Roundup of local golf news
All-Star Shawn Marion to Miami for Shaquille O’Neal, who hardly fit that focus of play. Kerr has called it a “bad move” all these years later.
D’Antoni left for New York at the end of that season and went 121-167 before resigning from the Knicks in March 2012. But Carmelo Anthony was never comfortable with or committed to D’Antoni’s way.
The Houston coach has said most everybody doubted his system, but the game has evolved.
“In the old days, you had kind of three out, two in, you had your traditional power forward, whether it was Karl Malone or Charles Oakley or somebody like that who was going to maybe shoot a 15-footer, but he was going to be banging down in the paint,” Kerr said.
“Mike eliminated that and created all that much more space . ... The influence is there in the strategy and then over the last 10 years every player in the league has spent his summers shooting 500 3-pointers a day.”
Kerr’s partnership with D’Antoni lasted only that 2007-08 season in Phoenix before D’Antoni bolted for New York. A decade later, the 67-year-old D’Antoni has enjoyed his most successful stint in these two seasons with the Rockets.
His influence has reached the college game, too.
In the summer of 2014, Tara VanDerveer, the women’s Hall of Fame coach from Stanford, called on D’Antoni for an assist She needed to revamp her offense from the Cardinal’s tried-and-true triangle. D’Antoni helped with the transition.
Facing a D’Antoni team, Curry is prepared to defend constant pick-androlls. He understands the fast and creative tempo at which D’Antoni’s team plays.
“I guess you’d call it unorthodox when it comes to the things that he tries,” Curry said. “But it seems that anybody who goes and plays for D’Antoni’s system their offensive numbers go out the roof, just because he knows how to put guys in the right positions and instill confidence when you’re out there to make plays.”
David Lee, an ex-Warrior, played for D’Antoni with the Knicks. Curry says Lee spoke of how D’Antoni sought to bring out the best in his players.
“So he’s had a great track record of putting up crazy offensive numbers and whatnot,” Curry said. “And as a guy watching teams he used to coach he was always fun to watch.”
Shannon Mason and Pam Upayokin from the Mesa Del Sol Ladies Club recently competed in the AWGA Four Ball State Championship held at Sewailo Golf Club in Tucson. The Mason/ Upayokin team won first Place low gross in the First Flight with a two day best ball score of 150. They were also the fourth place low net team out of 35 teams.
On Friday the fourth of May Steve Parrish and Sandy Blair were the gross score best ball winners in the Mesa Del Sol MGA mixed play. Hank Browning and Garry Sletten were the best ball net winners with George Christopher and Frank Manson taking second net. The third place net finishers were Ray Butler and Bob Blair.
Hank Browning shot his age (78) to record plus ten quota points to win first place in the quota play at the Mesa Del Sol Golf Course on Monday morning with Bob Blair at plus eight taking second place. Third place went to Marilyn Cotter with plus eight points with Sandy Blair finished in fourth place with plus seven points.
Bette McGrath was the winner of the Desert Hills Ladies Golf Association Ace of the Month play on Tuesday, May 1. Tami Harmon and Lola Stone were tied for low net.
Randy Labrasseur teamed with Charlie Kline, Diana Bird, and Sandy Henson for a scrambling seven under par 65 to win the Moose lodge weekly play at the Mesa Del Sol Golf Course on Tuesday morning. Bob Lauer, Evelyn Pribble, Marisa Turck, and Christian were the second place finishers at two under par. Three teams tied for third place at even par and the team players were John Coffey, Peggy Quinn, Ron Godlink, and Rick Parks, and Dale Hoch, Bob Peterson, Jim Flood, and Barb Chambers, and Frank Domantay, Joyce Martin, Ron Hardin, and Sandy Hoch.
On Tuesday morning Kathy Lauer was the winner of the Desert Hills Ladies first flight Red, White and Blue play with Lola Stone winning second place. Diane Comeau and Bette McGrath were tied for first place in the second Flight. Lola Stone was the winner of the 4th and 15th KP holes.
Jack Parker was the first place winner in the Mesa Del Sol “Pinky’s Pick” weekly mixed play on Wednesday morning. Second place went to Al Johnson with George Christopher in third place. David Doherty, Jim Mitchell, and Marilyn Cotter were the remaining winners. The skin winners were Henry Browning, Jim Mitchell, Garry Sletten, and Sandra Blair.
In the Mesa del Sol Men’s Wednesday twilight league two man net Crumple play, Mike Van Allen and Jerry Crump shot 31.8 for the win. Fred Blohm and Jon Green were second at 32.7. With the win Jerry Crump took over the lead in the Spring Points Race. Next week’s play is a two man net Shamble, with play beginning at 5:00.
In the Mesa del Sol Friday twilight league two person net combined total Anthony Martinez and Walter Covey won with a 66. Mark and Cera Ford tied Karl Semler and Brian Anderson for second at 68. Play begins each Fridays at 5:00 p.m.
Raymond Butler was the first flight gross division winner in the Mesa Del Sol MGA mixed play on Friday morning with Jack Parker winning first place in the first flight net division. Second place in the net division went to George Christopher and Hank Browning was the third place net finisher. Frank Manson won the second flight gross division with Marilyn Cotter winning first place in the net division. Bob Rehn was the second place net winner with Bob Blair took third place. The skin winners were Henry Browning, Raymond Butler, George Christopher, Dale Hoch, Mary Kruse, Frank Manson, Jack Parker, and Sam Samples.