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Southeastern grad Knuckey turning pro
Sunday, July 06, 2008
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SPRINGFIELD — This is Chip Knuckey's last summer as an amateur golfer. The 22-year-old Southeastern graduate plans to turn pro later this year.
"I'm just looking to see how I measure up against those guys, see if it's worth my while," Knuckey said. "It's been my dream forever."
Knuckey finished his career at Wright State in the spring. He won't return to defend his 2007 Springfield News-Sun/National Trail Parks and Recreation District Men's City Amateur title next weekend. Instead, he will play in a pro-am tournament in Waterloo, Iowa, where he lived before moving to this area.
Later this summer, Knuckey plans to try to qualify for the United States Amateur. He will play in a qualifying tournament Aug. 4-5 in Lancaster.
After that, Knuckey plans to first try his luck on the NGA Hooters Tour in Florida.
"I think I'm ready to do it," he said. "I've been working my butt off all summer, spending plenty of hours on the range, playing out at Locust Hills."
The Hooters Tour is a step below the Nationwide Series, which is a level below the PGA Tour. Unlike those other two tours, most of the prize money on the Hooters Tour comes from player-entry fees.
So in effect, Knuckey will be playing to at least make back his entry fee. The Hooters' Bridgestone Winter Series starts Oct. 28.
Major winners such as John Daly, Ben Curtis and 2007 Masters champion Zach Johnson got their start on the Hooters Tour.
"It's a grind," Knuckey said, "but I'm really looking forward to it."
Dayton Women's Amateur
Several Clark County women will compete in the Dayton District Women's Amateur Championship, which starts Monday, July 7, at the Country Club of the North in Xenia.
Among them are former Springfield City Am champion Donna Warfield and this year's first-round City Am leader Lisa Minna.
There will be 36 holes of stroke play on Monday and Tuesday and then four rounds of match play Wednesday through Friday.
Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0351 or djablonski@coxohio.com.
