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Nolan golfer Collins wins Kathy Whitworth Invitational

Emily Collins, a senior at Nolan Catholic High School, recorded a par on the first playoff hole today to win the Kathy Whitworth Invitational at Mira Vista Golf Club in Fort Worth.

Collins defeated Tanaporn  Kongkiatkrai  to win the junior girls tournament that features a field of 72 national and international players. Collins, who will play college golf next year at Oklahoma, fired a closing 73 to finish with a 36-hole total of 147 and force the playoff with Kongkiatkrai, who posted a second-round 75.

Both players reeled in first-round leader Amy Ruengmateekhun  , who followed an opening 71 with a second-round 80 to finish fourth, four strokes behind the winner. Ai Miyazawa fired rounds of 76-72 to finish third, one stroke out of the playoff.

Below are the final results:

 2010 Kathy Whitworth Invitational
 Gross Scores
 T1 Emily Collins 74-73--147        T44 Taylor Camany 85-79--164
 Tanaporn Kongkiatkrai 72-75--147      Nadia Luttner 80-84--164
 3 Ai Miyazawa 76-72--148     Samantha Swinehart 84-80--164
 4 Amy Ruengmateekhun 71-80--151    T47 Gianna Misenhelter 77-88--165
 T5 Sierra Sims 77-75--152    Rachel Mulkey 80-85--165
 Mariana Sims 75-77--152  Jennifer Park 79-86--165
 Sammi Stevens 77-75--152     T50 Allyssa Ferrell 83-83--166
 Morgan Thompson 77-75--152   Gabriella Then 84-82--166
 9 Monifa Sealy 75-79--154   T52  Lisbeth Brooks 78-89--167
 10 Summar Roachell 74-81--155 Natalie Reeves 80-87--167
 11 Ana Alicia Malagon 79-77--156 T54 Gemma Dryburgh 86-82--168
 T12 Irene Jung 77-80--157        Sarah Hicks 80-88--168
 Lakareber Abe 76-81--157     Kacie Komoto 83-85--168
 T14 Katerina Krasova 81-77--158  Spenser Krut 86-82--168
 Catherina Li 78-80--158     Eji Kwon 81-87--168
 Michelle Piyapattra 78-80--158   T59 Pei Chun Chen 81-88--169
 Beverly Vatananugulkit 79-79--158     Carly Dear 82-87--169
 T18 Tezira Abe 83-77--160     Katie Grady 81-88--169
 Jordan Ferreira 79-81--160 Jenny Hahn 81-88--169
 Jennifer Ha 80-80--160    Amanda Steinhagen 79-90--169
 April McCoy 74-86--160 64 Laura Deleonardis 84-89--173
 Taylor Moreno 76-84--160   65 Anna DePalma 88-86--174
 Courtney Ferguson 80-80--160    66 Lauren Coughlin 88-87--175
 T24 Talia Campbell 75-86--161    67 Kaci McCartan 90-86--176
 Grace Choi 81-80--161  T68 Taylor Bickell 85-94--179
 Hannah Collier 77-84--161    Sandra Lee 88-91--179
 Daniela Lendl 75-86--161    T70 Olivia Lavy 93-88--181
 Christine Lin 79-82--161    McKenzie Ralston 92-89--181
 Mariah Montoya 81-80--161     72 Susanna Feather 98-102--200
 T30 Lindsey Eisenreich 78-84--162
 Stephanie Hsieh 82-80--162
 Hally Leadbetter 79-83--162
 Minami Levonowich 79-83--162
 Cristina McQuiston 81-81--162
 Chelsea Mocio 82-80--162
 Caitlin Pisciotta 76-86--162
 T37 Bailey Cocca 79-84--163
 Christina Ocampo 78-85--163
 Kayli Quinton 79-84--163
 Daffodil Sanchez 81-82--163
 Carly Ragains 85-78--163
 Chaney Uhles 80-83--163
 Mayko Wang 79-84--163

_ Jimmy Burch

Coody Classic set for April 2

The Charles Coody Classic, hosted by the 1971 Masters champion and former TCU All-American, will be April 2 at Texas Star Golf Club. Proceeds will benefit Catholic Charities and help fund golf scholarships at TCU, Coody's alma mater.

Coody, a three-time winner on the PGA Tour and five-time winner on the Senior PGA Tour (now the Champions Tour), is scheduled to attend the event. Registration is available online through the Frog Club at www.tcufrogclub.com. For additional information, visit the website or call 817-257-7700.

_ Jimmy Burch

Dates set for 2010 FW city junior events

Officials at the Fort Worth Junior Golf Association have selected dates and venues for their 2010 city championships. The girls tournament will be July 12-14. The boys event will be July 19-22. Both events are free to all competitors.

The girls’ courses will include Rockwood Golf Course, Diamond Oaks Country Club and Glen Garden Golf & Country Club. The boys will play at two municipal courses (Pecan Valley, Sycamore) and eight country clubs (Diamond Oaks, River Crest, Ridglea, Glen Garden, Shady Oaks, Mira Vista, Woodhaven, Colonial). The boys’ title will be decided at Colonial. For more information, visit www.fwjga.net.

 

_ Jimmy Burch

Charity events in April

Registration is ongoing for two charity events in April. The 6th annual Find a Cure for PKD event, which raises money to fight polycystic kidney disease, will be April 10 at Bear Creek Golf Club. For information, visit www.pkdcure.com.

There well be an April 24 event at Robson Ranch in Denton to benefit Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home. For information, visit www.golfingforacause.com.

_ Jimmy Burch

Spring golf leagues forming in Tarrant County

League opportunities: Spring leagues are forming within the Fort Worth chapter of the Executive Women’s Golf Association, with competitions starting next week at three area courses. For more information, visit www.egwafortworth.com or send an email to leaguechair@egwafortworth.com.

In addition, golfers from four local courses _ Tierra Verde, Sky Creek Ranch, Waterchase and Hawks Creek _ will begin competition Sunday in the Tarrant County Conference. Each team has eight players, plus alternates, with competition administered by the Texas Golf Association. Alternates are still being added to the teams. For more information, contact the TGA at 214-468-8942.

_ Jimmy Burch

Trinity River Golf Tour to begin April 10

For the double-digit handicapper who longs to experience tournament golf like a touring professional, this idea is for you. The same applies to elite amateurs who wonder if they can handle the final-hole pressure felt by frontrunners at PGA Tour events.
The inaugural Trinity River Golf Tour, which begins April 10, offers an opportunity for local golfers to get a taste of tour life without leaving Tarrant County.

A collaborative effort between the cities of Fort Worth and Arlington, the amateur circuit will feature more than 30 tournaments at municipal courses in both cities between April and October. Top players will earn enough points to qualify for the season-ending Tour Championship, Oct. 9-10. There will be flighted competition within five different divisions (juniors, seniors, men’s, women’s and team), with at least six events per division.

All events will be played on municipal courses in Fort Worth (Pecan Valley, Rockwood, Meadowbrook, Z. Boaz) and Arlington (Tierra Verde, Lake Arlington, Ditto). Competitors must pay a one-time membership fee ($30), as well as an entry fee for each event.

The tour evolved from a suggestion by Phyllis Jordan, head golf professional at Lake Arlington Golf Course. Jordan said she wanted “to put some fun back into golf for people who want to play competitively” but have limited opportunities outside of club championships or charity events. Along the way, officials in both cities hope to boost the number of rounds played at their municipal courses.

Nancy Bunton, Fort Worth’s director of golf, said she hopes to land at least 20 teams for the inaugural event, April 10 at Rockwood Golf Course. Eventually, tour officials envision capping each event at 80 to 100 participants. For more information, call 817-572-1300 (Arlington) or 817-457-4616 (Fort Worth). Bunton said the tour website, www.trinityrivergolftour.com, will be operational by late March and online entries will be accepted at that time.

_ Jimmy Burch

Spaces still available in "Mulligans for the Homelss" event

Playing spots are still available at selected venues in the inaugural “Mulligans for the Homeless” event, which benefits the Tarrant County Homeless Coalition. A total of 19 area courses are taking part, with 16 courses holding tournaments on March 29. Alternate dates include March 28 (two sites) and April 12 (one site). For information, visit www.MulligansHome.org or call 817-991-9127 or 817-838-1600.

_ Jimmy Burch

KIA charity event honors military

Registration is ongoing for golfers to compete in the inaugural KIA Scholarships Golf Classic, March 29 at Bridlewood Golf Club in Flower Mound. Proceeds from the tournament help fund scholarships for children of U.S. military personnel who have been killed in action since Sept. 11, 2001. For more information, call 214-704-4026 or send an email to upnextmarketing@yahoo.com.

_ Jimmy Burch

First Tee Golf Marathon set for April 12

Officials at the First Tee of Fort Worth hope to raise $50,000 at this year’s Golf Marathon, April 12 at Rockwood Golf Course. Supporters can make pledges based on a flat rate or on total number of holes completed by any of the 36 participants, including Kevin Long, the First Tee’s executive director. Last year, seven players completed 100-plus holes during a 12-hour playing window. Proceeds benefit junior golfers from the inner city. For more information, visit www.thefirstteeftworth.org or call tournamet chairman Greg Sexton at 817-347-3566. Or call the First Tee at 817-420-9370.

_ Jimmy Burch

PGA Tour, Ping reach agreement in grooves-related controversy

Officials at the PGA Tour and Ping announced today that the club manufacturer will waive its court-ordered mandate that prevented the tour from prohibiting use of pre-April 1990 Ping Eye 2 irons and wedges at tour events.

The agreement will prohibit use of the clubs, effective March 29, at events governed by PGA Tour rules, including all events on the PGA Tour, Nationwide Tour and Champions Tour. Amateur golfers may continue using the clubs at events played under USGA rules.

The older clubs do not have grooves that comply with the 2010 condition of competition adopted for PGA Tour events this season. But they had been grandfathered in because of Ping’s court-mandated victory in a lawsuit. Tim Finchem, PGA Tour commissioner, praised Ping CEO John Solheim for agreeing to the waiver.

In a statement, Solheim said the decision to bring conformity to the grooves used by professional golfers “levels the playing field on the PGA Tour” and is in “the best interests of golf.”

_ Jimmy Burch