Area digest 12/3/08

Connell wins Gateway PGA junior award

Jack Connell, the director of golf at Dalhousie Golf Club since 2000, has been selected Gateway PGA's Junior Leader of the Year for 2008.

It is the second such recognition for Connell, who has been the director of the Southeast Missouri Junior Series since 1988.

The award is based not only on involvement in Gateway PGA junior events, but on overall involvement in junior golf.

Dalhousie has been a major supporter of junior golf at all levels, hosting the SEMO Conference meet the last six years and the Class 4 District 1 tournament in 2008. Most notably, the club has hosted national AJGA events the past two years. The AJGA event at Dalhousie was voted the organization's top tournament in 2007, and Dalhousie will host the AJGA's Rolex Tournament of Champions in 2009, which will draw the top junior golfers in the world.

"This is a pretty cool award," Connell said. "I really would like to thank Cord [Dombrowski], my employer, because he's given me the flexibility to run the tournaments and junior programs. He's given me his full support with the golf course and financial support."

Connell also thanked his wife Cathy and the area clubs and golfers who have supported junior golf in Southeast Missouri.

Dalhousie, Bent Creek, Kimbeland Country Club, Cape Girardeau Country Club, Hidden Trails (Dexter), Westwood Hills (Poplar Bluff) and Kennett Country Club all host a tournament in the eight-event summer youth series.

"We are teachers to juniors and show them at an early age about etiquette, character, honor and the rules of the game that make the game of golf like life," Connell said.

Vinson wins NFL Punt, Pass & Kick in St. Louis

Chelsea Vinson, an 8th grader at Cape Girardeau Junior High School, won her age division of the NFL Punt Pass & Kick competition at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

Vinson broke one of the Rams' event records. She holds the record for the longest kick (111 feet) in the girls 14-15 age bracket.

Forty youths, 20 boys and 20 girls, competed in the competition in four age divisions.

Vinson moves on to compete for the national title at an NFL playoff game in January.

New Wells pads lead in Perryville Dartball

New Wells won all three of its games last week to widen its lead in the Perryville Dartball League. Second-place Uniontown also posted a 3-0 week, as did Scott City.

Standings

W L

New Wells162

Uniontown144

Friedheim135

Scott City135

Altenburg IM.117

Altenburg TR.108

Perryville99

Frohna99

Apple Creek810

Shawneetown711

Crosstown513

Hanover414

Farrar216

Uniontown489—3

Farrar117—0

Frohna157—2

Perryville323—1

Altenburg IM.044—2

Crosstown423—1

Altenburg TR.509—1

Apple Creek927—2

Friedheim14512—2

Shawneetown0120—1

Jackson322—0

New Wells455—3

Scott City456—3

Hanover014—0

— From staff reports