Agostini: Thornberry looking for greens

By Ron Agostini
ragostini@modbee.com

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Ryan Thornberry of Ceres believes his game has grown in the three years since his final putt at Cal State Stanislaus.

One problem — improvement and making a lot of money are not exactly connecting truths in the zero-sum world of professional golf.

Thornberry, 24, enters his third season on the Canadian Tour, a breeding ground for young talent. He placed 36th on the 2008 Order of Merit after making 11 of 14 cuts and earning more than $17,000.

Yes, you don't play on the Canadian Tour to get rich.

"I've improved dramatically," said Thornberry, who tied for sixth at the Riviera Maya Open for his best finish last year. "It just seems like these three years have gone by pretty fast."

A bad break was the CanTour's bypassing of California for the first time in five years. The events at both Stockton's Brookside Country Club and the Spring International at Del Rio CC were shelved in concessions to the reeling economy. No regional presence means increased transportation costs for players like Thornberry and Modesto's Marc Peterson.

The tour now looks south toward Mexico for four season-opening tournaments beginning this week in Mazatlan before it returns to home turf in Canada this summer. Peterson is scheduled to play this week while Thornberry tends to his fund-raising event Saturday at River Oaks.

He promises a fun-filled day featuring a clinic at 10 a.m., lunch, a shotgun start at 1 p.m., dinner and prizes. It costs $100 per player, but juniors can attend the clinic free.

"I might play the last two tournaments in Mexico but I'm not sure," Thornberry said. "I have to play in at least seven Canadian Tour tournaments to keep my status."

Thornberry also plans a series of Monday qualifiers at Nationwide Tour stops. He parlayed a 69 and a playoff birdie into a spot at the Stonebrae Classic earlier this month in the hills above Hayward, though he missed the cut after rounds of 79 and an encouraging 67.

"There are usually about 14 spots to shoot for on Monday," Thornberry said. "You have to play fairly well but not great."

STILL TRUCKIN' — Charley Dayton of Turlock, 96, can't remember his last handicap index. He thinks it was 26. All we know for sure is the Turlock CC member has been shooting his age from his late 70s to, well, last year during a Super Seniors outing at Del Rio CC. Dayton, 95 at the time, matched his age on the scorecard.

"It naturally gets harder. The ball doesn't go as far," Dayton said. "I blame it all on the ball."

Dayton didn't pick up golf until his mid-50s, but he's still playing twice a week. "I've had a couple of rounds around 100 this year," he said. "I'm shooting for 96."

THE SHAG BAG — Jack Nicklaus is one of the featured speakers at the Maximum Impact Leadership Seminar to be held Friday, May 8, at the Enclave Community Church in Turlock. Nicklaus' previous appearance in the area came in 1998 to open his Legends West course at Diablo Grande. The fee for the seminar is $65 before May 4 and $85 at the door. Call Christopher Scott at 523-4562 or e-mail cscott@uwaystan.org. ...The 27th Modesto City Golf Championship will be staged June 13-14 at Dryden Park and Creekside. Call 571-5123. ...Creekside will be the host for its annual Demo Day, featuring equipment from Titleist, Cobra, Callaway and other clubmakers, on June 12. ...

Golf lost a true friend in the death three weeks ago of Bob Hanna, 92, the first executive director of the Northern California Golf Association. He took a leading role in the building of Spyglass Hill and Poppy Hills. During Hanna's tenure (1955-81), the NCGA grew from humble beginnings to more than 280 member clubs and more than 67,000 members. It was Hanna's idea to name every hole at Spyglass after a character, place or incident in Robert Louis Stevenson's book "Treasure Island." My favorite is the stout 16th — Black Dog. ...

Haggin Oaks' Golf Expo, one of the nation's largest demo days, happens Friday through Sunday. Two good things about the weekend — it's huge (more than 150 vendors) and it's free. Visit hagginoaksgolfexpo.com. ...

The Boys & Girls Club of Manteca/Lathrop will hold its annual benefit tournament May 8, at 12:30 p.m. at Manteca Park. The fee is $100 per person or $400 per foursome. Call 239-5437.

HOLES-IN-ONE — John Rudesill, Modesto, 183-yard 17th at Dryden Park, 4-iron. ... Patti Truett, Modesto, 163-yard 14th at Manteca Park, 5-wood. ... Bryson Hoar (11), Modesto, 185-yard fifth at Creekside, driver. ... Bill Naron, Ripon, 114-yard third at Jack Tone Golf, Ripon, 8-iron.

Bee sports writer Ron Agostini can be reached at ragostini@modbee.com or 578-2302.