Golf

By PHIL HICKS
Sports Editor

This week some 156 golfers will by vying to have their name listed with such greats as Lee Trevino, Ben Crenshaw and Homero Blancos.

Winning the 38th Texas State Open will do just that. The tournament is scheduled for Thursday through Sunday at The Cascades Golf Club. It is the third straight year the Tyler course has played host to the event.

Along with Trevino and Crenshaw, other winners of the tourney who went on to compete on the PGA Tour are Jeff Maggert, Blaine McCallister, Brad Lardon, Kris Cox, Kelly Grunewald and Cameron Beckman.

The Texas State Open is a 72-hole stroke play event consisting of 156 professionals and amateurs playing for an estimated purse of $125,000. The field will play 36 holes before being cut to the low 55 scores and ties. Amateurs who make the 36-hole cut will be awarded gift certificates.

Matt Loving of San Antonio is back to defend his championship. Loving won a three-hole playoff over Australian Adam Crawford of College Station for the championship in 2007. Crawford is back as well.

Also, two-time top amateur Martin Piller of Dallas, who just completed his senior season at Texas A&M, returns. He will be teeing off at 9 a.m. Thursday along with Loving and Andrew Dresser of Carrollton.

Area golfers competing include: Brent Akins of Longview; Bryan Baker of Tyler; Kevin Dillen of Paris; Chris Edmonson of Flint; Greg Hamilton of Rusk; Sean Hanson of Longview; Reggie Howell of Tyler; Cody Massa of Tyler; Justin Orbin of Point; Patrick Palmer of Longview; Ted Peterson of Mount Pleasant; John Sikes of Frankston; Ryan Sirman of Tyler; Tony Varvel of Nacogdoches; B.J. Waters of Tyler; Blaine Weiterman of Overton; Wade White of Paris; Chad Williams of Corsicana; and Chase Wood of Tyler.

A Youth Golf Clinic, conducted by Cascades pro Kenny Huff and sponsored by the Tyler Morning Telegraph, will take place at 5 p.m. Wednesday at the driving range at The Cascades.

NOTES —

The Texas State Open is presented by Ashworth, KETK NBC 56, Park Cities Bank, Residence Inn by Marriott Tyler, Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of Tyler, and UST (United Sports Technologies). … A daily grounds pass, good Wednesday through Sunday, can be purchased for $10 (adults) and $5 (18 & under) at The Cascades Pro Shop. The Cascades is located at 4511 Briarwood Road. Briarwood Road is located just off SSW Loop 323, south of Sam’s and All Saints School and north of Spur 364. … The Texas State Open is charitable partners with Childrens Medical Center of Dallas, Northern Texas PGA Junior Golf Foundation and Birdies for Kids. The tournament will donate $5 for every birdie and eagle made during the Championship. … The Texas State Open Pro-Am is scheduled for 1 p.m. Tuesday.

Matt Loving of San Antonio returns to defend his title in the Texas State Open.
(Staff file photo by Tom Turner)