Talented field set for Centennial tourney

By Donna Lampkin Stephens

Centennial Valley's big four-ball of the summer, the second Robert L. Ott Memorial, will be played this weekend.

Rusty Hogan and Greg Starkey, a couple of Conway golfers who went on to success elsewhere, are the defending champions. They should be pushed by University of Central Arkansas golfers Bruce Baxley and Kirk Brown, as well as Dean Hoover and Tim Jenkins and Steve Scherrey and Phil Blackwell.

Both Hogan and Jenkins are former professionals who have regained their amateur status. Jenkins is a member of the prominent golf family in Little Rock that includes Rick, pro at Rebsamen Golf Course, and Chris, the Arkansas State Golf Association's Player of the Year in 1998 and '99. Chris Jenkins is only the third player to win the honor in consecutive years, following John Daly (1986-87) and Jack O'Keefe (1990-92).

The practice round for the Ott tournament will be Friday. Cody Brown, assistant pro at Centennial, said the full field of 84 teams would be divided into six flights following Saturday's first round. Tee times both days will run from approximately 8 a.m.-2 p.m.

JUNIOR CLINIC: Brown reported that Centennial's junior golf clinic had drawn about 70 participants but encouraged more to sign up.

"We're still taking them, and we'll take as many as want to come out," he said of the activities set for June 6-9.

The 7-9-year-old group will receive instruction from 8-10 a.m., with the 10-and-older group set to go from 10 until noon.

"It's for everybody," Brown said. "Some were in it last year, but it's mostly for the junior golfers that are coming out so they can get started in the game."

Call 513-2522 to sign up.

CONWAY COUNTRY CLUB

Last weekend's Harley O. Weatherly Four-ball at Conway Country Club went off well except for the one thing that couldn't be controlled -- the weather.

CCC pro Jon Poteet said Saturday's rain wound up canceling the second round of match play for flights 3-5.

"Until the last two years, we'd probably gone six or eight years without rain," he said. "We wound up going back to Friday's round and dividing those flights into losers and winners (for the final round). It was fortunate for some and unfortunate for others, but you can't control the weather."

Doug Weaver and Ron Robinson won their first Weatherly title, reversing their runnerup standing with the 1999 champions, Don and Thom Shock.

Upcoming at CCC are the Dunny Crafton Tournament for women June 7 and the Wampus Cat fundraiser for Conway athletics on June 14.

THE PLANTATION

The Plantation Golf Club, south of Mayflower, is still looking for members, according to pro Ron Barentine.

Interested golfers should call Mark Ramer, general manager/owner, at 851-6291.

(Staff writer Donna Lampkin Stephens can be reached at dls@thecabin.net)