Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2008

Agostini: Locals claim cross-Atlantic battle of Ripons

Transporting the Ripon Cup from Point A to Point B, in this case flying it across the Atlantic Ocean, takes some advance planning.

Put it this way: The cup is not subtle. Finding a place for it on the plane is not easy.

"I stuck it in a suitcase and checked it in," Lauren Bartels said. "It is a conversation piece."

Bartels, captain of the local Ripon team, was happy the tedious task still belonged to him earlier this month for the trip home. He and his mates barely hung on to beat Ripon, Yorkshire County, England, 25-23 in the 16th Ripon Cup Matches, the biennial tournament that pairs golf teams from sister cities.

It was the fourth consecutive victory for Ripon, Calif., but this year's results indicate tighter competition ahead. The Englishmen, celebrating the 100th anniversary of their Ripon City Golf Club, do not want to extend their 9-7 deficit in the series.

Two years ago, the local side — members of Spring Creek Country Club — won nine of 12 singles matches en route to a 39-9 walkover. It prompted changes.

"We made a few adjustments to handicaps on both sides and made it more competitive," Bartels said. "I know they're looking forward to coming back here in two years."

This year, the British team won the singles, but 7-5 advantages during both the foursome and fourball days won it for the locals.

"We only had about four or five holes of rain this year. It's been much worse," Bartels said. "The rain and wind always seems to work out in their favor."

Regardless, the big cup is safely returned to the trophy case at Spring Creek, its home for at least the next two years.

SADDLE CREEK — Chris Bitticks, the head pro at Saddle Creek in Copperopolis since 2001, resigned this summer. He can be found, however, giving lessons at Stripes Practice Center near Tracy on Wednesday and Saturday and Mountain Springs in Sonora on Thursday and Friday. Before coming to Saddle Creek, Bitticks worked at both Phoenix Lake and Mountain Springs.

Tighe Hammam, Bitticks' assistant at Saddle Creek, has become head pro at Sunnyside CC in Fresno.

Saddle Creek, which will name its new head pro soon, has been ranked 12th among public access courses in California by GOLF magazine.

THE SHAG BAG — Modesto High senior Fredrik Palmer will be paired with a Champions Tour pro for the fifth Walmart First Tee Open at Pebble Beach to be held Friday through Monday. Palmer is the first male from Modesto to be selected for the event, following Julianna Uhrik, Marina Martinez and Katie Canadas. The tournament has generated more than $2.7 million for The First Tee over the years. … If you're wondering how Michael Phelps will relax after swimming to eight gold medals at the Olympics, here's your answer: He's going on a golf vacation to Portugal's Algarve region, a new golf resort hotbed. …

The U.S. Amateur victory by New Zealand's Danny Lee, 18, was noteworthy on several fronts. For starters, he overwhelmed the field with his ball-striking and convincingly defeated Drew Kittleson 5 and 4 in the final. Lee, Korean-born, capped an amazing run during which he won the Western Amateur and placed 20th at the Wyndham Championship on the PGA Tour. He turned 18 last month, younger than Tiger Woods when he claimed the first of three three consecutive U.S. Amateur titles in 1994 (Woods was 18 years, eight months). Lee also will remain an amateur so he can play the 2009 U.S. Open, Masters and British Open. …

Want to work as a Balldude or Dudette at a Giants game next year? That's one of the auction prizes (four box-seat tickets are included) coming up for bid at the Kiwanis of North Modesto's CASA tournament (Court Appointed Special Advocates) benefiting foster and dependent children. The two-best-ball event is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 15, at Spring Creek. Visit casaed@stanct.org or call Steve Ashman, 567-4230. … Late-summer stay-and-golf packages are available at golfthehighsierra.com, which books 19 top-flight courses and lodging in Reno, Lake Tahoe, Carson and Graeagle.

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