Columnist Adam Candee: Like a troubled bridge over water

Adam Candee

Wednesday, July 27, 2005 | 9:13 a.m.

Adam Candee covers golf for the Sun. Reach him at (702) 259-4085 or by e-mail at candee@lasvegassun.com.

We realize you might still be catching your breath after that thrilling Battle at the Bridges primetime TV golf event (and really, who isn't?) so we'll keep it short today.

But before moving on to the pile of information sitting on my desk, let's put this Battle concept to bed - really. When Annika and Tiger both played it, the attraction of the world's two most dominant players and the novelty of the whole thing made it interesting.

Fast forward a few years to watching Retief Goosen swoop in as a late substitution for Ernie Els in what is supposed to be a made-for-TV event. His game is undeniable, but if any golfer was ever an anti-made-for-TV event, it's the rather quiet and guarded Goosen. And now Tiger is rumbling that this will be his last turn at the Battle, removing the last compelling reason to tune in.

With the on-course microphones and all, this seemed like a really good concept when it first came around, but it has run its course. It may never be good policy in life, but burning Bridges here might not be the worst idea.

David Ogron -- "Oggie", as my information has it - is a 41-year-old former Las Vegan who is using his special ability to hit a lot of golf balls in a little time to raise money for charity. The Guinness world record holder for the most balls hit in a 24-hour period (10,392, because you were wondering), as well as a 12-hour (6,971) and one-hour (2,438) period, Ogron will hit more than a million balls on tour this summer.

He stops Saturday night at Cashman Field after the Las Vegas 51s game on his Miracle Golf Tour, hoping to break the three-minute world record for most balls hit. To achieve that mark, Ogron must hit 160 balls. (To qualify, the ball must fly at least 100 yards and land with a designated 30-degree area.)

Ogron is raising money for The National Children's Cancer Society and Airline Ambassadors on his tour. His talent is top-notch, so far as we can tell, as more than 9,000 golfers have tried and failed to break Ogron's 24-hour record.

And if someone wants to make a cheap joke about this being the most hits anyone has seen on the field at Cashman this year, go right ahead, bit we just won't do it.

The two-day event runs Sunday and Monday, as two-person teams comprised of one professional and one scratch amateur will compete in a field that has drawn some good talent in years past. Robert Gamez, Jeremy Anderson and Edward Fryatt are all past participants.

The total purse is more than $5,000 and players have the chance to earn a spot in the Callaway Pro-Scratch national finals. The entry fee is $300 per team. More information can be obtained by calling 254-4653 or visiting the Web site at www.angelpark.com.

The city's PGA Tour stop needs helpers who are at least 18 years old to staff various jobs around the course during the Oct. 13-16 tournament. The tricky part of the word "volunteer" is the $25 fee that must be paid to participate, but there is a decent package offered in return for the cost.

The package includes: admission every day for the volunteer; one badge for a guest; coffee and donuts in the morning and lunch in the afternoon; discounts on clothing and memorabilia; and a volunteer party with door prizes after the final round on Sunday night.

Volunteer coordinator Michele Morphy is awaiting phone calls at 242-3008 and emails at mmorphy@lvfcgolf.com.

Moore was recently named the very unsurprising winner of the Haskins Award as the top collegiate golfer in the nation. Those thinking he was already awarded that title are likely remembering his selection as the winner of the Hogan Award, which is technically given out for all amateur accomplishments.

The award is named in memory of the late Fred Haskins, former golf teaching professional at the Country Club of Columbus. The selection is based upon a national poll of golf writers, golf coaches and collegiate golfers conducted by the Haskins Commission.

Also recently honored from UNLV is Allison Chell of the women's golf team, who earned one of 199 selections to the National Golf Coaches Association Division I All-America Scholar Teams. Chell, a sophomore-to-be from Australia, carried a 3.68 grade point average in kinesiology. She played eight competitive rounds for UNLV as a freshman and is likely to compete for a traveling spot in 2005-06.

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