Hanson Tries To Rebound Again

Tracy Hanson will try to qualify for the U.S. Open on Monday, but it won’t be easy.

The 26-year-old Lakeland High grad has a heavy heart these days. Her mother recently died after a nine-month battle with cancer.

“Anybody who has lost their mother knows the feelings that go with it; you take it day by day,” said Hanson, who leaves the Inland Northwest Saturday for Ann Arbor, Mich., and the qualifying event. “She was a great encourager and supporter for me.”

Perhaps Hanson’s fondest memory of the LPGA season thus far was playing in Hawaii in February with her mother in attendance.

“We were able to get Mom over to Hawaii and it turned out to be our last tournament together,” said Hanson, who tied for 19th. “She came over, and we spent a few days there afterward.”

Hanson admits it’s been a difficult time.

“With everything that’s been going on, it’s been hard to stay focused,” she said. “I need to find my focus again.”

Hanson’s season was marked by a fast start - three top 20 finishes in January and February - and a slow middle - 30th or below in 6 of her last 7 tourneys.

She’s sixth on the tour in putting (28.84 per round), but erratic driving has hiked her stroke average. She’s still bothered by her back, originating from a 1993 surgery on a herniated disk.

She fired a 64 in the second round of the Sara Lee Classic a month ago only to follow up with a 79.

“That’s more just the inconsistency of my driver,” she said. “I’m going out (Thursday) to work on it. A lot of it is just trust in myself and being confident, but I am toying with other clubs.”

Hanson intends to play in about 10 more tourneys this season. Her temperamental back causes her to have legitimate concern about her future.

“At some point, my back will tell me when I can’t play any more,” she said. “I’ll keep playing for as long as I can compete and enjoy it.”

Which brings us to Monday’s qualifier.

“I could come out a little rusty or I could come out and play well,” she said. “I’ll just go give it my best.”

Panhandling

Conclusive proof that it’s indeed a small world: Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson’s mom lives in Coeur d’Alene, a spokesman for Jackson’s Chicago-based agent Todd Musburger confirmed. Jackson’s 95-year-old mom is in declining health and doesn’t do interviews, the spokesman said.

Meanwhile, 90 miles south in Moscow sits Craig Mosman, Tim Floyd’s attorney. It’s been widely speculated Floyd, the former Idaho Vandals coach, will replace Jackson after the Bulls tune up the Jazz one more time.

Symbolic of the assertive leadership under president Bob Hoover and new athletic director Mike Bohn, University of Idaho offered former assistant A.D. Mike Marlow an $8,000 pay raise when he was being courted by Oregon. In the past, UI was often a bystander when bigger schools snagged its administrators and coaches.

Nonetheless, Marlow eventually left for Eugene.

Grad report

North Idaho College wrestler Shaun Williams, a native of South Africa, took second at the All-African Games at 119 pounds and qualified for the World Games later this summer.

Williams lost 5-4 to an Egyptian in the finals. By qualifying for worlds, Williams appears to be in good shape to represent his homeland in the next Olympics.

Rumor du jour

It’s apparently not a done deal, but it’s close.

Idaho hopes to play powerhouse Washington in football in 2000, and possibly again in the near future. The game could land the cost-conscious Vandals about $350,000.