A respectable showing by junior golfers in San Diego
Junior World results
The boys from Whitefish represented Montana in grand fashion at the Junior World Championship in San Diego last week.
Torres Pines golf course was set up to play at over 7,000 yards, which at sea level is a real challenge.
Tyler Holtet, Matt Krause and Sam Krause played three very respectable rounds and just missed the cut for the final round by a few strokes. After three rounds, Tyler Holtet was in 44th place in a field of the best players from around the world.
Actually, Tyler was in the top 20 players from the USA. Tyler's four rounds in the 70s was very respectable, with a total of only 18 over par and within five shots of the cut.
The winner, from Thailand, finished at three under par for the four rounds. Matt Krause finished one shot ahead of his brother Sam for the tournament.
A big thanks for all of you who helped the boys raise money for their trip to San Diego. The experience of participating in such a prestigious tournament with the best juniors in the world should be an inspiration for all the three Whitefish boys.
High school golf coming soon
The first day of Whitefish High School golf will be Aug. 15 with a 9 a.m. starting time. All interested players are reminded that paper work must be completed before the first practice, and all parents are required to attend a meeting conducted to discuss rules of participation. Physicals are required, along with consent forms signed by the player and legal guardian.
Both the boys and girls teams welcome new players to join the ranks of the Bulldog team. The first varsity tournament is scheduled for Aug. 22 in Great Falls. The varsity teams will once again play a challenging schedule that includes head to head with most of the Class AA teams.
Flathead Valley Junior Championship
The third annual Flathead Valley Junior Championship is scheduled for Eagle Bend in early August. Whitefish players have competed well in each of the past three years. The last Junior Tour events are on Monday, July 25, at Mission Mountain Country Club in Ronan, which is followed by Aug. 1 at Eagle Bend.
Junior players interested in participating should call the host golf course a couple of days ahead of the event to tell them they intend to play.
Rules of the game
Rule 6-1 states it is the player's responsibility to know the rules of the game. When a player is asked by an opponent in match play or stroke play the number of stokes they had on a hole, the answer must include any penalty strokes he or she has incurred on that hole.
There is no penalty for giving incorrect information in stroke play, provided the player at the end of the round does not sign and return the scorecard in breach of Rule 6-6.
However, in match play, if a player gives wrong information and does not correct the number before his opponent plays another stroke, the player loses the hole in question.
Incorrect information on the rules of golf is not wrong information. However, the committee under Rule 33-7 may disqualify a player that knowingly gives incorrect information on the Rules.
USGA Junior Girls Championship
I am attending the 2005 Girls Junior Championship this week in Boise at the Banberry Golf Club. The best players from around the world will be attending to lay claim as the best junior girl in the world.
Morgan Pressel is considered the favorite after her second-place finish to Birdie Kim in the Women's U.S. Open.
After stroke play qualify rounds, the girls will be paired for 18-hole match play, with the winners meeting on Saturday, July 23, for the championship. Next week, I will share my observations about the championship players and conditions.