The Maine State Golf Association Scholarship Fund committee recently awarded its annual academic awards. Thirteen high school seniors will receive $1,500 each for the 2012-13 school year.

The scholarships are renewable on good academic standing for a maximum of four years of undergraduate study in college. The scholarship fund has been in existence since 1950 and is intended for Maine youth of good character who show an active participation in golf as a player or employee at a Maine club, with demonstrated financial need and a strong record of academic achievement.

The MSGA’s mission has always been to promote amateur golf in the state and to run the scholarship fund. Part of the proceeds from all MSGA tournaments go toward the fund. Certain events exist exclusively as fundraisers for the scholarship fund. They are the Maine Open pro-am, the Scholarship Fund tournaments and the Dave Richardson Memorial Tournament at Fairlawn Golf Club in Poland.

The Richardson tournament is named for the late MSGA scorer and is in its second year. It will be played Sept. 23. Teams can choose whether to play a scramble or best ball format.

With the 13 new recipients, the MSGA has committed a total of $78,000 over four years. Overall, the MSGA has 48 college students on scholarship.

The new recipients are Tyler Walton of Turner, who is also the winner of the Winchenbach Award as the top scholar; Brandan Albee, Ellsworth; Craig Decato, York; Tyler Foster, Winthrop; Erik Lee, Hampden; Daniel Muther, Unity; Malcolm Oliver, Damariscotta; Matthew Packard, Falmouth; Ethan Pearl, Plymouth; Seth Sweet, Madison; Alexander Viola, Brunswick; Evan Waddell, Presque Isle and Brooke Wood of Machiasport.

SUGARLOAF GOLF CLUB in Carrabassett Valley opened Friday for its 27th season. The course has 16 holes open while work continues on replacements for two bridges that were damaged during Hurricane Irene last August. The bridges are expected to be completed within two weeks.

Last month, the course announced that Abby Spector will be the head golf professional. Spector is a seven-time women’s Maine Amateur champion and a member of the Maine Golf Hall of Fame. For more information on the course or to book a tee time, go to www.sugarloaf.com or call 1-800-THE-LOAF.

TEE TO GREEN: At last week’s Maine Chapter New England PGA Pro-Am at Prouts Neck in Scarborough, several pros went low, led by Shawn Warren with a 6-under-par 64. Five other pros broke 70, including John Hickson, 66; Tim Angis, 68 and three players at 69 — Nick Glicos, Jeff Seavey and Pete Matthews.

Dick Diversi, who won six Maine Amateur championships, died earlier this spring. Diversi, of Waterville, won an unprecedented five straight state amateur titles from 1953 to 1957. He added his sixth Maine Amateur in 1963. All his titles came in match play. Diversi also competed in the New England Amateur and the U.S. Amateur. He won numerous Waterville Country Club championships. Diversi was inducted into the Maine Golf Hall of Fame in 1994 in the hall’s second year of existence.

Brad Campbell of Portland, who has been playing golf for only six years, scored his second hole-in-one in two weeks when he aced the 13th hole at Bridgton Highlands Golf Club on May 11. His first came two weeks earlier at Dunegrass Country Club in Old Orchard Beach on the second hole. Campbell used an 8-iron from just over 150 yards for his first ace. He was playing with his twin brother, Bruce, and Bob Foster. For his second, he used a 6-iron from just over 150 yards while playing with Foster and Quinn Allen.

“The day before my first hole-in-one, I was playing Toddy Brook in North Yarmouth,” said Campbell. “On the 16th hole, I missed a hole-in-one by 6 inches. I remembering telling the guys in the group that’s as close as I’ll ever get. The next day, I get a hole-in-one. I didn’t see it go in, but I saw my second one go in.”

It was pointed out to Campbell, a well-known basketball referee, that many golfers play their whole lives without a hole-in-one.

“I feel beyond fortunate,” said Campbell.

Staff Writer Tom Chard can be reached at 791-6419 or at:

tchard@pressherald.com

Twitter: TomChardPPH

 

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