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Lincoln warms up for next year's Special Olympics Summer Games by hosting the group's 10th annual national golf invitational for children and adults this summer.
The 160-player tournament will use the city's Mahoney and Highlands Golf Courses for the Aug. 1 to 3 event. Golfers range in age from 13 to 57 and will play in five levels of competition.
Level I is a competition in which six golf skills are tested. Level II is alternate shot for two-person teams, in which a Special Olympics athlete is paired with a non-Special Olympics partner who's a better golfer for a nine-hole competition. Level III pairs Special Olympics athletes and Unified Sports partners of similar ability for an 18-hole competition. Levels IV and V are individual stroke-play nine-hole and 18-hole competitions.
Highlands will host Levels I, III and V. Mahoney has Levels II and IV.
There will be an opening ceremony on Friday, July 31, on the University of Nebraska-Lincoln campus. Three competitive golf rounds will be played Aug. 1 to 3, with medal ceremonies held immediately following the final round at each golf facility on Monday, Aug. 3. The golf industry has pledged its support once again with The PGA of America and USGA as presenting sponsors, and the Golf Course Superintendents Association of America as supporting sponsor.
Nebraska Amateur
John Hurley didn't qualify for the Cox Classic, which means the state match-play champion must regroup in less than 24 hours for today's first round of the Nebraska Amateur at Ironwood.
Hurley heads the 144-man field that also includes defending champion Jayson Brueggemann of Lincoln, U.S. Amateur Public Links semifinalist Brandon Crick of McCook and the only candidate for junior amateur of the year honors, North Carolina-Charlotte recruit Andy Sajevic of Fremont.
The 36-hole cut after Wednesday's second round will trim the field to the low 54 scores and ties for the final two rounds Thursday and Friday.
Hickory golf
Omaha physician Dave Brown shot 77 at Field Club to win the 32nd Heart of America Hickory Golf Championship on Saturday.
Past champion Randy Jensen, one of the tournament hosts, sat out this year's competition.
Metro tournament
Entries are being taken for the Omaha men's city championship at Platteview Country Club on Aug. 15 and 16.
The tournament is open to golfers in Douglas, Sarpy and Pottawattamie Counties. Entry fee is $110, which includes lunch and range balls both days. The maximum is 144 golfers.
Patrick Duffy has won four of the past five championships. Entry information is available at www.metrochamp.com — Stu Pospisil, 444-1041, stu.pospisil@owh.com
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