Bits and Pieces

-Men's world rankings now have four Europeans at the top with Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson dropping to 5th and 6th.  Volitility at the top for the foreseeable future.  I don't see anyone dominating like Tiger did these last ten and so years.  Expect TW to just keep on dropping cause of his dismal play.  Question: how far does he drop?  I say certainly out of the top ten.  Top twenty?  That would really be a continuation of his dismal play.

-Donald did win at the Match Play event down in Arizona and he did not have to play the 18th hole.  Pretty good stuff for the 33 year old.

-Sectionals tomorrow.  My predictions:   Barr Reeve over Washington Catholic in game 1; Vincennes Rivet over Shoals in game 2.  Sure would like to see Shoals and Bateman pull off an upset.

-Breakfast with Diane then heading out to the golf course just for fun.

Vincennes Rivet Takes Down Jac-Den-Cel in Semi-state, 53-38

Bits and Pieces

Photo: Girls semi-state action over at Bedford yesterday afternoon between Evansville Memoria and Indianapolis Roncalli, won by the girls in blue (EM), 69-59.

-At Lakeview yesterday morning, Dave Wininger, Wayne Souerdike and Lee Wininger nipped Doug Denson and Mike Bird by a measly stroke, 33-34, when Denson's attempt for a tying birdie chip from just off the green at #9 hit the flagstick and bounced to the side. The nine hole scramble was played in frigid conditions on a very sloppy turf.

-The guy in stripes in the above photo is another Wininger, Nick by name. You've seen him around Lakeview, Country Oaks and North Daviess.

-In Singapore, Karrie Webb nipped Chie Arimura in the HSBC Champions Tournament. The veteran Webb finished at -13, Arimuar at -12. Michelle Wie finished at +8 in 40th place (the old inconsistant Wie Lass showed up again). Yani Tseng had a five under fourth round and finished in third place three strokes behind the winner.

-Kaymer vs Donald in the finals of the WGC Match Play Tournament down in Arizona. On tv in about 30 minutes. Donald has been brilliant so far and has yet to play hole #18. Kaymer has been brilliant for about two years, will be the #1 player in the world in the next poll, and is on a roll. He'll be tough to beat. Nonetheless, I say Donald wins and again does not have to play the 18th hole.

-Golfing weather so far today. Temps in the 50's though overcast. Grounds still wet from the two inches of rain we had the other day.

-Coming up: Boys basketball sectionals. Tuesday night up at North Daviess: Shoals vs Rivet, Washington Catholic vs Barr Reeve. Loogootee and North Daviess sit and watch and take on the winners on Friday.

Bits and Pieces

-Scramble at 11 this morning at Lakeview.

-Annika Sorenstam with some words on increasing your distance.  Notice the first thing she talks about is your own conditioning.  Note to self: redouble work on getting back to playing weight and in fighting trim.  That means attention to diet (cut the sugar is always a good place to start for me) and more exercise (walking is always excellent; add some weight work).

-In Singapore at the HSBC Champions Tournament, Michelle Wie has a terrible back nine with four bogeys.  She had six of them on the day against only one birdie, and fell completely out of the picture.  Chie Arimura leads at -11.  Yani Tseng, at -5 in the tournament, has a ways to go to keep her winning streak alive.  Karrie Webb is one back of the leader.

-Predictions for the match play event in Arizona: Moore beats Donald and advances to face Yang who beats Kuchar on one side; Jimenez takes care of the only #1 left, Martin Kaymer and gets to face Holmes who beats Watson in the smash ball contest of the day.  The semifinals will be played this afternoon, moved up from Sunday with fears of frost delaying things.  Guess the two finalists don't play 36 holes on Sunday anymore.

-North Daviess won their final game of the season beating Eastern Greene last night, 41-40.  Nick Crays had the winning shot.  Like Loogootee, the Cougars now wait till next Friday to play again.  Both teams have byes in the sectional which starts next Tuesday.

-Parting shot: Faces in the Crowd (from the Jack Butcher Arena Thursday night).  Anybody you know?

Saturday Scramble Start Time

11am tomorrow.  Wear a sweater - might be a little chilly.

Around the Arena: Loogootee vs North Knox

Bits and Pieces

-The Rivet girls (26-0) go up against Jac-Cen-Del (19-5) in the girls basketball semi-state over in Bedford at 4pm tomorrow.  That's #21 vs #166 in the Sagarin ratings.  Go, Rivet.  FW Canterbury (#49) is playing Turkey Run (#29) in the other 1A semi-state.  Vincennes and Turkey Run in the state final?  Would be all right with me.  Btw, the final is up in Fort Wayne for the second year in a row - bummer.

-Chie Arimura is having a whale of a time over in Singapore at the HSBC Women's Champions Tournament.  She shot six under yesterday and sits on top of the leaderboard at -10.  She's two up on Karrie Webb in second and ten up on Michelle Wie who is tied for 21st.  The Wie Lass has work to do.  Yani Tseng?  Going for her 4th win in a row, she's eight back at -2 and in a tie for 8th place.  Wouldn't count her out yet.

-At the WGC-Accunture Match Play in Arizona, more 'upsets', some coming in the form of a blowout - think Phil Mickelson, a #1 seed, being taken down by Rickie Fowler, 6 and 5.  Three of the four #1's are gone now as Lee Westwood lost to Nick Watney, 1 up.  So, the field is narrowed to 16 and I've already decided who I want to see in the finals: the youngster, Matteo Manassero (all of 17 years old), and the accidental entrant, J.B. Holmes.  That would be a #15 vs a #17 - got in when there was a withdrawal after the pairings had been set (he's not a #6, just replaced a guy who was #6).

-The boy Lions had no trouble with North Knox last night, winning 56-30, with five seniors (Jacobs, Burch, Bradley, Hogan and Baugh) starting.  The boy Cougars of North Daviess play Eastern Greene tonight.

-Sectional picks from Eric and me:  Talked with him yesterday and he thinks Loogootee wins this year though he is definitely rooting for North Daviess (he made sure I heard that and would repeat it here).  I'm in the Loogootee corner as well though rooting for all the youngsters - have ties to Shoals, North Daviess, Loogootee and Barr Reeve so that's easy to do.  Looking forward to seeing Shoals' Bateman going up against Rivet's Vieke on Tuesday and the expected match up of Barr Reeve and North Daviess on Friday (BR has to get past Washington Catholic first).  The games are being played at North Davies this year with the regional here in Loogootee.

-Buckets of rain last night and plenty of wind as well.  Best head over to the golf course and see how it fared.

-Oh, one last thing.  Something to think about over the weekend.  From Golf Babes, Paula Creamer and Michelle Wie all dressed up in traditional garb.  Rated G, guys; don't expect your wives/girl friends would mind you looking at them.  Well, maybe they would.  Too bad, right?

Bits and Pieces

-Down in sunny Arizona, Tiger is gone after one round of 19 holes.  Jeesh.  Also gone: Jim Furyk, Ian Poulter, Retief Goosen, Dustin Johnson and Steve Stricker.  The brackets.

-And over in Singapore, Michelle Wie goes +1 on each of her last two holes to go +1 for her first 18 holes.  Sits five back of the leader Chie Arinura.

-Some of the story of Dave Duerson, former Notre Dame and Chicago Bear football star who took his own life last week at age 50.  Wants his brain donated for research. 

-The details on the Lion win at Jasper from Lagote74:

Now back to the game! Lions got down 7-0, closed it to 16-13 after 1. Fell behing 21-13, then mounted a drive to lead at half 32-27, blew it out to 42-31, before Wildcats rally to within 48-45, heading into 4th quarter. Jasper regained the lead with about 6 minutes left. It was 60-56, with about 50 sec. left, Conner Wittmer is fouled, he drains both free throws. Jasper in bounds leading 60-58, foul Wildcat player, adam sanders, he knocks down two, Jasper now leads 62-58. We quickly bring the ball up, Bryant hits first trey 62-61, Mike calls immediate time out. Down to about 15 sec. left. We foul a guy who hadn't been to line best I remember, he misses first hits second. 63-61. We come down court work the ball around Ackerman open top of the key, drains the trey with 4.4 sec. left after Jasper time out, we deploy a press and they never get a decent shot off buzzer sounds.
Lions win! First victory by Loogootee at Jasper since 1972, 64-62. Before that it was 1966, championship game of Holiday tourney, Lions win 71-54, i think. Before that someone said 1920's.
Great way to prepare for sectional action. Close games on the road against a quality opponent. 

What a sweet last minute of the ball game for Bryant Ackerman and the Lions!

-Looking for all that rain to miss us today.  Don't know if it will happen but what the heck.  Going to the course to walk - did get over there late yesterday afternoon for exercise and to play several holes.  Tracy Rayhill and Tony Trambaugh also took advantage of the slightly warmer and dry conditions.

Bits and Pieces

-Holy Cow!  The Lions bested the Wildcats of Jasper last night, 64-63.  Just talked with Jim Bateman for a few of the details:  Bryant Ackerman hit two three pointers late in the game, the second coming with three or four seconds to go for the victory.  Lions had been up by 11 points earlier in the game and almost let it all slip away.  Hot dam!  (Had thought of going down there and now I'm real sorry that I didn't.  Then I thought maybe I'ld watch it on the radio but Diane and I got watching a Denzel Washington movie - Fallen; and then I didn't even turn on the 11 o'clock news to catch the channel 2 sports report.  And now I'm having trouble finding out the details.  Expect there will be all sorts of info here in about 30 seconds...)

-At least one guy is picking North Davies to win sectional 63.  The Cougars, btw, have a ten game winning streak.  Close out the season on the 25th against Eastern Green.

-Nice that the draw again allows the two favorites (the Cougars and the Lions) to end up in the championship game.  Gotta do their homework first to get there though.

-The lady pro golfers start up in Singapore today, this being Thursday over on the other side of the world.  Go, Wie Lass.  And the boy pros get into their match play event of the year down in Arizona.  Tiger takes on Thomas Bjorn starting at 1:45.  Think that's Arizona time.  Remember last year's winner?

-Supposed to get in the 50's today.  Might take a while.  Sun is up though and that is always good.  Going to go walk directly.

More Rex Hudson 80th Birthday Party Photos: Golfers, Relatives and Young Ladies with Smiles

Bits and Pieces, Including Stockton's Putting Tip Revisited

-Sobel at espn.com picking Kaymer to win it all at the WGC Match Play Championship later this week.  He's also predicting that Tiger doesn't make it through his first match with Thomas Bjorn.  Of course, he prefaces his comments by saying that such predictions are "an exercise in futility".  Might as well throw darts.  I do agree with him in giving TW little chance of playing well enough to win a tournament he has won three times in the past.  Not saying he won't make it past the first round though.

-Michelle Wie tees it up again over in the Far East, this time at the HSBC Woman's Champions tournament in Singapore.  I say she does well again along with Tseng, Choi, Shin and Kim.  Defending champ is Ai Miyazato who didn't do a very good job of defending her title last week and probably won't do very well this week.  But, like Sobel, who can tell, really.  Might be a little bit easier on the Ladies tour what with Tseng already in with four wins in four attempts this year.  She's playing super.

-Closer to home:  The Loogootee boys (14-4) take on the Jasper Wildcats (9-10) down in Jasper tonight.  Looking just at the win-loss records, one would think that the local boys have a pretty good shot at a win.  There are two common opponents this year: Southridge and Washington.  The Wildcats beat the Raiders by 15, Lions lost by 16;  both teams lost to Washington, the Hatchets scoring 70 points against each team while allowing 54 vs Jasper and 34 vs Loogootee.  Might be a stretch to predict a win for the Lions.  In any case, good luck to Hogan, Burch, Whitmer, Ackerman and friends.

-If you didn't get out and play yesterday morning, you probably didn't get out and play at all.  The rains and cooler weather settled in shortly after 1.  Had several golfers out at Lakeview, including Dave Wininger who beat the wet stuff by a half hour or so.  Don Carrico and Ted Soldanels weren't so fortunate, finishing up about a half hour into the wind and the rain.  Better golfing weather tomorrow with partly sunny skies and temps in the 50's.

-Dave Stockton's putting suggestion:  You remember when I posted that clip with Dave Stockton who was suggesting that you forget all about making the putt and just concentrate on the pace.  I kind of pooh-poohed it but have come to see that he just might have something there.  Since watching that clip, I have changed my putting routine.  Still do look for the line very carefully but I don't try and hit it down the line.  Rather, I do as Stockton suggests - get the pace right.  So, the last thing I'm thinking of is the pace, something which turns out to be pretty good over 95% of the time.  Compare that with hitting it down the line and sinking the putt, something which happens much less frequently, in fact, over 5-10 feet, a whole bunch less.  It's like what Jack Nicklaus said a long time ago when teeing off: don't try and hit it straight, rather hit a draw or a fade.  Same kind of reasoning: you are bound to be more successful more of the time.  It's a mental thing and has to do with thinking positively about what kind of golfer you are.  So, thanks to Dave Stockton for his tip to forget about making the putt and just get the pace right.

-Getting on with the day...

Bits and Pieces

-Presidents Day and the weather is iffy.  Looks like most of the rain is going to go north of us (just got a few sprinkles here on the hill) and the temperatures are in the 60's.  Sounds like golf weather to me and sure a blessing here in the month of February.

-Special from The Donut Barn for all you Lakeview Golf Course News blog readers.   Get half a dozen free donut holes with your purchase of a dozen or more donuts.  Offer is good through the rest of this month (February 2011).  Just mention that you saw this offer here on the Lakeview Golf Course News blog and get your bag of yummies and the free donut holes as well.  Yummy.  Offer good while supplies last on any given day.

-Heading over to the golf course to open up and get in some good walking before I sit down to a heart healthy breakfast.  Go golf if you get the chance today.

The Birthday Boy

Rex Hudson celebrated his 80th birthday yesterday up in Bloomfield. Think about half of southern Indiana showed up to wish him well with the start of his ninth decade.

More Girls Basketball Regional Photos

Girls Basketball Regional Photos

Younger Golfers at Lakeview: Connor Swartzentruber and Skylar Cissel

Top Photo: Connor Swartzentruber after whacking the ball way down #8 fairway; his dad, Brian, then hooked one into the dam, making Connor's ball the one to play.

Bottom photo: Skylar Cissel after a round of golf with dad Adam and Roger Blake.

Bits and Pieces

-Michelle Wie fired a 2 under 70 in the final round of the Honda LPGA Thailand but her playing partner, Yani Tseng, bested that with a five under round of her own.  That propelled Tseng, at -15 for the tournament, to her third consecutive win of the season.  Wie finished second at -10 with I.K. Kim and Karrie Webb tying for third at -9.  Wie started the day one behind Tseng and stayed with her through nine holes, each of them shooting three under 33's.  Tseng continued her hot play with birds at holes 10, 12 and 13 to pull away from the Wie Lass who failed to find a birdie on the back nine. 

-Here in Loogootee yesterday morning, the Vincennes Rivet Lady Patriots played even with the Northeast Dubois Lady Jeeps through three quarters and then pulled away to a 12 point victory, 47-35.  (Dave Wininger showed up for the 11am scramble and asked me why I wasn't listening to the game on the radio, especially since the Rivet girls were trying to lose - that was late in the third quarter when the Jeeps were playing the Patriots even.  Turned it on and caught the fourth quarter race to victory by the purple and gold.)  That propelled them into the regional final against Tecumseh who bested Borden, 42-32, in the second morning game.  After a tight first quarter, which closed with the Rivet girls up 9-7, the game became a showcase for a lock down end to end defensive expertise of the #1 ranked girl's basketball team in the state as they rolled to a very impressive 59 to 28 victory.  Vincennes Rivet (26-0) will face Jac-Cen-Del (19-5) in the semi-state next Saturday at either Southport or Bedford North Lawrence.  Fort Wayne Canterbury (22-2) faces Turkey Run (23-2) in the other Class A semi-state.

-Irish men and women lost their basketball games yesterday, the men to West Virginia and the women to UCON.  Not a particularly good day for Irish fans.

-More golf out at Lakeview today with temps getting into the 60's.

-One last item:  Don't forget Rex Hudson's 80th birthday celebration up at the Odd Fellows Lodge in Bloomfield.  One to four this afternoon.  See you there, Rex, but just in case I forget, a big Happy Birthday to you.

Wininger Boys Win Early Season Scramble at Lakeview

Dave Wininger and his two nephews, Kyle and Ryan, shot a nifty five under par to capture the season's first scramble out at Lakeview Golf Course on Saturday morning. Kyle, using borrowed clubs, sank long putts at holes 2 and 8, while Dave rolled a long one in at #5. The trio also got more routine birds at the par fives, holes 4 and 6. Coming in second at -4 was the team of Wayne Souerdike, Lee Wininger, Bryant Trambaugh and Brian Ader. Rounding out the scoring at -2 was the team of Stan Graber, Butch Love and Joe Allen.

Bits and Pieces

-At the Honda LPGA Thailand, Yani Tseng (going for her third win in a row) finished her third round with an eagle and a one stroke lead, while Michelle Wie (going for her third win on the LPGA) closed with two birdies to sit in a second place tie with I.K. Kim, the leader after 36 holes.  Mostly Harmless has the details.  Ten players sit within five strokes of the leader so the fourth round should be a lot of fun.  Here's hoping the Wie Lass has a sterling round and takes home the trophy.  Would be a great way to start the year for her.

-And look who's leading at the PGA event of the week out in LA - one of the older guys playing, Fred Couples.  He holds a two stroke lead over the likes of John Senden, J.B. Holmes and Spencer Levin.  Still plenty of golf to play so expect changes over the next two days.

-The Vincennes Rivet Lady Patriots play at ten this morning here in Loogootee against the Northeast Dubois Lady Jeeps.  Here's to them notching a win and the chance to play tonight in the regional championship.  I'll be there if that's the case - fully expect them to continue on their march to the state title.

-The Notre Dame ladies visit UCON and are looking for a bit of revenge for the defeat the Huskies dealt them on their home court a few weeks back.  That's at 2 this afternoon.

-At Lakeview, busy day yesterday and a scramble coming up at 11 today.  Grounds are settling nicely though there are still some soggy areas around the course.  Carts are being allowed off the cart paths but with lots of caution and common sense.

-Tomorrow, Rex Hudson celebrates his 80th birthday up at the Odd Fellows Lodge in Bloomfield.

-Sun's up.  Best get on with the day and hightail it over to the golf course. 

Saturday Scramble Start Time

11am today.

Bits and Pieces

-In Chonburi at the Honda LPGA Thailand:  I.K. Kim still holds a slim one stroke lead after a 5 bogey, 4 birdie second day.  One stroke behind are Michelle Wie and Yani Tseng.  The Wie Lass is doing great!  A 4 birdie, no bogey day for her.  More on the second round from Mostly Harmless.

-From Brent Kelley and about.com:  Your chance to vote which young lady is the sexiest female golfer.  Only five choices and they are all blondes: Sara Brown, Carling Coffing, Paula Creamer, Natalie Gulbis, Blair O'Neal.  I passed on voting though I did find photos (and links) of the three whose names I did not recognize.  Figured you all could dredge up a mental image of Paula Creamer and Natalie Gulbis if I could.

-At Lakeview yesterday:  Skins and flags (team and individual) for nine holes and then a scramble for nine holes:  Denny Wagoner, George Templin and I took on Don Mills (he's back!) and Doug Denson in both games.  Big winner in the skins and flags was George Templin with seven skins; Denny and I were close behind with five.  Broke even in the scramble when we failed to get up and down for par at #8 and lost a three skin lead.  Yucky February golf at times. 

-Also at Lakeview:  Eric got down and got the greens mowed for the first time this new season.  Also turned on the water.  We have a fully functional clubhouse now after Diane made a Bloomington run for supplies.

-At the Northern Trust in LA:  How about a nine player tie for the lead at -4?  Crowded at the top; expect things will settle a bit after today's play.  Freddie Couples is one back.  Doesn't just about everybody want the 'likable one' to win on the younger man's tour?!  And Dustin Johnson had himself another stumble in the nuts and bolts area of the game: was late for his tee time when his caddy thought it was at 8:12 instead of 7:32.  Arrived on the tee a full six seconds to go before disqualification.  Got a two stroke penalty for the infraction and a scold from espn's Bob Harig.

-Looks like another good day for golf around here and that extends to tomorrow as well.  Might be a good day to have our first Saturday scramble of the year.  11 am.

-Got options tomorrow as the girls basketball regional is being played at the Jack Butcher Arena.  The #1 Vincennes Rivet Lady Patriots take on Northeast Dubois at 10am.  Looking for them to advance to the championship tomorrow night.

-Getting on with the day.  Don't forget to stop at the Donut Barn in Odon and get yourself a Friday yummie.

Bits and Pieces

-From Thailand:  In-Kyung Kim takes the early lead as she blisters the course with nine birdies in a round of -9.  Yani Tseng tied for 2nd with Julie Inkster; Michele Wie tied for 6th at -3 (five birds, two bogeys).  Last year's champ, Ai Miyazato, in at +3 on the day.

-At Lakeview:  Lots of golfers taking advantage of the supremely nice weather here in Loogootee yesterday.  Expect more today.

-Heading to the golf course to open up for the early birds.

Bits and Pieces

-At Lakeview late yesterday afternoon:  Joined Tracy Rayhill and Bric Parker for nine holes of golf.  The temps finally got up to 50 about 3:30 pm.  The golf was the February kind of golf - lots of mishits with an occasional gem.  Tracy did have several pars; I had a couple of birdies; Bric was most relieved when he found out at the conclusion that we were playing for tees rather than quarters.

-More golf today with the weather even better, warmer.  Grounds are drying out, settling but we are still restricting carts to the cart path.  Open by 11.

-LPGA officially open for business today: the Honda LPGA Thailand.  Expect Yani Tseng to be in the top five at the end along with Na Yeon Choi, Jiyai Shin, Ai Miyazato and, what the heck, Michelle Wie.  Last year's top five: Miyazato, Petersen, Tseng, Webb and Kerr.

-In Loogootee last night:  The boy Lions completely dominated the boy Cardinals from Washington Catholic, 64-41, and it wasn't that close.  Ben Hogan had a monster night with 20 points including a jam.

-Heading to the golf course for a walk.

Around the Arena: Washington Catholic-Loogootee Basketball Game

Earlier this evening at the Jack Butcher Arena: Coach D from North Daviess, Hannah and friend, and Big Bird with hangers-on.

Bits and Pieces

-From the girl who says "blogging is better in a bikini", the ten sexiest men in golf.  Before looking at her list, I half wondered if Tiger Woods would make anybody's list if one were put together.  More specifically, would he rank ahead of his ex on said list; you remember, Elin was listed as the 60th most desirable woman in the world in a recent poll by askmen.com.  Well, ask and you shall receive.  This bikinied lass ranks Tiger right up there at the top, the most sexiest man in golf, numero uno.  Go here to see the rest of the list.  Btw, I'm unaware of any such listing of Lakeview golfers, at least any published list.  Going to have to ask the women about that one of these days if you have any interest at all...

-At Lakeview Golf Course on Sunday: Brian Brinegar shot a front nine 35 and then really lit up the skies with a back nine 30 which included six birdies.  That's more than excellent on greens that have seen plenty of winter these last couple of months.

-Played a bit myself to close up the day, did stretch out, and do feel the effects of not playing for several months this morning.  Not all that bad though and will get to play some more today.

-From the Waggle Room: How would you play if you were paired with a Top Pro at a Pro-AM?  One of the respondents says the 'AM's' usually play a scramble so that sounds like great fun to me.  Expect after the first tee jitters, game would be just fine.  Still be star struck but that's why I would go.  Anybody out there who would like to join me in taking on Michelle Wie?  Three of us against one of her?

-Looks like the Girls Basketaball Regionals are set to kick off at 10am this Saturday here in Loogootee with the second game at 11:30.  Championship probably at 7:30. 

-The sky is lighting up in the east; getting on with the rest of the day.  Guess I'll go drag up the sun with a walk at the golf course.

Sectional Championship Photos: 2nd Half

Sectional Championship Photos: 1st Half

The Course

Okay, out at Lakeview Golf Course the flags are in except on #5 which still has snow on the green and in the fairway.  Ground still very hard all around the course.  Be sure to stretch out and take it easy if this is your first time out this year.

Barr Reeve-Vincennes Rivet Sectional Championship Photo Collage

Bits and Pieces

-Opening the golf course for play today at noon.

-Yani Tseng making a statement.  Actually, it sounds more like a roar.  She just notched her second win of the year, and second in two weeks, at the Australian Ladies Masters.  Her four stroke victory also vaulted her into the #1 position in the world rankings, supplanting Jiyai Shin who did not play this week.  Congrats to the 22 year old from Taiwan.  Expect she'll be on top of the pile for a while.

-In Montogomery last night at the girls' sectional basketball championship:  Vincennes Rivet raced to a halftime lead of 17 and then picked up the tempo of play with the start of the second half.  The Barr Reeve Vikings took the challenge, closed the gap to a measly four points, but in the end succumbed to the #1 Lady Patriots, 54-47.  From GOBR at the Indiana Digest:

BR shoots less than 20% from the floor in the first half. They are down 17 at the half; stretches to 19 before the Vikings make a tenacious second half run aided in part by Rivets 13 second half turnovers to get within 4 points at 51-47 before losing by the aforementioned score. 

Think that the majority of those 13 Rivet 2nd half turnovers were for traveling (?!).  Next week, the regionals will be played here in Loogootee:

#1 Vincennes Rivet (24-0) vs. NE Dubois (13-9)
#8 Tecumseh (18-4) vs. Borden (15-8)

Don't remember the times, maybe 9, 11 and 7:30.  Complete pairings from around the state here.  And, yes, Fort Wayne Canterbury, last year's 1A State Champ, is still in the mix.

-In Dubai:  Bad fourth round for Tiger, a +3.  Currently tied for 20th place.  Jeesh, Tiger, you gotta play four rounds of good golf in the bigs.  The 'work-in-progress' continues.  Lee Westwood finished one stroke better than TW at -5 while Martin Kaymer finished at -2.  Guess the top three players in the world had an off week.


-Sun's coming up.  Calling for a high of 52 today with winds SSW at 17mph.  Going to the gc for a walk around and to see if I can get the flags into the cups.  See some of you out there this afternoon.

Bits and Pieces

In Dubai: Tiger shoots even par in his third round and sits two behind the leader, Sergio Garcia (!) who's at -9 and still playing - two holes to go.  Westwood is at -5, Kaymer at even par after a +4 third round.  Guess TW played upsey-downsey during his round; from europeantour.com:

...after an uncertain start in windy conditions at the Emirates Golf Club he recovered to be four under through six holes of his back nine, including an eagle three at the tenth.

Not what one would call even play even if ending up an even par on the scorecard.

-Update:  Tiger one back at close of third round and tied for fourth.  More detail on his round here.

-In Montgomery:  The favorites took care of business in the girls sectional at Barr Reeve.  The host school beat Washington Catholic, 58-28, while the Rivet girls polished off the North Daviess Cougars, 45-23.  Championship tonight at 7:30.  Expect a packed house.  The 18 and 4 Vikings have a much younger squad with 3 juniors, 3 sophmores and 7 freshmen; the Lady Patriots, on the other hand, are dominated by seniors with 8 of them to go along with 2 juniors, 1 sophmore and 2 freshmen.  Erin Wehrheim, one of the Rivet senior stars, is injured and won't play.  Guess she was instrumental in Vincennes' one point victory over Barr Reeve earlier in the season.  And tonight?  Home floor for the Vikings but that will be neutralized by a hugh crowd coming in from the West - they were there in force last night.  Mark Holt has done wonders with his young team but I don't see them stopping the darlings of southern Indiana in their march to a third successive try at a state title.  Rivet by ten tonight.

-Good weather on the way.  Almost 40 today, near 50 tomorrow.  Expect we'll be able to open up for play tomorrow around noon.    Three cheers for that!

Bits and Pieces

-Lion boys win over Orleans last night:  From the 'JV Coach' over at the Indiana Basketball Digest:

Loogootee wins this one 49-39. Nice bounce back after the loss to 3A Southridge. B. Hogan had 13 points and 10 boards for the Lions. B. Ackerman had 12 points and C. Wittmer chipped in 11. Loogootee led by 20 points with 2 minutes to go but Orleans made a few shots to make it closer at the end. These two could meet in the Regional at Loogootee in a few weeks.
Coach Wagoner and the kids are well on their way to a 15+ win season AGAIN! Definitely time for some folks to stick their dam foot in their mouths and admit the guy is doing a great job with this program since taking over 2-1/2 years ago.

Congrats to the Lions and especially to Ben Hogan - 13 points, 10 rebounds..


-Tonight:  Viking girls take on the WC Cardinals at 6 and the Patriots play the ND Cougars in the second game.  At Barr Reeve.  Expect easy games for the Vikings and the Patriots in preparation for Saturday night's blockbuster championship.


-The Woods guy has a good 2nd round in Dubai: a bogey free 66.  That puts him at -7 and tied for third behind the leader, Thomas Aiken at -10 and Brett Rumford at -9 (still playing his second round; several still playing their 2nd round; leaderboard here).  Westwood's at -5 and Kaymer is at -4.  Go Tiger!  Btw, did TW go out with Westwood and Kaymer in the 2nd round?  When I was checking scores last night, those two had already completed several holes with Tiger still showing as not even on his 1st tee of the day.  Video highlights from europeantour.com.

-Michelle Wie (facebook link) opens up her 2011 season down in Pattaya next week at the Honda LPGA Thailand.  Ai Miyazato is defending.  Looks like the course is better for the control golfer rather than the long ball hitters.  The Wie Lass gets to display her patience off the tee box and her short game expertise.  Hoping she does well, like first place and her third win on the LPGA, albeit, another one on foreign soil.  Doesn't bother me; the LPGA is the global tour, you know.

-Sun's coming up.  Going to B-town today.  Could stop in Odon on the way and see how all those yummies are doing at the Donut Barn.  Could easily walk off any calories I picked up while in high energy Bloomington.  Tempting...

-The weekend brings a major warm up to the area.  Expect to put the flags back in sometime tomorrow.  Golf on Sunday?  Sounds good to me.

More Photos: Barr Reeve Sectional Opening Night

Barr Reeve Sectional: Lady Lions vs Lady Patriots