Short Shots

Missouri holds off Kansas charge, retains Ozark Senior Cup
The Missouri Golf Association team retained the Ozark Senior Challenge Cup for 2009 by defeating the KGA team last month at Wichita Country Club. The KGA team made a valiant charge during the final-day singles matches, but came up just short and fell to the Missouri team 13-11.
“While we got ourselves ‘behind the eight-ball’ on Thursday in the Ozark Senior Challenge

matches, losing four of six four-ball matches and three of six foursome matches, the guys made a valiant effort on Friday, knowing we needed to secure nine points in 12 matches to win the cup,” said Dick Kendrick, KGA Senior Series commissioner and captain for the Kansas Ozark Cup teams. “Things looked good for a long time as we won six of the first nine matches and halved two others. Needing only two points in the final three matches, I was really confident we were going to finally secure the Ozark Challenge Cup from Missouri. But the Missouri players played very well, as they had all week, especially on the closing holes. Eleven of the 24 Ozark Challenge matches went to the 18th hole and another three were decided on the 17th hole. It was truly dramatic, especially considering how close we got on Friday.”
   In the Association Senior Cup Matches, the MGA and KGA teams tied 5.5 to 5.5 points after splitting the singles matches. The Missouri team retained the Association Senior Cup by virtue of winning the cup in 2008.
   “The Association Cup matches were equally dramatic, with six of the 11 matches being decided on the 17th or 18th holes,” Kendrick added. “Neither team had more than a one point lead at any point and it seemed only fitting that it would end up in a tie. As in the Ozark Challenge matches, the Missouri players in the Association Cup matches played very well down the stretch. Just when I thought we were about to win a match, one of the Missouri players would run in a long putt or stick an approach shot next to the hole.”
   The Ozark Senior Challenge is for senior players aged 64 and younger, and the Association Senior Cup is for players 65 and older. The matches are a goodwill competition between teams from the Kansas and Missouri Golf Associations. Players for each team qualified for the competitions through each association’s respective Senior Series programs.
   The format is match play consisting of foursome and four-ball matches on the first day and singles matches on the second day. The 2010 competition will be hosted by the MGA.
   “Wichita Country Club offered a perfect venue for this year’s Senior Cup matches. It was in perfect condition. While it was overcast and a bit cool on Thursday, Friday brought us some warmer weather and sunshine,” Kendrick said. “I am so very proud of all of my players in this year’s events. They played very well, never quit and fought to the very last shot. They each get an ‘A’ for effort and they were gracious in defeat. They are a real class act.
   “I am so looking forward to next year's Senior Series season. I know we will give Missouri another great effort, hopefully securing both Senior Cups for the KGA. I would be remiss not to thank not only my Senior Cup players but all who participated in this year’s Senior Series events. Without a doubt, it was the most fun I have had in my seven years as Senior Series commissioner.”

Results from matches in the 2009 competition included:

Ozark Senior Challenge (Missouri 13, Kansas 11)

Four-Ball matches: Darrel Huisinga / Karl Elbrecht (MO) def. Doug Kaup / RJ Opliger (KS) - 1 up; Russ Woodbury / Jim Beatson (MO) def. Randy Vautravers / Tim Tyner (KS) - 3&2; Tom McHenry / John McCulloch (MO) def. Mike Grosdidier / Kevin Handlan (KS) - 2&1; Rich Gleghorn / Rocky Walther (MO) def. Andy Smith / David Rhodes (KS) - 5&4; Bob Bezek / Bruce Dewitz (KS) vs. Steve Slaughter / Tom. Allen (MO) – halved; Phil Frigon / David Gourlay (KS) def. Larry Zimmerman / Robert Huntze (MO) - 6&5.

Foursome matches: D. Huisinga / K. Elbrecht (MO) def. D. Kaup / RJ Opliger (KS) - 1 up; A. Smith / K. Handlan (KS) def. R. Woodbury / J. McCulloch (MO) - 6&5; M. Grosdidier / B. Bezek (KS) vs. T. McHenry / R. Walther (MO) – halved; T. Tyner / R. Vautravers (KS) vs. R. Gleghorn / J. Beatson (MO) – halved; T. Allen / S. Slaughter (MO) def. B. Dewitz / D. Rhodes (KS) - 2&1; L. Zimmerman / R. Huntze (MO) def. P. Frigon / D. Gourlay (KS) - 1 up.

Singles matches: T. Tyner (KS) def. R. Walther (MO) - 3&2; D. Gourlay (KS) vs. L. Zimmerman (MO) - halved P. Frigon (KS) def. R. Huntze (MO) - 5&3; B. Dewitz (KS) def. T. Allen (MO) - 2&1; D. Rhodes (KS) vs. S. Slaughter (MO) – halved; K. Handlan (KS) def. K. Elbrecht (MO) - 3&2; RJ Opliger (KS) def. J. Beatson (MO) - 4&3; J. McCulloch (MO) def. D. Kaup (KS) - 2 up; R. Vautravers (KS) def. T. McHenry (MO) - 3&2; B. Bezek (KS) vs. D. Huisinga (MO) – halved; R. Woodbury (MO) def. A. Smith (KS) - 1 up; R. Gleghorn (MO) def. M. Grosdidier (KS) - 4&3.

Association Senior Cup (Tied 5.5-5.5)

Four-Ball matches: Don Cox / Hal Taylor (KS) def. Don Dupske / Jerry Parrish (MO) - 6&5; David Anderson / Don Trytten (KS) def. Bob Martin / Jerry Kirksey (MO) - 2&1; Bob Iglehart / Henry Hartle (MO) def. Lee Danyluk / Mason May (KS) - 3&2.

Foursome matches: D. Cox / D. Anderson (KS) vs. B. Martin / J. Kirksey (MO) – halved; D. Dupske / J. Parrish (MO) def. H. Taylor / M. May (KS) - 2&1.

Singles matches: H. Hartle (MO) def. M. May (KS) - 3&2; B. Iglehart (MO) def. L. Danyluk (KS) - 1 up; H. Taylor (KS) def. J. Parrish (MO) - 5&4; D. Trytten (KS) def. J. Kirksey (MO) - 3&2; D. Anderson (KS) def. B. Martin (MO) - 2&1; D. Dupske (MO) def. D. Cox (KS) - 2&1.

Golf joins Olympics in 2016
   After an absence of more than a century, golf will return as an Olympic sport in 2016 and 2020 along with rugby sevens following their approval by the International Olympic Committee membership during the IOC’s 121st Session.
   Golf was approved 63-27 with two abstentions. Rugby was voted in 81-8 with one abstention.
   The vote also was a victory for Jacques Rogge, the IOC president who was re-elected to a final four-year term hours earlier. The 67-year-old Belgian, the president since 2001, was the

only candidate.
   “Time will show your decision (on the new sports) was very wise,” Rogge said.
   They will be part of the Olympic Programme in Rio de Janeiro, which last week was selected as the host city for 2016 Games by the IOC. Golf was last an Olympic sport at the 1904 Games in St. Louis, when the United States and Canada were the only two competing countries.
   “We are elated that the IOC membership has accepted golf as an Olympic sport, and look forward to seeing the world’s best golfers compete for gold at the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro,” said Ty Votaw, executive director of the International Golf Federation Olympic Golf Committee, which has coordinated golf’s Olympic bid.
   Votaw and Peter Dawson, chief executive of The R&A and joint secretary of the International Golf Federation, were accompanied by professionals Padraig Harrington of Ireland, Michelle Wie of the United States and Suzann Pettersen of Norway, as well as 16-year-old (British) Amateur Champion Matteo Manassero of Italy, for a final presentation to the IOC prior to the vote.
   “We are extremely grateful that Padraig, Michelle, Suzann and Matteo were able to join us to help communicate the genuine interest world-class players of all ages share in golf becoming an Olympic sport,” Dawson said.
   Golf and rugby sevens were recommended for the Olympic Programme by the IOC Executive Board in August following an extensive review process involving seven sports that were vying to be added to the 2016 Olympic Games. Although they emerged as the finalists, both sports still required final approval by a majority of votes cast by the members of the IOC.
   “In addition to those golfers who will have an opportunity to compete as Olympic athletes, we are excited for the national golf federations that will reap the benefits from (the decision) in terms of growth and support within their countries,” Dawson said.
   Based on player feedback, the IGF has proposed a format of 72-hole individual stroke play for both men and women. In case of a tie for either first, second or third place, a three-hole playoff is recommended to determine the medal winner(s).
   Current world No. 1 Tiger Woods has indicated he would play in the Olympics for 2016.
   “There are millions of young golfers worldwide who would be proud to represent their country,” Woods said. “It would be an honor for anyone who plays this game to become an Olympian.”
--PGATour.com

Rounds played flatten out
   The National Golf Foundation is reporting that while rounds for August 2009 from 2008 by 1 percent, for the year-to-date, rounds are flat at 0 percent. Public play is up .3 percent in the United States for the year while rounds at private courses are down 1.1 percent.
   The best news for the game is coming out of the South Central states, which saw a 6.7

percent increase in August, with a .5 percent increase for the year. The West North Central region, which includes the state of Kansas, had just a 1.5 percent decrease, but is up 4.8 percent overall for the year.
The NGF also reports that while the number of rounds played is staying steady, golfers are managing to cut costs by playing less expensive courses, playing at off peak times. They are also cutting extras while they play. In an NGF survey that asked golfers “how they are managing their cost per round given the current economic situation,” 53 percent said they are spending less on food and beverage, 34 percent at walking instead of riding, and 24 percent said they are buying less expensive clubs/equipment.