Bits and Pieces

-Notre Dame-Miami Sun Bowl preview.  Today at 2.  Go Irish.

-Several gofers did make it out to the golf course yesterday afternoon.  Cory and Tracy Rayhill took on Bric Parker and me for a little skins and flags game late in the day.  Played even through five holes and then Bric and I capitalized on a missed birdie putt at five by the competition to take three skins and two flags on the remaining four holes.  Expect the golf goddess was not very happy with Cory and Tracy at five - Cory had hit a super fade from the tee box that went out of bounds to the right, curved around some trees, landed in play and came to rest just off the green some 25 feet from the pin.  They did have a difficult chip/putt, having to come onto the green and navigate from the upper level to the lower level, which they did, leaving themselves a three footer for the bird.  But that would not drop.  Dang the luck...

-The golf course is open as I write.  Conditions are much better than one would expect with the snow and ice of the last four weeks.  Still, cart paths only today.

-Have a safe and festive New Year's eve.  Eric and his family will be joining us for the Sun Bowl and a year end feast.

Shoals-Loogootee Boys Basketball 2010

Connor Wittmer applauding Clinton Burch after Clinton had rang the bell from three point range, the first of two three pointers that the senior guard hit in the second quarter in last night's game with the Shoals Jugrox. The Lions prevailed in a close one, 57-50. Garrett Bateman was brilliant for the visiting Jugrox, scoring bunches of points (25 to 30) and just missing on a three pointer with under a minute to go that would have brought them to within two of the Lions.

Afternoon Golf?

Heading out to the golf course here directly - spent the morning in Bloomington. 

Boys Basketball - Lions and Hatchets

Just read about the Lions playing the Hatchets last week - boys' basketball.  Guess it wasn't much fun for the Loogootee faithful.  Guess the team has yet to jell in the way many thought it would this year.

Bits and Pieces

-Holidays continue with a visit and Christmas dinner with son #1 and Laura up in Noblesville (Diane and I rode up with son #2, Eric, and his family).  And, yes, I ate too much - I should be on a water diet right now but, alas, am still finding way too many goodies all over the place.  And then there is the regular food as well...  Do get a couple of walks in everyday and some sit ups.

-While there, watched the Colts, the team with the late season running attack and run defense, trash the Oakland Raiders.  And, of course, we all knew that Payton could have scored if he had wanted to on that last everybody-else-go-one-way-while-I-go-the-other-way run around to the left.  Smart play by the Manning lad, stopping before the the goal line and then running out the clock.

-Looking at the weather at the end of the year and the start of the new year, looks like we may have several opportunities to get out and play golf.  Flags are still in the cups.  Need for the remaining snow to melt these next few days.

-Irish play Miami this Friday afternoon, 2pm.  Looking for them to win a bowl game, another one.  (Weather around here is supposed to be rainy with temps in the mid 50's.  Hmm.)

-Tuesday Night Football - might be fun though it does make for a very short week for the two teams.  Was surprised, along with a lot of other people, when the game was postponed.  Times sure have changed, probably for the better.  (PA gov: we're a nation of wusses.  Viking tight end Visanthe Shiancoe adds that if it were in the Midwest, no way would it have been postponed.  Guess that makes us guys here in Indiana part of the 'we're tough' crowd.  Note that the 'domed' stadium is available in several of our NFL cities up here in snow country.  Tough but warm and out of the weather.) 

-Time for breakfast with Diane.

Happy Holidays

You all have a joyous and festive holiday season.

Bits and Pieces

-The Martin County Journal reports that the Shoals girls' basketball team was thumped by the Vincennes Rivet girls, 72-19.  Only 3 points in the second half for the Shoals girls - 34 turnovers for the game.  Rivet girls are apparently again racking up the wins (10 with no losses) and overpowering their opponents in their quest to go back to the State finals for the third consecutive year.

-I see the Loogootee girls are 5 and 5 for the season after losing to the Washington Hatchets on Tuesday night.

-I also see that the Loogootee boys got thumped by Washington last night, 70-34.  Ouch.

-Diane and I are still in Williamsburg where the weather has been mostly cool (30's) and cloudy.  See that you all back in Southern Indiana are having it a little worse.  For the record, December has been a very bad golfing month.  Maybe we'll get a few days in January to get outside and go smack a small hard ball around.

UCON Ladies Set New Standard

Congrats to the young Huskies who throttled Florida State last night, 93-62.  That makes it 89 wins in a row and pushes John Wooden's UCLA record of 88 down a notch in the record books.  Pretty impressive stuff for UCON coach, Gene Auriemma, and his talented basketball players. 

Bits and Pieces

-Colts win!  But of more concern to parents and grandparents of young football players is the injury to Colt receiver Austin Collie.  He went down after another blow to the head in the first half.  Third time this season.  Concussion or concussion related.  Ouch.  (Grandson Lucas' 2010 football season at North Daviess ended early with a concussion.  Yes, we worry for him.)

-Congrats to the UCON Ladies basketball team on their 88th consecutive win, tying the UCLA men for most victories in a row.  Expect they will set a new record here directly (Tuesday night against Florida State).  Now, when is it that they go up against the Notre Dame girls...  (January 8th at Notre Dame - would love for history to kinda repeat itself there and then.)

-Loved the way that NE linesmen carried the ball in last night's Sunday Night Football game.  So much for kicking short to avoid getting the ball into a speedster's hands.  Of course, the Packer coaches might have a thing or two to say to the players this week about their fundamental tackling skills.  Might even run a few drills to sharpen those skills.

-Have to love the Eagle punt return for a winning score to end the Eagle-Giant game.  Giant coach still in the throes of a conniption fit, I would guess.  Life is so much more fun when you add a little spice to it, right?

-Diane and I spent the night in Beckley, WV.  Continue on to Williamsburg, VA, in a bit.  Not warmer here in the mountains of West Virginia.  And Williamsburg isn't going to be much warmer although looks like sunshine and temps in the 40's during our stay.  That's not bad.

-Time for a round of golf, isn't it?

Colts-Jags Later Today

Big game coming up for both teams.  We'll be on the road, heading to Williamsburg, VA.  Don't even know if we'll be able to catch it on radio (bummer).  Mentioned in the Indy Star this morning: 

The Colts are eliminated this afternoon with a loss to the Jaguars and wins by Baltimore and the New York Jets. "The Curse'' will have claimed its latest victim. For the eighth time in the past 10 seasons, the team that lost the Super Bowl will have failed to return to the playoffs the following season.

Of course, we have the other Curse, the one placed on the Colt organization because of management's decision to forgo the perfect season for health reasons just about a year ago - remember the boos when Payton was taken out of that Jet game early in the second half?  Oh boy, that still hurts to even think of it.  Well, we don't have to go there.  As Al Davis used to say: "Just win, baby, win."  That just about takes care of everything.

So, go Colts, beat Jags.

More Johnny

More on Miller:  An article by Jaime Diaz at golfdigest.com referenced by Stephanie Wei.  A goodie.  Wei's interview is great as well.

Stephanie Wei with Johnny Miller

An interview that is lengthy - in the middle of it.  Am a fan of Miller, and Wei as well.

Saturday Night Golfers Identified, etc.

In case you wondered who the golfers were in the photos from last Saturday night's Lion-Ranger game: Ben Hogan, Clyde Wake, John Drake and Bryant Ackerman. 

etcetera:

Was reading the Basketball Program and saw a lot of stuff I didn't know not having been raised in this community.  Like Virgil Harper was best in field goal percentage back in the '61-62 season; and Chad Wade, Nick Toy, Steve Downey, Alan Burch and Mark Potts having seasons where they had the most three pointers with Steve's 60 in '96-97 being the most ever.  Also saw our business card displayed for the first time (on p21, if you missed it).  Note that the golf course somehow got relocated to 'Highway 31 North'.  Not really though I grew up just off of 31 up in South Bend.  Lots of other stuff in the program - makes for interesting reading, especially if you're looking for fellow golfers.  More than a few in there.

South Korea Celebrating Its Lady Golfers!

South Korea celebrates its lady golfers with an awards ceremony done up in grand style and televised.  How neat.  Seoul Sisters has coverage.

Bits and Pieces

-From waggleroom.com: LPGA wants out of Golf Channel contract.  That's good news.  Besides not getting the Golf Channel here at our house on the hill, what they did offer was generally tape delayed.  Would love to see the ladies do some streaming.  Of course, maybe a network or two will come up with an offer.

-Shasta Averyhardt makes LPGA Q School cut. She'll be a priority list 16 golfer, meaning she will play some LPGA events and have to earn her way into others.  She joins Joe Bramlett as African Americans playing in the Bigs in 2011.

-The Jets coach who tripped a Dolphin during live action on Sunday - reminded me of Woody Hayes, the Ohio State football coach (and certainly one of the significant people in Bobby Knight's development!).  Coach Hayes...

...was fired in 1978 after having a temper tantrum during the Gator Bowl against Clemson and striking a Clemson linebacker named Charlie Bauman after intercepting a pass to clinch the game for the Tigers as well as two of his own players.  Ohio State was embarrassed, and they had no choice but to immediately fire Woody Hayes.  The man who was so famous for his temper would lose his job because of it.  (From bucknuts.com.)

Temper, temper, boys.

-One other NFL note: Thought my old favorites, the Oakland Raiders, were going to do the Colts a favor by knocking off the Jags on Sunday.  But it didn't pan out with the Jags coming from behind to win a close one.  Dang.

-One week from today, Winter begins.  That doesn't necessarily mean colder weather (we've had our share of that already) but it does mean longer days, more daylight.  Hurray!

-On a sad note:  Our condolences to Tony Wease on the loss of his wife this past week.  Judith Wease passed away at the IU Medical Center in Indianapolis early on the morning of December 8th.  She was also the sister of a second Lakeview golfer, Mike Strawn.

-If you were watching Butler play Mississippi Valley State last Saturday night, you could have caught son Eric with wife Colleen and boys Lucas and Ian in the stands.  Son Marty and Laura had them up for the game.  Butler won the first half by twenty-three, MVS the second but only by three points.  Wonder if they stayed for the whole game.  Should have, for the boys sake...

-Getting on with the day...

LPGA Best Shots of the Year

Go here to take a gander at the five candidates.  I voted for Se Ri Pak's shot that led to a birdie and an overtime win.  Alas, the winner was Michelle Wie's hole-in-one at the Canadian Open.  Other candidates included Cristie Kerr, Yani Tseng and Ai Miyazato.  Cool stuff.

Around the Arena: Golfers Everywhere!

Bits and Pieces

-Yesterday was good enough for golf here in Loogootee. The Boys - Jack Lents, Ken Hudson (putting), Dick Lemmon and Jack Butcher went at it. Here the foursome is at #7 where Jack Lents got the flag with the only ball on the green from the tee, and Dick Lemmon got the skin with a nifty eight foot putt for the only par.

-Eric was also out there, seeding the fairways before the Saturday rains.

-Was hoping that those rains would hold off till later today and that we might get a chance for a scramble. But doesn't look like that's going to happen. Rains already here. Dang.

-Loogootee Lion-Forest Park Ranger basketball game last night. The Lions stayed close for three quarters but were thumped by the visitors in the fourth. Final score was 50-38, I think. Left at the end of three and listened to most of the rest of it on the radio with Greg Bateman (he's good, very good...).

-Over in Dubai: One of the LET ladies who is capping her career (because of hip problems) has won the tournament. Iben Tinning finished at elevan under while Michelle Wie came in at five under and in a tie for 6th. Guess the Wie Lass can rest her ailing back and look forward to next year now. (Thinking back to my college days - would have been kind of neat to pack up the books and the clubs and take off for 72 holes of golf on the other side of the world. Would have been a cool break from the usual campus routine.)

-Update: from bankokbobby:

Michelle Wie shot the low round of the day, a clean 5 birdie, no bogey 67, which lifted her into a tie for 6th.

-Time to get up and stretch and do a little walking. Btw, did get a clean bill of health from Dr. Poirier and Company. After the ER run a few weeks back, had a follow up blood draw and an office visit three days later (last Thursday). Cholesterol is a little high but the ratio is below 5; other things look good. So, prescription for staying healthy: eat right, exercise more, think good thoughts, and, of course, play as much golf as you can. Guess it helps to have good company and to laugh a bunch and to have a couple of passions in your life as well.

Bits and Pieces

-The Wie Lass is eight back after three rounds over in Dubai at the Omega Ladies Masters.  It didn't help that she double bogeyed the par five final hole.  She stands tied for 17th place behind leaders Denmark’s Iben Tinning and England’s Melissa Reid. Golfers have made up eight strokes in the final round and gone on to win.  Do I remember that a guy with the first name of Tiger did that not so long ago, maybe at an event in Dubai?  (Somewhere overseas...) 

-Colts win!  Beat the Titans in a close one, 30-28.  Looked like a blowout early on with the Colts going up 21 to zip, but Tennessee came back with a touchdown to close the first half and then another to start the second.  A nifty catch and run by Garcon late in the fourth quarter led to a three pointer that extended the lead to nine points.  Still, the Titans came charging back, scored their final touchdown with zero time left on the clock.  Good thing, right?!  Nice to win but I would say the Colts still have a long way to go.  I mean, they just managed to send a dismal team to its sixth consecutive defeat.  By two points.  In a close match.

-On the local scene: Sunny and in the 40's this afternoon.  Does that sound like golfing weather?  Depends on the wind.  Will watch closely.

Bits and Pieces

-Michael Wilbon letting us know who he is as he starts a regular writing gig with espn.com.  He's good, very good.

-Michelle Wie triple bogeys her 17th hole and falls four off the pace down in Dubai.  From mercurynews.com and the AP:

The 10th-ranked Wie, battling a bad back for weeks, was in second for much of the day after making two birdies on her first nine holes and an eagle after the turn. Wie was at 3 under before No. 8, where she hit her drive out of bounds and the next shot into a bunker. She finished with a birdie her final hole. 

Should have a little momentum with that birdie at her last hole.  England's Florentyna Parker leads after the first round with a 67.  (Don't think I've ever heard that name before - Florentyna.  Kinda pretty though a mouthful.)

-Looks like tomorrow's weather with a high of 43 is the closest we're going to come to golfing weather for a while.  Any golf withdrawal pains yet?  I've been putting here at home but nothing else - no chipping, no driving, no pitch shots to three feet or ten feet or thirty feet.  That means a whole lot of freshness the next time we can tee it up.

-Haven't celebrated a golf babe for a while.  How about Anna Rawson, who is being highlighted over at golf-babes.com? 

-More golf babes:  Andia Winslow.  Note in the write-up that she has played in one LPGA event and that she is African American.  More about Andia and Black lady golfers from blackvoices.com:

Winslow, a Seattle native, is the niece of former NFL great Kellen Winslow, and she claims that legacy proudly and takes it seriously. "The Winslow name is associated with strong competitors and I'm proud of that. Uncle Kellen is pretty good at golf. We are a family of competitors."

And that competitive spirit is what she intends to put on display when she becomes the first black woman since LaRee Pearl Sugg in 2001 to compete in an LPGA event. Indeed, if Winslow does what she has planned -- turn pro and play the LPGA tour full time -- she will become only the fourth African American to do so. Before Sugg, Renee Powell played more than a dozen years, from 1967 to 1980, and tennis great Althea Gibson played the women's Tour from 1964 to 1971 after her retirement from tennis.

 That answers a question I raised the other day, doesn't it?  And I'm sorry my interest in golf was not up to par back in the late '60's - I remember Althea Gibson and what a great athlete she was but have no memory of her playing golf.

-Colts and Titans tonight.  Both teams hurting bad.  A good match?  Or a blowout by Payton and company?  (A blowout by the Titans is not an option, right?)  Kravitz: "Must win.  Will win."  In any case, go Colts!

Lakeview League 2010 Players Average Gross Scores and Rank

Posted here and can also be reached through the Lakeview website's main page here.  Those players who were in more than one league: the lowest gross average was used in the ranking; the duplicate averages are listed at the bottom.

Bits and Pieces

-On Golf, Music and Love.  Michelle Wie and The Partridge Family.  I like it.

-Short article on Se Ri Pak, godmother/big sister to the bevy of super South Korean women golfers now starring on the LPGA.  Se Ri had quite a rookie year back in 1998, the LPGA Championship and the US Open.  More from wikipedia.com here.

-PGA's Q School survivors of note: Billy Mayfair, a guy who's been around the block a few times; and Joe Bramlett, just the second player of black heritage to play on the big stage (well, in recent times, anyway).  Complete listing of Q School graduates from Stephanie Wei's blog here.

-Question:   How many ladies of black descent have played on their biggest stage?

-Lots of chatter about Payton Manning and the Colts, most of it not very flattering.  Anybody got a name for the 'curse' yet?  Maybe we should wait a little bit before we name it.  As the believers would say, we ain't out of it yet.  And, btw, did you notice what other NFL/AFC team did some stomping last night?  Those hated...  Well, bet you already know.

-More cold today but the sun's out.  Think warm thoughts, or go back and listen to The Partridge Family song again.  Think I'll go have breakfast with Diane and read a bit - John Cassidy's dot.con.

Bits and Pieces

-Colts lose another.  Payton continues to throw interceptions.  People wondering if the Colts have had it - the good years are over and gone.  Still can get into the playoffs if they win out (tks, David) but what are the chances of that happening?  (Coming up in a few weeks will be the one year anniversary of the lets-rest-the-starters-and-get-them-healthy game.  You remember, the day the perfect season was thrown away.  Here's hoping the consequent curse is far shorter than the one the Red Sox had to live with after trading away Babe Ruth back in 1918 - the so called Curse of the Bambino, one that lasted 86 years.  Note: Saw Fever Pitch up at Marty's in Indy Saturday night.  Note 2: What curse are the Cubbies living under?) 

-McDowell and Woods traded punches over the last several holes yesterday.  That double bogey by Tiger at #13 was a killer but McDowell sure showed that he was a world class golfer with the bogey at #17 - could have been a two or three stroke turn there but McDowell did a little magic with a pitch and then a putt that got him a bogey; and then his two 20 something putts at #18 to tie and then beat Tiger on the first playoff hole.  Tiger played well, kinda; McDowell played five strokes better.

-From lpga.com, wrap up of last week's tournament and the awards for the season.  Big winners: Hjorth (the tournament), Tseng (Player of the Year), Choi (Vare Trophy for low average and money list).

-Time for breakfast on a cold and wintry Monday.

Colts Go Up By One With Touchdown On Blocked Punt

That's more like it!

McDowell Catches and Beats Woods at 1st Playoff Hole

Dang...

Bits and Pieces for a Sunday Afternoon

-Looks like Notre Dame (the Catholics) is going to play Miami (the Convicts, supposedly reformed) in the Sun Bowl on New Year's Eve.  That's cool.

-The Lady Winners:
    -Maria Hjorth wins the LPGA Tour Championship by one over Amy Yang.  Yang quadruple bogeyed her third hole to make it an uphill struggle all day.
  -Yani Tseng wins the Rolex Player of the Year;  Kerr or Choi had to win to overcome her lead.
  -Na Yeon Choi wins both the Vare Trophy (scoring average) and the money title.

Pretty impressive stuff.  Too bad they had such cool weather down in Orlando for the tournament.  Might want to pick a for sure warmer climate for the final event next year.

-Michelle Wie Kia commercial (son Marty brought it to my attention).  Would love to have her drive up to Lakeview for a little golf.

-Woods and McDowell going at it in Thousand Oaks.  Lots of pars since coverage started.  Before, TW gave up 75% of the four stroke lead he had, missing some almost automatic short putts.

-And the Colts are behind in their game with Dallas.  Payton threw another interception after Dallas had marched and scored with the opening kickoff.  Not good.

Bits and Pieces

-Tiger still rolling.  Goes out with youngster Rory McIlroy, plays bogey free, fires a six under 66 and finds himself up by four at the end of two days.  Now for the third day.  One shot at a time, TW.

-The Girls: Amy Yang still on top with two rounds almost completely in the books.  Ai Miyazato and Jiyai Shin get to play another day - they are at the cut line with +8 scores but probably won't make the low 30 after today's play.  Na Yeon Choi is even, two back of Cristie Kerr who is five behind the leader.  Lot of ground to make up in 36 holes.  From lpga.com, the scoop on Choi:

Rolex Rankings No. 5 Na Yeon Choi is still within striking distance of the leader. Choi, who donated $30,000 to LPGA-USGA Girls Golf this week, sits seven strokes behind Yang. Choi is vying to win the LPGA money title, Vare Trophy, Rolex Player of the Year and become the new Rolex Rankings No. 1. She is the only LPGA player in a position to sweep all four awards. 

Don't expect she's thinking about any of that (yea, right...) but concentrating on the job at hand - make the right club choice, make a good swing. 

-Did you see that David Johnson (and wife) think the bird on the pole is a Cooper's Hawk or maybe a Redtailed Hawk?  Thanks for the input, David.


-For all of us down here in southern Indiana, a bit of winter with a dusting of snow during the night and cold for the weekend.  Better curl up with a good book or bring in some movies.  Don't forget the Loogootee Christmas Parade tomorrow.  Starts at 2.

Bits and Pieces

-Tiger up by one at Thousand Oaks!  Could have been two but he bogeyed #18.  Popped up his drive?  Jeesh.  Now the test: string four good rounds together; lets start with a second and worry about the third tomorrow.  Good round, TW.  McDowell and McIlroy one back at -6.

-And the girls, way back east in Orlando: Lots of trouble for the several fighting for the year end honors - Ai Miyazto probably shot herself out of the tournament with a round of +8, 13 strokes behind the leaders (Amy Yang and Seon Hwa Lee); Jiyai Shin is also in trouble with a first day +5; Yani Tseng is at +3 while Na Yeon Choi (she gave back five stokes on holes 13 thru 15 with two doubles and a single bogey - rough stretch) and Suzann Petersen are both at +1.  Cristie Kerr leads the group of contenders at -1.  They've already started round 2.

-Note from Dave Brown who's way down in South Texas:  He's gonna bring back a truck load of warm air when he's home for Christmas.  We appreciate that, Dave.  We're missing those hot days of summer.  Btw, 71 and mostly sunny for El Paso today; up here in the north, 39 for a high with mostly cloudy skies - sunny as I write though.

-Stopped in and talked with good neighbor Jack Lents yesterday.  He's gotten another couple of Warrior drivers he's wanting to try out.  Also went up to Graber Post and chatted with Duane Wagler with golf being mentioned a time or two.  And Brian Ader stopped over briefly last night - he needed stuff for the Christmas Parade coming up this Sunday.

-Missed the Stroll in downtown Loogootee last night.  Shoulda gone.  Oh well.  Gonna get on with today.  Sure would like to play a round of golf.

Barn Owl?

The big bird dropped out of the trees on the other side of #3 green around 5:20 this afternoon. Swooped down in front of me and then flew off to the south and finally settled on the distant power line support. Reminded me of ows that did the same kind of thing over along Lost River when we lived out there. Probably still do it even though we live over here now. So, do you know your bird silhouettes?

Bits and Pieces

-Predictions for Tiger Woods in 2011 from Pat Mixon over at the Bleacher Report.  Mixon has him returning to winning ways and winning several tournaments including the Masters.  How about this week's tournament?  How does he fare with seventeen other golfers who are out there in Thousand Oaks?  He has won the last two times he's played in this event, 2006 and 2007.  He goes out with Steve Striker at 2:10 later today, the 6th of nine pairings.  I'm herewith predicting a win and hoping that doesn't jinx him.

-Great News category:  LPGA allowing guys who have become gals to play on their tour.  As I may have said before, don't expect any great rush for SRS (that would be 'sex reassignment surgery'), for the sake of a buck or a chance to move up to the forward tees out at the golf course.  (Wonder when the LPGA put that rule on the books?  Here's Stephanie Wei's blog on the story which also includes a photo of Lana Lawless, the transgendered man/woman who filed the lawsuit which sparked the change in the rules.)

-With that little problem taken care of, the ladies tee it up today down in Orlando in their final event of the year.  Several really good golfers going for a variety of prizes in this tournament.  Over at Mostly Harmless, Ai Miyazato is the favorite.  I'm sticking with Na Yeon Choi with Yani Tseng chasing.

-Michelle Wie Imaging:  In case you've missed photos of the Wie Lass these last several weeks.  Here she is in glitzy evening ware.

-Somebody ran off with all the good weather while we were over in St. Louis.  That's not fair, is it?

Bits and Pieces

-Irish win!  Not 28-3 but 20-16.  Plenty good enough for me.  Lots of rain and wet and cold out in the LA Coliseum.  Sure appreciate those two dropped passes by those Trojans in the 4th quarter.  Saved victory for the Fighting Irish.  End regular season with three straight wins.  What a surprise...

-Colts dominated by the Chargers.  Second half went exactly the opposite of what I, and thousands of other Colt fans, wanted.  You do know what all this bad stuff is, don't you?  Football gods and goddesses getting at the Colts for giving up on last year's perfect season.

-Still in St. Louis where it is just starting to rain.  Expect Loogootee will be getting it in about five hours.  Not very good golfing weather.

-Ladies finish up the year down in Orlando with the LPGA Tour Championship this week.  Michelle Wie not playing - resting her back, finishing up her school work (?), getting ready for the Dubai Ladies Masters which takes place a week later.  Look for Na Yeon Choi to to do well in the championship with Yani Tseng just a step behind her.

-Gotta go nap - lots of walking over her, no golfing.

Bits and Pieces

-Two days after Thanksgiving - hope you had a good one - and still in St. Louis with family.  We had the big meal yesterday so am still feeling the effects of turkey and all the fixings.  Looking forward to an outing at the St. Louis museum.  Did the zoo yesterday - been a long time since my last zoo.  Animals - amazing.  (The stinky prize goes to the Penguin-Puffin exhibit - smell of fish just this side of rotten.)

-Tiger's media blitz continues - self generated? media inspired? musings on the one year anniversary of the hydrant crash that changed history?  Whatever.  Enough is enough.  Just go out and win, Woods.

-Irish and USC tonight at 8pm Loogootee time.  That's 7pm St. Louie time.  Might be a competitive game after eight years of USC domination, Trojans are 7 and 4, Irish are 6 and 5.  Domers want competitive and a win; even better, an Irish blowout.  Another 28-3 final would be very nice.

-Golf stuff: On shaft flex:  From about.com:  Good stuff here - take a look especially if you are unhappy the way you're hitting your driver.

-Time to go.  Got a singing engagement with granddaughter Leah from the west coast - Yankee Doodle Dandy.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Certainly we have a lot to be thankful for, not the least of which is the return of the rains.  (Looks like Mother Nature is trying to catch up for the last three months in just a week - that includes today.  I don't think she's there yet.) 

Have a good Turkey Day.

Bits and Pieces

-More on Dick Denson: Did you read the caption on the photo of Dick?  Says that he and his buddy, and other electronic technicians, thought Julie London's oscilloscope lines were the best looking.  And for submariners around the world today, whose lines do you think they consider the best?

-espn.com sure has been writing about Tiger.  Seems like an article a day, each a headliner.  Today it's Jason Sobel linking TW with Dr. Seuss and "Oh, the Places You'll Go!".  Cute but a stretch.  Must be a slow week in golf news.

-Did have several late golfers out at Lakeview yesterday, including Bric Parker, Curt Johnson, Cory Rayhill and Tracy Rayhill.  They were pulling down the curtains on the day but also getting in a bit of skins and flags.  Caught up with them at hole #5 where Cory had to sink a testy little five footer to keep his dad from 'getting rich'.  He did.  Don't know how it all turned out but they were all square at that point, each of them with zero skins, zero flags.

-Today's golfing weather: Not nice here in Loogootee.  Rainy and cool.  Still in the mid 30's here on top of the hill.  Yuk.

-Tomorrow: Turkey Day.  We'll be in St. Louis.  Diane and I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.  See if you can eat sensibly and avoid that 'stuffed turkey' feeling.

Membership Renewal Cards

Membership renewal cards have been mailed (yesterday and today).  If you don't get one, that means we don't have your address - or it slipped through the cracks somewhere along the line.  Membership fees for 2011 can be found here.  All customers are invited to take advantage of the early bird special on memberships, a $15 discount if purchased prior to January 1, 2011.

Dick Denson Photos

These were supposed to go up with the Dick Denson blog entry yesterday.

Bits and Pieces

-Old news department: Colts lose.  One they shoulda, coulda won.  Dang.  And against the hated Pats.  Hate to think of football in Boston in January.  Maybe that other team will flub up on their way to the Super Bowl long before they get to the divisional championships.  Of course, then again maybe we'll have surprisingly good weather in Boston in January.  First things first - getting there.  Expect that means winning out.

-Saw Doug Denson (and Rita) yesterday pulling out of the CVS drive-thru window.  He had just finished up his shoulder surgery, had it iced up and was heading home feeling as if the operation had gone better than the opposite shoulder years back.  Don't expect he's looking forward to several weeks of down time and rehab.  Good time to catch up on his reading.  Let me see now - expect there a couple of books around here that would hold his interest.  John Irving comes to mind - Owen Meany, The World According to Garp.  Janet Evanovich and her Stephanie Plum books, fifteen or so of them, are fun.

-Did you stop everything and just listen to the storms last night?  Been a long time since we have heard bunches of rain and thunder in this neck of the woods.  What was even better, the storms came in streaks: a five minute downpour here, a break of five minutes and then another downpour and then another break and...  Well, you get the idea.  If you missed it the first time, old Mother Nature was making sure you had the opportunity to catch it the next time.  Neat stuff - I actually went out on the porch and took it all in  a couple of times.

-Better get some golfing in today and tomorrow.  Rain and cold come in starting with Thanksgiving Day. 

-Time for a walk out at the golf course.

Dick Denson as a Young Man

Doug Denson brought in a copy of the March 22, 1963 issue of Life magazine yesterday. The magazine's cover story was about life on a Polaris sub. Not any Polaris sub but rather the sub that his dad was on. That's Dick Denson with his feet up on the desk in the top photo. If I remember correctly, Dick served over in the Atlantic. I was over in the Pacific at the time, trolling the waters of the Far East on board the LST1166. Interesting stuff.

Bits and Pieces

-Saturday Morning Scramble Winners: Dave Wininger and Joe Allen had a round of 31 to easily beat three other teams in yesterday's scramble.  Short Jeffers and Lee Wininger carded a 33 while Doug Denson and Wayne Souerdike along with Mike Bird and Tracy Rayhill each shot even par.

-Six of the eight scramble players went on to play nine holes of alternating shot with Short Jeffers and Wayne Souerdike's 35 nipping Doug Denson and Mike Bird's 36.  Dave Wininger and Joe Allen finished with a disappointing 41.

-Irish win!  Beat Army, 27-3, as defense again shines.  That makes them bowl eligible.  Of course, most of us are looking at the next game against hated rival USC.  That takes place out in LA next Saturday at 5pm.  Go Irish!

-Had a little scare yesterday afternoon:  While in the clubhouse late in the afternoon, got a little headache which was followed by nausea which was followed by numbness in my left arm.  Went home, told Diane, sat down for a bit, continued to feel terrible, and then had Diane take me down to Memorial's emergency room.  Two hours later, after tests and blood lettings and conversations, and feeling much better, returned home (just in time for the ND-Army game start).  Nothing wrong with my head or my heart - the paper they gave me says I was evaluated for a stroke.  So, after all is said and done, what really happened might have been this:  Head ache - caused by hunger - hadn't eaten since an 8:30 breakfast; nausea -something I ate Friday?  And numbness in my left arm - a pinched nerve - been socking heating pads to that shoulder the past few days - thought it was stress.  Probably could have taken a little nap after a bowl of soup and been just fine, right?

-Looks like our good weather is finally going to end with rain coming in tomorrow and much cooler weather arriving in the area Thursday.  Better get out to the golf course today and get in 27, 18 anyway.

-Go Colts, beat Pats.

-Time for a walk, a heart smart walk.

Saturday Scramble Start Time

10am today.

More Loons Plus Friends

They were out in the middle of the lake earlier today but no concert today, not even a single call.

Friday Evening Basketball: Lady Rox 61 Lady Lions 46

Loon?

Taken out at Boggs earlier today. And here's the loon call. Definitely what we heard out there. So, they stick around?

p.s.  More like this, a loon concert, since there were several calling out.

Bits and Pieces

-Interesting stuff category:

In the history of collegiate sports, there are two major sports records that may never be eclipsed. They are both the longest team winning streaks in the most prominent of American college sports; football and basketball.

 

The record for consecutive games won at the Division 1-A level is 88 by UCLA from 1971 to 1974. During that time period, the Bruins won the national championship 3 times, from 1971 to 1973. The record for consecutive games won by a Division 1 college football program is 47 from 1953 to 1957 by the University of Oklahoma. The Sooners won national championships in 1955 and 1956.

 

The Oklahoma streak started on October 10, 1953 with a 19-14 defeat of the Texas Longhorns. It ended on November 16, 1957 with a loss to Notre Dame, 0-7. The UCLA basketball streak started January 30, 1971 with a 74-61 victory over Cal Santa Barbara.  It ended January 19, 1974 with a loss to Notre dame, 70-71.

Notre Dame ended both streaks with 17 years separating the two events. This is common knowledge in the sports world. But, what fewer people know is that both streaks started following a loss to Notre Dame, as well. Oklahoma lost to Notre Dame in the Sooners’ season opener of 1953 on September 26, 28-21. The following week, they tied Pitt, 7-7. UCLA also lost to Notre Dame in basketball on January 23, 1971, seven days before their record streak began. (link)

I  knew that about the basketball being bookended by Notre Dame wins but don't recall ever having been aware of the Oklahoma streak being of the same ilk.  Of course, maybe that tie with Pitt the following week clouded the issue; certainly, the 'winning' streak started for Oklahoma following the tie with Pitt.  Very interesting stuff.

-Dave Smith steps down as Lady Lion basketball coach.  Holy Cow!  Doesn't the season start like tomorrow?  Good luck to the new coach and to Hannah LaMar and the rest of the team.

-And, talking about Lion basketball:  Looks like the boys are looking pretty good this year (talking with Jeff Doyle and Colin Nelson earlier today).  Lots of tall guys on the team this year.

-Adam Williams bowled a 300 game.  That's impressive.  Now how does one relate that to golf?  Not a par round - lots of those around.  Not shooting your age - though rare, it happens - our own Jack Butcher has several of them, Jack Lents has had a couple, just to mention a couple of guys who immediately come to mind.  How about a birdie round?  Think that's a really rare thing, so rare I have yet to hear of one.  A hole-in-one is more luck than skill and the more you try to get one, the less likely it's gonna happen.  I don't know.  Maybe there isn't an equivalent achievement in golf.  Got any ideas?

-Walked the golf course a little bit ago.  Eric was putting the finishing touches to the repair of the watering system up at #5 tee box.  And we heard the loons out on the lake - don't know if this is a stop over for them or a winter home.  Don't recall them being around in past winters; probably just a visit.

-Looks like Saturday will be good weather for golf.  Scramble scheduled to start at 10am.  Tomorrow also looks like a good golf day.  I like that. 

p.s.  Just saw in the Loogootee Tribune that Tya Harmon made 1st team all state in volleyball (her Mom probably told me that earlier today and it didn't register...).  That's impressive too!  Congrats to Tya, granddaughter of our own Patty Bowling.

Wilma's Funeral Mass

Today at 10am.  St. John's in Loogootee.

Remembering Wilma: Photos Fall 2010

Bits and Pieces

-Yesterday's all day rain - it's been forever since that happened around here.  And no golf on a Tuesday afternoon?  Something not right about that...

-The lady golfers are taking their season to the very end to decide who is the year's best.  From lpga.com:

Races too close to call; LPGA Tour Championship to decide Rolex Rankings No.1, Rolex Player of the Year, Vare Trophy and LPGA money title

And those in contention: 

Six different LPGA Tour players - Jiyai Shin (South Korea), Suzann Pettersen (Norway), Cristie Kerr (United States), Yani Tseng (Taiwan), Na Yeon Choi (South Korea) and Ai Miyazato (Japan) - are fighting to the end for the most coveted awards on the LPGA Tour. The battle for Rolex Rankings No. 1, Rolex Player of the Year, Vare Trophy and the LPGA money title will culminate at the season-finale LPGA Tour Championship at Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando, Florida, December 2-5, 2010. 

Global tour with five different countries represented in the six contending for the trophies.  The only country with more than one - South Korea.  To be expected, what with all the great lady golfers that country has produced in the last decade.  


-Jim Furyk - POY.  I agree.


-More lady stuff:  UCON lady basketballers won last night, beating Baylor by a single point.  Their winning streak now stands at 80.  Pretty impressive stuff.  Do they get to 88?  That's the record held by you know whom and snapped by you know whom, right?  Answer here if you're having a little memory problem this morning.


-Heading to the golf course for a walk.  Was out there just after five last night - walking in the rain, wondering if the grass was going to green up before winter set in.

The Boys at #9

Ken Hudson, Jack Butcher, Dick Lemmon and Jack Lents. Only one hit the green with their tee shot. Do the pictures reveal who it was? This was action out at Lakeview last Monday afternoon.

Wilma's Viewing and Funeral Mass

Viewing from 3pm to 8pm on Wednesday, November 17th, at Brocksmith's in Loogootee.

Funeral mass at 10am on Thursday, November 18th, at St. John's in Loogootee.

Bits and Pieces

-Irish surprise everybody, I mean everybody, with big win over Utah last Saturday.  Both Eric and I held our breath and kept our fingers crossed and still expected the guys in gold and blue to collapse in the 2nd half.  They didn't.  Wow.  Where have these guys been?!  (Special teams and defense started it off - the excellent play; offense joined in on the fun.)

-Colts win with defense; offense takes the day off.  Now isn't that surprise #2 for the weekend?!

-Michael Vick super in Monday Night Football.  When did people stop thinking and mentioning dogs whenever his name came up?  Might have something to do with winning.  Expect all mention of lady friends will disappear when Tiger starts winning again as well.

-In-Kyung Kim also super with her fourth round -8 to win Lorena's tournament down in Mexico on Sunday.

-At Lakeview yesterday:  The Boys were out - Jack Lents, Jack Butcher, Ken Hudson, Dick Lemmon.  Jack L. continues to take the flags though only four of the six yesterday - Dick Lemmon got the other two by beating out JL at #7 the second time around - by a smigin.  Yes, he wanted all six; and, yes, the others thought he got four too many.

-Tony Wease, Charlie Sheetz and Denny Wagoner also played in the cooler weather of the day.  Tracy Rayhill and Tony Trambaugh came in after work and probably got all nine holes in.

-Looks like more cool today along with some rain.  Might be a good day to curl up with a book and sit by the wood stove.  I have E. Annie Proulx's Postcards next on my list.  How about you?

-Guess I'll go get a walk in at the golf course before the rain sets in...

Wilma Bateman, December 23, 1936 - November 14, 2010

Wilma, our good friend and golf family member extraordinaire, died this morning shortly after 11am at Jasper Memorial Hospital. May she rest in peace.

Souerdike, Wininger and Ader Tie With Ninth Hole Birdie, Win With Tiebreaker

Brian Ader's tee shot at the ninth hole got the ball on the green and Wayne Souerdike's putt for birdie got the team to four under and into a tie with Mark Potts and Joe Doyle in the Saturday Morning Scramble at Lakeview.  The tiebreaker went in favor of the Souerdike team, making a final hole bogey by Potts and Doyle especially bitter tasting.  Potts and Doyle had cruised through the first eight holes with birds at holes 2, 4, 5, 7 and 8 before stumbling over a four foot downhill sliding putt at their last hole, #1.  Souerdike, Wininger and Ader, on the other hand, were most efficient on their round, carding six pars, birdies at holes 2 and 9, and an eagle at #6.  Lee Wininger's fairway shot at #6 went through the trees guarding the green, just missed the stick and came to rest just off the green about twenty feet away.  Wayne rolled it in from there for the eagle.  Three other teams participated with Tracy Rayhill and Greg Potts along with Dave Wininger and Kevin Byron coming in one stroke shy of the tiebreaker with scores of 32.  Mike Bird and Joe Allen struggled throughout their round and finished with an even par round of 35.

P.S. Tracy Rayhill and Greg Potts also bogeyed their last hole, falling out of a tie for first place.

Bits and Pieces: Lakeview's Top 20 - The Other Five

-Defending champ withdraws at Lorena Ochoa Invitational.  The Wie Lass opens with a birdie but then goes +7 on the remaining 17 holes and withdraws from the tournament because of back problems.  Dang the luck and get better fast, Michelle.  With her history with injuries, good to take action sooner rather than later.

-Her playing partner, Cristie Kerr, shot 14 strokes better and leads with a score of 8 under par.  Yani Tseng also struggled with a +4 round.

-Tiger still struggling in Melbourne.  He fired a one over in his second round and trails the leader by 8.  Jeesh.

-Lakeview's top twenty in the 2000's - the other five.  Had to go back and look at the league records to come up with the other five (first fifteen in Wednesday's B&P):  Ron Wilde, Terry Padgett, Ron Hettle, Al Kavanaugh and Tyler Kidwell. 

-Top women golfers at Lakeview in the 2000's:  Three come to mind - Susan Eyler, Susan Fee, and Wilma Bateman.

-No noon scramble yesterday - not enough interest.  It was a lovely day, another one, and the course did see plenty of golfers coming out and taking advantage of it.

-Saturday Morning Scramble will start at 9am.  Yes, we're going to beat the rain which is scheduled to get here about 11.  Would be nice to get a little rain, don't you think?  The course is crispy.

-Eric finished up with the tee boxes.  Aerated, fertilized, seeded, sanded, dragged.  Expect he's watering them right about now.  Guess I'll head over and take a walk.

Bits and Pieces

-Out at Lakeview yesterday, Charlie Sheetz carded a 42 on the back nine of his 18 holes with Tony Wease.  That's pretty good shooting for the little guy who would have netted somewhere in the mid 20's if it was a league event.  He even beat Tony straight up, by two strokes.  Tony had his good nine on the front, firing a 39.

-Curt Johnson and Tracy Rayhill challenged Tony Trambaugh and me to skins and flags late yesterday afternoon - we started about 4:10.  Didn't think we would get nine holes in but we did, finishing at 6.  The match ended in a two to two tie, Tony and I getting two skins and Curt and Tracy, a skin and a flag.  Curt was the only one of us to hit a par three green, #7.  That's about 1 in 12, an 8% average.  Not very impressive.  Did see some pretty good putting along the way:  Tracy's 15 footer for bird at #5 after I had putted one in from just off the collar for bird, each about 15 foot with hills and ridges to navigate.  Tracy again on #8, an 18 footer for bird which put them up by one.  And then Tony's 10 footer for a sand save par at #9 which also tied the skins and flags after the other guys' bogey on the hole.  Good stuff.

-Scramble at noon today.

-Mickelson and Woods each four off the pace in separate events on the other side of the world.  Mickelson is in Singapore and Woods is in Melbourne.

-Michelle Wie tees it up today down in Mexico.  She's paired with Julie Inkster and Cristie Kerr in the last pairing to go out today at the Lorena Ochoa Invitational.  Predictions and complete pairings from Mostly Harmless here.

-Sam Potts and Wilma Bateman still not at home - keep them in your prayers.

-Breakfast time here on the hill.  Think I'll have the usual fare - oatmeal with chopped walnuts, raisins, crasins, and a bit of milk.  Might even top it off with some sliced banana.  Yum.

Bits and Pieces: Top 20 Lakeview Golfers in the 2000's

-Top twenty lady golfers of the new century from The Bleacher Report.  Take a gander at Michelle Wie's swing here.  Note the low and slow takeaway and then the ferocious forward part of her swing that has made her the longest driver on the LPGA this year.

-Top of the list: Annika Sorenstam, Lorena Ochoa, Karrie Webb, Se Ri Pak.

-Here's a question for you:  Who would be on your list of the top twenty golfers at Lakeview in the 2000's?  Let me see, from off the top of my head (in no particular order): Wininger, Denson, Jeffers, Kidwell, Kidwell, Butcher, Bird, Eyler, Potts, Hager.  That's a quick ten.  Others:  Muessig, Gilbertson, Byron, Wagler.  Well, that's a start.  Any others come to mind?

-So, what's with the recent spate of top European golfers announcing that they will not play on the PGA next year?

-Pacers have fun up in Indy last night, especially in the third quarter (54 point quarter) in their game against the Nuggets.  Yes, they won.  Stand 3 and 3 in the young NBA season.  (Do we care?  Well, some do...)

-Tomorrow's scramble will start at 12 noon.  Lot nicer weather this week than last week.

-Yesterday's scramble started at 3:30 kinda - first team off at 3:35, second at 3:40 something, Trenton and I a little later.  Could have started it at 3:45 as it turned out.  Each of the three teams played separately and circled the course and were done with plenty of daylight left.  If the weather cooperates - calling for sunny with a high of 54 at the moment, will try a 3:45 start next Tuesday.

-Time for breakfast.  Get outside and enjoy the super November weather.

Denson and Potts Team Up For Scramble Win

Doug Denson and Greg Potts showed up at Lakeview on Tuesday afternoon, went right to work, bogeyed their first hole but then shot five under over the last eight holes to card a 31 in the Tuesday Afternoon Scramble yesterday.  That got them into a tie with Short Jeffers, Jack Lents and George Templin who came in with four birds and five pars.  The tiebreaking card draw favored the Denson-Potts team.  Trenton Kidwell and Mike Bird also had four birds but shot themselves out of contention with bogeys on holes three and eight.

Wild Turkey in the PInes

Just off of #5 green yesterday morning. Taking their leave of the golf course after seeing me coming their way.

Bits and Pieces

-Scramble this afternoon at 3:30.  Awfully nice weather we're having.  Too bad we had to change time and lose that after work light.  Did have some golfers come in a 4:45 last night; expect they got an hour's play.

-Both George Templin and Short Jeffers have Lakeview scramble winning streaks going, each with two.

-And for the second week in a row, Jack Lents yesterday walked off with a bunch of quarters from his playing partners - Jack Butcher, Ken Hudson and Dick Lemmon; the majority of them have come from his winning every one of the flags (that would be closest-to-the-pin shots on the par threes) over the 36 holes played.

-Thursday's scramble will start at 12 noon.

-The banged up Colts were surprisingly competitive against the Eagles Sunday.  With another catch or two, they would have won that game.  Dang.  Lot of parity in the NFL this year.  Any team can lose on a given Sunday; any team can win, even the lowly Cleveland Browns - they spanked the Patriots two days ago.  Now who would have predicted that?!

-Talking about predictions:  Did you see that Bob Kravitz congratulated himself for his right on the money 26-24 last Friday prediction of the Colt game?  That would have been with his Monday morning column.

-Tiger in Melbourne this week defending what was his last victory, the Australian Masters.  Hope he fares a bunch better than he did in the skins match he played in Thailand.

-The Wie Lass is in Mexico defending her title at Lorena's tournament.  Michelle is highlighted here at lpga.com with a recap of her win in last year's event, her very first on the LPGA.  From the article:

She leads the Tour in driving distance, averaging 275.4 yards off the tee, ranks third in greens hit in regulation and T16 in scoring average.

-Time for breakfast here at the Bird House on the Hill.  See if you can get out and enjoy some of this super November weather we're having...

Bits and Pieces

-Jiyai Shin has a bogey free round, tops Yani Tseng by 2 strokes to win Mizuno Classic.  The 'Final Round Queen' wins this battle over the 'Come from Behind Queen'.  Cool.

-Tiger outclassed by Molinari and Westwood.  Well, it wasn't only Tiger.  The #1 and #2 players at the HSBC Championship finished in another time zone with scores of -19 and -18.  Two, Richie Ramsey and Luke Donald  were tied for third at -9, Rory McIlroy in fifth at -8, and then several, including TW, tied for sixth at -7. 

-Time changed around here last night.  'Fall back' if you need help in getting your time pieces right. 

-From John Clayton at espn.com on the Colts:

Survivor, Indianapolis: The Indianapolis Colts, who play the Philadelphia Eagles Sunday, have stretched their roster thin because of injuries. More than a dozen key players are hurt. Wide receiver Anthony Gonzalez suffered a PCL knee injury on Monday night from a cheap shot by Texans safety Bernard Pollard. The Colts could be without Gonzalez, Austin Collie and tight ends Dallas Clark and Brody Eldridge. Their backfield is missing Joseph Addai and Mike Hart. Donald Brown is also banged up. Injuries have forced the Colts to add six replacement defensive backs since camp, and they could be without cornerbacks Jerraud Powers and Jacob Lacey Sunday. Peyton Manning may be having another MVP season, but at some point the Colts could run out of bodies, and even Manning might not be able to save them.

Holy Cow!  Sounds like the Colts are returning from a war where there were way too many casualties.  

-Looks like a nice day for golf.  Yes, I know it's November 7th but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy at least one more round of golf.  Btw, Tuesday's afternoon scramble is going to start at 3:30 for those of you who can make it.  Sunny and in the low 70's is the forecast for Tuesday.

-Okay - heading to the gc for a walk and to pick up the tractor with front end loader and blade.  Going to move dirt around up here on the hill today, at least for a while.

Saturday Morning Golfer Transformed

Travis Brett wore a couple of hats yesterday: Morning golfer and evening basketball player. Note the second photo where he sports a bit of hair. Nick Wininger also did the two hat trick yesterday, playing with Travis on both occasions.

Men About to Relive Past Glories

The Loogootee and Shoals basketball players from years past were over at the Shoals gym last night having fun with the round ball. Saw a lot of guys getting winded real fast and taking themselves out of the game. Not surprising. The big guns, at least in the first half, were Jeff Bledsoe for Loogootee, and Travis Brett for Shoals. Left before halftime and wandered down memory lane looking at the photos and records of Shoals athletes over the years. (Three of our kids, Eric, Dani, and Marty, were on the wall for Blue Chip honors.)

Jeffers and Bird Triumph at Saturday Scramble

The cold weather kept all but the hale and hearty (?!) away from the just-over-freezing conditions out at Lakeview Saturday morning.  Of the six who braved the elements, Short Jeffers and Mike Bird fared the best in the scramble of the day.  The two shot a nifty five under thirty to best two other teams, Dave and Lee Wininger, and Nick Wininger and Travis Brett, with identical scores of thirty-three.  Jeffers short irons and putter were as hot as they were in his and George Templin's similarly scored win in the Tuesday Afternoon Scramble four days earlier.  His pitching and chipping got the team birdie close on the first two holes, and his putter drained ten footers at both #5 and #8 for two more birds.  Mike Bird's rim out chip for eagle on #4 and tap in putt accounted for the team's other birdie of the day.  Each of the contending teams bogeyed early to dampen their chances of coming in with the low round.

Bits and Pieces

-Tiger needed to shoot seven or eight under to keep pace with Molinari and Westwood over in Shanghai.  Instead he birdies three and bogeys four to fall eleven off the pace.  Not so good with only 18 holes remaining.

-Up in Japan, Jiyai Shin is on top at the Mizuno Classic going into the third and final day.  She had better watch out for Yani Tseng of Taiwan. From lpga.com via Mostly Harmless:

Come-From-Behind Queen meets the Final-Round Queen? Shin's formidable play on Sundays has earned her the nickname Final-round Queen, while Yani Tseng, who has captured four of her five career LPGA victories by coming from behind, is the Come-from-behind Queen.

-Sun is up and shining bright.  Temperatures following.  Scramble at 11 this morning at Lakeview.  Basketball tonight at six - Shoals/Loogootee Nostalgia game - ladies first, then the men.  And, finally, the Irish are safe from embarrassment today - they have the day off.

Riprappers Riprapping

Still working around seven o'clock last night out at Boggs Lake. They dropped the rock just this side of #9 teeing area and bobcatted it down to the area along the dam just south of #7 green.

Bits and Pieces

-Windy and cool yesterday.  Good for the riprappers (they moved a lot of rock with their bobcats just zipping about all day and far into the evening) but not for golfers.  Closed early.

-Of our golfing family members:  Feeling under the weather: Wilma Bateman, Sam Potts.  Feeling better:  Clyde Wake, back on his feet and even back behind a wheel.  He suffered a slight concussion several weeks ago and was wrapped up pretty tight by both his doctor and his daughter.  In fact, his daughter left instructions at the golf course that if he showed up, she was to be contacted immediately.  He's much better now though not swinging a club yet.

-Over in Shanghai:  Ernie Els, Tiger's playing partner, fires a seven under round on the second day of the tournament.  T. Woods, on the other hand, goes up and down with five birdies and five bogeys for an even par round and, reportedly, showed a little fire on the 18th tee box when he kicked his balky driver around after another poor shot (oh my).  Ernie is tied for third behind Francesco Molinari (-9) and Lee Westwood (-8); Tiger tied in the tenth spot, five strokes back.  Still anybody's tournament.

-Cool today with a not so warm start for Saturday.  Still, we'll try a scramble at 11am when the weather guys are calling for it to be a sunny 42 degrees (expecting what frost there is to be gone by then) with the temps around 47 when we finish at one.  Perfect (?!).

-Tomorrow night over in Shoals, the Shoals/Loogootee Nostalgia Basketball game will be played.  Chris Bateman was telling me yesterday that the boys' squads are limited to graduates during the 90's for this year's event (dang - I was gonna play this year after watching some of those old guys hobble around last year - they inspired me - been practicing for months).  The ladies are playing as well (any graduate through 2005) with their game starting at 6:30.  Men follow.

-Heading to Bloomington.

Riprap Arriving, Bobcat Ready

Mike Strawn Smiling

And Charlie Sheetz as well. Photo taken when they were out there Tuesday afternoon along with Tony Wease.

Bits and Pieces

-TW fires a 4 under and trails HSBC leader by three over in Shanghai.  He and his two playing partners, Ernie Els and Graeme McDowell, each bogeyed their very first hole.  Of the three, Tiger recovered the most with his -4.  Ernie at even par and Graeme at +2.  Francesco Molineri leads the pack at -7.  Round two this evening.  Go Tiger!  (Are they televising this over in the Far East?)

-Thursday golf game will start at noon.  That's in about three hours.

-On Randy Moss: Dave Wininger refreshed the waiver rules for me on Tuesday afternoon, suggesting that 22 or 23 other teams would have to pass on Randy Moss for the Colts to have a chance at him.  Sure enough, the highly skilled and mouthy star receiver was snatched up, this time by the Titans.  But, get this: The Titans were #22 in the waiver claim order - and the only team to submit a claim.  So, guess the Colts weren't interested afterall.

-The Fighting Irish get to rest their weary bones this week then take on the rest of the season against Utah, USC and Army.  Hmm, that looks like maybe a 1 and 2 finish.  Wonder how long it's been since Army has won against Notre Dame?  Wouldn't that beat all, losing to Army, Navy and Tulsa all in the same year.  Unthinkable, right?

-The weather people are calling for a bit of a change here tomorrow - chance of rain and snow and a low tomorrow night of 23.  23?  Yikes! 

-Piles of rock dropped off at the golf course late yesterday afternoon.  The shoreline there just off the practice green, and the area just south of #7 green, are being 'reconditioned', built up. 

-Promised Mike Strawn I'ld get a photo of him smiling up on the blog.  Now's as good a time as any.  Come out and join us at noon if you can pull yourself away from whatever.

Thursday Morning Game Start Time

Lets try a noon start on tomorrow's game and see if we can get a bunch of interested golfers. 

Little Big Man Charlie Sheetz with Friends: Take One

Charlie with Mike Strawn and Tony Wease during their round of golf yesterday. Gonna have to ask Charlie about that yes-I-just-ate-the-canary smile of his. Watch for take two in coming days.

Short Jeffers and George Templin Win Tuesday Scramble

Short Jeffers and George Templin used five birdies and four pars to card a round of 30 and win the Tuesday Afternoon Scramble this week.  The twosome birdied their first three holes, #'s 2, 3 and 4, and then found two more birds at holes 8 and 1.  Four other teams competed for the win with Dave Wininger and Joe Doyle coming in second with a round of 32.  Nick Wininger and Curt Johnson, Mike Bird and Travis Brett, and Trenton Kidwell and Greg Potts all finished at 33.