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Show The SaltLake Tribune SPORTS Tuesday, January16, 2001 Willis Delivers Quite a Debu PGA Tour rookie wins 1st tournament BY MEL REISNER ‘THE ASSOCIATED PRESS TUCSON, Ariz. — One day, Garrett Willis was unknown tohis playing partners. The next, he was the Tucson Open champion with a two-year exemption and a guaranteed ticket to next year’s elite Mercedes Championships. The 27-year-old rookie with the University ofTennessee bag shot a 3-under-par 69 Monday and won his first event as a card-carrying memberof the PGA Tour by sinking a 6-foot putt to save par on the final hole. It beat Kevin Sutherland by one 2, “Here I am, a month out of Q [qualifying] school, and I went there not knowing where I was going to be playing this year, and how I'm a PGA winner,” Willis said. “Whata country this is.” Willis, who finished at 15-under 273, qualified for the 1998 and ’99 U.S. Opens and played in the ’95 Canadian Open as an amateur, failing to make a cut in any of them.Healso missed the cut in his last nine Buy.com tournaments last year — one reason he has no a Pe Then a finalround63toearma Bob Tway,CliffKresge and K.J. Choi carded 66s — matching the best rounds of the event after Wil- _lis' 64 Sunday. Tway and GeoffOgilvy, another first-round vas were at 275, with Final ScoreS Kresge, Choi, Greg Kraft and Mark tour card at qualifying =. Wiebe at 276. school after. changing Tucson Open his mind about asking Garrett Wilis for the entry fee back. Kevin Sutherland Heearned $540,000, Bob Tway vaulting to third onthe Geoff Ogivy Willis got the last of “15 his five birdies on the 14 9th hole and played “8 the last five holes “8 mowing Sutherland money list behind BB More Scores D-3 had birdied No.16 to go Match Play champion 14-under. Steve Stricker and Jim The pressure apFuryk, who won the Mercedes — peared to get to the rookie on No. an event for winners from the pre17, when he missed a 4-foot birdie vious year — day earlier. opportunity because hehit it too Willis becamethe third player hard, and again whenhis approach to win in his first action as a PGA shot to the 465-yard final hole member. The others were Ben Crenshawatthe 1973 San Antonio- landed 55 feet short of the flag on Texas Open, and Robert Gamezin the uphill green. But Willis, who said after the Tucson in 90. Sutherland, one of six first- third round that playing on the manicured courses of the big tour round co-leaders, had a 68. is a privilege in itself, arrived at “It’s a great way to start the the green with a smile on his face. year,” said Sutherland. “I would He stroked the first putt firmly, like to putt 17 over. But I played sending it up just pastthe flag, and well. I made someputts out there drilled the winnerinto the center today, too, so I was very pleased of the cup. with howI played.” John Miller/The Associated Press Garrett Willis tries on the Conquistadore’s helmet he won at the Tucson Open on Monday.In hisfirst tournament as a PGA Tour member, Willis finished at 15-under 273for thevictory. As Hughes HasRisen, So Have Olympic Hopes lessons from the rest of her _ teachers. She has worked her way. up the ranks steadily, very surely, But planning for something and achieving it can be two entirely different things. “TJ always dreamed of going to the Olympics in 2002 and everything,” said Hughes, who turns.16 in May.“I thoughtit might be possible, but I didn’t thinkI'd be where Tamright now, now.” Hughes got on the fast track in 1998, when shewonthe U.S.junior title. She was runner-up at the '99 15-year-old has earned respect from the judges in route through circuit BY NANCY ARMOUR THE ASSOCIATED PRESS BOSTON — Nooneeverreally cameout and said it — people just aren’t that rude — but Sarah Hughes knewshehadcaused quite astir. Sure, she had been the bronze medalist at the U.S. championships last year, and runner-up at thejunior world championships in this, her breakout season. “At first, you don’t really no- tice,” Hughes said of her rapidrise. “I go to the rink every day andit doesn’t seem overnight. Then I look back andit’s like, ‘Wow, [the four-week span, she gave Michelle Kwan a scare at Skate America, finished second to former world champion Maria Butyrskayaat the Nations Cup and was third at the Cup of Russia. “Tt’s’ probably the best four weeks of mylife. It really was,” Hughes said. “People didn’t say, ‘Oh, well, it's between Michelle Kwan and Sarah Hughes, my name was neverreally mentioned. Then to come and surprise every- 1999 nationals] were only two years. ago.’ It’s crazy.” The ride has been fast and smooth. Wagner and Hughes’ parents have been very careful, mak- ing sure theteen-ager isn’t pushed ee hard orforced to grow up too fast. “T’ve been very careful not to expect too muchof Sarah too soon. Therefore,it’s made Sarah under- body as [Coach] Robin [Wagner] and did, it was fun. “Tt was like,‘Hey,I’m here.’” Yes, Hughes has definitely ar- rived. At this week’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships, she won’t compete thinking that maybe,just maybe,if she has the skate of her life she could possibly upset Kwan, the four-time champion. She will compete knowing she can doit. “I hope for her to be on the Jazz Rally After Rockets Tie It @ Continued from D-1 “I could only imagine what would have been said,” he laughed. “You [media] guys would have had afieldday. I'mjust glad we won the game.’ Malonehad plenty ofhelp in the victory, which bum Utah's record to 24-13 and moved the Jazz back into first place in the Midwest stand not to expect too much of Associated Press File Photo Sarah Hughes,at the World Figure Skating Championships in Nice, France,last March. At 15-years-old, she wasn't supposed to be giving the old galsa run for their money yet. podium atleast in second place — if not higher than that,” Wagner said. “I understand you can’t just do one performance and necessarily be at the top. It’s earning the respect of the judges. I think she’s really reached thatlevel now.” This was,of course, the plan all along. Skating since she was 3, this isn’t some after-school activity. Hughes travels an hour to get to the rink. She takes only one school class a day so she can train,getting take-home assignments and his points in overtime and grabbed six rebounds. Vaughn made all six of his free throws and added six assists. The Jazz owned a 97-92 lead when Starks buried three-pointer from the corner and Manning made two free throws with 58.2 seconds left in regulation. But the Rockets tied it after a spectacular drive by Steve Francis, Malone’s missed free throws and Thomas’ three-pointer. , “I think our players were little frustrated,” Sloan said. “The way they tied it up. . . that’s what we oy don’t know what happened in overtime, We didn’t make shots GrapenaGerth a in overtime, They scored lotofpoints.” Noting that his Rockets played without types Hakeem Ola- juwon, Kelvin Cato and Carlos Rogers, Coach Rudy Tomjanovich said, “I couldn’t be prouderof our team — the way we've been bat- experiencedandwe're we're playing playingeveverybody in the league [well]. We battled and made some big plays een : SSeS iy wer Trae eto fae tbe a7 2 On Wir herself too soon,” Wagnersaid. “I don’t think at any point she’sfelt uncomfortable in her position. That means we're on the right track,it’s healthy.” But now,with the Salt Lake City Olympics only a year away, the expectations are mounting. Hughes may be young, but Tara Lipinski was only 15 when she won gold at the Nagano Olympics, 14 i she won the U.S. and world titles, HIGH POINT ‘The Jazz dominated overtime, when they outscored the Rockets 19-7. Kari Mal- ee Pedaninete he ‘ao tan 60 boon of thelr rebounds were on the offensive leading to 11 points. LOW POINT Ie er orem gc ee ‘owned @ 97-94 lead, but Malone missed a favecainaie nashaiedetveporaomeener weseom mas a comer TURNING POINT % 08 00 05 9 3 0 The Jazz scored On thelr first three Sin inte sueisii! sisemuersue a footer and two fre throws, Houston? Is om ME ad 14, Fels 14. Lang, Waa 02. ay Ysei. aet ona a 103-97 lead and Houston maton ig Ee, ro, one ee 9 ge QUOTABLE “in my opinion, thie is a terrific win,” tro WO tht Se gt ae Soden OT io cree Coach Jory Scan _ oh le S faeeiil or ‘ bi {ech han, Ta Hh Ta a - first two possessions ended in Malonetumovers. fem't vase teen see 6 UP NEXT 2 Minnesota at Utah ses tm Wodnosday, at the Delta Centor a: ; '} (Radio: KFNZ-AM (1320), networksta i z IMeueae ¥ Teens ie Port’ ae a i u involved in more than the breakaway relay event, in which he scored. “I did throw in mybid for the fastest skater, but I got snubbed. I don’t know why,” he joked. Purvesis considered to haye all the skills required to be in the NHL with the exception of speed. Grizzlies President Tim Mouser once said he had no interest in staging the AllStar Game. With: Utah an IHL is? land, he figured ‘ “Every time Iput a from across Utah sweater on, Ifeel fans the league would played Last year, something special. I’m skip the game rved pots for Veryprouda to playfor ratherthan pay the servi spots pas fs high airline fares players on NHL the Grizzlies. to Salt Lake City. contracts. Increasedaffiliations among the IHL teams changed things. Purves, as al- John Purves —UtahGrizzliesforward —— ways, was excited to represent the Grizzlies. “Every time I put a Utah sweateron, I feel something special,” he said. “I’m very proud to play for the Grizzlies.” In a bland skills competition held before the game,the All-Stars beat the Wolves 12-7. The two most popular events, shooting accuracy and hardestslapshot, were left out of this year’s competition. Organizers wanted to include young Chicago-area players in the competition andfelt that they would be em being compared to That appeared to be the case Monday. Only one Grizzlies’ jersey was seen in the crowd, and that was worn by: Purves’father-in-law. Mouser’s statement came before the IHL re-instated the format of the All-Stars vs. the defending champions. If having to stage the All-Star game wasthe result of winning a championship, you can . bet he wouldtolerateit. Wolves 4, All-Stars 0 All-Stars Chicago 000-0 11d First Period, Chicago, Maas (Larouche, Peroiky) 1601. Penalties—Nove. Second Period—2, Chicago, Larose (Grown), 1631 the professional players. Fanspaid the price for that decision. iklas Andersson, a former Grizzly turned Wolf, won the fastest skater competition, makingit Chicago, Young 05 (@ shots, 9 saves); Shuma, 0:55 (15. around the rink in 15.56 seconds. “The skills competition is a fun A-11,191 shots, 15. saves), DiPisto, 2000 (10 shots, 10. saves. LUnesmen—Jay Jacobs, Kevin Lod Ostertag Trade Demand. ae kay play came with 14,6 seconds left. Utah Jazz 116, Rockets 104 Bh Beingoneofonly two players on with the other’six in which he’ has Purves With torn ligaments in his wrist, Purves wasn’t begging to be the All-Star roster without an NHL contract madethis finishing a surprising fourth at her loose atmosphere,” said. “Personally, it doesn’t make me nervous. Hence, the ‘Never Nervous Purves’ nickname, 1 guess.” DiPietro and Rich Shulmistra combined to make34 saves in the lowest-scoring IHLAll-Star Game ever. game special for Purves, compared first national championships. She jumped to third at last year’s nationals and fifth at the world championships. And then 1999. But she was just 15. She and @ Continued from D-1 junior world championships, then madethe jump to the seniorlevel, wasn’t supposed to be giving the old gals a run for their moneyyet. Yet that’s exactly what Hughes has been doing all season. In a IHL Wolves Blank League All-Stars Made in Heatof Moment BY STEVE LUHM ‘THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE Jazz center Greg Ostertag missed Monday’s Game against the Rockets, and not because of his trade di ds last Saturday. Ostertag sat out after being suspended by Coach Jerry Sloan for breaking a team rule andfailing to communicate with team officials before skipping Sunday morning’s practice, Sloan said the suspension was notthe result ofa sideline incident in the final seconds of Utah’s 111108 winover the Lakers Saturday night, Sloansaid. Beforetip-off, Ostertag said he had talked with Sloan. “It's over,” he reported. “It’s water under the bridge, Everything’s fine, Bygones are bygones and that’s the honest-to-God truth.” Ostertag declined comment on the trade request he made in the heated momentsimmediately after the Jazz-Laker game. Ostertag attended Monday's shootaroundand worked out with his teammates before the Jazzdi Meanwhile, Sloan said, ery: thing’s fine and life goes on.” With 50 seconds left in Utah's win over L.A., Ostertag allowed Shaquille O'Neal to catch an inbounds pass under the basket and 9 dunk, cutting the Jazz’s lead to (08-99. Ontheother end, Ostertag took a quick shot instead of moving the ball and milking the clock. He missed, resulting in a fast: break layup by the Lakers’ Rick Fox that made it 108-101 with 29 secondsleft. Sloan ordered a timeout, and he jumped in Ostertag’s face after thinking he heard his backup cen: ter say something disrespectful to an assistant coach, Apparently; that did not happen. “I apologized to Greg about that,”Sloan said. “I misunderstood whathesaid,I guess.” Sloan did not apologize for call; ing time and pulling Ostertag; givenhis two mental mistakes: not fouling O'Neal and taking an unnecessary shot, Ostertag played only 14 minutes against the Lakers, meaning 4 team rule required him to ride an exercise bike in the training room after the game. But Ostertag did not ride the bike, nordid he cal) anyonein thé organization bélpre Sunday's, practice. n ‘That's why the Jazz “hadto takey some kind of action,” Sloansaid. 47 Asked about Ostertag’s futuré)_ in Utah, Sloan said, “As a coach,” myjobis to get Greg to play as as he can. From that standpointy I've probablyfailed to some degregy But we're going to keep trying we're going to do everything we >. can.” a “ « |
