COMMUNITY: PGA qualifier returns to Dayton Valley

DAYTON - Stage 1 PGA Tour qualifying returns to Dayton Valley Golf Club for an unprecedented 17th consecutive year Oct. 18-21.

Dayton first hosted the 72-hole Q-school tournament in 1995 and the 2011 event continues the longest consecutive streak of hosting a PGA Tour qualifying event for any course in the nation.

The 72-hole tournament will be played Tuesday, Oct. 18 through Friday, Oct. 21. Admission is free to the public. Tee times begin at approximately 9 a.m. off the 1st and 10th tees each day barring possible frost delays. PGA Tour officials will announce the exact starting time prior to the first competitive round.

Approximately 65 to 80 players will comprise the field for the Dayton qualifier.

This year's Q-school process began at seven Pre-Qualifying sites in September and 267 players qualified for 2011 Stage One tournaments. Former Nevada Wolf Pack golfer Scott Smith of Fallon and Carson High grad JT Cockerill, who played at Cal State Stanislaus, both advanced from the Pre-Qualifying tournament at Southern Dunes GC in Maricopa, Ariz. Although unconfirmed at this time, it is likely that both Cockerill and Smith will be entered in the Dayton field.

The Arnold Palmer-designed Dayton Valley course is one of 13 sites around the country hosting 72-hole Stage One Qualifiers during the weeks of Oct. 18-21, Oct. 25-28, and Oct. 26-29.

Last year Canadian Ryan Yip of Calgary, Alberta, was the low qualifier at Dayton with a 17-under par, 271 total. A record 30 players advanced to the second stage from the field of 76 with a nine-way tie for the 22nd and final spot at 8-under par. It was the highest number of players to advance to the second stage of qualifying from Dayton. Former Nevada and Reno High golfer Jared Becher of Reno was among those to advance but failed to make it to the final stage.

Five of the 30 who advanced made it to the Q-school finals. In the finals, Andres Gonzales, Olympia, Wash. (T22) and Scott Gordon (T27) of Fair Oaks, Calif. both earned PGA Tour cards for the 2011 season. Jake Younan-Wise (T50), Gilbert, Ariz. and Clayton Rask (T85) of Elk River, Minn. both earned exempt status on the Nationwide Tour for 2011. Brett Swedberg (T112) of Gilbert, Ariz. earned non-exempt Nationwide Tour status.

Players of note who have played and advanced from the Dayton field in prior years include Gary Woodland, Rod Pampling, Charlie Wi, Jeff Overton, Charley Hoffman, Parker McLachlin, Chez Reavie, Bob May, Bryce Molder, Bill Lunde, Scott Piercy, Matt Bettencourt, Spencer Levin, Wil Collins, Troy Merritt, Graham DeLaet, Steve Allan, Notah Begay, and Casey Martin.

For more information about PGA Tour Q-School including the 2011 Dayton Valley Golf Club qualifying tournament and the other sites visit the PGA Tour web site with this link www.pgatour.com/qschool/index.html.

Silver State gymnasts bring home honors

RENO - Silver State Gymnastics Academy of Carson City won first place team at both Level 3 and 4 recently.

Helping earn the first place team award at level 3 in the Child B division was Emily Lewis, who won first place all-around (37.250), Elianna King was second place AA (36.675), and Riley Glynn was third place AA (34.575).

Madison Adams won first place AA in the Senior Division (37.475) and Gracie Walt turned in a solid performance on all four events.

The Level 4 team award was secured by Rosalia Daulerio finishing second AA (35.525), Elle Liebendorfer receiving third place AA (34.950) in the Child A division. In the Child B division, Hailey Glynn placed third AA, and in the Junior Division Brianna Wiles finished second AA (36.900) and Brenna Mitchell finished third AA (36.75). Adding to the winning total, Alycia Hellwinkel was first on vault (9.45), Isabella Daulerio placed first on vault with a (9.7) and tied for first with Chloe Walt on bars (9.2), and Sophia Taggart placed third on bars (9.125).

At Level 5, Lily Reid won vault (9.050) and floor (9.200) on her way to second place AA. Tia Leonard finished second on vault (8.55) and second on floor (8.575) to secure third place AA.

Wolfpack takes 2nd at Sagebrush event

The Carson FC Wolfpack finished second in the Sagebrush Fall Friendship Tournament in Reno last weekend.

On Saturday, the Wolfpack easily dispatched its competition including a 4-0 victory over the Capital Soccer Club Crew and a 6-0 Victory over the South Tahoe Hawks.

On Sunday morning, the Wolfpack defeated a very tough San Juan Spirits team 1-0 to advance to the finals. The finals match-up was against Manteca FC Newcastle which is ranked amongst the Top 10 in the Nation and entered the finals having outscored its previous opponents 14-0.

The game was hard fought with the Wolfpack ultimately falling to Manteca by a score of 1-0.

Archers triumph at Thunder Canyon

Steve and Kathy Archer combined for a 99 to win the Mixed Club championship at Thunder Canyon Country Club on Oct. 9.

The format was four-ball on the front nine and back nine combined net.

Dave La Fata and Cheryl Lukens were second with a 106, while Jack and Virginia Bonar were third at 107.

Tyler and Bianca Daykin and Dave and Shirley Westfall tied for fourth at 108.

Also, at Thunder Canyon, Jim Fitzpatrick and Matti Vazeen combined for a 66 to win the Men's Club tournament.

The format was a four-ball shamble on the front nine and Pinehurst on the back nine.

John Anderson and Dana Whaley also shot a 66, but were second, while Chuck Griffin and Mike Maloy were third with a 66.

On the women's side, Nancy Gates and Barbee Waldren shot a 65 to finish first, while the teams of Mary Anderson and Judy Fountain, and Kathy Archer and Shryl Bailey tied for second with 66s. Sandi Oglesby and Shelly Brewster were fourth with a 68.

Carson Middle wins two more

Carson Middle School's eighth-grade girls' basketball team knocked off Carson Valley and Alder Creek recently in Tah-Neva action.

On Oct. 5, Carson tipped Carson Middle 24-21 thanks to 12 points by Serena Miller and five by Ali Kibbe. On Oct. 7, Carson beat Alder Creek 32-18 to improve to 15-0. Miller once again led the way with 12.

Poker fundraiser set for Nov. 19

Fullout Gymnastics Booster Club, a non-profit organization for the Tumbleweeds Gymnastics team, is sponsoring a Poker Night for adults 21 and over on Nov. 19 at the Plaza Hotel's Conference Center.

The evening starts at 4:30 with a spaghetti buffet dinner with poker beginning at 5:30 p.m.

Tickets for dinner only is $25.

If you purchase tickets before Oct. 15, the cost is $60 which includes $2,000 worth of chips and dinner. There is a $40 add-on for $3,000 worth of chips.

If you purchase tickets at the door, the cost is $80 for dinner and $2,000 worth of chips.

Full table purchases are available for $540.

The winner receives $500, second place wins $250 and third place wins $100. Fourth through eighth place wins $60.

For more information, call Scott Albin at 775-720-3560 or Katy Parodi at 775-790-1809.

Vote for local kayaking champ

Here is the community's chance to help out a local athlete.

Local kayaking national champion, Sage Donnelly, is in the top 10 for Sports Illustrated Kid's Athlete of the Year, but could use some help.

Currently there is online unlimited voting until Oct. 17, so people can vote as many times as they want. The top 3 vote getters move onto finals where SI staff pick the winner.

To vote go to www.sikids.com/contests/sportskid-of-the-year-2011-vote