Sunday, July 11, 1999
KENTUCKY SPORTS INSIDER
Kruer may be next Amateur star
BY NEIL SCHMIDT
The Cincinnati Enquirer
To win a Northern Kentucky Women's Amateur golf championship is to crave another. Twelve golfers have won at least twice, accounting for 39 of the event's 48 titles. Four have won five times each.
Don't be surprised if Katie Kruer, who won last year at 21, is sucked into this success cycle. As the Amateur begins Monday at Triple Crown Country Club, Kruer is being touted as the event's Next Great Champion.
“Katie definitely has the golf game to win this a bunch of times,” five-time champ Leslie Kyle said.
Said fellow five-time winner Lori Eberle (nee Oldendick): “Before her career is out, Katie will probably have five of these (titles), too.”
The biggest obstacle? Her aspirations. Kruer, a Notre Dame Academy and University of Dayton alum, is considering leaving the amateur ranks to become a teaching pro.
“I really enjoy teaching lessons,” Kruer said. “I always want to have golf be a part of my life, and that could be a way. But if that doesn't happen, of course I'll always play in this tournament.”
Kruer graduated from Dayton in May with a graphic design major and is looking for a job in that field. She says she could envision being an assistant pro at a course in her spare time.
For now, she's a young star in bloom.
“I think I keep getting better,” Kruer said. “I'm hitting it further. I have more confidence.”
Though Kruer is considered the favorite, don't dismiss the race Kyle and Eberle are quietly staging. When Kyle returned two years ago to win her first Amateur in 24 years, she moved into a tie for most titles.
Kyle (1969, '71-73, '97) and Eberle (1985, '89-90, '94-95) both have five, tied with Angie Grubbs (1959, '62, '66-67, '70) and Bonnie Overmann (1978, '81-83, '88).
Kyle, 46, and Eberle, 33, can each envision a sixth victory. Eberle, who married last September, says she's stronger and more relaxed than ever.
“Heck yeah, I'd like to have a sixth one,” Eberle said. “I'd like to win it this year and get it over with.”
Kyle won this tournament at 16 and later took a 10-year layoff from golf before returning in style in 1997. But bothered by a nerve problem in her hip, she had to withdraw from the Greater Cincinnati Metropolitan Amateur's qualifying round two weeks ago when pain grew too great.
After a week off, she's feeling better — but not 100 percent.
“I'm going to have six (titles) by the time I'm 50, and I don't have much time left,” she said. “But it might not be this year.”
Among other top contenders: 1998 runner-up Mary Jo Meek, two-time champ Margaret Wilkerson (1987, '96), 1986 champ Candy Begnoche and 1996 runner-up Libby Moses. Diana Camacho, Anna McCord, Cynthia Rorer, Sharon Voelker and Sharon Graham also figure to contend.
On such a tricky course, Triple Crown members could hold an edge. One such member, Deana Clarke, is the popular dark horse pick. Clarke's husband, Rob, was a finalist last week in the Northern Kentucky Men's Amateur.
THOMAS MORE'S FIELD: A decade's wait is down to 10 weeks. On Sept. 18, Thomas More College is expected to play the first on-campus football game in school history.
The Saints, about to begin their 10th season, have been forced to play all “home” games at other sites in the Tristate. But construction of TMC's first on-campus facility is expected to be complete for the home opener against Kentucky Wesleyan.
“It's 100 percent definite,” TMC Athletic Director Todd Asalon said. “The bleachers are ordered. The goalposts are going up in two weeks. Everything's a go.”
School officials have said the start-up total for the field is $120,000. The field formerly used for TMC's soccer teams is being converted for football while new soccer fields are being built elsewhere on campus.
WAYNE'S WORLD (WIDE WEB): Wayne Turner has a web site. The Kentucky point guard started the site
http://members.spree.com/college/wildcatchat/wayneturnr.htm
to keep fans updated on his quest to play professional basketball.
Turner welcomes e-mail. Send it to UKWayneTurner@yahoo.com.
NKU CAMP GUESTS: Northern Kentucky University's summer camps have special guests Wednesday: former Reds pitcher Tom Browning at the baseball camp and former Highlands and Vanderbilt basketball star Scott Draud at the basketball camp.
COACHING CHANGES: Jam Stryffeler is Lloyd's new cross country and track coach.
Stryffeler, 38, coached the past three years at Walton-Verona and the previous three at St. Henry, winning Class A state track titles with both the Crusader boys and girls in 1996.
• Shaun Pawsat is Ludlow's new cross country and track coach. Pawsat won the Class AA 1,600-meter state title at Highlands in 1985.
Neil Schmidt is The Enquirer's Northern Kentucky sports reporter. Call him at 578-5582 or send e-mail to nschmidt@enquirer.com.
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