Sunday Locals: Williams named WSGA men’s golfer of year
Chris Williams, a junior at the University of Washington from Moscow, Idaho, has been named the Washington State Golf Association 2011 Player of the Year in the men’s category.
Williams’ historic year included national and international recognition, capped by his selection to the U.S. team for the prestigious Walker Cup. Williams’ 2-1-0 record was one of the highlights for the American team that came up short against the Great Britain and Ireland team at Royal Aberdeen Golf Club in Scotland.
Before then, Williams was U.S. Open qualifying medalist at Gold Mountain Golf Club in Bremerton, which led to his selection to play for the U.S. team at the Palmer Cup. His undefeated record helped the U.S. beat the European team in Greenwich, Conn.
Williams won major amateur championships back to back, the 18th Sahalee Players Championship and the 45th Pacific Coast Amateur, and shot a 16-under-par 268 to earn medalist honors at the 109th Western Amateur, where he was a quarterfinalist.
Other WSGA player of the year honors went to Erynne Lee of Silverdale, women’s; Andrew Whalen, Ephrata, junior boys; Jordan Ferreira, University Place, junior girls; Tom Brandes, Bellevue, senior men’s; and Ginny Burkey, Fircrest, senior women’s. It was the third women’s honor in four years for the 18-year-old Lee, and second straight senior men’s award for Brandes.
Basketball
Pat Clark, a veteran assistant who retired after last season, is one of six who will be inducted into the Washington Interscholastic Basketball Coaches Association Hall of Fame in the Class of 2012 in July.
Clark, whose last stop was at Mead, also had stints at Gonzaga Prep and North Central. He is being honored for his lengthy service to youngsters in the Spokane area, noted Mead head boys coach Glenn Williams, for whom Clark assisted.
Clark is one of two of the inductees who will be honored at a banquet in the Tri-Cities. The other is head coach Don Schumacher of Kamiakin.
Slated for induction during ceremonies in Tacoma are head coaches Tim Cummings (Auburn) and Lee Sinnes (Yelm, Mark Morris, Port Angeles) and assistants Mark Williams (Fife, Lincoln, Curtis) and Monte Walton (Sehome, Meridian). Additionally, longtime former Washington Interscholastic Activities Association executive director Cliff Gilles will receive the WIBCA’s Ed Pepple Service Award.
Banquet sites and dates will be announced in the spring.
• The Idaho District 1 IHSAA rules clinic for coaches, returning officials and others interested in officiating high school basketball will be held in the library at Coeur d’Alene High School on Tuesday. Registration begins at 6 p.m. The clinic will begin at 7.
Info: John Posnick, (208) 512-3200 or jposnick@usamedia.tv.
College scene
Alli Floyd, a Community Colleges of Spokane freshman from Mt. Spokane, is in the thick of a battle for the NWAACC scoring title in women’s soccer with two weeks to go in the regular season.
Floyd, an All-Greater Spokane League selection at Mt. Spokane, had 19 goals after scoring two in a win over Yakima Valley last week. She entered the weekend tied with Kaylie Winston of Walla Walla (15-0-1, 10-0 NWAACC), the only team to beat CCS (12-2, 9-1) in conference play.
Hockey
Buddy Bodman, one of the more popular figures in Spokane’s recent hockey history, will be honored at the Spokane Braves-Beaver Valley KIJHL game at 2 p.m. next Sunday at Eagles Ice-A-Rena.
Bodman played all or parts of 14 seasons for Spokane’s three pre-junior teams in senior and minor league pro – Flyers, Comets and Jets – and coached for 11 years, including the senior Jets and three Spokane American junior B teams (Rockets, Flames and Braves). He also was the first coach of the Western Hockey League major junior Flyers (now the Chiefs), resigning at Christmas shortly before the team folded.
Rodeo
Spring Planting, from the Flying Five Rodeo Co., missed out on the PRCA Saddle Bronc of the Year award by one point in voting by the top 20 riders in the PRCA standings.
Flying Five Rodeo Co. is owned by Don Hutsell of Ritzville and Sonny Riley of Pomeroy.
Spring Planting, the 2009 winner, was edged by Medicine Woman of the Frontier Rodeo string.
Frontier Rodeo had a rare accomplishment, getting a second honor when Full Baggage was voted the Bareback of the Year. Having two roughstock awards has only happened four times.
Spring Fling was a two-time Saddle Bronc of the Year and Bareback of the Year once, and finished in the top three numerous times.
Bull of the Year is Palm Springs of Four L and Diamond Rodeo. King of Hearts, owned by Corey and Lange Rodeo Co. of Moses Lake, was third.
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