Pinnacle is Impressive - To Say The Least!

Mac Stubbs, our talented Director of Handicapping, and I took a rare opportunity yesterday to play one of Arkansas' finest courses - Pinnacle Country Club in Rogers (that's Mac on the signature par-3 15th hole). After a 10 month renovation, converting to a more heat tolerant Zoysia fairway and Tyee bentgrass, what a joy it was to play. No stress in the greens and the fairways were perfect. The LPGA Tour and the fans are getting a real treat at the P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship Sept. 11-13 and it may be the most-talented field in the three years of the event. C'mon Arkansas - show the LPGA you love golf - and buy your tickets today from a number of local charities or visit the official tournament site at http://www.pgbeautychampionship.com/

1st ASGA Event at Cooper's Hawk a Success!

The first ASGA Designated Tournament at Cooper's Hawk in Melbourne August 8-9 was a very successful tournament. Sixty players ventured into Izard County to play the manicured Zoysia fairways and smooth bentgrass greens. Show at left is one of the course owners, Jim Cooper and his son, Sam. Congratulations to Justin Burns, who won the inaugural "Hawk" trophy with a four-under par 140, one shot better than Nathan Circle and Mark Bartlett. Bruce Dickey won the Senior Division in a playoff over Hall of Famer Stan Lee after both tied at 9-under 135 and Hall of Famer Jack Jordan won the Super-Senior Division. The ASGA will be having one of its "majors" at Cooper's Hawk in the very near future. Thanks again to Jim Cooper and the entire staff for hosting this inaugural tournament!

Thanks Josh for a Job Well Done!

On behalf of the ASGA Board of Directors and Staff, I want to thank Josh Wright of Bryant, AR for a job well done as the 2009 USGA P.J. Boatwright Intern for the ASGA. Josh heads back to Mississippi State tomorrow (Friday, Aug. 14) to finish his final semester in the Professional Golf Management Program. Hopefully, we taught Josh a few things about golf administration, specifically tournaments, as he prepares to become a real citizen with a real job. Josh is shown in front of the Texarkana Court House with his right foot in Texas and his left in Arkansas!

Hulse wins ASGA Mountain Valley Junior Stroke

Playing in his last ASGA Championship as a junior, 17-year-old Lane Hulse of Fordyce fired a final round of three-under par 69 to win the ASGA Mountain Valley Junior Boys Stroke Play Championship at Texarkana Country Club. Hulse trailed by four strokes entering the final round but turned the front nine in three-under par 33 with a birdie on #1 and an eagle on the par-5 7th hole, to go with 7 pars, to grab the lead. Steady golf on the back nine, including birdies on #16 and #17 closed the Championship in style with a six stroke victory over Dylan Lovell of Harrison and Nate Smith of Benton. Hunter Smith, a 16-year-old from Cabot, edged his classmate at Cabot High School, Colby Benton and won the ASGA Junior Boys Player of the Year title. Smith will receive the award October 29 at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock. Thanks to all that helped make the 2009 ASGA Junior Tournament Season a success!

Roachell wins ASGA Mountain Valley Stroke Play

Congratulations to 14-year-old Summar Roachell of Conway, winner of the 2009 ASGA Mountain Valley Junior Girls Stroke Play Championship at Texarkana Country Club. She is shown with the Lou Miller Trophy, named in honor of ASGA Hall of Famer Lou Miller. Summar also wrapped up the ASGA Junior Girls Player of the Year and will receive that award Thursday, October 29 at Chenal Country Club in Little Rock. To see all of Summar's tournament results, click on Junior Girl Point Standings at www.asga.org

Also, congratulations to all age division winners and thanks to all the mother, fathers, grandparents, brothers and sisters that helped support these young women in 2009 and for making the ASGA junior tournament schedule a success!

Final 2009 ASGA Junior Tourney at Texarkana CC

Historic Texarkana Country Club, where the legendary Byron Nelson once hung his hat as golf professional, hosts the final ASGA Junior Designated Tournament of 2009 this week. The ASGA Mountain Valley Junior Boys and Girls Stroke Play is August 4-6 and 54 holes will determine both player of the year titles. Hunter Smith and Colby Benton are neck-and-neck in the boys race and Katie Webb leads Summar Roachelle by a narrow margin in the girls race. Last year's junior girls stroke at Pine Bluff CC went 54 holes - and then 6 more in a playoff between Taylor Fisher and Roachelle. Fisher won the tournament and the ASGA Junior Girls Player of the Year. It is unknown at this point what will unfold at TCC, but one thing is clear: Superintendent Ken Sawyer has the course in great shape (he always does) even after 8 inches of rain recently. Tee times are 8:00 - 9:30 off #1 & #10 first two days. Players are repaired for Thursday's final round. I apologize for not "blogging" recently - five days at the US Junior Am in NJ and a week in Ardmore, OK for the Big I National Championship - I will catch up and hope to blog everyday from TCC this week. Stay tuned.......more excitement to follow!