Click Here to see the 2013 Morse Cup (Pacific Coast) Point Standings

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Allen Repeats as WSGA Match Play Champion

Eric Parish captured Medalist Honors with an impressive 3 under round of 69 at The Golf Club at Devils Tower, with 32 spots in the championship flight up for grabs when the day began. The competitors enjoyed good weather on the difficult Devils Tower layout, with a good score needed to get into the championship flight. In addition to Parish breaking par, 2 other competitors were close behind as Tyler Rachetto and John Hull both shot 2 under par 70, to secure the 2nd and 3rd seeds. The 32 players in the championship flight will join 58 others, making up 3 more flights, as they will battle it out for the crowns in their respective flights.

After battling it out in the first round Friday morning and quarter finals in the afternoon, Semifinal matches were set for Saturday morning at The Golf Club at Devils Tower. The Seminfinal matches featured 3 University of Wyoming golf members as Kamrin Allen of Sheridan, Eddie Stewart of Jackson, PJ Thomas of Riverton, and Tyler Rachetto of Lusk all hoped to be crowned the WSGA Match Play Champion. Allen defeated Paul Mavrakis 4 and 3, Stewart took down local Devils Tower member, Dustin Materi 3 and 1, Thomas defeated the stroke play medalist and U of W teammate, Eric Parish 5 and 4, and Rachetto made his way into the semis by way of a 5 and 4 victory over Austin Hinchey.

Kamrin Allen of Sheridan finished 2 up to secure the victory in a thrilling final match against Eddie Stewart of Jackson to win his second consecutive WSGA Match Play Championship. Allen clinched his spot in the final with a challenging win over Tyler Rachetto coming down to the final hole where he emerged victorious with a 1 up lead after finishing birdie, par. Stewart's path to the final match came from a win over U of W teammate PJ Thomas 3 and 2.... Click HERE to read more

Frates and Lewis Take Home Stableford Honors at
Old Baldy Club

Brock Frates of Byron won the men's flight and Mary Jo Lewis of Powell won the women's flight in the 2013 WSGA Net Stableford Championship at the par 72 Old Baldy Club in Saratoga on June 1st and 2nd.

The Stableford is a unique format where competitors try to gain points based on their hole by hole score and the winner is the competitor with the highest total over the 36-Hole Championship. The point value is determined by a fixed net score based on the competitor's Handicap Index. Points are awarded as follows: 0 for a net double bogey or worse, 1 for net bogey, 2 for net par, 3 for net birdie, 4 for net eagle, 5 for net double eagle, and 6 for net four under par... Click HERE to read more

2013 Wyoming Junior Golf Tour Kicks Off in Laramie

36 players in eight age divisions met at Jacoby Park Golf Club in Laramie to compete for in the 2013 WJGT Southeast Regional. Players 13 and over played 36 holes of stroke play; and 18-hole stipulated round each day on Wednesday, June 12thand Thursday, June 13th. Players 12 and under played 18 holes of Stableford stroke play with 9holes stipulated for each round.

In an exciting finish of the overall championship for girls,two competitors found themselves tied for the lead at 161 after 36 holes. Caitlyn Skavdahl and Bailee Watt, both of Casper, needed extra holes to decide the overall championship and the Girls13-15 Age Division. Skavdahl put her approach shot on the par-4 10th hole inside three feet and ended the hole-by-hole playoff with her birdie putt. Sarah Schroefel of Worland took honors in the Girls 16 & Over Age Division with rounds of 87-89 – 176.

In the overall championship on the boys side, local John Murdock of Laramie topped the leader board with an impressive total of 139 –71-68. He outpaced 2012 Wyoming Junior Boys Player of the Year, Nathan Green of Green River, who finished five strokes back at 144 – 73-71.

Ethan Bozner of Rock Springs lead all competitors in the Boys 13 – 15 Age Division. His rounds of82-75—157 earned him the age division medal for his age group.

In the Stableford Divisions, Hardy Johnson of Thermopolis scored 33 points; 17 in round 1 and 16 in round two. He earned the medal in the Boys 10-12 Age Division. Karsten Simmons of Worland scored 24 points and took home the medal in the Boys 7-9 Age Division.

Reese and Taylor Bandemer of Loveland, CO topped the Girls7-9 and 10-12 Age Divisions, respectively.

Thank you to Jacoby Park Golf Club, the players and parents for making this event a great success.

USGA Leads Movement to Improve Pace of Play "While We're Young"

By USGA

The theme of "While We're Young" anchors a new United States Golf Association campaign to raise awareness of the challenges and solutions to the issues surrounding pace of play at golf facilities around the country.

Borrowing the iconic line from the character played by Rodney Dangerfield in the classic 1980 film Caddyshack®,the campaign takes a lighthearted, comedic approach to encourage golfers of all skill levels and golf course facilities to join a movement to improve pace of play and reduce the time it takes to play the game.

According to industry research, the time that it takes to play golf adversely impacts enjoyment and discourages participation in the game. In a recent study by the National Golf Foundation (NGF), "slow play –having to wait on the group in front more than a few times" was cited by 91percent of those surveyed as something that bothers them most and detracts from their golf experience. USGA research shows that the golfer is just one component within a complex, integrated system that determines pace of play.Golf course design, course setup and player management also contribute to longer playing times.

"Pace of play has become a strategic priority for the USGA, and part of a larger leadership agenda to address the issues that threaten the long-term health of the game,"said USGA President Glen D. Nager. "Our new campaign underscores a commitment to educate golfers and golf facility managers in a fun and engaging manner about all the factors that contribute to pace of play and the role they can have in implementing practical solutions to the problem."

The USGA has unveiled five public service announcements(PSAs), featuring three-time U.S. Open champion Tiger Woods, 1960 U.S. Open champion and golf icon Arnold Palmer, Academy Award® winning actor/director Clint Eastwood, three-time U.S. Women's Open champion Annika Sorenstam, 2010U.S. Women's Open champion Paula Creamer, and famed American golf instructor Butch Harmon. The series of PSAs can be viewed at www.usga.org/whilewereyoung.

The USGA campaign is receiving support through its partnerships with state and regional golf associations, as well as the PGA of America, LPGA, and Golf Course Superintendents Association of America, which will promote the initiative to golfers around the country.

The campaign debuted at the 2013 U.S. Open Championship, and will air throughout the summer on broadcast network and national cable channels during coverage of the 2013 U.S. Open, U. S. Women's Open, U.S. Senior Open and U.S. Amateur on NBC, ESPN and Golf Channel. The PSAs will also run during broadcasts of non-USGA golf events through promotional support from the LPGA and the PGA of America.

Each PSA will direct people to www.usga.org/whilewereyoung, a newly created micro-site where golfers and facility managers can sign a pledge to take personal measures to improve pace of play. Those who take the pledge will be enrolled in the USGA Pace of Play Education Program, which includes videos, quizzes and other resources that cover the fundamental causes and solutions to slow play from both player and golf facility perspectives. After completing the education program, participants can download a certificate acknowledging their role as a USGA-certified pace of play ambassador.

In addition to the campaign, the USGA has introduced a new online Pace of Play Resource Center at www.usga.org/paceofplay for facilities and players. The Resource Center is an authoritative repository for information about pace of play, including case studies and best practices for facilities to address factors such as hole length, routing, green speeds, rough height, and operations that impact pace of play.

The site also provides tips for individual golfers seeking to improve their own playing habits and expand their knowledge of the issue through information on alternative formats such as nine-hole rounds that enable shorter playing times.

"Although our industry has tried to address pace of play for decades, we believe the issue can be addressed successfully if we pursue solutions that consider the full set of factors that influence pace – the actions of golfers, the ways we design and manage golf courses, and the influence of the elite competitive game," said USGA Executive Director Mike Davis. "This new campaign illustrates the USGA's energetic and action-oriented approach to pursuing worthwhile endeavors that serve the best interests of the game moving forward."

The USGA campaign is part of a larger, multifaceted initiative that was announced in February to identify the causes and solutions regarding pace-of-play issues in the game. This USGA-led program includes analysis of key factors known to influence pace of play; the development of apace-of-play model based on USGA-led research and quantifiable data; improvements to the USGA Pace Rating System; on-site assistance to help managers assess and improve pace of play; and the creation of education programs for players and facilities.

Click HERE for older 2013 News Items