Golfer extraordinaire Wes Denny says there's no better player than Vijay Singh, who "practices the most of any golfer and plays in all the tournaments he can."

Looks as if the Sycamore Junior High seventh-grader and the PGA Tour veteran have something in common.

Denny, 13, is ranked second among 12- and 13-year-old boys in the Plantations Junior Golf Tour, having been No. 1 until Charlie Niland of Connecticut moved ahead of him Thursday.

Wes Denny, 13, is ranked No. 1 among 12-13-year-olds in the Plantation Junior Golf Tour. (Steven M. Herppich photo)

The nationwide tour offers multiple tournaments every weekend from August to May for boys and girls ages 8 to 19. Denny tries to compete at nearby Ohio, Indiana and Kentucky venues, but the 12 tournaments under his belt since the summer are just a sample of what he'd like to do.

"I try to tell my parents to sign me up for all the ones we can travel to. I always say we could fly to tournaments, too, but we don't do that too often," Denny said.

Denny's yearlong tournament stroke average is 75. He has won five tournaments and placed second in three.

Just last month, he won his age group at Bent Tree Golf Club in Columbus with a 76-74-150 and was named weekend medalist for besting all golfers ages 12 to 18. He earned the same honor March 13 and 14 at Heatherwoode Golf Club.

"He's getting to be one of the best in the region," said Joel Suggs, Denny's instructor and a teaching pro at Meadow Links & Golf Academy. "He's very mature, and a good listener and learner. And he practices a lot."

Denny's parents, John and Gayle, have been a big part of his success. Mr. Denny will accompany Wes to the Plantations Tour's Tournament of Champions in Orlando, Fla., on Memorial Day weekend. Wes is one of 25 golfers invited to the elite event, which pools the top 25 of each age group.

From a No. 22 ranking last year to No. 2 now, Denny said the biggest secret to his success has been the time he has put into the sport.

"I've been practicing a lot more and working out during the winter, stretching and lifting," said Denny, whose drives have increased by about 15 yards.

He helped Sycamore to a Greater Miami Conference third-place finish in the fall and has devoted his free time to tournaments and training. Denny plays up to three days a week now and every day in the summer.

Though many participants on the Plantations Tour hail from warmer states, Denny said he knows about seven Ohioans going to the Tournament of Champions. Korey Ward, a Lakota fifth-grader, is ranked fourth in the boys' 10-11 age group.

What does the future hold for Denny? Someday high school golf, then college golf. And maybe even the reaching the stature of his favorite, Singh.

"If I can make it," Denny said. "I'd love to be in the PGA."

Janet Kurzner / Fairfield

This 70-year-old athlete has been involved in track and field for 58 years, but her most recent accolades came last weekend at the Southwest Ohio Senior Olympics at La Salle High School. Kurzner was second in discus, running broad jump and standing broad jump. She placed third in javelin and also competed in shot-put in the 70-74 age group. She walks up to two miles daily at the Fairfield High School track and is trying to get her legs "back in running shape" to compete in the 100 meter dash. "I made up my mind to lose some weight and get back into it," Kurzner said. She'll compete in Columbus next weekend with the Southwest Ohio Senior Olympics, and in July will try out for the 2005 Senior Olympic Games in Pittsburgh. Until then she'll add her medals to her growing collection. At last count, she had "between 50 and 60."

Skatetown Swords / West Chester

The Skatetown Swords U-14 roller hockey team won the TORHS Mid-America Conference regional tournament in West Chester, May 7-9. The Swords' 9-1 win in the championship game over Projoy Cincinnati Storm has ranked them number one in their division and number two in the nation. The Swords will be competing for the national title this July in Michigan. A relatively new team, several of the members have played together since grade school. "We look forward to competing against teams from all over the country this summer," head coach Steve Genty said. Players include Vince Cicchinelli, Jared Ostrander, Peter House, Jordan Von Wahlde, J.C. Hall and Chris Weiss, (all of West Chester/Liberty Township), and Aaron Ammon (Lima), Max Bloom (Finneytown), Mike Gardner (Harrison), Katie Fischer (Mason), and Jordan Gentry (St. Bernard).

Cincinnati Junior Tar Heels / Green Hills

These Under-10 AAU girls basketball hoopsters qualified for nationals in Orlando June 26 - July 4. The team, which draws players from all over Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky, finished third in the AAU Ohio State Championships in Urbana on May 2. It was second in the Ohio Youth Championships in Springfield in March. Its players are Nicole Bell, Katherine Boyce, Chelsea Douglas, Kaeli Flaska, Kiara Gentry, Mackenzie Loesing, Kelsey Matthews, Brittany Simpson, Tazz Shaw, Dionna Wear and Laurel Wiebe. The head coach is Jon Perry and the assistants are Andrew Kahn and Libby White.