POSTED: Monday August 3rd 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SPECIAL OLYMPICS NEWS: Local Golfer Results - Special Olympics National Tournament

Windy Conditions Don’t Hamper Golfers During Round 2 of 10th Annual Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament

Joel Murray’s 76 is just one shot away from tournament record low 18-hole round, plus multiple birdies by players highlight Day 2
 
LINCOLN, Neb. – Winds estimated at 20 miles per hour did not deter great shot-making skills by multiple golfers during Round 2 of the 2009 Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament today, August 2, in Lincoln, Neb. 
 
Joel Murray, age 28, of West Monroe, La., is taking a run at the gold medal for the 18-hole individual stroke play competition playing the par-72 Highlands Golf Course at just 76 today, one shot shy of the Special Olympics tournament record low-18 hole round of 75 shot by Kevin Erickson of Green Bay, Wis., during the 2005 national tournament.  Murray’s second round included two birdies on the par-four 16th hole and par-four 18th hole for a two-day total of 163, three shots back of Round 1 leader, Kyle Bugge of Bellevue, Neb., who shot another round of 80 today for a two-day total of 160.
 
Special Olympics golfer Joel Murray was accompanied by his father, Steve, to the national tournament.  “With the strong winds, I wasn’t sure what we were going to get today,” said the elder Murray.  “He had a tough time yesterday on the greens, but really got the speed of the greens down today.  On the 16th green, he missed an eagle putt to tap in for birdie and on 18, he drove the green, had a 40-foot putt for eagle, placed it within 8 feet and made his birdie putt.  He just played great golf and really enjoyed himself today.”  Joel and his father play together frequently at home where his father owns Southern Pines Golf Course in West Monroe, La.  Joel has played in eight previous national Special Olympics tournaments and previously won the silver medal for the Level V 18-hole individual stroke play event in 2005.
 
More than 160 golfers from 18 U.S. Special Olympics programs are competing in five levels of competition in the 10th annual Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament through Monday, Aug. 3, at the Mahoney Golf Course and Highlands Golf Course in Lincoln.
 
Birdies were plentiful in Round 2 at both courses and include:
 
Highlands Golf Course:
Level III team of Slifker/Stapleton of Ellicott City, Md., shot at second-round, 18-hole Unified team score of 97 including birdies at holes 7 and 18, for a two day total of 103-97—200.
Level III team of Danny and Thomas Daguanno of Queen City, Ariz., shot a second round, 18-hole Unified team score of 105 including a birdie on hole 7, for a two day total of 96-105—201.
Level V, Shawn Williams of Naples, Fla., shot a second round, 18-hole individual score of 100 including a birdie on hole 5 with a 15-foot putt, for a two day total of 106-100—206.
Level V, Kyle Bugge of Bellevue, Neb., shot a second round, 18-hole individual score of 80 including four birdies at holes 9, 10, 16, 18, for a two day total of 80-80—160.
Mahoney Golf Course:
Level IV, Cody Willis of Munford, Tenn., shot a second round, 9-hole individual score of 48 with a birdie on hole 13, for a two day total of 52-48—100.
Level II, team of Hansen/Best of Wilmington, N.C., shot a second round, 9-hole alternate shot team score of 50 with birdies at holes 6 and 9, for a two day total of 53-50—103.
 
(Top line results below; full results at www.pgamediacenter.com)
 
The national golf tournament travels to Lincoln this year as a precursor to the community’s hosting of the 2010 Special Olympics USA Summer Games and is taking place simultaneous to the 2009 Special Olympics Softball National Invitational Tournament, August 1-3, at Fleming Fields Recreational Sports Park in Lincoln.
 
Special Olympics golf offers five levels of competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Level I is an individual skills contest, where six golf skills are tested. Level II is an alternate shot team play, where a Special Olympics athlete is paired with a non-Special Olympics partner of more advanced skill for a 9-hole competition. Level III is Unified Sports® team play, pairing Special Olympics athletes and Unified partners of similar ability for an 18-hole competition. Levels IV and V are individual stroke-play 9-hole and 18-hole competitions, respectively.  Special Olympics divisions athletes based upon ability, age and gender to provide every athlete with an equal opportunity to excel in the sport.   
 
Competition for Levels I, III & V are taking place at Highlands Golf Course, while Level II & IV competitors are being played at Mahoney Golf Course.  Three competitive golf rounds are being played Aug. 1-3 with medal ceremonies held immediately following the final round at each golf facility on Mon., Aug. 3.  The golf industry has pledged its support again with The PGA of America and USGA as presenting sponsors, and the GCSAA as supporting sponsor.
 
Top-Scores Day 2:
(full results at www.PGAMediaCenter.com)
 
Level 5 ~ 18-Hole Individual Stroke Play
Kyle Bugge, Bellevue, Neb., Age 22, 80-80—160
Joel Murray, West Monroe, La., Age 28, 87-76—163
Grace Anne Braxton, Fredericksburg, Va., Age 37, 86-86—172
David Steffan, Elkhorn, Neb., Age 24, 95-80—175
 
Level 4 ~ 9-Hole Individual Stroke Play
Robert Calcote,             Charleston, S.C., Age 27, 48-47—95
Cody Willis, Munford, Tenn., Age 15, 52-48—100
Erica Lynn Walderman, Goldsboro, N.C., Age 25, 55-47—102
 
Level 3 ~ 18-Hole Unified Sports Team Play
Rohrer/Rohrer, York, S.C., 76-84—160
Apo-Hruska/Moen, Bellevue, Neb., 80-82—162
 
Level 2 ~ 9-Hole Alternate Shot Team Play
Martinez/Martinez, Kansas City, Mo., 42-46—88
Ciociolo/Ciociolo, Boylston, Mass., 50-44—94
 
Level 1 ~ Individual Skills Competition
Steven B. Longacre, Lincoln, Neb., Age 53, 61, 68—129
Marvin Deese, Kannapolis, N.C., Age 29, 62-58—120
 
For more information on the tournament, please visit www.PGAMediaCenter.com.   For more information on Special Olympics, please visit www.specialolympics.org.
 
Contact:  Sherry Major
Media Consultant, PGA of America, PGA Magazine, PGA Golf Shows
716.662.3855 (office) or 305.318.5208 (cell)

sherrymajor@verizon.net or smajor@reedexpo.com

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Keywords · Special Olympics · PGA · 2009 Special Olympics Golf National Invitational Tournament

Name: Kirsten Seckler
Organization: Special Olympics
Email:
Phone: 1 (202) 628-3630
URL: http://www.specialolympics.org/

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