Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
http://www.belleville.com/mld/belleville/sports/14813959.htm
When the names of the best amateur golfers in the United States are being listed, the name Bill Roberts probably won't be the first mentioned.
Neither will Doren Granberry .
But combined, Granberry and Roberts have won a remarkable 11 national championships while competing in the United States Deaf Golf Championships.
"They are both great players," said USDGA Executive Director native and Belleville native Rob Strano. "Bill is kind of like our Tiger Woods because he's won the event seven times since 1990."
Roberts and Granberry, who captured his fourth national title at the 2005 event in Rochester, (N.Y.) will head to the metro east and Far Oaks Golf Club in Caseyville next July for the 2007 United States Deaf Golf Championships.
In all, more than 150 of the top men, women and senior players from throughout the country will be on hand for the 22nd national championship for the deaf, July 16-20, 2007 at Far Oaks.
The 72-hole tournament will mark the second time in a decade that the event will have been played in the St. Louis area. The 1997 tournament, won by Roberts, was held at Normandie Park Golf Club in St. Louis.
Strano said he is very happy the 2007 event will be held at Far Oaks.
"At the national finals last year, I was approached about the possibility of conducting the 2007 event in St. Louis. Right away I thought of Far Oaks," Strano said. "It's a great golf course, and one I know will present a tremendous challenge to the players."
Strano then contacted Far Oaks head professional Jim Knott, and the 2007 tournament had a home.
"When I spoke with (Far Oaks) head professional Jim Knott about having the tournament here, he was very receptive about it," Strano said. "We could not ask for a better situation as far as being close to a major highway and with the number of hotels and restaurants in the area."
Knott said Far Oaks is looking forward to hosting the tournament.
"Anything that Rob (Strano) is involved with you know will be a first class event. We are delighted to have the opportunity to host a national event like this one," Knott said.
Widely regarded as one of the top golf courses in the St. Louis area, Far Oaks was designed by Belleville native and 1968 Masters Champion Bob Goalby. The 7,083-yard course opened in 1999.
"The plans are that we're going to reverse the front and back nines so that the ninth hole will be the 18th hole for the tournament. We feel it will make for an exciting finish and will be better for the large amount of media coverage we're expecting."
Strano said the top players shoot around or slightly below par.
"The top players hit it a long way and they are very, very good players," Strano said. "The only difference is that they are deaf. It does not affect the way they play the game.
It certainly hasn't had an effect on Roberts, an accountant and treasurer from Bolivar, Mo., or Granberry, a Postal Express Mail Clerk from Redding, Calif., who battled into sudden death for the 2005 championship.
Granberry ended Roberts' string of three national titles when he made a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to win the tournament a year ago.
The 2007 United States Deaf Golf Championship will mark the final qualifying tournament for the 2008 World Deaf Golf Championship. At the end of the competition, the team for the 2008 WDGC in Australia will be selected and announced.
When the names of the best amateur golfers in the United States are being listed, the name Bill Roberts probably won't be the first mentioned.
Neither will Doren Granberry .
But combined, Granberry and Roberts have won a remarkable 11 national championships while competing in the United States Deaf Golf Championships.
"They are both great players," said USDGA Executive Director native and Belleville native Rob Strano. "Bill is kind of like our Tiger Woods because he's won the event seven times since 1990."
Roberts and Granberry, who captured his fourth national title at the 2005 event in Rochester, (N.Y.) will head to the metro east and Far Oaks Golf Club in Caseyville next July for the 2007 United States Deaf Golf Championships.
In all, more than 150 of the top men, women and senior players from throughout the country will be on hand for the 22nd national championship for the deaf, July 16-20, 2007 at Far Oaks.
The 72-hole tournament will mark the second time in a decade that the event will have been played in the St. Louis area. The 1997 tournament, won by Roberts, was held at Normandie Park Golf Club in St. Louis.
Strano said he is very happy the 2007 event will be held at Far Oaks.
"At the national finals last year, I was approached about the possibility of conducting the 2007 event in St. Louis. Right away I thought of Far Oaks," Strano said. "It's a great golf course, and one I know will present a tremendous challenge to the players."
Strano then contacted Far Oaks head professional Jim Knott, and the 2007 tournament had a home.
"When I spoke with (Far Oaks) head professional Jim Knott about having the tournament here, he was very receptive about it," Strano said. "We could not ask for a better situation as far as being close to a major highway and with the number of hotels and restaurants in the area."
Knott said Far Oaks is looking forward to hosting the tournament.
"Anything that Rob (Strano) is involved with you know will be a first class event. We are delighted to have the opportunity to host a national event like this one," Knott said.
Widely regarded as one of the top golf courses in the St. Louis area, Far Oaks was designed by Belleville native and 1968 Masters Champion Bob Goalby. The 7,083-yard course opened in 1999.
"The plans are that we're going to reverse the front and back nines so that the ninth hole will be the 18th hole for the tournament. We feel it will make for an exciting finish and will be better for the large amount of media coverage we're expecting."
Strano said the top players shoot around or slightly below par.
"The top players hit it a long way and they are very, very good players," Strano said. "The only difference is that they are deaf. It does not affect the way they play the game.
It certainly hasn't had an effect on Roberts, an accountant and treasurer from Bolivar, Mo., or Granberry, a Postal Express Mail Clerk from Redding, Calif., who battled into sudden death for the 2005 championship.
Granberry ended Roberts' string of three national titles when he made a 20-foot birdie putt on the first hole of a sudden death playoff to win the tournament a year ago.
The 2007 United States Deaf Golf Championship will mark the final qualifying tournament for the 2008 World Deaf Golf Championship. At the end of the competition, the team for the 2008 WDGC in Australia will be selected and announced.