Steve Bergum

Eastern Washington University wants to know how much bang it's getting for the 3.2 million bucks it spends on intercollegiate athletics each year. The school's Board of Trustees has commissioned a study on the impact that athletics and Big Sky membership have on EWU's public image, not to mention its coffers. The business consulting firm of McFarland & Alton PS is conducting the study at a cost of nearly $10,000. Various segments of the population - locally and in several cities where other Big Sky Conference schools are located - have been surveyed for their opinions.

The Athletic Round Table will kick off its annual series of free clinics for junior golfers ages 8 through 17 on June 24 at Liberty Lake Golf Course. The opening clinic will be one of seven sponsored by the ART at local public courses. All clinics will be limited to 50 participants and will run from noon to 3 p.m. Lunch, range balls and prizes will be included. Local club pros will give instruction on rules and etiquette, putting and the full swing.

Birdie opportunities beckon at the par-5 10th hole at Hangman Valley Golf Course - if you're able to putt from below the hole. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

July will once again bring a flurry of outstanding golf events to the Spokane area as the Lilac Open Invitational, Rosauers Open Invitational and Pro Classic play out in a span of less than two weeks. The Lilac will kick off the hectic 12-day schedule on Thursday, July 10, at The Fairways. The tournament, a brainchild of former Downriver head pro Joe Durgan and several of his peers, has been played annually since 1960. It remains the only 72-hole event in the region. The Fairways general manager John Durgan said he expects another full field of 85 professionals and 115 amateurs for this year's event, which will run through Sunday, July 13.

June is time for golf, but come July John Friesz promises to be a good camper. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Photo 1 (left): Proper alignment is the key. Photo 2 (above): Taking the drudgery out of practicing those tricky 3-footers. Photo 3 (top): Visualizing the path of a hard-breaking putt.

Former champ Michael Combs is among the Rosauers Open success stories. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review

Golf in Montana's Flathead Valley just keeps getting bigger and better. And Northern Pines Golf Club, a spectacular 18-hole championship course located just north of Kalispell on Highway 93, is the latest reason why. This newest jewel in the valley's ring of glittering courses was designed by two-time U.S. Open champion Andy North. It opened late last summer to sparkling reviews. The 7,100-yard, par-72 layout utilizes the surrounding natural beauty and treacherous nature of the Stillwater River to present golfing challenges unique to the area.

A track and field Cascade's Megan Franza and Goldendale's Jill Pimley took friendly competition to a new level Saturday afternoon at Eastern Washington University. Locked in a fierce battle in the finals of the girls long jump at the State A track and field championships, the rivals sat on the soggy Woodward Stadium grass between attempts, thumbing through the latest issue of Cosmopolitan magazine.

B track and field Hey, Matt Humann, you just won the 3,200-meter run to cap a rare distance triple at the State B track and field championships. What are you going to do now? "I'm going to Portland." Huh? No Disneyland? "I'm going on my senior trip right now," the West Side Christian distance ace explained late Saturday afternoon, just moments after adding the 3,200 title to the 1,600 and 800 crowns he won earlier in the two-day meet at Eastern Washington University's rain-drenched Woodward Stadium.

J.R. Horal of Ridgefield unloads during the final in the State A shot put at Eastern Friday. Horal had a toss of 53 feet, 1-3/4 inches to win the event. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Cashmere's Sam Darling clears 14 feet to win the pole vault at Eastern. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Ritzville's Emily Ulleland shoots her way to second place with an 81. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Stoneridge Country Club, which is open to the public, is undergoing nearly $500,000 worth of renovations that include rebuilding the green on the course's 17th hole. Workers sodded the green this week, according to head professional Doug Phares, and it should be ready to play by July 7 when the Inland Empire PGA/Athletic Round Table's ProAm Series makes its annual stop in Blanchard, Idaho. According to Phares, the original, small, elevated green had sunk, making the slope from back to front too severe. "We had to either move it or rebuild it," Phares explained. "We made it bigger, so you can hit more shots to it. And now, once you get to the green, you should be able to stay there." The rest of the $500,000, Phares said, is being used to remodel the pro shop and the cafeteria.

1. John Brodie will take his cuts at the Pro Classic. Photo courtesy of Senior PGA Tour 2. J.C. Snead will make his first appearance in the upcoming Pro Classic. Photo courtesy of Senior PGA Tour

Mike Kramer was quick to warn Eastern Washington football fans not to read too much into the numbers from Saturday's annual Red-White spring game. That should help ease some concerns among those who sat through the 2-hour scrimmage under sunny skies in Woodward Stadium and left wondering where the Eagles' offense has gone. For the record, the Red team, comprised of the No. 1 defense and No. 2 offense, blanked the White 17-0 and held Kramer's No. 1 offense to just eight first downs and 134 yards. In addition, starting quarterback Griffin Garske completed just 13 of 26 passes for 92 yards and was sacked twice. It was a dominating performance by EWU's top defensive unit which was just what Kramer expected, under the circumstances. After four weeks of spring practice, which officially came to a close with Saturday's game-like scrimmage, the defense was supposed to have an edge. "I think our first-string defense has made significant progress," Kramer said, "but I'm not at all dissatisfied with our offense. Our defense has become so familiar with what our offense is doing, there's no surprise to it." Even senior linebacker and co-captain Derek Strey, who led the Red team with nine tackles, said there is no need to worry about the No. 1 offense's lack of production. "I don't think there should be any concern about it," said the 6-foot-3, 230-pounder. "They've done pretty well (the last four weeks) and have had a nice spring. " In defense of the No. 1 offense, it should be noted that several key players - such as tight end Tyson Knaevelsrud, interior offensive linemen Justen Wochnick and T.J. Ackerman and senior quarterback Harry Leons - were held out of the scrimmage because of injuries. And Kramer admitted that he didn't allow Garske to unleash his full complement of weapons. "We were limited a little bit with our personnel," he explained, "and we tried to do some other things to keep healthy. We could have lined up with three tight ends and rammed (the ball) down their throats, but then who knows what we'd do defensively to ourselves." Still, Kramer was pleased to see his much-maligned defense grab the spotlight. "Guys like Chris Scott, Steve Mattson, Ed Harris, Avont Grant, Strey and Justin Guillory - it's their turn," he said of his veteran defenders. "And they stepped it up a notch today, because I still feel like those guys have something to prove to themselves." The defense showed dramatic improvement early last fall and was instrumental in the team's 5-1 start. The big play was its trademark. But late in the season, it gave up far too many yards and points and the Eagles stumbled in 1-4, losing their last three games. Strey said that late-season collapse still haunts him and his teammates. "I think were going to be a lot better this fall," he said. "We've got a lot of guys staying here over the summer and we've had a really good attitude all spring, trying to overcome those skeletons we've still got in our closet - like those last three games (from last year). "I'd like to throw a little more consistency in there along with the big plays. If we can do that, we'll be O.K."

Each time Mike Kramer watches Rex Prescott take a handoff, tuck his tiny body behind an offensive lineman and dart past a startled opposing defensive back for a big gain, he smiles, content with the fact that he will have a big-time breakaway threat starting at tailback again this fall. But each time Prescott takes a jarring hit from an opposing linebacker, Kramer winces, concerned that his big-time breakaway threat - a 5-foot-7 senior who weighs a mere 170 pounds - could break apart, as well as away, at any moment. "Rex will be a great player for us," Kramer said two weeks ago after putting his Eastern Washington Eagles through their first spring football scrimmage. "But we have to find somebody to go with him, because he cannot carry the ball for the whole season. It's just not fair to ask him to endure that kind of punishment." Since then, Kramer has been waiting for one of his backup tailbacks to step forward and prove himself worthy of the backup role Prescott played so wonderfully in the shadow of starter Joe Sewell last fall. And Saturday, during the Eagles' third spring scrimmage, Mike McKenzie did. McKenzie, a sturdy 5-11, 195-pound junior, carried the ball nine times during the 90-minute workout and averaged more than 8 yards per carry. He finished with 76 yards rushing and showed surprising straight-ahead speed on a 30-yard touchdown scamper. He also caught two passes for 16 yards and provided most of what little punch the offensive unit could muster in Woodward Stadium. "It's pretty obvious that Michael McKenzie, at tailback, is going to give us a pretty good threat to go along with Rex," Kramer said. "Mike has really, really stepped it up." McKenzie lacks Prescott's quickness but he is a much more punishing runner who prefers running through tacklers, rather than around them. And, according to Kramer, he and Prescott could confront defenders with the same change-of-pace problems Sewell and Prescott presented last fall. Aside from the performances of McKenzie and Prescott, who ran for 63 yards and one touchdown on 12 carries, there wasn't much to commend about the Eagles' offense Saturday. Sophomore quarterback Griffin Garske completed only 6 of 14 passes and threw two interceptions, and placekicker Josh Atwood missed six of the eight field goals he tried. Linebacker Derek Strey and defensive back Jimmy Lake each picked off a pass for the dominant No. 1 defensive unit. "I'm encouraged by where we're at right now," Kramer said, "but I'm by no means satisfied." The Eagles will wrap up spring drills next Saturday with their annual Red-White Game, which kicks off in Woodward Stadium at 2 p.m. Kramer said the game will be controlled in much the same way Saturday scrimmages have been all spring.

Ken Gustafson is considering a career change, but the longtime local educator hasn't given up his day job just yet - at least not permanently. Gustafson, 52, has taught locally for 26 years, but took a leave of absence as a fifth-grade teacher at Woodridge Elementary this semester to scratch his itch to become a golf professional.

Abe Cohen has pitched better, but perhaps never as courageously as he did Sunday afternoon. Willamette's senior ace, working without his best stuff and with a blustery wind blowing hard toward left field, survived a couple of early scrapes and Tim Bishop's mammoth two-run, seventh-inning homer to pitch the Bearcats past Whitworth 12-7 in a crucial Northwest Conference of Independent Colleges baseball showdown at Merkel Field.

EWU football coach Mike Kramer says it's a good sign when he's worried about his backups, not his starters. File/The Spokesman-Review

A few wounds from yet another bout with severe flooding this spring are still visible, but Hangman Valley Golf Course was to open this morning on 18 permanent greens. The county-owned layout, which has been open on nine holes since last week, will play as designed, according to assistant professional Scott Petterborg. "We lost the back of the No. 1 green because of erosion from the flood, but we're still playing it," he said. "Everything else will be pretty much the same." After last spring's flooding, several tee boxes were altered and a couple of holes were changed until the course recovered from the mud and erosion damage. According to Petterborg, the erosion from this year's flooding was worse than last year and washed out the back of the tee box on No. 2 and a portion of the championship tee box on No. 10. In addition, the grass on a couple of fairways that was covered with mud has not come back as quickly as last spring, when the flooding occurred nearly two months earlier. Motorized carts will be allowed, provided there is no additional rain. Buckets of bargains Beacon Hill Golf Center owner Pete Rayner took a bit of a gamble this spring when he decided to let customers hit as many buckets of golf balls as they wanted at his practice facility for a mere $6 a day. But Rayner says the response has been "tremendous." And he's making up some of his lost profits on the sale of golf gloves. "Some people are hitting until their hands bleed," said Rayner, whose facility is located at 4848 E. Wellesley. Husky coaches coming The University of Washington coaches tour, highlighted by a round of golf at Manito Golf & Country Club, hits Spokane May 5. Football coach Jim Lambright, men's basketball coach Bob Bender and athletic director Barbara Hedges lead the group.

1. Francek 2. Saldin

Eastern Washington, after opening spring football practice on Monday, slogged through its first spring scrimmage under intermittent downpours Saturday morning at Woodward Stadium. Afterward, fourth-year coach Mike Kramer admitted he can't wait to get the next 12 practices out of the way. And surprisingly, his eagerness is only partially fueled by the frustrations of unseasonably chilly temperatures and soggy field conditions. "There's no such thing as spring ball around here anymore," Kramer said, only half-jokingly. "We just have winter ball." But then he unveiled the real reason behind his impatience. "We counted up before the scrimmage, and of our top 44 guys, 17 didn't play today," Kramer explained. "So, it was a great day for guys who have never been in a spring scrimmage before. "But I can't wait to get these (12 remaining practices) over with and the quarter finished, so we can get on to next fall and start playing with what we've really got." Kramer expects his Eagles, once all injuries are healed and all academic deficiencies addressed, to play a key role in the Big Sky Conference title chase this fall. Eighteen players who have started at least six games will eventually return. But many - like offensive linemen Jim Buzzard (groin) and Justen Wochnick (knee sprain), quarterback Harry Leons (off-season knee surgery) and tight end Tyson Knaevelsrud (leg) - were held out of Saturday's tightly controlled 90-minute scrimmage. In addition, junior transfer Shantell Franklin and freshman Ole Olesen, two of the Eagles' top secondary prospects, were sidelined because of minor leg injuries. And six other top-notch prospects are sitting out spring drills as Prop 48 casualties. "And those six will work their way onto the two-deep (depth chart) as fast as we can put a helmet on them next fall," Kramer said. Leons, who started the first five games at quarterback last fall before suffering a season-ending knee injury, will not compete in contact drills this spring. Consequently, sophomore-to-be Griffin Garske, who stepped in after Leons went down, and redshirt freshman walk-on Jason Lewis took all of the scrimmage snaps. The development of Garske, who threw for 1,520 yards and 12 touchdowns but suffered through a 43-percent completion rate and some acute growing pains last fall, is considered crucial amid the uncertainty of Leon's status. Garske threw two interceptions, but completed 14 of 24 passes for 230 yards and one touchdown - a 48-yard scoring strike to Rich Naccarato. The Eagles' big-play defense dominated the scrimmage by smothering what few running plays the offense attempted and picking off five passes - two of which were returned for touchdowns. The Eagles will continue regular spring practices on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays for the next three weeks. Additional scrimmages are set for Saturday, April 26, and Saturday, May 3, at 11 a.m., with the annual Red-White Game scheduled for 2 p.m. on Saturday, May 10.

A baseball tradition in transition. Washington State baseball coach Steve Farrington has been a regular visitor to the mound, where his pitchers have hit 60 batters this spring. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review