Hoosiers Shoot 297, Allenspach Finishes 12th at John Hayt

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, FLA. - The 19th-ranked Indiana men's golf team closed out its first tournament of the spring season with a 297 on Tuesday, its lowest round at the John Hayt Collegiate. IU finished at 900 (302-301-297), good for 12th place in the 15-team field hosted by the Sawgrass Country Club (par 72; 6,925 yards).

Dubbed the first collegiate major of the year, the field featured eight of the top 25 and 10 of the top 30 teams in the nation. Fourth-ranked Alabama earned the team title with an 873 (290-293-290), four strokes clear of second-ranked UCLA (295-293-289) and 13 shots ahead of tournament host North Florida (296-289-301) and 12th-ranked Tennessee (291-300-295).

Pacing the Hoosiers, junior Drew Allenspach carded his best finish of the season, his third top 25 of the year and the 19th of his career. Allenspach shot a 54-hole 219 total (72-71-76) en route to a three-way tie for 12th place in the 81-player field. Georgia State's Joel Sjoholm earned medalist honors at 209 (69-70-70), five shots in front of a trio of golfers.

Bouncing back from a pair of subpar rounds, Golfweek's 42nd-ranked player in the nation, Jorge Campillo, claimed the low Hoosier round of the day with an even-par 72. After a 76 and 78 in the first and second rounds, respectively, the junior moved up the leaderboard into a tie for 38th place on Tuesday.

On the heels of a pair of 77s, junior Seth Brandon carded a 3-over 75 on the final 18. The Dalton, Ga., product tied for 56th place, the third-best IU finish, at 229.

Improving each of the three rounds in his first tournament as a collegian, true freshman Ren Han finished with a 2-over-par 74. Han, who started the event with an 83, lowered his total to a 77 on the second 18 before today's final round. He ended the collegiate in a share of 67th place.

Joining Han in the 67th spot was Alex Martin. The sophomore posted a 234 following rounds of 77-76-81.

Up next, Indiana hosts the Pinehurst Intercollegiate in Pinehurst, N.C. The event will take place on Sunday-Tuesday, March 16-18.

IU Individual
T12) Drew Allenspach 219 (72-71-76)
T38) Jorge Campillo 226 (76-78-72)
T56) Seth Brandon 229 (77-77-75)
T67) Ren Han 234 (83-77-74)
T67) Alex Martin 234 (77-76-81)

Team Scores
1) No. 4 Alabama 873 (290-293-290)
2) No. 2 UCLA 877 (295-293-289)
T3) North Florida 886 (296-289-301)
T3) No. 12 Tennessee 886 (291-300-295)
T5) No. 3 Charlotte 889(295-296-298)
T5) No. 18 Florida 889 (296-305-288)
T7) No. 29 UAB 893 (301-295-297)
T7) Coastal Carolina 893 (306-298-289)
T9) No. 28 Pepperdine 894 (294-298-302)
T9) No. 50 Georgia State 894 (296-296-302)
11) No. 14 South Carolina 895 (300-294-301)
12) No. 19 INDIANA 900 (302-301-297)
T13) Vanderbilt 901 (302-302-297)
T13) No. 23 Central Florida 901 (306-300-295)
15) Notre Dame 903 (306-301-296)

Sorenstam wins season-opening SBS Open for her 70th LPGA Tour title

KAHUKU, Hawaii (AP) -- Annika Sorenstam waited 17 months to collect a T-shirt from her sister and a bottle of wine from a friend with No. 70 proudly displayed on them.

"It's probably dusty," she said. "I'm ready to collect it now."

Sorenstam won the season-opening SBS Open for her 70th LPGA Tour title and first since September 2006, birdieing two of the last three holes Saturday for a 3-under 69 and two-stroke victory.

"It's great to win tournaments and there's some tournaments that mean a little bit more and they come in a special time, and I would say this is one of them," she said.

The 37-year-old Swedish star, coming off an injury-shortened season where she failed to win last year for the first time since her rookie season in 1994, finished with a 10-under 206 total. It also was her second straight win in Hawaii.

"We've talked so much about '07, it's time to talk about '08," she said. "My clubs did the talking this particular week."

Rookie Russy Gulyanamitta (68), Laura Diaz (70) and Jane Park (70) tied for second. Angela Park (69), the 2007 rookie of the year who was assessed a two-stroke penalty, and Japanese rookie Momoko Ueda (71) tied for fifth, three strokes back.

Sorenstam dropped to a knee and shook her fist as she calmly sank a 24-foot downhill putt on the par-4 17th that ended any suspense.

"That was huge," said Sorenstam, who has won 47 times when holding the lead going into the final round. "That's one of those putts I'm going to remember for a long time."

She then waved both arms in the air and hugged her caddie after putting for par on the 18th hole.

"It's been a while," caddie Terry McNamara said as they hugged.

Sorenstam was limited to 13 events last year because of neck and back injuries and had six top-10s finishes, but couldn't add to her trophy collection.

In the first event of 2008, the world's former No. 1 looked like her old self -- relaxed, focused and dominant.

"This means so much to me," she said. "Last year was not a year I wanted to remember inside the ropes. I was determined to come back."

Sorenstam smiled as she walked the fairway on the par-4 16th after hitting a wedge to 4 feet, which she dropped for the outright lead that she wouldn't lose.

Sorenstam said she was a little hesitant and trying to protect her lead until she reached the turn when she told McNamara, "Let's play some golf."

She first went up by two strokes on the par-4 10th by sinking a 14-foot birdie putt, but quickly lost a stroke when her long birdie putt whizzed 8 feet passed the cup on the next hole. She three-putted for her only bogey of the day.

Ueda and Jane Park each birdied to tie Sorenstam for the lead at 8 under. Jane Park made a long putt on No. 15. Seconds later, Ueda rolled in a 12-foot birdie putt on No. 14, drawing a roar from the sizable Japanese gallery.

However, no one could keep pace with Sorenstam.

Sorenstam was playing at Turtle Bay for the first time and beginning her season a month earlier than usual. It was her first appearance in Hawaii since winning the 2002 LPGA Takefuji Classic at Waikoloa.

Gulyanamitta, who earned just $4,411 in her previous 17 events, jumped around the 18th green after sinking a long birdie putt. She made $75,867 Saturday.

Like Sorenstam, Diaz also was hungry for a win. She hasn't hoisted a trophy since 2002. Diaz shared the lead with Sorenstam until a double bogey on No. 7 dropped her into a crowd.

Angela Park (69) was assessed a two-stroke penalty for slow play on the par-4 10th that gave her a triple bogey and cost her a shot at the lead and about $60,000. Park then birdied three of the next four holes to get back within a stroke of the lead before Sorenstam's late birdies.

Park said she wasn't holding up play. "I really don't think it's fair especially because I was in contention. I don't think it's fair at all."

Rules officials said Park's second, third and fourth shots on the hole all exceeded the time limit. Park disagreed and was visibly upset, in tears after her round.

"I was so mad out there," she said. "I was flying through the course on the back nine. I was so frustrated."

Without the penalty, Park would have finished 9 under, alone in second place for $100,458. Instead she earned $40,872.

Conditions were unusually calm on Oahu's North Shore. Even the normally roaring Pacific Ocean was peaceful. It was also balmy, forcing the players to find shade anywhere they could.

Ueda used an umbrella. Sorenstam hid under the ironwood trees.

Sorenstam and Erica Blasberg (74) were co-leaders heading into the final round at 7 under. Blasberg was playing in the final group for the first time in her career.

Her troubles started when she pulled her drive near the water hazard and had to pitch out on No. 7 for bogey. Blasberg tied for eighth with Cristie Kerr (73), In-Kyung Kim (71) and Yani Tseng (69) at 5-under 211.

Defending champion Paula Creamer closed with a 69 to finish at 4 under. She hit 18 greens in regulation but putted 34 times.

"I was grinding it out there," she said. "I saw the leaderboard and I think I got a little anxious."

Quinney makes an ace, but Mickelson keeps the Northern Trust Open lead

PACIFIC PALISADES, Calif. (AP) -- Phil Mickelson lost his cushion, but not the lead Saturday at the Northern Trust Open.

Mickelson watched Jeff Quinney make a hole-in-one on the fabled sixth hole at Riviera that erased a four-shot margin, but saved par on the 18th hole for a 1-under 70 to stay in the lead and move one step closer to adding this trophy to his West Coast collection.

Quinney made a 35-foot birdie putt on the final hole for a 67 that set up what appears to be a two-man race in the final round.

Mickelson, whose 15 victories on the West Coast Swing have come in every city but Los Angeles, was at 11-under 202. He missed the green to the right on the final hole, chipped 7 feet by and saved par.

"I thought it was a good, solid round," Mickelson said. "It should be an interesting and tough day tomorrow."

Quinney delivered the best shot, and maybe the worst.

Along with his hole-in-one that he could hear, but not see, Quinney bladed a wedge over the green on the par-5 11th that led to a two-shot swing in Mickelson's favor, then spent the rest of the gorgeous afternoon trying to catch up.

Quinney was at 203, four shots ahead of everyone else.

John Rollins fell back with consecutive bogeys and had to settle for a 69 that left him at 6-under 207. Scott Verplank, who opened his round with a four-putt from 30 feet on the fringe, shot 71 and was another shot back with Stuart Appleby (69) and Vaughn Taylor (71).

"Other than Tiger, he's probably the next best front-runner," Verplank said of Mickelson, who is 21-7 with a 54-hole lead. "He's awful good. So I'm going to have to play exceptionally well, and probably then would need a little bit of help."

Mickelson also had a one-shot lead last year going into the final round, losing in a playoff to Charles Howell. There were five players within three shots of the lead a year ago, but only Quinney, a former U.S. Amateur champion who has not won on the PGA TOUR, appears to be in his way this time.

"He's going to bring a lot to the table," Quinney said. "I have to bring my best to the table."

Quinney did not sound the least bit concerned about a four-shot deficit to Mickelson, saying after his second round that Riviera is not the type of course where one has to shoot 64 to make up ground.

Then, he looked as though he might do just that.

Quinney birdied the first hole with a long chip across the green on the par 5, then gained another shot when Lefty three-putted for bogey on No. 4. Quinney then holed a 20-foot birdie putt to reduce the lead to one-shot going into the sixth hole, famous for having a bunker in the middle of the green.

He thought that's where his 7-iron was headed. But it landed just to the side, rolled down the slope and into the cup.

Back on the tee, Quinney had already turned away and was looking over his shoulder when he heard the crowd erupt, the sure sign that he had made ace. He ran toward his caddie, unsure whether to hug or high-five, and it turned out to be a clumsy celebration.

"We need to get that organized," he said.

That gave him the lead, but only for as long as Mickelson hit 8-iron to 5 feet and made birdie, putting both at 10 under.

They matched birdies at No. 10 -- Quinney with a wedge to 2 feet, Mickelson by driving to the front of the green -- and neither showed signs of backing down. But everything changed with one swing.

Mickelson was on the par-5 11th green in two, Quinney just short of the bunker. Quinney caught two much ball, however, and it sailed over the green. He chipped back to 15 feet and did well to escape with bogey.

Even so, it was a two-shot swing after Mickelson made birdie, and Lefty kept his margin.

Mickelson had the 54-hole lead at Riviera last year, only this time the odds are even more in his favor. Five players were separated by three shots last year, while this appears to be a two-man race.

"Daylight is up front, first and second," Appleby said. "If I can shoot a good round tomorrow, 4 or 5 under, that would be a good score. Now, what's that mean for the tournament? Does that threaten the top? Probably not. It's not really an open tournament."

Divots: Pat Perez isn't any more optimistic about the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship than he was last week, when he thought he was playing Tiger Woods in the first round and didn't want to embarrass himself. He was told Saturday morning he would be playing Phil Mickelson. "Yeah, that's much better, because he's playing like (dirt) right now," Perez said with typical sarcasm. J.B. Holmes will play Woods and had a different outlook. "I'm in," he said. "That's all that matters." ... Marc Turnesa was on his way home Saturday morning until John Merrick missed a 4-foot par putt, meaning 78 players made the cut at 3 over. Turnesa then shot 67 and moved up to a tie for 29th at 1-under 212.

IU Women's Golf Falls to Wisconsin, 10-8

Playing an exhibition match to open the spring season, the Indiana University women's golf team fell 10-8 to Wisconsin in match play at the Westbrook Village Golf Club in Phoenix, Ariz.

The teams played a Nassau format, with a point awarded for the front nine, back nine and overall score. Sophomore Anita Gahir led the Hoosiers with three points, posting the low round among both teams with a 71. Gahir was also the only player to earn the three point maximum.

"Overall I thought we played well," said head coach Clint Wallman. "We worked on several things this winter and I saw great improvement in those areas today, especially with our chipping and the general look of our putting."

In the second spot, senior Lauren Harling tallied a half point, posting a 76, while sophomore Laura Nochta totaled two points with her round of 76. Sophomore Kellye Belcher finished with a half a point, while Amber Lindgren put up a score of 78, and Elaine Harris finished with a 77.

Taking advantage of the opportunity to hit the links in warmer weather, the two teams played a practice round on Saturday. Lindgren had the highlight of the day with a hole-in-one.

Indiana's first real test of the spring will come Feb. 18-19 as it travels to Parrish, Fla. for the Central District Invitational. Ten of the 15 schools competing are in Golfweek's top 50, including No. 15 Kent State, No. 20 Notre Dame, No. 21 Michigan State and No. 25 Texas A&M. The Hoosiers are No. 46 in the ranking which was last released at the end of the fall season.

Talking Stick Makes Golf Magazine's Top 100 Courses

Talking Stick (North), AZ, USA

5^th hole, 355 yards: The key to this hole lies in its name - 'Left is Right.' This short par four bends slightly to the right and features a bunker smack in the middle of the fairway. As the hole does go to the right, the player might instinctively think that the preferred line is down the right, but he would be wrong as the green is angled to accept an approach from the left. As proof that the architects have a sense of humor, the 4^th hole on the South course is named 'Right is Right,' and with good reason.

7^th hole, 430 yards: Again, the hole's name, 'The Ditch Hole,' gives away the key - to avoid the dry ditch to the right. Such a task is easier said than done. The bunker to the left of the green encourages the player to go right, only that is where there is a slope that will carry the ball to the ditch. One of the authors had his six-iron approach shot land on the right side of the green, only to roll down the closely-mown area and into the ditch.

10^th hole, 390 yards: The lesson here is simple - when you are fortunate enough to have something like a mountain peak in the distance, use it. This hole plays directly toward Pinnacle Peak. Such a ploy forces even the most crude player to appreciate his surroundings.

11^th hole, 215- 265 yards: A throwback hole to the days when bunkers well short of the green served a practical purpose. In this case, the large, Thomas-style bunker some 30 yards short of the green (1) deceives the player in judging the distance, (2) serves as an heroic carry, with the potential of great satisfaction, for the higher handicapped player (who has the option of playing to the fairway left of the bunker) and (3) seizes the better player's attention into the wind. The rolls around the green, particularly off the back-left corner, ensure that the player who plays 'safely' to the left will have to work hard to save par.

The wash on the 12th hole.

12^th hole, 360 yards: An excellent match play hole, with a dry wash splitting the fairway. By going down the narrow left side, between the wash and the boundary, the player can knock it within 20 yards of the green. However, such a play would be unlikely in stroke play, as the slightest draw can land in the fairway and roll effortlessly out of bounds. Finding the wash is not death as being in it is usually no worse than having a marginal lie in a bunker.

As with Coore and Crenshaw's Plantation Course at Kapalua, the superb conditioning ensures that the course is played the way the architects intended. The wide fairways and closely mown areas surrounding each green allow the player to adopt a ground game. This opportunity to play many different type shots can often befuddle the player as there is still doubt in his mind when he pulls the trigger as to whether he has made the proper decision (e.g., high or low). Yet, this effect leaves the course within the grasp of all players, a most desirable trait in a daily-fee course.

French Lick Resort to host 2010 PGA Professional National Championship

French Lick Resort Casino in French Lick, Ind., site of the 1924 PGA Championship, which marked a remarkable major winning streak by legendary Walter Hagen, has been named the site of the 43rd PGA Professional National Championship. The showcase event for PGA Professionals will be conducted in June 2010.

It will mark the first visit by the PGA Professional National Championship to Indiana, and to a resort that features courses designed by two of the game's legendary golf architects -- Donald Ross and Pete Dye.

The National Championship, featuring a nationwide field of 312 PGA Professionals, will utilize the par-70, 7,000-yard Donald Ross Course, which opened in 1917, and the par-72, 7,400-yard Pete Dye Course, which is scheduled for a grand opening in the spring of 2009. The Championship's final two rounds will be conducted on the Pete Dye Course.

"The PGA Professional National Championship has maintained a tradition of bringing this showcase event to some of the premier courses in the country," said PGA of America President Brian Whitcomb. "It is exciting to have the opportunity to bring the Championship to the site where Walter Hagen, one of our Association founders, elevated his legend. I can think of no better story for our finest playing PGA Professionals than to compete for the Walter Hagen Cup in Indiana."

The Donald Ross Course, the creation of the famed Scottish architect, also has hosted the 1959 and 1960 LPGA Championship and was the home of the Midwest Amateur from the 1930s through the 1950s. Coincidentally, Dye captured the 1957 Midwest Amateur on the course.

The Donald Ross Course completed a $6 million renovation program in 2006, conducted by architect Lee Schmidt of Scottsdale, Ariz., which restored the original Ross design.

"We had photographs from 1926, two years after the PGA Championship was played, and we had Donald Ross's original drawings on site," said French Lick Resort Casino President Steve Ferguson. "And, we have Pete Dye, who has been so enthusiastic about this project. We have tremendous views at each location, and to have the restoration and to have a Donald Ross Course and one of the leading designers of this era in Pete Dye is a tremendous opportunity for golfers to play both approaches to golf.

The French Lick Resort Casino has undergone a $500 million historic renovation and casino development program, which includes the French Lick Springs Hotel, the new French Lick Casino and the West Baden Springs Hotel. In addition, this premier resort and casino destination features more than 100,000 square feet of meeting space; 689 guest rooms and a 42,000-square foot, single-level casino; two full-service spas with a combined 36 treatment rooms totaling 41,000 square feet and an array of dining and entertainment options.

"The Donald Ross Course shows the magic of Donald Ross," said Ferguson. "He chose a piece of real estate to fit that course. And Pete Dye is so enthusiastic about this course, and was dedicated to fit every golfer. He developed tremendous views from all tees. Pete had a relationship with Donald Ross and you can see a lot of Ross in Pete Dye.

"The PGA Professional National Championship is a wonderful opportunity. We're trying to impact that section of Indiana with the resort and this National Championship is important part of that plan."

"It is a rare opportunity to be playing two courses designed by two of golf's greatest architects, the greatest classic architect, Donald Ross, and arguably the greatest modern-day architect, Pete Dye, all on the same piece of property," said French Lick Resort Casino PGA Director of Golf Dave Harner. "We are very pleased and excited to have this Championship come to Indiana."

Dye, who was the 2004 PGA Distinguished Service Award winner, has been the host architect for three previous PGA Professional National Championships: in 1989-90 at PGA West-Stadium Course in La Quinta, Calif.; in 1999 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wis.; and in 2005 at The Ocean Course in Kiawah Island, S.C.

Begun in 1968, the PGA Professional National Championship brings together the finest playing PGA Professionals representing The PGA of America's 41 nationwide Sections. The 2008 National Championship will be conducted, June 19-22, at Reynolds Plantation in Greensboro, Ga., and the 2009 National Championship is June 25 to July 1, at Twin Warriors Golf Club in Santa Ana Pueblo, N.M.

Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.

By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the $195 billion golf industry.

By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.