Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — Haymaker Golf Course's marquee junior golf event tees off this morning.

The Haywhacker Champ--ionship will feature nearly 200 of the top young golfers from across the state. The tour--nament is a two-day affair put on by Haymaker and the Colo--rado Jun--ior Golf Assoc--iation.

"It's a big week out here," Haymaker lead pro Hank Franks said. "It's a big couple days."

The tournament field will be separated by gender and age. The top 14- to 18-year-olds will tee off at 7 a.m. today and will play 18 holes.

The 11- to 13-year-olds will tee off at about noon, and they will play nine holes.

Many of the players competing in the two-day tournament at the local links course will be coming to Steamboat Springs straight from Tuesday's Tom Whitehead Memorial at the Vail Golf Club.

Last year, Tyler Parsloe won the Haywhacker Championship in a two-hole playoff in the older boys division. Four boys shot under par, and Steamboat golfers Ryan Brees and Paul Berry shot par over the final 18 holes.

Berry is among the local players entered this year. Also registered to play in this year's Haywhacker are Steamboat players Patrick Weston, Tucker Campbell, Mick Dierdorff, Cameron Fritz, Cody Fritz, Jace Hvambsal, Billy Taylor, Cole Verploeg, Michael Weston and James Whelihan.

Because of the tournament, Haymaker will be closed to the public until about 2 p.m. Tee times are available on a limited basis until 4:50 p.m. today. There are tee times available Thursday afternoon, as well, but they also are limited.

The driving range will remain open to the public throughout the duration of the tournament.

-- To reach Melinda Mawdsley, call 871-4208 or e-mail mmawdsley@steamboatpilot.com