INLAND FIELDHOUSE

I covered the Inland Empire Amateur Golf Championships on Saturday, Sept. 3, 2011, and Sunday, Sept. 4, 2011, and came away with some blood on my hands… and my tape recorder… and my pants.

No. I didn’t commit murder. I simply shook hands with tournament leader Nick Paez. He apparently had open blister(s) on his right hand.

Not sure exactly how to feel about being bled on. The one thought I keep coming back to is that, “Well, if I’m going to get bled on by somebody there, shouldn’t it be the winner’s blood?” (Right after I sanitize.)

Kinda gross, maybe. But it was also a unique experience to have on a golf course.

Speaking of courses, the event took place at three different tracks around the Inland Empire. I covered the first two days.

Day 1 at Moreno Valley Rancho Golf Club was welcoming. 27-holes of inspired design, there’s just so many things to like about this place that it’s hard to name them all. Howabout free large ice waters?

Day 2 at Goose Greek Golf Club was even better. Cruising around lower Mira Loma in style, I was surprised to find low scores and lower tan lines. (Sun bathers!) Also, the  well-manicured greens showcased the course, and allowed it to shine.

It was two days of cool weather, golf and conversation.

The first person I spoke to was Andre Bedard, a University of La Verne freshman. He played well, and “loved the par 3s” at The Ranch in MoVal. He finished tied for 9th — a remarkable finish for a first-time participant who has never played these courses.

I spoke to Kevin Fitzgerald (UC Riverside) and he had the best quote of the tournament, which was published in the Sunday editions of The Press-Enterprise. In what may be a testament to his dry wit, Fitzgerald also had a damn fine tournament, finishing tied for third. 

I spoke to Bruce Doucett, Jr. (UC Riverside), who finished outside the top 10. Despite his short-comings this weekend, Doucett Jr. has the look of a future professional. FOMB thinks he has plenty of victories in his future.

I spoke to Kenny Pigman, twice. A Cal State San Bernardino senior, Pigman was gunning for the title, and said as much.  “I’m here to win, hopefully get what I’ve been working for,” said Pigman. He definitely had the look of a competitor after shooting the tournament’s low round (64) at Goose Creek on Sunday, but shot a 73 on Monday at finished tied for third with Fitzgerald.

And there’s Nick Paez. Here’s a guy who is definitely playing it cool, which is difficult considering he just achieved the trifecta of Inland Area amateur golf scene. The sky’s the limit for Paez, who was 9 under for the tournament, shooting a three-day total of 206. He bested the field by three strokes. Now?

Who knows, he could be the next Ti… Um, I mean… He could be the first Nick Paez.

Should I have bottled his blood sample? You know, for forensics purposes and/or eBay. 🙂