Wednesday, Jun. 17, 2009

Agostini on Golf: Former deputy trades beat for links

Jane Irwin of Modesto always considered herself an athlete. Her problem as she reached midlife was finding an outlet.

Swimming? Four decades ago. Softball? Too many aching bones.

Irwin ended a 29½-year career as a lieutenant for the Stanislaus County Sheriff's Department in 2004. She sought other things to do and different ways to satisfy her sports jones.

Irwin, 54, chose golf, and golf apparently has chosen Irwin. She carries a handicap index of 4 and, more important, victories the last two years — the latter title Sunday — at the Modesto City Golf Championship.

"There is life after the sheriff's office," she said.

To her, a 4-foot sidehill putt holds golf-like pressure, which is not to be compared with a life-and-death crisis while clutching a gun. Irwin has been there and done that, thank you. Her perspective no doubt has helped her as she has attacked golf the last five years.

"I'm an athlete. I have the ability. I get upset sometimes when I don't perform a shot the way I should. When golf quits being a game, I'll quit," she said. "I've learned that the game starts with the six inches between your ears."

Irwin, an age-group swimmer as a child, loved softball and was an outfielder for Aches and Pains, which won the USSSA senior national title eight years ago. Softball took a physical toll, however, and golf became the option as she transitioned out of law enforcement.

She was introduced to the game by her parents but took part only in scrambles tournaments over the years. Golf didn't resonate for her until 2005, when she spoke to Gary Ard, the golf coach back then at Modesto Junior College.

Though she already earned her bachelor's and master's degrees, Irwin still held collegiate sports eligibility, so she picked up some classes and played for the Pirates for two years. By the end of her second season, she qualified for the State Championship.

Irwin has received instruction from Ard, George Price at Dryden Park, Dave Harmon at Stevinson Ranch and Jim Toal at Ripon's Spring Creek Country Club. Her game has sharpened since her MJC years, and she's catching up with others in tournament experience. She beat more tournament-honed players at the City the last two years, among them the veteran Marsha Lutz of Walnut Creek and former University of Nevada standout Katy Joslin of Oakdale.

"I hope I can keep playing better," Irwin said. "I'm trying to learn how to channel my energy and trusting my swing."

THE SHAG BAG — Joslin, the 1999 Women's State Amateur finalist, will marry former Beyer High, MJC and Cincinnati football player David Bertucci next month. ... Modesto's Jeff Burda (74-69 — 143) won the senior championship flight with the same total as overall men's winner Teddy Schrier of Cal State Stanislaus. The senior champion has tied or bettered the overall City winner three of the last five years. The seniors play from the same tees as the championship flight but not on the same day. ... Needed: More female contestants at the City. Only six took part this year. Not enough. ...

Chris Bitticks, formerly of Saddle Creek, has become director of golf at Poppy Ridge in Livermore. ...Stripes Practice Center near Tracy offers a free one-hour clinic for all Northern California Golf Association members each Saturday at 3 p.m. through October. Call 835-5970. ...

Anyssa French of Modesto has won the $5,000 Paul Porter Memorial Scholarship, which honors the memory of the former NCGA and Poppy Holding CEO. French will attend the University of Montana this fall. ...

Burda, son Patrick Burda (tied for third at the City), Oakdale's Jamie Looper (tied for seventh at the City) and Turlock's Sam Smith will compete next week at the 98th California Amateur at Lake Merced CC in Daly City. It marks the first time the Amateur has been contested in the Bay Area. ...Stevinson Ranch welcomes juniors 7 to 14 for a golf camp, featuring golf, swimming and pizza, next Monday through Wednesday. The cost is $99. Call 664-6450.

HOLES-IN-ONE — Kuldip Bassi, Modesto, 165-yard ninth at Escalon, driver. ... Jeff Holmes, Oakdale, 136-yard 16th at Oakdale CC, 9-iron. ... Ed Rocha, Oakdale, 180-yard 17th at Dry Creek Ranch, Galt, 6-iron. ... Bill Narron, Ripon, 90-yard fourth at Jack Tone Golf, Ripon, 1-iron. ... Andrew Alexander, Tracy, 148-yard 16th at Jack Tone, 8-iron.

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