If you’re a golf fan, this is a great time of the year for you with the American Century Championship and the RTO, now the Barracuda Championship, in a span of three weeks.
I love to take a look back at some of the big names who have come to Reno. Some have had some success, and some have continually missed the cut.
Golf is truly a name recognition sport, and Reno has drawn some of the biggest names at one time or another.
Some of today’s biggest names have had problems here.
Here we go:
• Adam Scott missed the cut in 2000.
• Steve Stricker missed the cut in 2000 and 2005.
• Bubba Watson missed the cut in 2006.
• Fred Couples missed the cut in 2001.
• K.J. Choi missed the cut once and tied for 12th.
• Jason Dufner missed the cut in 2004, was 57th in 2007 and 29th in 2008
• Bill Haas has placed 45th, 15th and 73rd in his three trips to Montreux.
• Matt Kuchar has placed 66th, 36th, 26th and missed a cut in his four appearances.
• Graeme McDowell played here in 2006 and tied for 21st,
• Jose Maria Olazabal was 45th in 2004 and 63rd in 2011.
• Charl Schwartzel was 34th in 2009.
• Camilo Villegas missed the cut both times he’s played here. Ditto for Fuzzy Zoeller.
• Jimmy Walker, who has experienced a lot of success the last few years, tied for 58th and missed a cut.
• John Daly, in six trips, has missed three cuts, withdrawn once and has a best of fifth.
• Luke Donald missed a cut, took 17th and 36th in his three tries.
• Sergio Garcia played here in 2000 and tied for 17th.
So you see, big names don’t always translate to success.
Here are a few guys who have played well at Montreux:
• Brian Davis has three top-25s in four attempts, including a second-place finish.
• Jason Day tied for 11th in 2006, his only tourney experience.
• Justin Leonard has two top-5s in his three attempts.
• Andres Romero missed the cut in his first tourney here in 2009, but has finished third and tied for second in his last two events.
• Brendan Steele has played the last two years, finishing eighth and fourth, respectively.
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The news is good for both Carson High graduates Adam Whitt and Colby Blueberg this summer.
Whitt, as many know, was selected to play in the all-star game in the prestigious Cape Cod League.
Whitt has been nothing short of sensational. In a team-leading 15 appearances, he is 4-0 with a team-leading four saves and a team-leading 1.18 earned run average. Whitt has thrown 30 1/3 innings, allowing 19 hits and striking out 26.
Blueberg, who is throwing for the Eugene Emeralds in the Pacific Northwest League, has appeared in nine games.
He is 0-0 with an E.R.A. of 0.51. He has thrown 17 2/3 innings and allowed 15 hits and just one earned run.
He has 22 strikeouts and a WHIP of 1.02.
•••
Former Carson High and Hiram University football standout Josh Peacock has been selected as an all-star in the American Indoor Football League.
Peacock, who plays for the Cleveland Patriots, was one of three defensive backs selected.
Peacock was a second-round draft pick of the team.
I would love to furnish you folks with stats, but none appeared on the team or league website.