Thesunnews

Friday, November 26, 2010

Lousy turnout for Dubai’s opening round

Seung-yul Noh during Round 1 of the Dubai World Championship.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The sun may be shining, the best two golfers in Europe might be battling it out for the right to become king of Europe, but does anyone here in Dubai know it?

That’s the pertinent question after the opening round of the $7.5 million Dubai World Championship. That sort of money, along with another $7.5 million in bonus money, might help sponsor Jumeirah Estates purchase Europe’s elite, but it certainly doesn’t buy a gallery.

There’s hardly anyone here.

No official crowd figures are available for the first round. Just as well, because the number must have been in the hundreds rather than the thousands.

I counted 24 people watching Padraig Harrington and Rhys Davies play the ninth hole. Never mind the rising star that is Davies; we’re talking Padraig Harrington, a three-time major winner.

An Irish colleague who followed Harrington for the front nine said that figure – 24 – was being generous. He said there were only a handful of people watching Davies and the Irishman for most of the front nine.

The Ian Poulter/Ernie Els pairing was one of the most attractive of the day. Els is also a three-time major winner, and one of the game’s bona fide superstars, while Poulter is arguably the most flamboyant player in golf today.

Seven marshals paraded the seventh fairway, and they were needed, apparently, to control the 30 fans walking outside the fairway ropes.

OK, so you’re thinking the galleries were saving themselves for the marquee pairing of Martin Kaymer and Graeme McDowell, right? Wrong.

I didn’t count this gallery, but I probably could have had I applied myself. My guess is it couldn’t have been more than 150 when they came up the ninth hole. And stragglers walking in from the watering hole between the fifth green and sixth tee with no more golf to watch inflated that number.

Can you imagine the first game of the World Series played in a stadium with only a thousand people, or fans turning up in the second quarter of the Super Bowl?

The Middle East may have the money to stage golf tournaments right now, but it’s not rich with golf fans. Had this event been staged in England, Scotland, Ireland or Wales (or even Germany or France), then you can guarantee the fairways would have been crowded. Even on a workday, as it was here in Dubai.

Fridays and Saturdays constitute the weekend here in the Middle East, so we can expect more fans for the next two rounds. But I’m guessing not many more.

The land outside the fairway ropes of the Earth Course here at Jumeirah Estates explains why the crowd was so sparse.

The course is situated in the middle of a huge construction site, with one exception: no construction is taking place.

Half-finished villas line most fairways. Ugly, concrete monstrosities with scaffolding, pipe work and steel supports exposed to the world dot the landscape. Players this week use a temporary clubhouse because the one that was half-finished last year is still half-finished.

The place is an eyesore. Very little, if any, construction has taken place since last year’s tournament. Even those villas that are finished are lying empty.

It belies the Dubai dream. This Middle East metropolis was supposed to be the desired destination for people all over the world. Those villas around the golf courses were supposed to provide the galleries for this tournament.

People were expected to flock here from all over the world. Instead, many who have are dying to get out of Dubai. Those unfortunate enough to have bought property are stuck in negative equity brought on by the worldwide credit crunch, which has hit Dubai hard. Some have just upped sticks and left, leaving everything.

The ex-patriot population has shrunk. And because ex-patriots are the only people who get out to watch golf tournaments in the Middle East . . . well, then that explains the low turnout.

So let’s hope the European season ends with a bang on the fairways, because there is only a whimper outside the ropes.

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Final match-ups set at Polo Golf Junior

A handful of top players fell Thursday during the quarterfinal and semifinal matches at the Polo Golf Junior Classic.

The morning began at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., with Anthony Paolucci squaring off against fellow Rolex Junior All-American Patrick Rodgers. Paolucci came out on top, only to lose to Cody Proveaux, 5 and 4, later in the day. On the other side of the bracket, medalist Emiliano Grillo advanced to the semifinals before falling to Michael Kim.

Kim now will face Proveaux in the final match, to be played Friday.

“Coming into it I was the underdog, so I just wanted to have fun and see what happens,” Kim said. “I hit the ball really well; I think it's one of the best ball-striking days I’ve had.”

On the girls’ side of the bracket, Jaye Marie Green earned a commanding 5-and-4 win over Notre Dame commit Kelli Oride before knocking out Jessica Vasilic, who Wednesday took down medalist Moriya Jutanugarn. Green will face Karen Chung, who had to knock out Erynne Lee and Tiffany Lim to reach the final match.

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Results from match play at the Polo Golf Junior Classic, played Nov. 25 at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens:

BOYS

ROUND 1

Emiliano Grillo def. Trey Valentine, 3 and 2

Beau Titsworth def. Tyler Dunlap, 1 up

Michael Kim def. Mads Sogaard, 5 and 4

J.D. Tomlinson def. Yi Keun Chang, 22 holes

Oliver Schniederjans def. Lee McCoy, 5 and 3

Tom Lovelady def. Connor Black, 2 and 1

Joanthan Garrick def. Jonathan Sanders, 3 and 2

Rak Cho def. Jonah Texeira, 3 and 1

Cody Proveaux def. Motin Yeung, 20 holes

Michael Johnson def. Stewart Jolly, 3 and 2

Shugo Imahira def. Joshua Martin, 1 up

Michael Bernard def. Stephen Behr Jr., 5 and 4

Daniel Berger def. Robby Shelton IV, 1 up

Jay Hwang def. Victor Tarnstrom, 8 and 6

Patrick Rodgers def. Nicholas Scott, 4 and 3

Anthony Paolucci def. Beau Hossler, 2 and 1

ROUND 2

Grillo def Titsworth, 5 and 4

Kim def. Tomlinson, 1 up

Schniederjans def. Lovelady, 5 and 4

Garrick def. Cho, 20 holes

Proveaux def. Johnson, 20 holes

Bernard def. Imahira, 1 up

Berger def. Hwang, 6 and 5

Paolucci def. Rodgers, 2 and 1

QUARTERFINALS

Kim def. Grillo, 4 and 3

Garrick def. Schniederjans, 19 holes

Proveaux def. Bernard, 4 and 3

Paolucci def. Berger, 2 and 1

SEMIFINALS

Kim def. Garrick, 1 up

Proveaux def. Paolucci, 5 and 4

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GIRLS

ROUND 1

Moriya Jutanugarn def. Ashlan Ramsey, 2 and 1

Jessica Vasilic def. Alison Lee, 5 and 4

Celine Boutier def. Yueer Cindy Feng, 1 up

Shannon Aubert def. Jordan Lippetz, 1 up

Allisen Corpuz def. Manon Gidali, 5 and 4

Kelli Oride def. Christine Lin, 21 holes

Ri Hyang Park def. Monifa Sealy, 3 and 1

Jaye Marie Green def. Lauren Diaz-Yi, 2 and 1

Mariah Stackhouse def. Summar Roachell, 2 up

Tiffany Lim def. Vivian Tsui, 2 and 1

Michelle Butler def. Esther Lee, 1 up

Doris Chen def. Kyle Roig, 2 and 1

Anne Cheng def. Grace Na, 4 and 2

Erynne Lee def. Emma Talley, 2 and 1

Marijosse Navarro def. Kristen Park, 2 and 1

Karen Chung def. Samantha Marks, 1 up

ROUND 2

Vasilic def. Jutanugarn, 5 and 4

Boutier def. Aubert, 2 and 1

Oride def. Corpuz, 2 and 1

Green def. Park, 23 holes

Lim def. Stackhouse, 3 and 2

Butler def. Chen, 1 up

Lee def. Cheng, 4 and 3

Chung def. Navarro, 3 and 2

QUARTEFINALS

Vasilic def. Boutier, 3 and 2

Green def. Oride, 5 and 4

Lim def. Butler, 4 and 3

Chung def. Lee, 4 and 2

SEMIFINALS

Green def. Vasilic, 2 and 1

Chung def. Lim, 20 holes

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In nature's hands: Georgetown forest safeguarded for future

A narrow, idyllic stretch of the Black River surrounded by ancient bald cypress trees near Georgetown is now protected from encroachment with a purchase by The Nature Conservancy.

The 440-acre purchase of mature bottomland forest adds to the conservancy's current 1,296 acres along the adjacent side of the river. It marks the first addition to the Black River property in almost 25 years.

Intensive development wasn't threatening the area, said Maria Whitehead, project director for the Winyah Bay and Pee Dee River Basin, but the purchase guarantees the tract will be managed as an old-growth forest. The conservancy's staff scientists and partners will use the area for future research while working to maintain and improve its condition.

The added protection will also enhance and preserve water quality in the area, said Eric Krueger, director of science and stewardship for the conservancy.

"Land protection within this watershed will help recharge groundwater, control flooding and filter nutrient and sediment run-off," Krueger said. "This will improve water quality and habitat for people, wildlife and even our oyster restoration project 20 miles downstream in Winyah Bay."

The stretch of the Black River now protected by the conservancy is frequently used by kayakers and anglers, Whitehead said, and the group encourages the public to continue using the property.

On the Black River, the water moves slowly and the surrounding area often features wild turkeys, wood ducks, yellow-bellied sliders and the occasional American alligator, Whitehead said.

"The river corridor here is one of the most beautiful and unique sections of the Black River because of the remnant ancient cypress trees," she said.

Funds to purchase the property came from Phase II of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service North Conservation Act grant awarded to the conservancy. Acquiring this particular property was an 18-month process beginning with the initial submission of the grant and ending with the recent closing of the transaction.

"It is rare when we are provided the opportunity to expand a conservancy preserve and we were so grateful to have the support of NAWCA in making this addition a reality," said Ryan Olson, assistant director of land protection. "Finally, we could not have asked to work with more professional sellers, where all parties fully supported a conservation outcome for the property."

The Nature Conservancy is a U.S.-based, international organization with approximately 4,000 employees in 34 countries. The organization's mission is to preserve the plants, animals and natural communities that represent the diversity of life on earth by protecting the lands and waters that they need to survive.

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Live coverage of Black Friday in Myrtle Beach

Black Friday is underway in Myrtle Beach with eager shoppers starting as early as midnight.

Although sales started sooner than usual this year, today remains the choice day for many to buy holiday gifts. Expect heightened traffic and crowds at area malls and big-box stores.

CLICK HERE for live updates on mall and traffic conditions.

Kohls Store manager Regina Matthews holds the door open as Black Friday shoppers stream through at 3 am. The first said they started lining up about 12:15 for the 3 a.m. black Friday opening. By the time the doors opened, the line stretched around the building into the Lowes Food parking lot. Photo by Steve Jessmore sjessmore@thesunnews.com

Open hours for major Myrtle Beach area retailers:

Coastal Grand mall | 6 a.m. to 10 p.m., with some stores opening earlier

Inlet Square mall | 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., with some stores opening earlier

Myrtle Beach Mall | 5 a.m. to 10 p.m., with Belk and J.C. Penney opening at 4 a.m.

Tanger Outlets on U.S. 501 and U.S. 17 | Midnight to 9 p.m.

The Market Common | 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., with some stores opening earlier

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Thursday, November 25, 2010

Player of the Week: Maia Schechter

Courtesy FCWT

Maia Schechter

Maia Schechter, of Takoma Park, Md., shot 4-over 150 (73-77) at Mystic Dunes Golf Club in Celebration, Fla., to win the FCWT event by one shot.

Schechter, 17, held off a charge from Audrey Monssoh to win her second FCWT event of the season.

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Police pursuit ends in death; Deputy runs into fleeing suspect in Georgetown County

A 28-year-old man who police said led them on a chase Tuesday in Georgetown County was struck by a police officer's car and died after being taken to the hospital, according to authorities.

Georgetown County Coroner Kenny Johnson identified the man as Terrance Gagum of Hemingway. Gagum had a history of failing to stop for police and other car-related violations, according to State Law Enforcement Division records.

Georgetown County Sheriff's deputies chased Gagum to Frank Cribb Road, off of Squirrel Run Road around 8:16 p.m., authorities said. Gagum ran from his car and was struck by a deputy's car, said Lance Cpl. Sonny Collins of S.C. Highway Patrol, which responded to the incident.

The Sheriff's Office won't be able to say what led to the chase until an incident report is filed sometime next week, Deputy Russell Goodale said.

S.C. Highway Patrol and SLED are investigating the incident.

A passenger also fled on foot and has not been apprehended, Goodale said.

Gagum died after being transported to Georgetown Memorial Hospital, Goodale said.

SLED records show that Gagum was convicted in 2003 for failing to stop for police. Gagum had charges pending in court for possession, sale or disposal of a stolen vehicle resulting from a Sept. 2009 incident. In 2010, Gagum was charged with driving under suspension.

Staff reporter Kurt Knapek and Janelle Frost contributed to this report.

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Surfside Beach details job hunt

The man selected to be the new administrator of Surfside Beach brings with him a decade of experience as a former administrator in Lexington and a long career as a federal parole supervisor.

Town officials on Wednesday night released information about Jim Duckett as well as the other candidates who had been considered.

The town's interim administrator, Micki Fellner, confirmed Wednesday that Duckett retired in April from his job as Lexington administrator and is currently working as the interim administrator for the town of Williston.

The information was provided to The Sun News after two, separate requests for information filed under the S.C. Freedom of Information Act. The most recent filing was Tuesday.

Surfside Mayor Allen Deaton said the town didn't release the specifics on the job finalists Tuesday because it was not prepared to do so, having only documents with sensitive information, such as Social Security numbers, at the meeting where Duckett was chosen.

"All [Fellner] had was original copies of resumes," Deaton said.

The town released more details about three of the four final candidates - Duckett, Robert Anderson and Walter Munchheimer - Wednesday night. The fourth candidate did not want to be named, afraid it would jeopardize his current employment, Deaton said.

If Duckett, 61, accepts the town's offer, he will bring more than 10 years of local government administration experience.

Duckett, in an interview with The Sun News on Wednesday, said he retired as a federal parole supervisor in 2000 and soon after began working as the assistant town administrator for Lexington.

After five years in that role he became the administrator.

"I had a good opportunity to learn the business there," Duckett said.

He also was able to build a succession plan, he said. He stepped down in May 2010 to allow his successor to step up.

He then went to work for the Town of Williston, in Barnwell County, as its interim administrator around June.

Duckett said he plans to accept the offer from Surfside Beach, barring any contract negotiation issues. Duckett was making $115,000 a year when he left Lexington. His application says the least he'll accept in Surfside Beach is $75,000.

He said he is prepared to finish his duties in Williston by Dec. 6 and come to work for Surfside Beach as soon as practicable after that.

A Charleston native, Duckett said he is glad to be coming back to the beach and said he plans to stay in Surfside for a while.

"I'm thinking in terms of a three-year commitment," Duckett said, noting that details of his contract still have to be worked out.

Deaton said Duckett was chosen because "he seemed to be a good fit ... with his philosophy and his demeanor."

He also said Duckett's previous experience with budgets will come in handy.

Duckett said he is hoping to be able to build trust with the council and town staff.

"I think it will certainly be interesting in Surfside," he said.

Robert Anderson, one of the other finalists for the administrator job, recently accepted a position as the City Administrator of East Jordan, Mich., Fellner confirmed Wednesday. He previously had served as the city administrator in Marion and has family ties to Surfside Beach.

Walter Munchheimer, the other named finalist, worked previously as a finance director for Palm Beach County, Fla., according to information provided by Fellner and council members.

The former Surfside administrator, Ed Booth, resigned in May.

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