Golf Association

OAKMONT, Pa.-- --There was a point midway through the second round of the U.S. Open when you couldn't tell whether we were talking about a golf tournament or a Die Hard sequel. The dejected duffers were scorned, hurt and a little scared. The course at Oakmont Country Club is "mean," they bellowed. And "treacherous" and "dangerous." Golfers were shocked at the "carnage" being scattered over western Pennsylvania. Puh-leez. These pretty boys with pleats probably confuse The View with Ultimate Fighting, too. That's why it was so refreshing to learn after two rounds of the Open that a guy named Bubba was nearly leading the thing.

SILVER SPRING -- Andrea Kraus completed a rare sweep of the medal and the title at Argyle Country Club yesterday.Kraus, from Pikesville and Woodholme Country Club, won three successive holes early in the back nine and held on for a 2 and 1 victory over Jessica Lewis in the championship match of the 78th Maryland State Women's Amateur championship.She had set a tournament qualifying record of 4-under-par 69 in earning the medalist honor Tuesday. Yesterday, in subduing Lewis, a Bethesda resident who plays for Columbia Country Club, Kraus hit every fairway and every green but one on the back nine.

Dorothy M. Duke, co-owner of the Worthington Valley Country Club in Owings Mills, died Sunday of a gastric ulcer at the University of Maryland Medical Center. She was 80.Mrs. Duke took up golf as a teen-ager to keep up with her boyfriend, James W. Duke, who later became a professional golfer and pro at the Bonnie View Country Club. They were married in 1938."She realized that to be with him, she had better learn how to play golf," said her daughter, Carol Isaac of Upperco.By accompanying her husband on the national tour, Mrs. Duke, who was known as "Dot," developed acquaintances with such golfing greats as Ben Hogan, Sam Snead and Patty Berg.

One of the most difficult things about watching Nancy Abiecunas and Aree Wongluekiet play golf was realizing they were 16 and 13, respectively.The two put on a near-flawless performance before Wongluekiet emerged with a 2-up victory in the final of the 51st U.S. Girls' Junior championship at the Green Spring Valley Hunt Club yesterday.With the triumph, Wongluekiet, from Bradenton, Fla., became the youngest champion in U.S. Golf Association history at 13 years, three months, seven days. Previously, Kay Cornelius (1981)

UTILITY GOLF Association Inc. is a nonprofit organization that has pumped more than $45,000 into small local charities since 1995.The association is the result of good friends (who are also good golfers) getting together, luring their business contacts into their dream of raising lots of money for small charity organizations through two golf tournaments a year.The last tournament, in May, pulled in $9,000, which was presented to the 4-H Therapeutic Riding Program of Carroll County last week.

Jack Emich, for years recognized as "Mr. Golf" in Maryland, has been chosen for the U.S. Golf Association's fifth annual Joseph C. Dey Award.Given in recognition of meritorious service to the game as a volunteer, the award, announced earlier this week, will be presented Jan. 22 at the USGA's annual meeting in San Francisco."

Evelyn G. Glick, whose electrifying performances on the golf course during the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s earned her the distinction of being known as the "Collector of Titles" and master of the one-putt par, died Wednesday of a heart attack at Johns Hopkins Hospital. She was 87 and lived in Pikesville.Mrs. Glick was 30 when she picked up her first set of golf clubs in 1940, and didn't put them down until this summer after suffering a stroke.In 1941, she was Women's Club champion at Woodholme Country Club and repeated the feat 40 years later in 1981.

Andrea Kraus, of Pikesville and Woodholme Country Club, posted a 4-over-par 74, and claimed one of seven available places during qualifying yesterday at Columbia Country Club in Chevy Chase for the 98th U.S. Women's Amateur championship.Mallory Crosland, of the Chevy Chase Club, who won her second straight Maryland State Women's amateur title last week, was the medalist with a 72, followed by Leland Beckel, of Columbia CC, and Laura Hammond, of Exton, Pa., with 73s.The championship, whose field also will include U.S. Women's Open runner-up Jenny Chuasiriporn, from Timonium, will be held Aug. 11-16, at Barton Hills CC in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Mike Healy, head professional at Geneva Farm Golf Club in Street, and John McCloskey, head professional at Sparrows Point Country Club, were among the 1996 award recipients at the annual fall meeting of the Middle Atlantic PGA last week in Fredericksburg, Va.Healy received the Horton Smith Award, which recognizes outstanding service and contributions to developing and improving educational opportunities for PGA professionals, and McCloskey was cited as...

R. Gerard Willse Jr., a municipal finance expert who was associated with Alex. Brown & Sons Inc. for more than 50 years, died Monday of cancer at his Ruxton home. He was 75.He began his career with the venerable Baltimore financial institution in 1945 as a registered representative and at the time of his death was partner emeritus.In 1949, he joined the firm's municipal bond department, where he was instrumental in arranging public financing for health care and municipal facilities throughout the state, including most Baltimore area hospitals, Peninsula Regional Medical Center in Salisbury and Memorial Hospital at Easton.

BETHESDA - -The scene around the first tee at Congressional Country Club Friday was what most envisioned when Tiger Woods announced three years ago that he would be hosting a regular Professional Golf Association tour event over Fourth of July weekend. Fans stood five-deep in most places, 10-deep in others, hoping for a glimpse of the world's best player. But when Woods leaves after Sunday's final round of the AT&T National tournament, big-time golf in Maryland will suffer the latest painful blow.

Grace Schmidt Pierpont, a community volunteer active in hospital work, died in her sleep Monday at her daughter's home in Haemelschenburg, Germany. She was 90 and had lived in Homeland. Born Grace Schmidt in Owings Mills, she was a 1936 Franklin High School graduate and earned a nursing degree in 1941. A year later, she married Ross Z. Pierpont, a surgeon who was active in Republican politics. Mrs. Pierpont worked as a nurse for a decade until her daughter was born in 1951. She then did volunteer work for Roland Park Country School, Grace United Methodist Church, the Women's Auxiliary of Maryland General Hospital, the Baltimore Opera Guild, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra and the Golfer's Charitable Association, where she was chairwoman for many years.

R. William Clarke, longtime head golf pro at Hillendale Country Club and past president of the Professional Golfers' Association of America, who was considered a national expert on the rules of the game, died Monday of heart failure at the Oak Crest Village retirement community. He was 85. "He was known as 'Mr. Hillendale' and was one of the leading rules experts in the country," said Allen Wronoski, who succeeded Mr. Clarke. Mr. Clarke retired in 1989 after nearly four decades at the club.

John W. Highfield Jr., a former employee of McCormick & Co. and an avid golfer who served as president of the Maryland State Golf Association, died in his sleep Aug. 25 at his residence in Ruxton. He was 69. Mr. Highfield was born in the Philadelphia suburb of Jenkintown, where he went to high school. He attended Lehigh University and graduated in 1961 with an undergraduate degree in English, according to his son, John Highfield III of Charleston, S.C. Mr. Highfield was on the Lehigh football team and was starting quarterback part of his junior year and all of his senior year, said Charles P. Wentz, a teammate and friend.

OAKMONT, Pa.-- --There was a point midway through the second round of the U.S. Open when you couldn't tell whether we were talking about a golf tournament or a Die Hard sequel. The dejected duffers were scorned, hurt and a little scared. The course at Oakmont Country Club is "mean," they bellowed. And "treacherous" and "dangerous." Golfers were shocked at the "carnage" being scattered over western Pennsylvania. Puh-leez. These pretty boys with pleats probably confuse The View with Ultimate Fighting, too. That's why it was so refreshing to learn after two rounds of the Open that a guy named Bubba was nearly leading the thing.

CALENDAR PGA TOUR Colonial Site -- Fort Worth, Texas Schedule -- Today-Sunday Course -- Colonial Country Club (7,054 yards, par 70) Purse -- $6 million. Winner's share: $1,008,000. Television -- USA (today-tomorrow, 4-6 p.m.) and CBS (Saturday-Sunday, 3-6 p.m.) Last year -- Kenny Perry won the event for the second time in three years, matching his tournament record with a 19-under 261 total en route to a seven-stroke victory. Last week -- Brett Wetterich won the Byron Nelson Championship for his first PGA Tour title, closing with a 2-under 68 for a one-stroke victory over Trevor Immelman.

For one of the nation's hottest college golf prospects, Michelle Grilli is about to embark on the course less traveled. The Pikesville senior just completed her most successful summer tour, winning an American Junior Golf Association tournament, forcing another to a playoff and finishing second and third in two others. She reached the round of 16 at the U.S. Golf Association Girls' Junior Championship and qualified for the USGA Women's Amateur Championship, missing the cut by a stroke.

CALENDAR PGA Tour Chrysler Classic of Greensboro Site -- Greensboro, N.C. Schedule -- Thursday-Sunday Course -- Forest Oaks Country Club (7,197 yards, par 72) Purse -- $5 million ($900,000 to winner) TV -- USA Network (Thursday-Friday, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.; Saturday, 3 p.m.-6 p.m.); ABC (Sunday, 3 p.m.-6 p.m.) Last year -- Brent Geiberger won his first PGA tour event - and joined his father, Al, as the first father-son duo to win the same tournament - by posting a two-stroke victory over Michael Allen.

Jessica Jones wanted to improve some parts of her golf game this spring. The Ellicott City resident gave a blunt answer when asked what needed work. "My putting stunk, my chipping stunk, everything needed work," said Jones, 21, who plays on the Howard County Special Olympics golf team. Searching for some way to improve on the course, she found answers at one of her team's Thursday practices, learning about Project GAIN, which stands for Golf: Accessible and Inclusive Networks. That program helped her get six free two-hour golf lessons at Timbers at Troy Golf Course in Elkridge and -- even better -- make a few new friends.

Girls, get out your clubs - you'll want to practice. Baltimore County schools' girls golf program is expanding, adding another eight high schools to the eight that offer the sport, thanks to a $32,000 grant from the U.S. Golf Association. The funding helps enhance opportunities for female athletes by offering instruction and equipment for all involved in the program. Baltimore County schools are among the few in the country to offer girls their own golf teams under a program called the Girls Golf Initiative, sponsored by the USGA and the Ladies Professional Golf Association.