Northwest Notes Sept. 16, 2011
Ex-Viking, Vandal Grove
second at Montana open
MISSOULA, Mont. - Russell Grove of Coeur d'Alene finished second by one stroke last weekend at the Town Pump Montana Open golf tournament at Larchmont Golf Course.
Grove, who played at Coeur d'Alene High and the University of Idaho, and is now an assistant pro at Avondale Golf Club, shot rounds of 66, 69 and 66 for a 15-under-par 201.
The winner came stocked with some pretty good credentials.
Lon Hinkle, now 62 and living in Bigfork, Mont., is a former PGA Tour professional who finished third on the PGA money list in 1979 - seven years before Grove, 25, was born.
Hinkle, who tied for third at both the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship in 1980, shot 65-69-66-200.
"This weekend was the first time I've seen this course, so it wasn't a bad finish at all," Grove told the Missoulian. "Especially since I've had a virus all summer and I haven't practiced once over the last three months. So I really wasn't expecting too much."
Plummer to combine handball
bash with pro tourney
COEUR d'ALENE - The Plummer Family Helluva Handball Bash IV, hosted by former Capital High, Arizona State and NFL quarterback Jake Plummer, will take place at the same time as the first stop in the WPH Race for 8 Pro Handball Series.
The event is scheduled for Oct. 6-9 at Peak Health and Wellness in Coeur d'Alene.
The best 4 Wall handball players in the world will be on hand to compete for thousands of dollars in prize money as well as for valuable points for the Race for 8.
The Pro Qualifier on Oct. 6 will be a mini-tournament to fill open spots designated for the qualifiers in the pro draw.
The pro event, beginning with the Thursday Pro Qualifier and running through the finals on Saturday the 8th, will be webcast live in high definition by the WPH.
Information: www.wphlive.tv or www.race4eight.com
Rathdrum planning fall
coed softball league
RATHDRUM - The Rathdrum Parks & Recreation Department has announced a fall coed softball league.
Games will be on Sundays only from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. starting Sept. 25. Team fees are $400 per team plus one men's and one women's softball per game for the season. A doubleheader format will be utilized.
The first Sunday (Sept. 25) will be an open tournament. Players are asked to bring donation of three cans of food, which will be given to the Rathdrum food bank.
Team signup deadline will be Sept. 23 at 5 p.m. at the Rathdrum Parks & Recreation Office.
Information: Lance at Rathdrum Parks & Rec at 687-2399; and after 5 p.m., contact Regina at 771-2174 or Donnie at 651-4030.
Hardwood Classic tickets
on sale Friday morning
SEATTLE - Tickets for the seventh annual Cougar Hardwood Classic, featuring Washington State and Pepperdine at KeyArena on Dec. 22, go on sale this morning.
The game will mark the fifth all-time meeting between the schools, with the series currently tied at 2-2. The schools last faced each other on Dec. 13, 1986 in Pullman, with the Cougars winning 82-77.
Washington State is 6-0 in Cougar Hardwood Classic games, beating Portland 84-68 in last year's game.
Tickets are available at either www.cougarsinseattle.com, www.ticketmaster.com or any Ticketmaster outlet.