Indiana Gazette from Indiana, Pennsylvania • 22

Sports C-4 Sunday, September 1, 2002 Memories made in 2002 local golf season John Sinclair L3J Once again, it has been a pleasure to caver Indiana County area golf for another season. 1 had the opportunity to meet some new players, to cover some excellent events and to watch and to write about some super players. I thought that I might list some of the top events of the 2002 season, in no particular order. Doug GradweLTs 31 on the back nine during the Indiana Country Club Championship propelled him to his eighth ICC championship. With rhe match at stake, he birdied Nos.

10, 11, 12, 15, and 16. lie bo-geyedNo. 17, but by then the tournament was as good as over. Gradwell, whom I first met as a ninth-grader at Indiana lunior High when I was teaching English and drama, is the besL ball-striker I have seen among amateurs in my 10 years on the golf beat. His swing has changed little since his days on Wally Stapteron's Indiana High golf team.

He, of course, had an excellent instructor his grandfather PGA pro Clarence Miller. There is no telling how many trophies he could have won if he had played on a regular basis. Another key performance was Bob Ford's triumph in the Tri-State PGA Section Championship held at the Indiana Country Club. Ford is a Class A professional and an even classier gentleman. He has played in Ihe USGA U.S.

Open and has been a mainstay on the local pro circuit for many years. It was an experience to watch the skilled player tear'up the ICC with an 8-under par 63 on the opening day. Also near the top of the list was Buss Snyder's siidden-death victory over Tony Pratt in the Chestnut Ridge Golf Course championship. Lane Match Play Tournament He downed Bob Volk in the finals. Kaihy Glassford bested Bemie Sgro for die women's tide.

Don't forget to sign up for the Mike "Nipper" Nippes Scholarship Outing at the Indiana VFW on Samr-day, Sept. 28. It is $60 per player with two shotgun starts, one at 8 a.m. and the other at 1 p.m. Send a check to The Nippes Foundation, co Mike Gaydosh, 35 Church Sl, Homer City, PA 1574B.

On Saturday, Sept. 28, the Alzheimer's Golf Tournament will be held at the Indiana VFW with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The fee is $60 per person. For information, call Rebecca Hudakat (614) 743-6613.

The team of Bill Gavel, Rick Hnr-vath, Gary Nau and Bill Tavalsky from Jot is (own won the 29th Perm's Woods Open at Chestnut Ridge rc-cendy sponsored by the Boy Scouts of America. Second place went to Jeff, Jeremy. Jim and Joel Vasilko, And finally Once again, I want to thank all die players fur their help this season. Have a great winter and enjoy the trips to Myrdu Beach, Florida and Arizona, Hopefully, we will see each other again next season for another exciting suimner. I want to especially thank me' pros, who are super players and also nice people for all of their help this summer.

They always seem to have time for a wayward golf writer. So thank you, Dan Braun, Craig Mankins, Dave Kuhar, Randy Moskel, Tom Bummer, Scon Cortaz-zo and Bemie Dixon. It's been great And remember as golf great Bobby Jones once said. "Golf is the one game I know wliich becomes more and more difficult die longer one plays it." luctant to step aside for the youngsters. One event that I missed covering was the finals of the Indiana Country Club Invitational Golf Tournament, in which Dave Smith and Dave Myers beat defending champions Jeff Hovanec and Dave Schmidt.

Of course there are some events left The 1CGA Senior Open will held later this month at Meadow Lane; the cost is $50 for non-members and $35 for members. This is always a fun tournament with diree age divisions 50-59; 60-69 and 70-plus. The Indiana County Cup will be staged Saturday and Sunday, pitting the top players from each of die six courses around the county. Tliis has been a solid event over the years, but enthusiasm seems to have dwindled this season. Chestnut Ridge will defend its tide with champion Russ Snyder.

John Caruso, Tony Pratt and Tony Racchi-ni. They will have their work cut out for diem. The Indiana VFW, a three-time winner of the trophy, will send its team of champion Mark Sweeney, Coy, Dellaposta and Tom Sgriccia to do batde. As of Thursday night, the Indiana Country Club had yet to pull togedier a team. The only certain member is Dave Myers.

Chris Edwards will lead the Meadow Lane team, wlule Jim Buzzard will head the Country Meadow foursome. Charlie Forish is the champion at Pleasant Valley. The first round will be played Saturday at Tom's Run, beginning at 7:30 a.m. The second round will be played at the Indiana Country Club at 1:30 p.m. Sunday's final round will start at 1 p.m.

at the Indiana VFW. Here is a tip for county cup players: Thank the pros and the courses for donating the venues for the champi onship. It is someltiing that they do not have to do. A "Thank You" is always appreciated. Birdsfoot Golf Club Thursday, I had the chance to look over the Birdsfoot Golf Club, located near Freeport.

Operations manager Travis Lindsay took me on a brief tour of the 18-hole layout. Currently, nine holes are open for what the group is calling "Sneak Peak." The cost is $20, including a cart. The course, laid out on 185 acres of former farmland, is gorgeous. It sits on hilts that overlook the Buffalo Creek valley. There are some rather breathtaking views.

Lindsay said that the goal is to create an upscale golf course that fits die needs of every type of golfer. The course has plenty of rolling hills, uphill holes, downhill holes, bunkers both grass and sand, and doglegs. From what is now being used the course should provide a challenge for just ah out any player. The full 1H holes will open in the spring of 2003. There will be five sets of tees, with the championship tees running just over 7,000 yards and the shortest set of tecs about 4.800 yards.

About 12 of the holes have the appearance of links style course, with lots of open space wlule the other six holes arc nestled in the woods. Of the 1'85 acres about SO of diem arc covered with trees. The greens are large and so arc the tee boxes. Right now diere is no clubhouse, but die owners are using an old farmhouse for the pro shop. Future plans include a modem clubhouse, practice range, putting green and chipping area.

I he course was designed by Ault, Clark Associates, the same group that designed Tbm's Run near Blairsville. Odds and Ends Skip Spadafora, the manager at Meadow Lane, says that the year end special drops to $150 today. The fee will cover play for the rest of the season. In the Thursday Senior Scramble at die Indiana VFW, Gary McFate once again jumped into the winner's circle along with his three partners Harry Mikescll, BUI McGinnis Sr. and Wib Wagner.

The group shot an 8-underpar63. Bob Traugh, Bill MacBlane, Bill Crusan, Joe Klamar and Chuck Mack finished second with a 64. John Benson of Punxsutawney and Don Erickson of DuBois will compete in the Arnold Palmer Cup matches at the Latrobe Country Club on Wednesday. The event pits amateurs against pros. In the singles matches in the morning Benson will take on John Aubrey of Aubreys Dubbs Dredd.

In die afternoon, he will team with Jim Bryan and take on the powerhouse of John Mazza and Bob Ford in the four-hall matches. Erickson will team with Bill Batogh of Greensburg in the seniors after four-ball matches to take on Phil Newcamp and Aubry. Palmer will team with Sean Fatten of Tottcrridge in the afternoon to take on Jeff Schroeder and Rich Morrison. Dan Braun, the Indiana Country Club pro, will compete in die Tri-Staie Section PGA Club Professional Tournament at Tottcrridge Golf Club on Monday, Sept. 9.

He and assistant Craig Mankins play at the Adams Golf Pro-Pro Team Championship at The Pines Country Club in Morgan-town, W.Va. on Tuesday. Congratulations to Rick Adair Tor wiiming the Coney IslandMeadow 59 Sauers takes lead at Air Canada Martin staying quiet in title hunt Snyder, who has competed in the Championship Plight for a number of year, turned in a stellar effort in a pressure packed final round to nip Pratt on the second hole of the playoff. Mark Sweeney's defense of his Indiana VFW championship was also masterful. He, after an opening round 5-over par 76, batded his way back to win the tide on the last day overcoming a three-shot deficit to his fourth VFW title.

Also, this summer saw some of the younger players begin to assert themselves iu the championships at various course. Rob Dcllaposta and Mart Coy broke into the top four at the VFW for the first time. T.R. Gatti forged a second-place finish at die Indiana Country Club with a 1 -under par 70 during the final round. At Meadow Lane, Pat Griffin, a ninth-grader, batded in the Championship Flight.

Credit die Indiana County Golf Association's Junior Series for helping out. Griffin and Matt Reed of the Indiana VFW are products of the tour. Heed won three events this summer. However, just as impressive was that the older players still set the benchmark for excellence and are re Golf roundup chip-in on the 200-yard, par-3 fifth and a couple of 20-foot putts. He recorded his first bogey in 44 holes on No.

10, but birdied die next two holes with an up and down out of the bunker and another long-range putt. "I made some good up and downs that kept me going," said Sauers, who added another sand save for par on No. 13. "It kind of was easy I Northern Ireland's Darren Clarke made die biggest move Saturday, jumping 31 spots from a tic for 38th to a tic for seventh with a 5-under 66 that included birdies on his first four holes. He leveled off on the front nine and finished tied with David Gossett and Blaine McCallister at 8 under for die tournament, five shots off the lead.

State Farm Classic SPRINGFIELD, I1L South Korea's Mi I lyun Kim eagled die L7th hole from 106 yards for a share of the third-round lead with Frances Patricia Meunier-I ibouc in the State Farm Classic. Kim, the 1999 tournament winner who is seeking her tliird victory of die year, shot a 4-under 68 to match Mcunicr-Lebuuc (72) at 13-under 203 on die Rail Gulf Course. I-milcc Klein (67) and Nancy Scran ion (68), fighting for Solheim Cup spots in die final event in the points race for automatic berdis on die U.S. team, were a stroke back along widi Solheim Cup player Laura Diaz (67) and Australia's Shani Waugh (67). Pat I hirst (68), also vying for a Solheim spot, was two strokes behind with Solheim player Cristie Kerr (69), winner, and just like thai, the top-seeded Australian had a 4-2 lead.

"To see us not give an inch the whole match for hours it's something we can both be proud of," Hewitt said. Unlike last year, there were no prolonged protests about officiating. Blake just shook his head when a scoreboard replay showed a shot of his that was called out but actually hit the line. Bnih players applauded great shots by the other, of which there were plenty: 1 13 winners, 60 by Blake, despite strong wind, occasional rain, and a cloud cover that made it so dark the stadium lights were switched on at about 3 p.m. The only boorish behavior came from the stands.

There was cheering after faults by Hewitt Blake waved his hand, indiqatjng he didn't want that type of support and in the Fourth set, someone in the crowd yelled: "James, don't lul him win. He's a racist." When Hewitt, who eschewed his usual fist-pumping and loud self-encouragement, closed the thriller with his 15th ace, the players met at the net lo shake hands. Blake told the Wimbledon champion, "You played great, man." "Thai's something lhai was some- -what embarrassed by, when a few By The Associated Press SURREY, British Columbia Gene Sauers didn't find out he could play in the Air Canada Championship until Monday afternoon. Sunday, he'll tee it up with the lead. The 40 -year-old Sauers shot a 5-under 66 on Saturday to take a one-stroke lead after the third round.

Sauers, who won die last of his two PGA Tour tides in 1989 and hasn't had a full tour card since 1996, had a 13-under 200 total. "I haven't played many regular tour events this year or in the past," said Sauers, who was seventh on the alternate list when he got the call at his home in Savannah, Ga. "I lost my card and kind of got rircd of the game to be honest with you. I have been playing well for a year and a half, but I haven't had the opportunity to get out here." Australians Peter Lonard and Robert Allenby were a stroke back after shooting 68s. Allenby, who came within a shot of a course record with a 62 Friday, dropped a stroke on the front nine before closing the gap with four birdies on the back, including die last two holes.

"It wasn't Ihe best of si arts," said Allenby, who tied for second last week in the NF.C Invitational. "On the back nine I just tried to swing within myself and just uied to ease every shot. I think on every hole on the back nine I gave myself a chance for hirdic. It was a good way to finish." Steve Lowery (68) was two strokes back at 11 under, and third-round leader Craig Barlow (71) and Kevin Sudierland (69) were 10 under. Sauers started the day with four birdies after seven holes, including a Robert AUenby chipped on to the ninth green during the third round of the Air Canada Championships.

(AP photo) Angela Stanford (fifl) and Japan's Akiko I-'ukushima 71). Allianz Championship WiiST DES M01NF.S, Iowa South Africa's lohn Bland had a hole-in-onc in a tournament-record 8-under 63 to take die second-round lead in (he Allianz Championship. Bland used a 5 -iron to ace the 175-yard 16(h, and made a 30-foot birdie putt on the Ifllh hole for an 1 1 -under 131 total and a two-stroke lead over Boh Gilder 66). The 57-ycar-nld Bland, who won the last of his live senior tides in 1996, broke the record of 65 in the ByJENNA FRYER AP Sports Writer DARLINGTON, S.C, Mark Martin is the forgotten one in die Winston Cup championship hunt, quietly chasing down leader Sterling Martin with liule fanfare. That's exacdy the way die veteran driver wants it.

"I don't race for fame, I race to win," Martin said. "So whether ihey notice or not doesn't really affect me. It is true that too much (attention) gets to be an additional load to all the other things that you're doing, so 1 don't really get caught up in that." Instead he's focused on finishing what's been a turnaround season for him win! ess last year and 12di in die final standings, Martin has one victory this season and is second in die points, 95 back from Martin. That's got him starting second in the Southern 500 on Sunday because qualifying was rained out and the field at Dadingtnn Raceway was set by car owner points. But he showed he'll be a legitimate threat in practice on Saturday, turning die sixdi fastest lap in the No.

6 Ford during the first practice session. The trouhlc is, Marlin wasn't bad, either, coming in at eighth in die morning. The trend this season has been that when Martin struggles, the contenders have failed lo capitalize, and wtien he's good, die others aren't loo much better. When Marlin had engine problems at Indianapolis, Martin's engine also went with 15 laps to go in a strong run. Two weeks later at Michigan, Martin led Marlin across the finish line as diey finished fifth and sixth preventing Martin from getting loo close in the points.

But Martin isn't conceding anything lo Marlin. "I'm not sure that Sterling is the one yel, there's a Long, king way to go and my focus is not really on Sterling, it's on us," Martin said. "I don't have any concern ahout being able to score more points than Sterling. If we have a stellar performance and have a great finishing average, then I think we can score more points dian him." Burton wins DAKLINCTON, S.C. AP) Jeff Burton won the rain -shortened Gatoradc 200 on Saturday when, after the diird stoppage, the cars were led across the start finish line to make the race official.

The race was stopped 300 yards from Ihe halfway point of the event, just short enough to stop it from being an official event. But after an hour wait, and with darkness falling on Darlington Raceway, the event was finally called and the pace car led the field over the line. The start of die event was delayed over four hours because of rain. When NASCAR finally Iried to start it, the rain started again and the cars completed just four laps under caution Iwfore officials stopped it again. The field went green over two hours later and Burton, who started 33rd, stormed lo Ihe front of the Martin has been in diis position before, ending the year as the runner-up in the standings three times.

In 1990, the late Dale Earnhardt edged him for die title by 26 points. 'Incy went 1-2 again in 1 994 and Martin was a runner-up to Jeff Gordon in 1998. But he was a distant second in both of those races, even though he won a career-best seven dmcs in 1998. Tliis season he's managed to slay in contention with 15 Top 10 finishes so far, proving that consistency can be just as important as domination. "The year I ran second to leff Gordon, we won seven races and finished second to him I don't know how many times when he won 13," Martin said.

"That meant that two-diirds of die races were won by two people. It's a different time now. "That's not happening and it's not hecause everybody is not running good. It's not because people aren't trying or there arcn'l any good (earns or anything like dial, it's just that die conditions dial we race under are different now and you're not able to excel on a weekly basis like you could because you have all these other things that get in your way dial didn't use to prevent you from rising to the top week in and week out." Sometimes plain old bad luck gets in the way, like it did Tor Martin at Bristol last week. Martin had a good car, but was in the wrong place at the wrong time when Ilobby Gordon wrecked Jim-mic Johnson and Martin was caught up in it.

He ended up finishing 23rd and Marlin doubled his lead in the standings. So Man in that until he, or Marlin, or any of die olher contenders run off a streak of solid finishes, the championship is wide open. "All somebody has to do is put something together like that and they can pull this thing off, if ihey don'l stumhle in the others." Martin said. "In order for (he 6 car lo close this deal, that's all we've got to do. "We coidd go on I there and take this thing right now if we could go out and run in the lop three sue times or eight times and not fall out of any of the last 12 races.

No one could touch us." Busch race field. He was leading when Jamie Mc Murray crashed lo bring out a caution flag, and the rain started again. NASCAR stopped the cars short of the startfinish line on what would have been die 7411) lap signifying the halfway point of the race. "I like racing and I applaud NASCAR for doing everything ihey could to try to finish it," Burton said. "But I drought, gosh, if we have to bring all this people back Monday for 300 feet! there art very few limes you get lo laugl in your race car, but i couldn't help but laugh when they finished it like that." It was Burton's I bird-straight Busch series win at Darlington and gave him a season sweep here he also won in Ihe spring.

Jason Keller finished second, Jeff Green was third and was followed by Greg Biffle. Hewitt scores win despite rowdy fans second-year event. Hale Irwin, who began die round tied for the lead with Australia's Graham Marsh, was three strokes back BMW International Open NOItD-OICHENRIED, Germany-Denmark's Thomas Bjom shot a 4-under 66 lo take a two-stroke lead in the BMW International Open. Bjom, Ihe Huropcan Ryder Cup player who missed the cut in his last three starts, had an 18-under 198. Bernhard Langer (67) and Richard Bland (69) were ded for second.

Defending champion John Daly was seven strokes back after a 65. Earlier Saturday, a 34-year-old German man who's been pursuing Williams' sislcr Serena around die world was arrested and charged with stalking. Albrcchl Stromcyer was taken into custody after a police officer spotted him watching Serena through a fence at the National 'Icn-nis Center, police spokesman Detective Louis Gimacho said. Against Blake in the 2(H) I Open's second round, Hewitt complained after being called for two foot faults by a linesman. The Australian said to the chair umpire: "Look at him.

Look ai him and you tell me what die similarity is. Just get him off the court." Some thought Hewitt was noting both the linesman and Blake arc black. Hewitt later said he was pointing out the "similarity" in the fault calls. Blnkc sought to play down what happened, saying he gave Hc-witi the benefit of the doubt because the remarks came in (he heat of battle. With Blake down 3-2 in the fifth set and serving, he sent a forehand wide, a backhand wide and a forehand long to give Hewitt three break points.

It was part of an II -point streak for Hewitt. "Sometimes ii looks like you're missing easy balls, but that's because of the work he docs," said Blake, who attended Harvard. fans did thai," said the 2fth-secdcd Blake, whose rapidly improving game produced his first title two weeks ago iu Washington. Hewitt, who said he didn't notice wharthc fans were saying, next plays No. 14 Jiri Novak.

le advanced when Marcelo Rios quit after losing the first two sets, citing a right knee injury and raising the retirements to a Grand Slam-record nine men. Also into the fourth round is two-time champion Andre Agassi, who beat Ramon Dclgado6-2, 6-1, 6-2 and has dropped 16 games so far. Agassi now faces Jan-Michael Gamhiil, who beat No. 21 Gaston Gaudin 6-0, 6-2, GO. Two-time defending champion Venus Williams boat Martina Muller 6-1, 6-2 in set up a fourth-round match against No.

14 Chanda Rubin, while Jennifer Capriati, Monica Seles, Kim Clijsters and Amclic Mau-resmo also won. Seles lost seven straight games after leading 5-1 in ihe second set but got by qualifier Yoon-Jeong Cho 6-1, 5-7, 6-3, and now plays Martina Hingis, another past Open champion. Hingis, who missed (he French Open and Wimbledon after ankle surgery, beat Amanda Coetzer 6-3, 6-4 at night. Capriati followed with a 6-2, 6-2 victory over No. 30 Meghann By HOWARD FENDRfCH AP Tennis Writer NEW YORK James Blake did what he could lo the wash away the ill will directed at Lleyton Hewitt by some spectators during a riveting U.S.

Open rematch. Blake had a tougher time withstanding the defending champion's rclendess play. His sneakers squeaking widi each step, his darting eyes finding the right angles, Hewitt got past Blake 7-6 (5), 3-6, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 Saturday ir reach the fourth round. It came a year to die day after another five-setter between the pair, one marked by a call-arguing tirade by Hewitt that was perceived as racist. "We fought our hearts out.

He came up with great shots, I came up with great shots. He came up with a few more," Blake said after playing in the third round of a major for the first time. "The way wc conducted ourselves I really like the fact that if any kid was watching, they could say, "I want to be like cither one of those A dght match came down to Blake's three-point lapse in the sixth game of the last set. Blake made three straight errors the had 86 total to He-will's 40), Hewitt snapped a forehand.