Robert Gautney: RiverLakes Amateur looms as key tourney in Player of Year chase
| Tuesday, Aug 31 2010 08:58 PM
Last Updated Tuesday, Aug 31 2010 08:58 PM
The RiverLakes Amateur is just three weeks away and the tournament is looming as a vital event for the 2010 Michelob Ultra/Sports Authority Player of the Year chase.
With only the Kern County Amateur to follow at the end of October, the Riverlakes Amateur could be a tournament in which someone at or near the top of the points standings could put some space between themselves and the rest of the challengers for the 2010 award.
Manav Shah leads with 45 points and is followed by Ron Kilmer with 43. Mike Yates has 36 and D.J. Fernando is fourth with 35, followed by Chris McCracken with 30. The rest of the top 10 are Greg Patchett, Bhavik Patel, Mark Pavletich, Nick Vallejo and John MacArthur.
But if you take a look at those 10, half of them either live or are attending school out of town. So there is no way of predicting who might be in the field come Sept. 18-19 on the Links at RiverLakes layout.
"We would always like to see as many of the top local players competing in our tournament," says RiverLakes Director of Golf Cory Thomas. "This is a challenging golf course and it is back in great shape and ready for that challenge."
Three years ago, the tournament was cancelled due to the fungus problems on the greens, but that is now long in the past and the greens are in great shape as is the rest of the course. Two years ago, Bhavik Patel set the scoring record when he shot a 7-under 137 total on rounds of 67 and 70. The 67 was a first round record.
Ron Kilmer, who is the defending champion and who also won in 2003, owns the final round record with a 3-under 69 in that 2003 victory.
In fact, after 10 years, the scoring records in this event do suggest that the RiverLakes links course is in fact a tough assignment.
The Bakersfield City Amateur mark at Sundale CC is 14-under, the scoring record at the Arvin City Amateur at Sycamore Canyon is 10-under and the Kern County Amateur record (which rotates the three county courses) is 7-under par. After just three years, the tournament record in the Taft City Amateur at Buena Vista is also 14-under-par like that of the City Am.
So what does this all mean? Simply put, the Riverlakes Amateur at The Links at Riverlakes Ranch is perhaps the best test of tournament golf that we have going on locally.
Getting back to the Player of the Year points race, let's hope that whatever happens in the RiverLakes Amateur that we have at least three to four guys with legitimate chances of winning going into the Kern County Amateur. That always makes it exciting!
This year, with the inception of the Rotary Club Challenge, the Michelob Ultra/Sports Authority Player of the Year winner will not only receive their certificate from Sports Authority and the winner's trophy, but they will receive it at the awards dinner after the Rotary Club Challenge golf tournament at Bakersfield Country Club on Nov. 8. And they will also be invited to play as a guest with a representative of The Sports Authority, Dennis Muleady of Advance Beverage (Michelob Ultra) and this columnist in that golf tournament.
At the awards dinner, college scholarships, special awards, the KC Amateur Champion Blue Blazer and the tournament awards will be presented as will the Player of the Year award, so it will definitely be a day to remember!
Players can sign up for The RiverLakes Amateur by calling the pro shop at 587-5465 by Sept. 15, or by dropping by the clubhouse. Entry is $100 and includes both days fees, range balls and awards.
SCGA 4-BALL NET QUALIFYING
Qualifying for the 31st SCGA 4-Ball Net Championship will see four local teams trying to reach the finals at Tijeras Creek in October.
Teams from North Kern, Seven Oaks CC, Pine Mountain Club and The KC Fireman's Club will participate in the qualifying tournament at Soule Park in Ojai today. Around 15 teams will qualify so let's hope that all four will make it!
A report on their attempts will be in next week's column.
U.S. MID AMATEUR QUALIFYING
Six local players are attempting to qualify for the 30th U.S. Mid Amateur Championship at the Atlantic Golf Club in Bridgehampton, NY, Sept. 25-30.
Ron Kilmer is competing at Goose Creek and Steve Roodzant, John Balfanz, Scott LaBare, Mark Pavletich and Nick Mears are scheduled to play at Cypress Ridge in qualifying today.
It is not known how many spots are up for grabs at each location, but it is usually only a handful for USGA events. A report will be in next weeks column.
SEYMOUR MISSES AT U.S. SENIOR AM
Jim Seymour missed out on a playoff by one shot for the final spot in qualifying for the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship when he fired a 4-over 76 at South Hills GC on Monday.
The 76 left him one stroke from the 10-way playoff for the last qualifying spot of the five that were up for grabs. Seymour finished equal 15th from a field of 79 players.
Foss-Kern River Ladies/Housewives Clinic
The annual Foss-Kern River Ladies/Housewives Clinic is scheduled for 9-10 a.m. each day September 13-17 at KR. Instruction will be from LPGA pro Jacque Servadio and PGA pro Jim Foss.
Fundamentals in chipping, putting, irons, woods and sand play as well as etiquette and rules will be covered during the week. Clubs will be provided to those that do not have them. Call 872-5128 to sign-up or Servadio at 301-5944 for further information.
TOURNAMENTS
* The SecondHand Rebels 4-player scramble is Sept. 4 @ BV. Entry is $75 and includes fees, cart, diddy bag, lunch and awards. Call Mike Hammons at 201-9675.
* "Tee It Up For The Troops" 2-player scramble will be Sept. 10 at BCC with a 1 p.m. shotgun. Entry is $200 ($175 with military ID) and includes fees, cart, lunch, dinner, range balls, tee prizes and awards. Call the BCC pro shop at (661) 871-4121 or go to: teeitupforhtetroops.com.
* The Kern County Shrine Club Fall Classic will be Sept. 10 at North kern. Entry is $80 and includes fees,cart, lunch and prizes. Call Don Beauford at (661) 871-7609. Proceeds benefit the activities of the Kern County Shrine Club.
* The Foss-Kern River Primm Valley Golf and Gambling Trip will be Sept. 28-29 at the Primm Valley Resort in Nevada. Cost is $230 for single and $200 for double occupancy. Includes two rounds of tournament golf and two nights lodging. Call Jim Foss at (661) 872-5128 or (661) 363-3469.
* The Kern County Amateur is slated for October 30-31 at the Foss-Kern River and Mifflin-Buena Vista golf courses. Entry will be $100 and includes both days greens fees and awards. Call the KR pro shop at 872-5128 to enter. The tournament is a gross only event and is the last of the 2010 Michelob Ultra/Sports Authority Player of the Year series events that will determine the 2010 Player of the Year.
* A golf tournament in memory of Roger Gunning will be Nov. 1 at BCC. Entry will be $125 and the proceeds will go towards the "Light Brigade" which is an organization that is dedicated to youth baseball in our area. Call George Culver at (661) 706-3775, Teri Graf at (661) 205-3830 or Bob French at (661) 428-6843 for further information about playing, sponsoring or volunteering.
CHIP SHOTS
* Anyone think that Tiger Woods will not qualify for the season ending Tour Championship? My guess is that he finishes in the top 10 at both the next two tour events and qualifies to play in the 30 player Tour Championship.
* After the season-opening girls high school golf tournament on Monday at North Kern, it appears that Frontier High, with five letter winners back, will be the cream of the crop and probably make a run at a Valley crown and perhaps So Cal title.
Tee to Green appears weekly at Bakersfield.com/sports. You can reach Gautney at: rgautney@bak.rr.com.
