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Bakersfield Has Talent
First and foremost a big congratulations to Bhavik Patel who won the
California State Amateur Championship last weekend at the Olympic Club host
of many U S Opens. Last Summer Bhavik had the whole town buzzing as he
finished T3 in the U S Amateur. One more match and he would have qualified for
the U S Open and the Masters. Quite a feat with more than 8,000 entries.
Currently Bhavik is a junior at Fresno State along with teammate Brian Hogan,
the youngest winner of the Kern County Amateur who proved it wasn’t a fluke as
he won it again two years later. Another fine player that is a former Kern County
Amateur Champion of that age group playing NCAA division 1 at Cal Berkley is
Stephen Hale, who’s father John Hale a former major league baseball player
and former Senior Kern County Senior Champion. Guess the apple doesn’t fall
far from the tree.
In the early 1980’s Bob and Marlene Crozier had an idea, start a program to
give the youth in this community more experience playing golf under competitive
conditions to some day bring them to a level to compete on tour with the worlds
best. Thus became the Kern County Junior Association a non-profit that is carried
on today by loyal parents and golf enthusiast of this community. I’m sure that Bob
and Marlene are very proud this day to see their seed flourish.
Not to say there weren’t great players before this program, because there
were. Jack Ewing played the PGA Tour for many years. David Barber also
played on tour before taking the head pro job at BCC after Babe Lazane retired.
David was the Southern California Section Player of the Year for club pros 5
years straight. Jerry Steenerson head pro at Rio Bravo CC qualified for the
inaugural Ben Hogan event at Bakersfield CC in 1990 which is now the
Nationwide Tour. Jerry and David played in 1990 and 1991. I had the thrill of my
life qualifying for the 1992 event that was moved to Seven Oakes. Missed the cut
by a bunch, but got a taste of the real thing when your adrenaline is flowing, your
hands sweating and your heart in your throat. I can only imagine the thrill Bhavik is
feeling now.
Tony Murphy Seven Oakes Head Pro also competed in 1992. Danny
Morgan long time amateur and one of the better players in the area would go on
to play the Senior Tour. Bruce Burroughs head pro at BCC qualified for the LA
open. Richard Gilkey Rio Bravo asst. pro qualified for and had tour status on the
Nike Tour. Long time club pro Jim Kiger competed in the Senior US Open. Lisa
Kiggens played many years on the LPGA Tour, then had a brief stint as an
announcer for the Golf Channel. Then there are the Sorenson brothers Alan and
Chad. Chad shot 59 at North Kern and played the mini tours for a while. Alan
played in Nike, Buy.com, and Nationwide tour events and played in the National
Club pro 4 times making the cut twice. Both winning more chapter and section
events than can be counted.
In 1994 Craig Barlow, a Taft JC grad who went on to UNLV, came back to
win the Kern County Amateur only to begin Qualifying School for the PGA Tour
the following day. He qualified and stayed on tour for 15 years. He is currently on
the Nationwide Tour. Jacque Delvaux Servadio had an outstanding amateur
career and who has also made quite a name for herself as a teaching pro here in
Bakersfield. There are 2 players that those in the know told me had enough talent
to play the tour, but chose other paths. The 1st is Bud Ardell who won the 1980
SCGA and runner up in the 1980 Southern California Open. The other known to
most simply as the Legend, Arnold Kirschenmann who decided to take on the
family farming business.
Now the players that began their competitive experience in the Kern County
Junior Golf Assn. Along with Patel, Hogan and Hale. Jason Fisher qualified for
the Canadian Tour. Playing in 9 events. Brady Baguio won 3 NCAA titles for Cal
State Bakersfield before qualifying for the Canadian tour which he is currently
playing. Mica Guzman is now on a full ride to Cal State Fullerton on a golf
scholarship. Justin Pitts, who is playing the mini tours, holds 4 course records in
Southern California and recently shot 57 at Kern River. Not really sure just how
many records that broke, but it has to get a mention in the Guinness book of
records, and like Bhavik what a thrill that must have been. Justin is currently
looking for sponsors, I don’t think that hurt his chances any.
Personally I have been around the business for 40+ years as so Joe
Haggerty Head Professional at Seven Oakes, and Jim Kiger Head Professional
at Rio Bravo and Dave Barber. Jim Phillips, the Sorenson Brothers, Dave Bolar
and Bruce Burroughs 25 +. The community is very tight niched and the time
each and everyone of these golf leaders has put into growing the game speaks
volumes. The last person I should mention is Robert Gautney, the golf columnist
for the Bakersfield Californian. He has a vast knowledge of the golf in this
community as has seen it grow. He probably has more knowledge than I. I
apologize for the players I missed; I know I didn’t get them all; these are just the
ones I know personally.
In closing I just want to recognize Bhavik Patel, Justin Pitts, and Bob and
Marlene Crozier. I can’t even imagine the thrill this game has brought them. My
question is who’s next?
To all good golfing,
Jim Foss PGA
Kern River Golf Course
Bakersfield, CA
First and foremost a big congratulations to Bhavik Patel who won the
California State Amateur Championship last weekend at the Olympic Club host
of many U S Opens. Last Summer Bhavik had the whole town buzzing as he
finished T3 in the U S Amateur. One more match and he would have qualified for
the U S Open and the Masters. Quite a feat with more than 8,000 entries.
Currently Bhavik is a junior at Fresno State along with teammate Brian Hogan,
the youngest winner of the Kern County Amateur who proved it wasn’t a fluke as
he won it again two years later. Another fine player that is a former Kern County
Amateur Champion of that age group playing NCAA division 1 at Cal Berkley is
Stephen Hale, who’s father John Hale a former major league baseball player
and former Senior Kern County Senior Champion. Guess the apple doesn’t fall
far from the tree.
In the early 1980’s Bob and Marlene Crozier had an idea, start a program to
give the youth in this community more experience playing golf under competitive
conditions to some day bring them to a level to compete on tour with the worlds
best. Thus became the Kern County Junior Association a non-profit that is carried
on today by loyal parents and golf enthusiast of this community. I’m sure that Bob
and Marlene are very proud this day to see their seed flourish.
Not to say there weren’t great players before this program, because there
were. Jack Ewing played the PGA Tour for many years. David Barber also
played on tour before taking the head pro job at BCC after Babe Lazane retired.
David was the Southern California Section Player of the Year for club pros 5
years straight. Jerry Steenerson head pro at Rio Bravo CC qualified for the
inaugural Ben Hogan event at Bakersfield CC in 1990 which is now the
Nationwide Tour. Jerry and David played in 1990 and 1991. I had the thrill of my
life qualifying for the 1992 event that was moved to Seven Oakes. Missed the cut
by a bunch, but got a taste of the real thing when your adrenaline is flowing, your
hands sweating and your heart in your throat. I can only imagine the thrill Bhavik is
feeling now.
Tony Murphy Seven Oakes Head Pro also competed in 1992. Danny
Morgan long time amateur and one of the better players in the area would go on
to play the Senior Tour. Bruce Burroughs head pro at BCC qualified for the LA
open. Richard Gilkey Rio Bravo asst. pro qualified for and had tour status on the
Nike Tour. Long time club pro Jim Kiger competed in the Senior US Open. Lisa
Kiggens played many years on the LPGA Tour, then had a brief stint as an
announcer for the Golf Channel. Then there are the Sorenson brothers Alan and
Chad. Chad shot 59 at North Kern and played the mini tours for a while. Alan
played in Nike, Buy.com, and Nationwide tour events and played in the National
Club pro 4 times making the cut twice. Both winning more chapter and section
events than can be counted.
In 1994 Craig Barlow, a Taft JC grad who went on to UNLV, came back to
win the Kern County Amateur only to begin Qualifying School for the PGA Tour
the following day. He qualified and stayed on tour for 15 years. He is currently on
the Nationwide Tour. Jacque Delvaux Servadio had an outstanding amateur
career and who has also made quite a name for herself as a teaching pro here in
Bakersfield. There are 2 players that those in the know told me had enough talent
to play the tour, but chose other paths. The 1st is Bud Ardell who won the 1980
SCGA and runner up in the 1980 Southern California Open. The other known to
most simply as the Legend, Arnold Kirschenmann who decided to take on the
family farming business.
Now the players that began their competitive experience in the Kern County
Junior Golf Assn. Along with Patel, Hogan and Hale. Jason Fisher qualified for
the Canadian Tour. Playing in 9 events. Brady Baguio won 3 NCAA titles for Cal
State Bakersfield before qualifying for the Canadian tour which he is currently
playing. Mica Guzman is now on a full ride to Cal State Fullerton on a golf
scholarship. Justin Pitts, who is playing the mini tours, holds 4 course records in
Southern California and recently shot 57 at Kern River. Not really sure just how
many records that broke, but it has to get a mention in the Guinness book of
records, and like Bhavik what a thrill that must have been. Justin is currently
looking for sponsors, I don’t think that hurt his chances any.
Personally I have been around the business for 40+ years as so Joe
Haggerty Head Professional at Seven Oakes, and Jim Kiger Head Professional
at Rio Bravo and Dave Barber. Jim Phillips, the Sorenson Brothers, Dave Bolar
and Bruce Burroughs 25 +. The community is very tight niched and the time
each and everyone of these golf leaders has put into growing the game speaks
volumes. The last person I should mention is Robert Gautney, the golf columnist
for the Bakersfield Californian. He has a vast knowledge of the golf in this
community as has seen it grow. He probably has more knowledge than I. I
apologize for the players I missed; I know I didn’t get them all; these are just the
ones I know personally.
In closing I just want to recognize Bhavik Patel, Justin Pitts, and Bob and
Marlene Crozier. I can’t even imagine the thrill this game has brought them. My
question is who’s next?
To all good golfing,
Jim Foss PGA
Kern River Golf Course
Bakersfield, CA
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