Sports Notebook
Star-Bulletin staff
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ON THE PGA TOUR
BellSouth Classic
Site: Duluth, Ga.
Schedule: Tomorrow-Sunday
Course: TPC at Sugarloaf (7,293 yards, par 72)
Purse: $5.3 million
Winner's share: $954,000
Television: USA
Last year: Phil Mickelson won the third of his four 2005 titles, beating Rich Beem with a birdie on the fourth hole of a playoff. Brandt Jobe and Arjun Atwal were eliminated on the first extra hole and Jose Maria Olazabal dropped out on the third playoff hole in the rain-shortened tournament.
Last week: Stephen Ames won The Players Championship, blowing away the strongest field in golf with a 5-under 67 for a six-shot victory. He earned $1.44 million for his second PGA Tour victory and also got a three-year exemption to the Masters.
Notes: The Masters is next week at Augusta National. ... Mickelson, also the 2000 winner, tops the field along with Olazabal, David Toms, Davis Love III, Padriag Harrington, Colin Montgomerie and Rory Sabbatini. ... Greg Norman designed the TPC at Sugarloaf. ... Following the Masters, the tour will travel to Hilton Head Island, S.C., for the Verizon Heritage.
On the Net: http://www.pgatour.com
ON THE CHAMPIONS TOUR
Puerto Vallarta Blue Agave Golf Classic
Site: Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Schedule: Friday-Sunday
Course: Vista Vallarta Golf Club (7,073 yards, par 72)
Purse: $1.6 million
Winner's share: $240,000
Television: The Golf Channel
Last year: Inaugural event.
Last event: Brad Bryant won his first Champions Tour title, closing with a 5-under 66 for a one-stroke victory in the Toshiba Classic on March 19 in Newport Beach, Calif.
Notes: Loren Roberts, the winner of the first three events of the season, is taking the week off. ... Jack Nicklaus designed the Vista Vallarta course, the site of the 2002 World Cup. ... The tour is off the next two weeks.
LINK UP IN HAWAII
APRIL
» 19-23: Mid-Pacific Open, Mid-Pacific Country Club. 261-9765.
» 28: Na Kekoa Kane Cooperstown Baseball team, Hawaii Prince. Information: 368-3554
» 29 and 30: Turtle Bay Championship Turtle Bay resort Golf Club, Palmer & Fazio. Information: Amatour Hawaii, 351-2499.
MAY
» 1: Spring Meeting, Hawaii Prince Hotel. Information: 593-2230.
» 1: Hall of Fame Luncheon, Hawaii Prince Hotel. Information: 593-2230.
» 5-7: Hickam AFB Amateur Invitational, Hickam Mamala Bay. Information: 449-6490.
» 5-7: Jennie K. Wilson (HSWGA) Invitational, Mid-Pacific Country Club. Information: 589-2046.
Source: 808golf.com
LOCAL ACES
NAME |
RESIDENCE |
COURSE |
HOLE |
YARDS |
CLUB |
DATE |
Sean Tong'e |
Gilbert, Ariz. |
Poipu Bay Resort |
3 |
185 |
5-iron |
March 14 |
Mike Gabbard |
Honolulu |
Ewa Villages |
18 |
175 |
5-iron |
March 21 |
Pun Son Kwon |
Fairfield, Calif. |
Poipu Bay Resort |
7 |
112 |
7-iron |
March 21 |
Ricky Brawley |
Honolulu |
Turtle Bay's Palmer course |
4 |
204 |
5-iron |
March 23 |
Lynn Buckley |
Inglewood, Calif. |
Poipu Bay Resort |
3 |
145 |
PW |
March 23 |
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