Robert Gautney: Riverlakes tourney could have major impact on Player of Year race
| Wednesday, Sep 23 2009 10:29 PM
Last Updated Wednesday, Sep 23 2009 10:41 PM
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Rod Thomburg / Special to The Californian Cif Golf Pete Fernandez of Stockdale has verbally committed to UC Irvine.
The 9th RiverLakes Amateur Championship will be this weekend at The Links at RiverLakes Ranch and the outcome could very well have a huge bearing on the 2009 Player of the Year title.
As of Wednesday afternoon, roughly 20 players had signed up to compete, but RiverLakes Director of Golf Cory Thomas said he always receives a bunch of last-minute entries.
"We always get a rush on Thursday and Friday," said Thomas. "We are hoping to get to 30, but the economy is preventing a lot of players from coming out to compete."
The entry is $100 and Thomas will take entries all day Friday to expand the field.
The tournament will have a championship flight and a net flight, but Thomas isn't sure of the cut-off or he might just have one overall flight.
Bhavik Patel owns the tournament scoring record with a 7-under 137 last year that included a record 5-under 67 in the opening round. Ron Kilmer owns the final round record shooting a 3-under 69 in winning the 2003 event.
With just the Kern County Amateur in two weeks remaining on the Sports Authority/Michelob Ultra Player of the Year schedule, valuable points can be earned as 20 points will go to the winner, 18 to second, 16 to third and so on down to two points for 10th.
Players wishing to sign-up should call the RiverLakes pro shop at 587-5465.
Fernandez verbally commits to UCI
Stockdale High senior Pete Fernandez, Jr. has given a verbal commitment to UC Irvine to attend school and play golf. Fernandez made his decision from six schools that offered the 2008 Californian All-Area Player of the Year a scholarship.
Santa Barbara, Fresno State, Long Beach State, Nevada-Reno and San Francisco also offered Fernandez a chance to attend their school, but it came down to UCI and Santa Barbara, and Fernandez chose UCI.
Fernandez said that he developed a good rapport with UCI Coach Paul Smolinski and that he likes the city and the school. UCI plays in the Big West, so Fernandez will get a good dose of competition and hopes to be a contributor right away.
"If I work hard on my game I think I can help the team out," says Fernandez. "They have some really good players right now and I think they will only lose one senior, so it will be tough, but I'm looking forward to the challenge."
Before college, Fernandez hopes to have a return visit to the CIF state high school championships where he was second as a sophomore and wants to help lead his Stockdale High Mustang team to an SWYL title and beyond.
RICHARDSON AT CGA SENIOR AM NEXT WEEK
Seven Oaks CC member Kent Richardson will be Bakersfield's lone competitor in the California Golf Association Senior Amateur in Monterey.
Richardson will compete at Poppy Hills GC Sept. 28-30 against 71 other players that qualified. Richardson advanced to the state championship when he shot a 74 at Crystalaire CC in Llano on Sept. 1.
CHIP SHOTS
-- Greg May aced the 191-yard 11th hole at Sundale CC on 9-23-09.
-- Don Cory used a 7-iron to ace the 140-yard 5th at RiverLakes Ranch.
-- Peggy Raziol aced the 120-yard 15th at RiverLakes Ranch with a 9-wood.
-- The Kern County Amateur will be Oct. 10-11 at BV and North Kern golf courses. Entry is $100 and includes greens fees both days and prizes. Call 399-0347 or 398-9720 to sign-up or to get more information.
-- Former Garces High star Stephen Hale shot a course record 8-under 63 at The Kingsley Club in Kingsley, Mich. to help his California Golden Bears win the Spartan Golf Classic. Hale shot a 73 and a 69 in his other two rounds to finish at 8-under 205. Cal is ranked No.24 in the latest NCAA poll.
Tee to Green appears weekly at Bakersfield.com/sports. You can reach Gautney at: rgautney@bak.rr.com.
