Golf

Alaska sports roundup (5/16/12)

Roundup of Alaska sports events

Relaxed setting to learn to play golf

For those who think they have to be good at golf to enjoy playing, think again. Get Golf Ready, a program designed to help absolute beginners become comfortable on the course, is part of the PGA's national Play Golf America program and is available at Anchorage Golf Course, Eagleglen and Moose Run.

Anchorage Golf Course opens for play Saturday

Anchorage Golf Course will open the front nine on temporary greens Saturday, the first course in town to open.

Year-round golf keeps Alaskans in the swing

While the world's top golfers are playing at Augusta National this week, dozens of Anchorage golfers have been gearing up for spring by playing Oakland Hills Country Club, sort of.

Contreras wins golf playoff at Eagleglen

James Contreras parred the second playoff hole Sunday to turn back Robert Nelson and win the professional division of the Eagleglen Open at Eagleglen Golf Course.

Four pros tied atop Eagleglen Open board

Anchorage golf professionals Billy Bomar, James Contreras, Casey Cusack and Travis Jorgensen each shot 4-under par 68s at Eagleglen Golf Course on Saturday, to sit in a four-way tie for the lead in the first round of the Eagleglen Open.

Pair of 59s shot at junior golf tournament

A playoff was needed Sunday at the Anchorage Golf Course to determine the winning team in the Alaska Junior Golf Association's Pro Junior golf tournament.

Murdoch wins senior golf title in unlikely fashion

Juneau's Gary Murdoch won a tiebreaker to claim the state senior golf championship Sunday in Fairbanks.

Murdoch leads seniors in golf tournament

Gary Murdoch fired a three-over-par 75 to take a one-stroke lead over Ross Walther in the first round of the state senior golf championships at Chena Bend in Fairbanks. Cable Starlings is two strokes back at 77.

Hamilton, McAngus earn state titles in golf tournament

David Hamilton hadn't even made the turn at Anchorage Golf Course on Sunday when he was crowned the Alaska state amateur golf champion.

Photos: State amateur golf championships

Photos: Golf tournament early rounds

Hamilton expands lead at State Am golf tournament

David Hamilton moved to a new course yet found himself in the same place after Saturday's third round of the Alaska state amateur golf tournament.

GOLF

Hamilton holds lead in Palmer

David Hamilton broke par for the second straight day at Palmer Golf Course to hold onto his lead in the Alaska state amateur golf tournament Friday.

GOLF

Hamilton leads field by two strokes at state am

David Hamilton fired a three-under-par 69 to take a slim lead over Michael Oldenkamp after the first round at the Alaska state amateur golf championships Thursday at Palmer Golf Course.

Photos: State Amateur Stroke Play Golf

Baxter, Sanders meet again in the State Am golf tournament

Every time Adam Baxter enters a state golf championship, he seems to share a tee time with Greg Sanders.

Baxter, Baca and King tops in golf match play

Adam Baxter defeated Tim Ruf 4 and 3 on Sunday at Eagleglen Golf Club to win the Alaska state match play championship.

Photos: State Match Play Chanmpionship Golf

GOLF

Dolejsi's 141 paces the field in golf tournament

Marcus Dolejsi fired rounds of 71 and 70 Friday to claim medalist honors and lead a pack of 16 men who qualified for today's match play competition at the state match play tournament at Eagleglen Golf Course.

Photos: State Match Play Championship golf

GOLF

Alaska golfers best beware of Jedi mind tricks in match play

Anchorage's Benji Sumulong is excited for the start of the Alaska Golf Association's state match play tournament today at Eagleglen Golf Course. He loves match play because of the rare head-to-head nature of the competition.

GOLF

Anchorage golfer chases PGA dream

When Anchorage's Casey Cusack birdied five of his last six holes to become the first amateur to win the Eagleglen Open in September, his decision whether to turn professional got a little easier.

Lewis and Swisher are top junior golfers

Eddie Lewis shot a two-day total of 159 to top Matt Meszaros by three strokes and win the boys 16-18 division, and Halcyon Swisher topped the girls 16-18 division with a two-day score of 201 in the Neeser Construction Junior Masters golf tournament this week.

McAngus top qualifier in publinks golf tournament

Terri McAngus beat Kim Everett and Brittany Bomar in a sudden-death playoff Tuesday, to win the U.S. Golf Association's Women's Publinks qualifier at Palmer Golf Course.

Mystrom fires a hole in one

Anchorage's Rick Mystrom drained a 121-yard hole-in-one last weekend, using a sand wedge on the par-3 second hole at Indian Canyon Golf Course, in Spokane, Wash.

GOLF

Bomar's even-par 72 wins qualifer

Anchorage golf pro Billy Bomar battled heavy winds and patchy greens Thursday at the Palmer Golf Course to win the U.S. Open local qualifier with an even-par 72.

GOLF

AGC opens 12 greens

The Anchorage Golf Course will open 12 permanent greens for play today, including the entire back nine. Greens fees are $35 for 18 holes and $25 for nine holes.

Tanglewood golf course opens today

The Tanglewood Lakes Golf Club and Dome opens for play today on all nine of its permanent greens. The par-3 facility, newly managed by long-time Anchorage golf professional Billy Bomar, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

AGA's first golf swap a success

Used and new golf equipment lined all four walls of a vacated store Saturday at the University Center, where more than 300 people showed up to look for bargains at the Alaska Golf Association's first golf swap.

GOLF

Military courses to open

Moose Run's Creek Course will open for play Tuesday on 18 temporary greens and tee boxes. Eagleglen will open Friday, also on 18 temporary greens. There is no set opening date for Moose Run's Hill Course.

GOLF

Major course renovations on horizon for AGC

When the Anchorage Golf Course opens for play today, golfers might notice some subtle changes. The pro shop was rearranged and redecorated, a bar was added to the west end of the clubhouse and hundreds of trees were cleared.

Windstorms allow golfers to swing into spring

Not only was the temperature above freezing and the sun shining in a clear, blue sky at Palmer Municipal Golf Course Wednsday, but all 18 holes were in use, with almost no lingering snow on the fairways.

Photos: Opening day at Palmer Municipal Golf Course

Post your springtime activity photos

For golfers, all 18 open at Palmer; Settlers Bay follows

For golfers, all 18 open at Palmer; Settlers Bay follows

Golfers eager to get in the first round of the summer don't have to wait any longer. The Palmer Municipal Golf Course opens all 18 holes for play today, and the Settlers Bay Golf Course in Wasilla will open its front nine on Friday.

GOLF

Cusack bests pros at Eagleglen

Casey Cusack shot a 134 on Sunday to become the first amateur to capture the Eagleglen Open.

GOLF

Cusack leads at Eagleglen

Alaska state amateur champion and Anchorage city champion Casey Cusack fired a 67 to take a six-shot lead over second-place Kevin Daniels in the top amateur flight at the Eagleglen Open golf tournament on Saturday.

GOLF

Cusack beats Woodland by two strokes to win city title

Casey Cusack shot a 133 to earn a two-stroke victory over Scott Woodland on Sunday at the Anchorage Golf Association city championship at Anchorage Golf Course.

GOLF

Cusack shoots 63

Casey Cusack fired what is believed to be a course-record 63 Saturday at the Anchorage Golf Course to take the lead in the city championships.

GOLF

Everett conquers AGC

Kim Everett shot 89 through heavy rainfall at the Anchorage Golf Course on Wednesday, then shot 83 on Thursday to make up a four-shot deficit and win the Alaska Women's Golf Association Club Championship.

GOLF

Anderson prevails in playoff to win tourney

Former UAA basketball player and current golf pro Bryan Anderson shot par on the fourth playoff hole against Aaron Dexheimer to earn $3,700 and capture the professional division of the Palmer Golf Course Invitational on Sunday.

GOLF

Lindhag, Berge top seniors at amateur golf championship

North Pole's Paul Lindhag came from behind to beat Day 2 leader Gary Murdoch of Juneau and win the 2010 State Senior Amateur Championship with a final round 81 at The Anchorage Golf Course Sunday.

BICYCLE RACING

Folmar, Povolo win tight races

Daniel Folmar edged Jens Beck by 32 seconds in the expert men's race as 18 riders battled rain and avoided dipnetters at Sunday's Knik-Goose Bay Time Trial along Knik-Goose Bay Road in Wasilla.

golf

Murdoch holds lead among senior amateurs

Gary Murdoch held his lead on the second day of the Alaska Golf Association's senior amateur golf tournament, despite battling intermittent wind and rain at the Palmer Golf Course.

GOLF

Senior keeping 'super' in his game

Bill Toney is 73, qualifying him as a super senior at the Alaska Golf Association's senior state amateur championship this week. The term "super" is meant to distinguish players over 65, but in Toney's case it might characterize his golf game better than his age.

Nothin' up his sleeve

Dennis Walters practices nearly every day for what he calls his competition. After all, executing trick shots on the golf course is always a challenge and putting on a show in front of crowds like he did last week at Anchorage Golf Course is not that different from what any other competitor goes through.

Video: Trick shooter Dennis Walters

GOLF

Trick shots on display

Dennis Walters, paralyzed from the waist down, is bringing his world famous trick shots to the Anchorage Golf Course today at 1 p.m.

At state amateur golf tournament, easy does it

A wayward shot on the 18th hole, which traveled roughly 300 yards, led to Casey Cusack's only bogey of the final round of the Alaska State Amateur golf championship, a tournament he led from start to finish.

DOYLE WOODY

Eagleglen's No. 18 can be beauty or the beast

What makes No. 18 at Eagleglen Golf Course special is that it can produce both something gorgeous and something ghastly on the scorecard. The 18th offers the golfer options -- there are myriad ways to play it well, or badly -- and makes him think.

GOLF

Bomar, Cusack lead into final round

For the first time in three rounds, Brittany Bomar did not post the low score in the women's championship flight, but she nonetheless increased her lead Saturday in the Alaska State Amateur.

Socialize with golf

An estimated 15,000 golfers live in the Anchorage area, according to Alaska Golf Association executive director Jeff Barnhart. He figures that each week during the summer, about a dozen tournaments sponsored by bars, businesses and nonprofits attract as many as 144 players apiece.

GOLF

Life on the links fitting Pelletier to a tee

When athletes are invited to compete at a university, they typically have been playing their sport since they were young.

GOLF: ALASKA STATE AMATEUR

Cusack extends state am lead to 8

Defending men's champion Casey Cusack is turning the Alaska State Amateur into a runaway.

ALASKA STATE AMATEUR

Cusack holds one-stroke lead

The Anchorage Golf Course offered good playing conditions and few challenges to the leaders during Thursday's opening round of the Alaska State Amateur championship.

JUNIOR GOLF

Lewis, Swisher win

Eddie Lewis fired a 79 to win jthe boys 15-17 division at an Alaska Junior Golf Association tournament Tuesday at the Moose Run Hill Course. Halcyon Swisher won the girls' 14-17 division with a 101.

ALASKA AMATEUR GOLF CHAMPIONSHIP

Slow play won't be tolerated

From the PGA tour to local courses, slow play plagues golf, and for the 51st Alaska State Amateur Championship that begins today, pace of play might get as much attention from tournament officials as the scores being shot.

JUNIOR GOLF

Lewis, Swisher win

Eddie Lewis fired a 79 to win jthe boys 15-17 division at an Alaska Junior Golf Association tournament Tuesday at the Moose Run Hill Course. Halcyon Swisher won the girls' 14-17 division with a 101.

JUNIOR GOLF

Lewis cards 76

Eddie Lewis shot a 4-over-par 76 to win the boys age 15-17 group Monday in the Alaska Junior Golf Association's tournament at Palmer Golf Course.

Program teaches youth how to succeed on and off links

Though the Wilson brothers just started playing golf a week ago, their swings look fundamentally sound. They know the proper grip and stance. Their ability to swing the club and make solid contact with the ball is lacking, as one might expect from beginners, but on this final day of lessons at the Russian Jack Springs Golf Course, making good contact might be the last priority.

GOLF

Lewis, Eubank win junior event in Kenai

Eddie Lewis won the boys age 15-17 division with an 84 and Jake Eubank won the boys 13-14 division, shooting 95 at the Alaska Junior Golf Association event at the Kenai Golf Course on Tuesday.

GOLF

Amateur power hour

The powerful swing of Casey Cusack ruled the day at the U.S. Amateur Public Links Qualifier at Eagleglen Golf Course on Tuesday.

GOLF

Golf in Alaska enters the 21st century

The days of posting scores at the golf course and waiting for the U.S. Golf Association to process your handicap are gone for Alaskans.

GOLF

Baca shoots 77 to take Publinx

Wasilla's Rynae Baca carded a 77 Thursday to win the women's Public Links qualifying tournament at Palmer Golf Course. She beat runner-up of Brittany Bomar of Anchorage by three strokes in a round that began Thursday but was suspended by extreme weather and completed Friday.

GOLF

Anderson takes title

Bryan Anderson shot a 2-under-par 69 Thursday at Palmer Golf Course to win the local U.S. Open qualifier and become eligible to compete in the sectional qualifier next month in Sacramento, Calif.

Fall and winter weather took toll on Bear Valley Golf Course

Kodiak golfers are finding the Bear Valley Golf Course redesigned this year, thanks to Mother Nature.

GOLF

Into the swing of things

Jan and Bob Chesham intended to spend part of Friday raking their Anchorage yard, which is presumably even less fun than it sounds -- and it sounds like it registers at rock bottom on the fun scale.