2009 August | Sun Country Golf

Ewart Advances in U.S. Women’s Am

University of New Mexico Lobo golfer Jodi Ewart won a marathon match today in the first round of the U.S. Women’s Amateur at the Old Warson Country Club in St. Louis.

Ewart, who will be a senior at UNM in the fall, outlasted Mallory Fraiche of Metairie, La., 1 up in a competition that required 25 holes to complete.

Fraiche will be a senior at the University of Arkansas-Little Rock. Ewart was 1 down after making a double bogey 6 on the par-4 4th. She got it back to all square with a par on No. 7. Fraiche regained a 1 up lead at 12. It was all square again after Ewart won No. 15, and it stayed that way until the 25th hole. That’s when Ewart made birdie on the par-3 7th to advance to Thursday’s Round of 32.

Ewart was paired with Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs, Fla., in the Round of 32, set to begin at 7:10 a.m. Mountain Time Thursday. If Ewart wins that match, she advances to the round of 16 at 12:20 p.m. Mountain On Thursday. After Thursday, players play one match a day through the final match on Sunday.

The Golf Channel is picking up Thursday’s action from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m. Mountain.

For the USGA’s website, click on U.S. Women’s Amateur

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Wimberly Hosts Clinic in Timberon

PGA Professional and Sun Country Golf columnist Guy Wimberly will conduct a golf clinic at 9:30 a.m. Sept. 12 at Timberon Golf Course, in Otero County, southeast of Alamogordo.

Following the clinic by Wimberly, a lunch honoring his brother, Herb Wimberly, will be held to recognize Herb’s contributions to New Mexico golf.

Guy Wimberly is a former national vice president and director of the PGA of America. He served as president of the Sun Country Section of the PGA and was awarded the national Horton Smith Award by the PGA for his contributions to golf education. Herb Wimberly is a former championship-winning New Mexico State University golf coach.

Cost of the clinic and lunch is $30 or $10 for lunch alone. Cost for high school and junior golfers for both is $20. For reservations, call the Timberon golf shop at (575) 987-2260 by Sept. 8.

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New Mexico Shootout Postponed

The New Mexico Shootout has been postponed for 2009, organizer Jack Whitt, CEO of Turtleback Mountain Resort, said today.

“We’ve been very fortunate in the past years to have tremendous support from our sponsors,” Whitt said. “Economically speaking, we’re all in the same boat this year and feel the postponement is appropriate.”

Organizers planned to restructure the event for 2010. In 2007 and 2008, it featured two teams of two LPGA players each playing the Sierra del Rio Golf Course in Elephant Butte. Participants included Nancy Lopez, Natalie Gulbis, Rosie Jones and Kristi Albers, most of whom had ties to New Mexico or West Texas.

The event, supported by the New Mexico Tourism Department, was held in September.

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Letzig Finishes 6th in Buick

Lobo alum Michael Letzig acquitted himself admirably in a final-round pairing with Tiger Woods at the Buick Open, finishing five strokes back and taking home a check for $177,000.

CBS commentator Nick Faldo was complimentary to the former Lobo, praising his putting, which kept him in the tournament throughout all four days.

Letzig started the final round one shot behind Woods, who gained two more strokes to finish at 20-under, while Letzig gave back one stroke to par to finish at 15 under.

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Lobo Letzig Paired with Tiger

Former Lobo golfer Michael Letzig will be in the final group Sunday at the Buick Open, going for his first PGA Tour win and facing none other than Tiger Woods.

Letzig led for much of the day Saturday, but gave up two strokes on the 18th hole with a jitters-caused double bogey, sending him to the clubhouse at 16 under, one stroke behind Woods going into Day Four of the 50th and possibly final playing of the Buick Open, which has lost its title sponsor.

Letzig, who turned pro in 2002, has played in 20 events and won $700,000 in 2009, which puts him at 74th on the PGA Tour money list. He’s made 19 cuts. He finished 8th in the RBC Canadian Open last week and has finished in the top 25 seven times this year.

The Buick’s final-day action starts at 11 a.m. Mountain on The Golf Channel, then switches over to CBS at 1 p.m. Mountain. Woods and Letzig go off at 11:50 a.m. Mountain. Oddly, like Saturday, a half hour of the tournament is not broadcast on television.

For the full leaderboard of the tournament at Warwick Hills Golf & Country Club in Grand Blanc, Mich., click to get to the PGA Tour website