News: Archives
| JUNE 2010 |
The Press Thornton Future Masters
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This was Russell's first trip to the Press Thornton Future Masters. Hosted by Press Thornton and the Dothan Country Club, the Future Masters has been played in Dothan since 1950. Russell played the 11-12 division as an 11 year old. The course was set around 5,700yards at par 70. The weather was hot and humid with real feel temps in the hundreds. The ground crew of the Dothan C.C. had the course in prime condition for the event. The greens were cut and rolled daily making for some very slippery putts.
Round 1- Russell started his first round on #10 with a great birdie on his opening hole, a bogey on 11 and birdies on 12 & 16, Russell makes the turn at -2. He started off great on the back with birdies on 1 & 5 then two bogeys on the long 6th & 7th holes. Russell parred out the remaining two holes to finish his first round at -2 and sat in first place overnight. A fierce thunderstorm halted play for the 3 remaining groups. They were required to finish their rounds the next day at 6:30 am.
Round 2 - Russell struggled around the front on day two, not getting any lucky breaks or putts to drop. The thick Bermuda rough and very fast greens were hard to manage. Russell made the turn at +7, but made the turn with a great attitude. With birdies on 10, 12 & 14 it looked like Russell was on a roll. An unlucky bounce into the greenside bunker on 17 led to a double bogey and Russell finishes the day at +6 T8.
Round 3 - Russell played the long front 9 pretty good making the turn at +2. He bogeyed 10 and had a great par save from the bunker on 11. After an easy par on 12, a bogey on 13, he made a long putt on the par-4 14th for birdie. A missed green on 15 led to another bogey. Then the skies let loose as pouring rain came down on the boys coming down the 17th fairway. Russell hit into a greenside bunker on 18 and ended up with a double to finish the day at +7 tied for 12th overall. Russell learned a lot from this trip and felt good about his play even though he struggled a bit in the final round. Russell will return to the 11-12 division next year. Congratulations go out to the 11-12 Champion Sahith Theegala from California.
WYTC Bolingbrook, Illinois
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The fourth annual World Youth Team Challenge took place at the Bolingbrook golf club in Bolingbrook, Illinois this past week. 9 teams including 4 USA Teams (Defending Champs, East, Central & Midwest) and 4 South American teams including two from Mexico, Colombia, Venezuela and an International team played 18 holes of alternate and four ball formats over 4 days. Russell was a member of the Team Defending Champions in the boys 11 division.
Day 1 vs. Venezuela - Russell and teammate Owen Miklos won both their morning alternate shot and four ball matches. The Defending Champion team scored 15-1/2 to 2-1/2 over Venezuela.
Day 2 vs. USA East Coast - Jeffery and Brandon from the East Coast Team played excellent golf winning the morning alternate shot and halving the afternoon four ball match. The Defending Champion team scored 10 to 8 over the East Coast Team.
Day 3 vs. Mexico B - Russell and Owen won their morning match and lost their afternoon four ball match. The Mexico boys short games were fantastic. Both teams were winners today. There were tough fought matches in all divisions with the Defending Champion Team edging out Mexico 9-1/2 to 8-1/2.
Day 4 vs. Columbia - The Defending Champion Team won Pool B and was paired against the Pool A winners Columbia in the final round on day 4. Russell and Owen played great together in winning the morning alternate shot match. In the afternoon, the Columbian boys put on a chipping clinic knocking one in on 6 and another on 7 for the win. Congratulations to Team Columbia for their victory 10 to 8 over the Defending Champion team.
Official Website Official Results
A Day at Cog Hill
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The day after the MAJGT event, Russell and his friend Luis from Florida were treated to a day on the world famous Dubsdred Course at Cog Hill in Lemont, Illinois. Dubsdred is the home of the PGA Tours BMW championship. Russell and Luis had a great time on the championship course. Doing their best to avoid the thick rough and deep bunkers, Luis finished at +2 and Russell went even par from the 6,033 yd green tees.
MAJGT Cog Hill
The second of seven MAJGT 12-15 division events was held at the beautiful Cog Hill golf club in Lemont, Illinois last week. 40 players aged 12-15 made up the field at Cog.
Round 1 was played on the # 3 course. With heavy rain predicted, the players got a break until late into the first round before the rain started to fall. Russell played great on the front making the turn at +2 . the back of the #3 course played 3,550 yds and with the rain it seemed longer than that. Russell did all he could shooting +4 on the back finishing the day with a 78 in T10.
Round 2 was played on the #1 course. The weather could not have been any better for the final round, once again Russell played great on the front making the turn at +2. He hit some great shots on the back but the longer yardage took it's toll and he finished at +6 (77) tied for 9th.
Congratulations to Russell's friend Luis Gagne from Florida for a terrific final round of 68, and a birdie for the win on the first playoff hole.
| MAY 2010 |
Dupage County Junior
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The 11th Annual DuPage County Junior Classic was hosted by the golf facilities of the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County, Illinois. The DCJC serves as one of only two Callaway Golf Junior World Golf Championship qualifying sites in the state of Illinois. Last year Russell was DQ'd on the third hole due to an unfortunate mix up on the second tee.
Round 1 - With sunny skies and 70° weather predicted, the Chicago weather once again turned for the worse. Cloudy skies, wind and cool temps caught most players and spectators off guard. Russell got revenge from last years DQ with a great shot on the second hole leaving him 1-1/2' for birdie. Russell played good on the long front nine making the turn at +2. With Bogeys on 10 & 11, Russell struggled around the back finishing the day at +8 (79) two shots off the lead.
Round 2 - Once again the weather played tricks on everyone. Sunday was supposed to be cloudy and cool and it turned out to be a beautiful sunny day. Russell again got around the front nine very well and made the turn at +2. he made easy pars on 10 & 11 then bogeyed the hard driving 12th hole. Russell made a great birdie on the par-3 13th getting his stroke back from the previous hole. Another easy par on 14 and then one of the best birdies on the par-5 15th you'll ever see. Russell blocked his tee shot up the hill into some long grass under a small tree. With a branch jabbing him in his back, he chopped a wedge out of the tall grass down the hill just onto the fairway to the 163 marker. He hit a 23° hybrid that rode the cross wind and dropped on the green 20' under the pin. Russell then stepped up and drained the putt. He walked off the green with one of those "I can't believe I just made Birdie from under that tree" looks on his face. 16, 17 & 18 got the better of Russell coming in. He finished the day at +4 with the lead group coming up 18. The first round leaders struggled a bit and Russell ended up going to a playoff with long time competitor Matthew. Both were tied on day one at 79 and on day two with 75. These two have been competing together since they were 5 years old.
The Playoff - The playoff started on the par-4 18th hole with two routine pars. The crowd and players then moved over to the par-3 9th with both boys hitting the green and 2 putting for par. Back to 18 they go with another pair of routine pars for each. It was then decided that they would play the par-3 9th until a winner was determined. Russell hit his tee shot pin high 5 yds left on the fringe up against the collar. Matt blocks his tee shot pin high right in the rough. He chips a little long and lies 3 on the green. Russell's chip is a touchy little thing that just needs to clear the fringe and roll down to the hole... he hits the perfect chip just over the fringe, rolls down the hill and into the cup for birdie and the win. Hats off to Matt for a great playoff effort. It won't be the last time these two go head to head.
MAJGT Mini Tour 12-15 Division
The MAJGT Mini Tour kicked off the 2010 season with the Windmill Junior at Millcreek in Geneva, Illinois. After a successful season in the 8-11 division last year, Russell is playing in the 12-15 division this season with tournament yardage up to 6300. Due to birthday cut off dates, Russell will play in first two events before his 12th birthday.
Round 1 - With heavy wind predicted, round one started off with a bang. 38 players signed up for the season opener. Russell struggled a bit on the front missing some greens and fairways, but a great birdie on the tough par-5 9th gave Russell a big smile making the turn. He had another rough stretch late in the round and cards a +8 (79) to end the day in solo 4th.
Round 2 - Rain overnight softened up the course a bit and the wind was not as strong. Russell played better hitting more greens and fairways than yesterday, but just couldn't seem to get the ball in the hole. The tricky greens were getting the best of everyone. Russell ended the day with a great birdie putt from off the green on 18. He finished the day at +10 for a solo 7th finish and 40 points toward player of the year. The next stop for the Mini Tour is June 8-9 at Cog Hill.
Congratulations go out to champion Doug Ghim.
| APRIL 2010 |
Illinois Junior Classic
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Russell's 2010 spring season started at the Illinois Junior Classic in West Chicago, Illinois. After last years rain out, this years event had pretty good weather considering it is still April in Chicago.
Round 1 - Russell got around the Lakewood course pretty well carding +2 on the front and +1 on the back for a +3 (75) and third place. The first round leader went low with a 68 and a 6 stroke lead on day 1.
Round 2 - Russell played pretty much the same game as yesterday except without the two birdies he had on day one. Russell cards a +5 (77) and finishes the day in 3rd place overall.
Congratulations go out to Champion Trent Wallace.
| FEBRUARY 2010 |
USKG Jekyll Island Cup
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Russell completed his 7th USKG Jekyll Island Cup last weekend. As usual, the weather was the main attraction of the event. With Russell's clubs failing to make the plane on Thursday and the pouring rain on Friday, practice time was limited at best. Fridays cold wave brought snow to Atlanta with threats of flurries to Jekyll. Saturday's practice was clear but very cold with winter gloves, snow hats and hand warmers a must.
Round 1 - Round 1 was frost delayed by 1:45 minutes. Russell's regular time of 12:53 and got pushed back to 2:38pm. USKG officials announced that his 11 year old division would play until dark and resume the remaining holes the next morning at 8:00 am. Russell played great from tee to green hitting 12 of the 13 greens they played before dark, but he just couldn't get the ball to drop in the hole. Early the next morning play resumed on time and Russell finished the remaining five holes 1 over par to end round 1 in T7 of 31.
Round 2 - The boys 11 division had three hour wait before they'd tee off again for round 2. Again Russell played excellent from tee to green and his putts were dropping too. An unfortunate mistake into the fairway bunker on the par-4, 4th (the 13 hole played) lead to a very rare triple bogey and washed away Russell's chance at a podium finish. Russell shot 79-76 and finished in 7th place.
Congratulations go out to Division Champion Eric Bae from North Carolina.
| JANUARY 2010 |
USKG Copperhead Classic
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Russell really enjoyed getting out of the Midwest snow to the warmer temps of Tampa Florida. The first annual USKG Copperhead Classic was held at the beautiful Innisbrook Resort. After a very cold snap of weather the previous two weeks, the temps were back in the high 60's and the fairways were starting to green back up from the frost.
Round 1 - Russell's 11 year old division played on the South Course. A heavy rain the night before made the first round conditions a little muddy, so lift clean and place was implemented. Russell played great on the front making the turn at even par. The winds started to swirl on the back creating some difficult shots into the small greens. Russell's short game was still a bit rusty from not playing since October. He went 6 over on the back with a double on 16 and finished the day with a 78, tied for 5th.
Round 2 - The first hole was a sign of how the day was going to go. A pulled tee shot into the fairway bunker led to an opening double bogey. Russell kept his head up and played on maintaining a respectable round thru the turn. On the back, it became apparent that it was going to be one of those days where nothing seemed to go his way. A few mistakes and a bit of bad luck lead to an 80 and an 8th place finish.
Congratulations to Russell's friend Nathan Chuwait for his first Regional win. Nathan played great on day two with a 2 under 70 and a four shot victory. Russell looks forward to defending his title at the Jekyll Island Cup in three weeks.
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