August 7, 2007

Local 12-year-old rallies for win at U.S. Kids Golf World Championship

TULSA, Okla. — Maybe Francesco Ruffino can give Tiger Woods a couple of pointers.

After all, Woods has never rallied from a deficit to win a major, but Ruffino had little problem making up four strokes in the final round of the most important tournament of his life.

The Bloomfield Village resident won the 12-year-old division of the U.S. Kids Golf World Championship in Pinehurst, N.C., when he made five birdies and shot three-under-par 69 on Saturday in the final round on Pinehurst's No. 8 course.

That added up to a three-round score of one-under 215 for Ruffino and a two-stroke victory over Beau Hossler Jr., who had held a four-shot lead entering the last round. Ruffino had made up ground to win local tournaments before, but he had never done it on the national stage.

"Well, I kind of felt that I needed to play my game," he said. "And I knew if I just keep playing well the whole time that the birdies would come. I tried not to focus on what he did and just sort of focus more on my game."

His game? The only kind of game most 12-year-olds have comes with microchips and a video screen. But Ruffino sounds like a teaching professional when he discusses the nuance of his golf strategy.

"Playing just one shot at a time, focus on that one shot," he said. "Don't worry about being four back or five back, just try to keep hitting one shot at a time."

Ruffino's father, Chris, is a six-handicap, and his mother, Susan, played college tennis, but the real athletic star in the family is Francesco Ruffino. He has been competing in tournaments since age 5 and recently shot 67 from the men's middle tees at Red Run Golf Club in Royal Oak.

Susan Ruffino said she has been impressed with her son's persistence and determination — as well as the shopping list he gives her. Francesco began a fitness program this season, and he now asks his mom to buy fruits, vegetables and vitamins instead of junk food.

"It's not typical," Susan Ruffino said.

Francesco confesses to still having an affinity for chocolate chip cookies.

"I try to keep off it, but once in a while I'll eat some," he said.

That's understandable. After all, it's hard to deny a 12-year-old national champion his just desserts.

VOLUNTEER EFFORT: The PGA of America announced it has reached its goal of securing more than 3,500 volunteers for the 2008 PGA Championship at Oakland Hills Country Club. Tickets for the tournament are available by visiting www.pga2008.com or calling 800-742-4653.

Furyk ailing: Second-ranked Jim Furyk said chances of him playing in this week's PGA Championship drop each day his back fails to improve.

Furyk, 37, began noticing the pain in his back while practicing July 31, two days after winning his second consecutive Canadian Open title, and withdrew from last week's World Golf Championships-Bridgestone Invitational.

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Classic golf, tough and cheap in Texas

Horseshoe Bay is one of the best kept secrets in U.S. golf, but also one of our premier golf resorts, and the only one to feature three courses all by Robert Trent Jones, Sr. Located in Texas “Hill Country,” where many of the state’s best courses reside, the resort and its golf courses hug the shore of 26-mile long Lake LBJ. Horseshoe Bay was conceived nearly 40 years ago by a slightly eccentric developer, Norman Hurd, who used the site to bring his fantasy dreams to life, so the grounds of the resort teem with giant rocks, pools, streams, waterfalls and fountains, all extensively landscaped and full of exotic birds such as pink flamingoes and macaws. At night, Horseshoe Bay trades its colorful plants and birds for an equally extensive sea of colored lights. You know right away you are someplace different.

But what really counts here is the golf, and the three courses, Slickrock, Ramrock and Applerock are all good but difficult layouts, built in Jones’ masochism phase. From the tips, at 6926 yards, Ramrock is known as one of the toughest courses in all of Texas, with a scary 74.5 rating and 140 slope. Applerock is almost as difficult, and the “newest” course here, widely considered one of Jones last great works.

The bad news is that these three courses might bring you to your knees. The good news is that they are a steal to play. The Unlimited Golf Getaway Package offers just what it advertises, unlimited golf on all courses, plus practice and carts, with overnight accommodations, and it is available year round, from $168 per person at The Waters at Horseshoe Bay Resort, or from $187 at The Horseshoe Bay Marriott. The latter is pricier, but throws breakfast into the deal.

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August 7, 2007

Local 12-year-old rallies for win at U.S. Kids Golf World Championship

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Classic golf, tough and cheap in Texas

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