A little reminder on the tee from golf pro Bryan Huff helps Jim Bradford get his first hole-in-one.
View full sizeStonewater Golf Club in Highland Heights.This is a story about instant feedback and instant gratification.
Jim Bradford and his wife, Elke, attended the Jimmy Hanlin Golf School recently at StoneWater Golf Club in Highland Heights, where they worked with professional Bryan Huff for about five hours before heading to the course to play.
The group was on the 167-yard, sixth hole when Huff asked Jim Bradford, in town from Barrie, Ontario, on a minivacation, if he had forgotten one of the points they had discussed during their instruction period.
"Narrow your stance," Huff reminded Bradford, as the 66-year-old took aim with a 5-iron. One swing later, the ball was in the hole for Bradford's first hole-in-one.
"I jumped higher into the air than he did," Huff said. "I think I was more excited than he was. I jumped up and gave him a big hug and he took it all very calmly."
Bradford, who owns a kitchen and bathroom design and renovation company, kept the ball rolling on the next hole when his second shot nearly went in for eagle. He settled for birdie.
Tom Terrific: Tom Watson, who will be the sentimental favorite when the 150th British Open is played at St. Andrews on July 15-18, will have a special event to come home to after being named the 2010 Ambassador of Golf for the World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club on Aug 5-8.
Watson, who came within an 8-foot putt of winning his sixth Open championship last year at Turnberry at age 59, will be honored Aug. 4.
The award is presented annually to a person who has fostered the ideals of the game on an international level and whose concern for others extends beyond the golf course. Watson has won 39 times on the PGA Tour and has won eight majors.
On to Wisconsin: Pepper Pike pro Rob Moss finished in a tie for 11th place in the PGA Professional National Championship in French Lick, Ind., last week with a 2-over 288, and qualified to play in the PGA Championship, Aug. 12-15, at Whistling Straits, in Kohler, Wis.
It marks the second time Moss, a two-time Ohio Open champion from Broadview Heights, has qualified for the PGA. Only the top 20 finishers from the field of more than 300 qualified.
Moving on: Rocky River's Andrew Bailey shot a two-day total of 74-71--145 and withstood a three-hole playoff to win the Northern Ohio PGA junior section championship at Sweetbriar Golf Course. Bailey, who will be a freshman at Cleveland State, qualified to play in the PGA Junior Championship (formerly the Westfield Junior PGA Championship) at Sycamore Hills Golf Club in Fort Wayne, Ind., Aug. 2-5.
Tiana Jones, a South Carolina recruit from Alliance, won the girls title. Only one boy and one girl from each of the PGA's 41 sections advance to the nationals.
Final warning: Deadline to enter the 86th annual Ohio Open is July 14. The Open will be at Quail Hollow Country Club on July 19-21. Call the Northern Ohio PGA at 216-765-1214.
Ladies days: The seventh annual Women's Greater Cleveland Amateur Championship, sponsored by the Cleveland Metroparks, will be July 31-Aug. 1 at Sleepy Hollow Golf Course in Brecksville.
The 36-hole event is open to all amateur players with a recommended handicap index of 18.4 or less. Entry fee is $70 and advance registration is required. Carts are optional but not included in the entry fee.
Northfield's Kelly Krusoe, a former Plain Dealer high school player of the year from Walsh Jesuit, shot 73-74--147 to win last year, defeating Shaker Heights' Frederique Bruell by three shots. Registration is online at clevelandmetroparks.com.
Record breaker: Haylee Harford, a 13-year-old from Leavittsburg, broke the Madison Country Club women's competitive record when she shot a 6-under-par 68 during the final round of a North Coast Junior Tour event on Sunday.