MODESTO -- Greg Silva, Andy Silva's son, wanted his father to be remembered.
The result is the 20th annual Andy Silva Memorial Tournament and Banquet, a lasting tribute to the late Modesto city golf professional.
"There were really two reasons for this tournament: To keep my dad's name alive and for the development of junior golf," Greg Silva said this week. "Junior golf is my life."
Andy Silva, who died in 1991 at the age of 71, served as the head professional at Dryden Park from 1954 to '85. His role in everything from the development of Dryden to the local growth of the game carries impact to this day.
That's why the tournament that bears his name still receives ample support. The event will be held Oct. 27, for the first time at Diablo Grande's Ranch course.
The respective boys and girls Junior Golfer of the Year will be announced at the post-tournament banquet. The boys nominees include Andrew Bonner of Ripon, Anthony Bonales of Ceres (last year's winner) and Matt Mensinger of Modesto. The girls finalists are Ariel Walsh of Modesto, Mabel Wong of Oakdale and Hannah Gong of Turlock.
Scholarship honorees also will be announced. In recent years, the Andy Silva Foundation has provided golf clubs for kids who can't afford them.
Greg Silva, 65, has not forgotten his father's passion.
"He said you could always open the face of the club on the backswing and bring it back to square at impact, but you can't close it on takeaway and bring it back," Greg said. "I learned all about the term 'pronation' from him. Ben Hogan said if you opened your car door, you have to close it or somebody will knock it off. He was talking about pronation."
Greg teaches that principle today at his River Oaks headquarters, where he's led his popular junior golf program.
The fee for the Andy Silva tournament and dinner is $140 for adults and $115 for juniors. It's a two-person scramble with a shotgun start at 11:30 a.m. Call Greg Silva, 667-7272.
THE SHAG BAG — Modesto's Shawnee Martinez, a freshman at Long Beach State, tied for 34th at the Edean Ihlanfeldt Invitational at Sahalee Country Club in Sammamish, Wash. Martinez shot 77, 78 and 80 as the 49ers placed 10th in the 16-team field. The Enochs High graduate won a record-setting three straight Sac-Joaquin Section Masters titles. ... Coming up: The 21st California Senior Amateur, Nov. 12-14 at Del Rio CC. ... Congratulations to Duncan Reno on his 20 years as manager at Del Rio.
HOLE-IN-ONE — Reagan Warner, Modesto, 173-yard fifth at Creekside, 4-iron.
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