2009 October | Sun Country Golf

LPGA Selects New Commissioner

LPGA Board of Directors Chairman Dawn Hudson announced that the LPGA Board has named Michael Whan the LPGA’s new commissioner.

Whan, most recently president and CEO of Mission-Itech Hockey, has a personal and professional background in golf, including serving as executive vice president and North American general manager for Taylormade-adidas Golf. The appointment follows a three-month international search led by an LPGA search committee comprising LPGA Board player-members Juli Inkster and Helen Alfredsson, along with fellow LPGA Board members Bill Morton and Leslie Greis, who chaired the committee.

Whan will replace retired Navy Admiral and Acting Commissioner Marty Evans. Whan’s charge will be to rebuild popularity and audience for LPGA events and stem the exodus of sponsors, which has led to a curtailment of LPGA events. Whan, 44, officially takes over Nov. 16.

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Hayden-Frias Wins Team Event

Daniel Hayden, coach of the University of the Southwest, and Mike Frias, a player at the University of the Southwest, won the Sun Country Amateur Golf Association Team Championship Oct, 17-18 at Butterfield Trail Golf club in El Paso.

Hayden-Frias shot an impressive round of 65 in a modified foursome format on Day 1, followed by a 64 on four-ball play on day 2. The Team Championship was the final tournament of the year for the association.

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17th at St. Andrews Gains Length

The 17th hole of the Old Course will be lengthened ahead of the 150th Anniversary of The Open Championship at St Andrews next July. The “Road Hole,” which has remained the same length for more than 100 years, will increase by 35 yards to 490 yards.

It has long been suggested that the 17th hole would benefit from additional length to restore the original challenge of the hole. In advance of the 1964 Open at St Andrews, three-time British Open Champion Henry Cotton recommended the alteration stating: “I would make a tee just beyond the railway line on the other course (the Eden Course, which is now the practice range). It would restore this drive to its former value.”

“Over the years, we have seen the threat from the road behind the green, and to a lesser extent the Road Bunker, diminished as players have been hitting shorter irons for their approach shots allowing them to avoid these hazards more easily. This change will ensure that the hole plays as it was originally intended,” said Peter Dawson, chief executive of The R&A.

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First Ace by a Woman at Butterfield

A second hole-in-one in less than three weeks was recorded at El Paso’s Butterfield Trail Golf Club by Kathy Lawson of El Paso, the first woman to score an ace at the club, said Butterfield Head Professional, Brian Lopez.

Lawson used an 8-iron on the Par 3 7th hole of the course designed by Tom Fazio. Her shot was witnessed by Pete Alvidrez.

Members of the sun Country Amateur Golf Association who score a hole-in-one can receive a framable certificate from SCAGA. For more information, call (505) 897-0864.

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Madigan Breaks into GolfWeek’s List of Collegiate Top 100

New Mexico State University Aggie golfer Tim Madigan, subject of our September-October cover story, has broken into GolfWeek magazine’s ranking of the top 100 collegiate golfers, according to the magazine’s Oct 4 edition.

University New Mexico Lobo Women’s Team golfer Jodi Ewart of Yorkshire, England, remains No. 8 in the magazine’s women’s individual rankings, which can be found by clicking on Golf Week Rankings