Sun Country Golf

The Sun Country Section PGA has announced its 2009 award winners, who will be recognized for their service to golf at the section’s annual meeting in Dec. 14 in Albuquerque.

The list, which was published in the winter issue of Sun Country Golf magazine, omitted the names of two winners: Racquel Huslig of Sandia Golf Club as winner of the President’s Plaque; and Mark Zapach, the region’s Nike rep, winner of the Salesperson of the Year. Their names were omitted from an announcement by the Section received by the magazine prior to our press deadline.

For the complete list of the 2009 winners and their bios, go to the Sun Country Section PGA website.

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Albuquerque’s Katie Kempter improved on Day 2 of the LPGA Q School in Daytona Beach, Fla., Thursday, posting a 3-under round of 69 to jump from seventh place (70-69) to within one shot of the co-leaders, Jane Chin and Nikki Garrett, who were at 6-under.

Outplaying all but two players in the 106-player field, the Denver University and Sandia High School graduate has three more rounds to play in her bid to get her LPGA Tour card for 2010. Unofficial results can be seen at the LPGA Leaderboard.

In Friday’s third round, Kempter tees off with the co-leaders at 7:28 a.m. (MST).

At the PGA Tour Q School in West Palm Beach, Fla., here is how players with New Mexico connections fared:

Shane Berstch carded 71-71 after day 2, falling from a tie for 7th to a tie for 18th. The leader, Troy Merritt, was 8-under at 136 after Day 2.

Tim Herron scored 74-70 to move from a tie for 55th to a tie for 39th.

With a strong 68 on Day 2 to make up for a dismal 78 on Day 1, Madalitso Muthiya moved up from a tie for 140th to a tie for 68th.

With 73-74, D.J. Brigman moved from a tie for 86th to a tie for 35th.

The PGA Tour Q School lasts six rounds.  The top 25 finishers get their 2010 PGA Tour cards.

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Arroyo del Oso’s Bill Harvey shot a second-round 73 to post a 2-over 144, good enough to get him into a tie for 68th and a good chance to play the final two days of the PGA’s Professional National Championship.

Harvey’s two-day total was the best Sun Country Section PGA showing in the event. Las Campanas’ Bob May Jr. finished at 5 over, and Four Hills Country Club’s Scott gates carded a two-day total of 4 over. Both missed the cut.

Mark Sheftic of Ambler, Pa., was the leader in the clubhouse late Tuesday afternoon with a 7-under 67-68, with three players, including 2008 PNC Champion Scott Hebert, of Traverse City, Mich., still on the course with a chance to take the lead going into Round 3 on Wednesday.

The projected cut was 2 over for the low 70 players, plus ties, in the 312-player field.

Final-round action moves exclusively to Twin Warriors Wednesday morning as some 240 players who gathered here from around the nation head home. Both Twin and Santa Ana served as venues for the event’s first two days.

PR: wait… I: wait… L: wait… LD: wait… I: wait… wait… Rank: wait… Traffic: wait… Price: wait… I: wait… L: wait… C: wait…

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You have just three weeks or so to play Santa Ana and Twin Warriors golf clubs before the club pros of America descend on it for the PGA”s Professional National Championship. A word of advice: Sharpen that accuracy thing.

The supers at both courses are growing the rough long — in excess of 8 inches, in order to be able to swoop in and cut it to a uniform 4 inches in time for the event. So, between now and when they close both courses to public play, life’s a bitch if you’re not in the fairway.

Let’s just say a couple of single-digit handicappers were humiliated this week, watching shots from the rough from 150 out go no farther than 70 yards. “Hello, and let’s welcome Mr. 3-wood to the tee box.” The money on this day went to Ross Nettles, a wolf grazing among sheep, thanks to that hitting the fairway thing.

If you’re up to the challenge, both courses are in superb condition. The greens are running fast and true. The rough, however, will separate the players among us. It is a rare opportunity that regular players get to play, check that, endure, a course conditioned for a major championship like Santa Ana and Twin are right now.

You have until June 21 to play Santa Ana, and until June 24 to play Twin. After that they’re closed until the PNC is over. SCG’s advice: Move up a set of tees.

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Another hundred or so volunteers are needed to work the PGA’s Professional National Championship June 28-July 1 at Santa Ana and Twin Warriors golf clubs.

To learn what you get as  a volunteer, go to the “Deals” page on this site.

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