Robert Gautney: Bellows hopes to repeat as KC Amateur champ
| Monday, Sep 07 2009 08:34 PM
Last Updated Monday, Sep 07 2009 08:35 PM
Since 2001, there have been seven consecutive first-time winners of the Women's Kern County Amateur Golf Tournament. Meggan Bellows would like to put an end to that streak.
Bellows, a member of the Cal State Bakersfield women's golf team, won the tournament last year by four shots to claim her first title, and knows what's at stake this time around.
"Yes, I'm aware of that," said Bellows when asked about that streak and winning again. "In fact, I'd love to do it, but I know it's not going to be easy."
If Bellows repeats, she will have to tame the Haggerty-North Kern golf course Wednesday and then the Rio Bravo Country Club in Thursday's final round. So what does Bellows have to say about the venues for the 73rd annual event?
"I think you will see a few rounds in the 70's at North Kern," Bellows said. "North Kern's not easy, but Rio Bravo can be really tough on you mentally, so you have to stay focused because there is trouble on every hole."
If Bellows repeats she will have to beat a field that is full of single digit handicapped players including two of her CSUB teammates in Dana Arneson and Ashley Neal and talented Bakersfield College player Ellen Krause. Krause's BC teammate Katherine James, BC's No.1 player, has decided to not play as BC has a tournament today and another event after the KCWA.
Also slated to play is one of the top high school players in Frontier High's Meghan Shain and recent Chico State University graduate Sara Ansolabehere, a former standout at North High.
"Wow, that's a tough field," said Bellows when told of the players lined up to play. "I didn't know exactly who was going to play, but with those girls it's going to take two really good rounds to win."
If Bellows repeats, she would be the 13th player to win back-to-back and the 15th player to win more that one title, something that 2006 champion Cyndi Walla and 2007 champion Stevie Luckett could also accomplish. The last player to win consecutive titles was Jeanette Cleveland who won three in a row from 1999-2001.
The 36-hole tournament record is 147 by former Centennial star Allison Martin in 2002 while former LPGA Tour player Lisa Kiggens owns the single best round with a 70 in 1990 when the event was 54 holes.
Richardson qualifies for California Senior Amateur
Kent Richardson will be playing in the California Senior Amateur Championship at Poppy Hills at the end of this month.
Richardson shot a 2-over 74 at Crystalaire CC in Llano on September 1 to gain one of the nine spots up for grabs in qualifying for the championship which will be September 28-30 in Monterey.
Jim Seymour just missed qualifying with a 77 while Bob Gibson was further back in the field.
Seymour to play in U.S. Senior Amateur
Jim Seymour may have missed out on qualifying for the California Senior Amateur, but the local player will travel to The Beverly CC in Chicago to play in the U.S. Senior Amateur starting this Saturday.
Seymour qualified at South Hills CC in Corona when he was co-medalist with a 71. Seymour will play 36 holes of medal play, 18 Saturday and then 18 on Sunday. The top 64 in medal play advance into the match-play portion of the tournament with the finals slated for Friday the 18th.
RiverLakes Amateur Championship
Entries are now being accepted for the the 9th Riverlakes Amateur Championship which will be September 26-27 at The Links at RiverLakes Ranch golf course.
The tournament is one of the Sports Authority/Michelob Ultra Player of the Year series events where the top 10 and ties in the championship flight earn points towards the 2009 Player of the Year title.
Players can sign-up by calling the RiverLakes pro shop at 587-5465 no later than Thursday the 24th.
Last year, Bhavik Patel set the tournament record with a 7-under 137 total with rounds of 67 and 70. The 67 was a first round scoring record, while Ron Kilmer owns the final round record with a 69 in 2003.
Kern County Amateur
Entries are now being accepted for the Men's Kern County Amateur Championship which will be played at Mifflin-Buena Vista and Haggerty-North Kern on October 10-11.
Players can call either pro shop to enter and the deadline is October 6 at 5 p.m.
Tee to Green appears weekly at Bakersfield.com/sports. You can reach gautney at: rgautney@bak.rr.com.
