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Colonial to precede Nelson on 2011 PGA Tour schedule

The Dallas-Fort Worth stops on the PGA Tour will be played in reverse order next season, with golfers heading to the Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial the week before the HP Byron Nelson Championship.

Representatives from both events confirmed the switch today, with an official announcement expected later this fall when the 2011 PGA Tour calendar is released.

As of tonight, Colonial officials have posted their 2011 competition dates _ May 19-22 _ on the tournament website. Chuck Scherer, the Colonial tournament chairman, said club officials consider the dates “official” and wanted to spread the word so fans can make logistical plans to attend next year’s tour stop in Fort Worth.

Colonial is moving up one week from its traditional spot on the tour calendar, with the Nelson _ typically played the week preceding Colonial _ moving to May 26-29 at the Four Seasons Resort in Irving.

“We’re fine with it,” Scherer said of the change. “As long as we’re in May, we’ll be OK.”

A tweaking of the typical three-week Texas swing on the May calendar became necessary when tour officials moved The Players Championship to May 12-15 on next year’s schedule. That caused the Valero Texas Open to slide to April 14-17 on the 2011 calendar, with Colonial to follow The Players on the 2011 calendar.

Although some events have struggled to attract elite players when given dates the week following The Players, Colonial tournament director Peter Ripa said he remains optimistic that Fort Worth’s event _ which featured five of the world’s top eight golfers, as well as all four reigning major champions in 2010 _ would still be able to land a stellar field because of its invitational format.

“We’re still Colonial. If you’re going to play here, you’re going to play here,” Ripa said.

Nelson officials, who failed to land any of the world’s top 10 golfers at this year’s event, are optimistic the move to Memorial Day weekend could help attract more star power to Irving.

“We’re excited,” said John Beckert, the 2011 Nelson tournament chairman. “Of the dates that were available, we feel this date gives us the best chance to have the best field possible.”

_ Jimmy Burch

Nelson officials raise $4.8 million for local charities at 2010 event

Officials at the HP Byron Nelson Championship raised $4.8 million for local charities at this year’s PGA Tour event in Irving, tournament officials announced today. The 2010 total represents an increase from last year’s $4.4 million figure. Since the Nelson’s inception, the tournament has raised more than $116 million for charities, the largest total of any PGA Tour event.

_ Jimmy Burch

McConnell, Chun win collegiate event at Texas Star

Paul McConnell, a UT-Arlington golfer, fired a 70 in today’s final round to clinch a one-stroke victory in the men’s division of the 2010 Collegiate Players Tour National Championship event at Texas Star Golf Course in Euless.

McConnell, who posted a 54-hole total of 211, edged a foursome of golfers at 212: Andrew Green, Julio Vegas, Hunter Brown and Taylor Artman.

Irving resident Jacey Chun closed with a 75 to seal an eight-stroke victory in the women’s division. Chun, who finished with a 211 total, outdistanced Sam Houston State’s Stefanie Page-Fields (219) and North Texas’ Kelsey Kipp (221).

_ Jimmy Burch

Dalke earns player of year honors

Brad Dalke, a junior golfer from Mansfield, has been selected as the 2009-2010 Legends Junior Tour player of the year in the boys 14-and-under age group.

Dalke, 12, began his season with an 18-stroke victory in the 2009 Winter Classic and recently capped it with a victory at the 2010 U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, N.C. Other player of the year honorees included Austin’s Stratton Nolen (boys 15-18 age group), Allen’s Jessa LaBarbera (girls 15-18 age group) and Plano’s Vanessa Ha (girls 14-and-under age group).

_ Jimmy Burch

Pavin says Woods ranks "high" on his Ryder Cup at-large list

Corey Pavin, captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team, said today that Tiger Woods ranks “high” on his list of potential at-large additions to the U.S. team that will compete Oct. 1-3 in Wales against Europe.

But he stopped short of saying the world’s top-ranked golfer will be a slam-dunk addition to the 12-member squad as one of four captain’s choice selections that will be announced Sept. 7.

“He’s certainly a big consideration. He’s high on my list,” Pavin said of Woods during today's news conference at Whistling Straits, site of Sunday’s final round of the PGA Championship. “He wants to play. He’s working on some things that seem to be improving his game.”

Woods, who tied for 28th at the PGA, finished 12th in the final U.S. Ryder Cup standings and failed to earn an automatic berth on the team. The top eight golfers on the points list, headed by Phil Mickelson (6,095.06 points), qualified for the U.S. squad.

Pavin has four at-large picks to use on golfers to complete a team that already includes Mickelson, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Jim Furyk, Steve Stricker, Dustin Johnson, Jeff Overton and Matt Kuchar. Mahan, a Colleyville resident, finished second on the points list to Mickelson, the No. 2 player in the world rankings.

Pavin said Woods’ losing record in 25 career matches at the Ryder Cup (10-13-2) is “not a concern at all” because most of those losses came in matches involving two-man teams.

_ Jimmy Burch

FW First Tee golfers to compete with pros at Champions, LPGA tour events

Golfers from The First Tee of Fort Worth soon will be competing side-by-side with professionals on the Champions Tour and LPGA Tour. The organization’s first shot on the national stage will be struck by Jamie Youree, a senior at North Crowley High School.

Youree is one of 78 junior golfers, and the only one from Tarrant County, selected to compete in the Home Care & Hospice First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, a Champions Tour event scheduled Sept. 3-5 in Pebble Beach, Calif. Youree, 17, will compete with a Champions Tour participant in the pro-junior division, a team event that runs concurrently with individual competition at the 54-hole tournament.

To receive an invitation, nominees must excel on the course and show leadership skills off the course. Each nominee must write an essay explaining how he or she applied a core value learned at The First Tee in their personal lives.

Kevin Long, executive director of Fort Worth’s chapter of The First Tee, said he has nominated a potential participant each year since 2006 but Youree is the first to make the field in Pebble Beach.

“It’s always good to be the person that puts that first stepping stone out there,” said Youree, who posted a career-best round of 69 at a junior event in Abilene earlier this summer. “I’m definitely excited. I’m honored by the opportunity to do something like that.”

If his team plays well, Youree could earn television time on The Golf Channel, which will carry live telecasts of each round. The same opportunity exists for two other Tarrant Country golfers who will participate in The First Tee Mars Challenge, Sept. 10-12 in Rogers, Ark. The pro-junior competition is a first-year feature of the P&G Northwest Arkansas Championship, an LPGA Tour event

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Cain Rocha, a sophomore at Richland High School, and Sara Posey, a senior at Saginaw High School, will represent the Fort Worth chapter at the LPGA event in Arkansas. All three rounds will be televised by The Golf Channel.

Long said the high-profile opportunities for local participants in The First Tee, a non-profit organization that promotes character development through the game of golf, represents “a big, big deal” and “a tremendous honor for our chapter.”

_ Jimmy Burch

FW city men's title to be decided Sept. 4-6

Registration is ongoing for golfers who want to compete in the Fort Worth City Men's Championship, Sept. 4-6. The event is open to male golfers 18 and older. College golfers are ineligible to participate. For information, visit www.fortworthgolf.org or call 817-249-1845.

_ Jimmy Burch

City of Arlington Open set for Aug. 21-22

Entry deadline is Thursday, Aug. 19 for golfers to participate in the 2010 City of Arlington Open, Aug. 21-22 at Tierra Verde Golf Club. Male and female competitors will compete in three divisions: Regular, Senior (over 50) and Super Senior (over 65). For information, visit www.arlingtongolf.com or call 817-478-8500.

Deadline approaches for Arlington charity event

Registration is ongoing for players to compete in the Arlington Life Shelter’s 2010 Golf Tournament for the Children, Sept. 10 at Walnut Creek Country Club in Mansfield. Proceeds benefit the non-profit agency that aids the homeless with employment services, lodging (39,000 nights per year) and food (95,000 meals per year). For information, visit www.arlingtonlifeshelter.org or call 682-518-7343.

_ Jimmy Burch

Benefit tournament for injured HS football player

Friends and family members have organized a benefit tournament for Jason Craig, a tight end on the Alvarado football team who remains paralyzed from the chest down following a car accident in June. The tournament is Oct. 3 at Waterchase Golf Club in Fort Worth. For information, call 817-313-1879 or send an email to syosten33@hotmail.com.

_ Jimmy Burch