcoming PGA Championship.

"He's starting to play," Willett said. "Sixty-twos don't happen by accident. It's been a big learning process."

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Seven former major leaguers will play in a tournament Monday at Belgrade Lakes to benefit the Major League Baseball Association and the Alfond Youth Center.

Former Red Sox and Yankees pitcher Mike Torrez is among them and will take the lead earlier in the day in conducting a clinic at the Harold Alfond Fenway Park in Oakland.

"For me it's the growing relationship," youth center director Ken Walsh said. "Any time you can get kids around the right mentors it inspires them."

Three former Mainers and pitchers are among the group, which includes Portland's Pete Ladd -- who pitched for the Brewers -- South Portland's Jim Beattie (Yankees, Mariners) and Auburn's Larry Gowell (Yankees). Also on hand will be former catcher George Yankowski, former third baseman Mike Pagliarulo and former pitcher Bruce Berenyi.

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Chip shots: Maine Amateur champion Ryan Gay will be the top seed in the MSGA Match Play Championship on Aug. 11-12 at the Augusta Country Club. The field of 15 includes the top eight finishers in the Maine amateur plus the top eight point-getters in weekly MSGA events. Eight matches will be played Wednesday morning and four in the afternoon. The semifinals and finals will be played Thursday. ... The MSGA has added a third Scholarship Classic at Augusta Country Club on Sept. 13. This one is designated for players who have reached the age of 55 by the event. Proceeds benefit the scholarship fund. Contact the MSGA for more information. ... Six-time former women's amateur champion Pennie Cummings of Wayne set a women's club record at Springbrook last week with a 64, beating the previous mark by five strokes. ... Fred Warner of Winthrop won the men's club championship at Springbrook last weekend, shooting 146 for 36 holes. Ashely Golden of Leeds won the women's championship. ... The Family Violence Project golf tournament will be held Aug. 7 at Lakewood Golf Course. For more information contact Jim Willis at 453-6832 or jim.willis.43@hotmail.com.

Gary Hawkins -- 621-5638

ghawkins@centralmaine.com