Bulletin E-Edition:
Bend boys golf goes big-time at national event
Lava Bears join more than 100 teams in South Carolina tourney
By Kurt Holland / The Bulletin
Published: April 03. 2007 4:00AM PSTRusty Clemons
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How does an extended spring break spent playing golf on some of the country's top courses in South Carolina sound?
That's what the Bend High boys golf team has lined up this week as the Lava Bears join more than 100 other high school teams for the 10th annual Spring Palmetto High School Golf Championships.
The tournament takes place Thursday through Saturday at various courses in and around Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Bend is joining teams from 15 states, as well as from Canada, for the event.
The only other Oregon school scheduled to participate is Sheldon of Eugene, last year's Class 4A state team champion.
"I think our district and state tournaments are more important than this tournament as far as our goals are concerned," says Bend coach Rusty Clemons. "But this is just icing on the cake for what we hope will be a great season."
The Spring Palmetto High School Golf Championships is a 54-hole collegiate-style tournament. On Thursday, teams play a qualifying round that is used to flight each squad. Teams then compete for the 36-hole championship within their flight on Friday and Saturday.
"We're not just going back to dip our toes in the Atlantic Ocean," says Clemons. "We want to go back there and be competitive and have a chance to win this thing."
Clemons says he has received promotional information about the event from Dave MacPherson, the tournament director, ever since he became the Lava Bears' head coach seven years ago.
"I've always taken a look at it and thought, 'Nah, we can't do that. It will cost us three 18-hole high school matches. And what about the costs?' " Clemons says. "It would be tough to work it into our schedule."
But this year an opportunity came along that was too good to pass up.
What helped made the trip possible, according to Clemons, was the generosity of the Bend-based Baney Hotels Corporation. The company is headed by Curt Baney, whose son, Curtis, is a sophomore on the Lava Bears' team. Baney Hotels is picking up the costs of travel, lodging and tournament entry fees for the Bend team.
"This is a great opportunity ... a trip we probably won't ever make again in our lives," says Clemons. "As a teacher and a coach, I've always believed in giving the kids the maximum experience that we can give them. This is a once-in-a-lifetime experience."
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Kurt Holland can be reached at 383-0305 or at kholland@bendbulletin.com.
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