Greg Hardwig: Women's Golf Week for a good cause

American Express Women's Golf Week goes through Saturday at a handful of clubs around the area. Free golf lessons and other golf-related events will be available for women 14 and older.

Women can play all week for $40. A complimentary golf clinic will be Thursday from 3:30 to 5 p.m., followed by complimentary hors' doeuvres. Golf clubs will be available for beginners, and there also will be discounted lessons packages.

For more information, contact Cory Schaub at 394-4811.

Other WCI clubs also are participating: Raptor Bay Golf Club, The Club at Pelican Preserve (985-1707) in Fort Myers, Pelican Marsh Golf Club, and Tiburón Golf Club (594-2040). Go to www.playgolfamerica.com for more information.

The promotion benefits the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" movement.

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Heritage Bay Golf & Country Club in North Naples will hold a long drive contest as part of its grand opening festivities on Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at its soon-to-open golf course.

Edwin Watts Golf Shop will be there with demo clubs. The contest is open to both men and women, with winners receiving the latest driver from Adams Golf.

The Lennar/US Home development is on Immokalee Road east of Interstate 75, and will have 27 holes of golf.

For more information, call 455-7825 or 352-7825 or go online to www.myheritagebay.com.

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The Rick Smith Golf Academy will have a Junior Golf Camps and Advanced Junior Golf Camps this summer.

For the junior golf camps, session dates are June 12-16, July 17-21, July 24-28, July 31-Aug. 4, and Aug. 7-11. Registration deadlines are three days prior to the first date of each session. Camps are for ages 7-17. Entry fees are $250, plus tax. Sessions are from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Family members can attend Friday's awards barbeque for an additional $15.

For the advanced junior golf camps, session dates are June 12-16, July 17-21, July 24-28, and Aug. 7-11. There is a limit of 20 juniors for each session. Camps are for ages 7-17, with sessions from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. each day. A mini-tournament with trophies is held on the Thursday and Friday of each session. For more information, call 593-1111.

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Fort Myers' Sammy Sue Wilson lost in the first round of match play at the Women's Southern Amateur on Tuesday at the Country Club of North Carolina in Pinehurst, N.C. Patty Moore of Charlotte beat Wilson, 3 and 1.

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The 2006 Dodge Celebrity Invitational, played April 19-23 at Gateway Golf & Country Club in Fort Myers, will be shown on Sun Sports beginning tonight at 8. Former baseball player Mike Trombley, a Fort Myers resident, won the tournament for the third year in a row.

Former Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino and current Dolphins Olindo Mare and Jason Taylor were among the other celebrities who participated.

Other airings: June 8, 9 a.m.; June 12, 6 p.m.; June 16, 8 p.m.; June 17, Noon; June 19, 3:30 p.m.

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Frank Strafaci of Davie and Rick Woulfe of Fort Lauderdale shot 65-65 to win the Florida State Mid-Amateur Four-Ball South at The Golf Club at Fiddler's Creek on Sunday. The top local team was the Fort Myers duo of Rick Johnston and Danny Simmerman, who tied for third at 133.

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Bonita Springs' Peter Jacobsen, part-time Naples residents John Harris and Wayne Levi, part-time Estero resident Mike Hill, and Fuzzy Zoeller, who plays out of Naples National, all are in the field for this week's Bank of America Championship on the Champions Tour.

Harris and Zoeller tied for 10th, while Levi tied for 16th on Sunday at the Allianz Championship.

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Naples' Kris Tamulis and Bonita Springs' Catherine Cartwright both missed the cut at last week's ShopRite LPGA Classic. Cartwright missed by two shots, while Tamulis missed by three. Both are in the field for this week's McDonald's LPGA Championship.

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Naples' Rocco Mediate's back continues to plague him. He withdrew from the Memorial late last week because of back pain. He is still entered in this week's Barclays Classic.

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Fort Myers native Tommy Tolles and part-time Estero resident Chip Beck are playing in this week's LaSalle Bank Open on the Nationwide Tour. Tolles missed the cut at last week's Rex Hospital Open.

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Meaghan Francella, who works with Naples-based instructor Tom Patri, tied for fourth in the Duramed Futures Tour's event last week. Francella is in the field for this week's tournament in St. Anne, Ill.

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Naples' Josh Leppo shot a 71 on Monday at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach to qualify for the Florida State Amateur Championship. Leppo tied for third. The State Amateur is June 22-25 at Pine Tree Golf Club in Boynton Beach. The local qualifier is Wednesday at The Club at The Strand.

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Fort Myers' Alexander Medinis was fourth in the boys' 16-18 age group of the Florida Junior Tour event at Belleair. Medinis shot 73-74, six shots behind the division winner.

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Charlie and Leslie Babb of Naples tied for second at the Florida Women's State Golf Association's Summer Mixed Team Championship on Sunday at PGA Gofl Club's South Course.

The Babbs shot a 3-under 141, one stroke behind champions Tama and K.C. Caldabaugh of Ponte Vedra Beach. Steve and Lynda Muench of Fort Myers tied for seventh at 146.

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The Manatee Middle School/Eagle Creek Golf & Tennis Camp started on Tuesday at Eagle Creek Country Club. Eagle Creek members and Southwest Florida Golf Charities, Inc., provided the funding. For more information, contact the pro shop at 774-2202.

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The first American Red Cross Golf Tournament presented by Fowler White Boggs Banker will be Friday, June 23 at The Club at TwinEagles.

A continental breakfast is at 7 a.m., with a shotgun start at 8 a.m. and an awards luncheon at 12:30 p.m. All money raised will benefit the local Red Cross Chapter. The minimum team donation is $1,250. Sponsorships are available from $1,250 to $5,000.

For more information, call MaryLee Conner at 596-6868, ext. 12. Fowler White Boggs Banker is a law firm with offices throughout Florida, including Naples.

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The American Junior Golf Association's Nike Golf Junior will be at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club in Estero from June 12-15. A total of 84 golfers will be competing in 54 holes of stroke play. Naples' Phillip Boljanovich and Carson Weinand are among the players in the field.

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Other upcoming golf events follow:

• Executive Women's Golf Association — League play every Monday at Arrowhead ($22), 596-1000, and Thursday at Tiburón ($35), 594-2040. June 9-10, EWGA Pro-Am, Tiburón; June 17, Wyndemere; June 25, Pelican Preserve; Aug. 12, Florida Sectional Championship, Lely Resort; Nov. 2-4, EWGA National Conference, Palm Beach. For more information, go online to naplesewga.com.

• Tournament Players Association — Upcoming event: June 24-25, The Forest, $100 entry fee, stroke play. For more information, call Doug Oselett at 458-0754.

• Arrowhead Twilight Scramble — Each Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.. Started on April 19. The entry fee is $25 for the four-person scramble. There will be a blind draw for groups. Call 596-1000 by 2 p.m. each Wednesday.

• Collier County Women's Golf Association — Remaining schedule: Arrowhead, June 9; Naples Heritage, June 23; Cedar Hammock, Aug. 11; Vasari, Aug. 18; The Glades, Sept. 8; Glen Eagle, Sept. 22; Vanderbilt, Sept. 29; Stonebridge, Oct. 13.

Those interested in joining can contact Doris Roberts at 793-0644 or Helen Nulse at 353-6944.

• Gulf Coast Junior Tour — The entry deadline for the tour was May 22. The tour entry fee is $80 and includes eight events, plus a qualifying tournament. The tour is for ages 12-18 and for intermediate to advanced players. Players must shoot 120 or lower for 18 holes to qualify. For more information, call Cindy at 597-6858 or e-mail gcjrtour@aol.com.

Tournament schedule (8 a.m. shotgun start unless otherwise indicated) —June 9, Tuscany Reserve; June 16, Hideout; June 23, Windstar on Naples Bay; June 30, Grey Oaks; July 7, Golf Club of the Everglades; July 14, Bay Colony; July 21, Golf Club at Fiddler's Creek; July 29, Vineyards, Adult/Junior Championship Tournament and Scholarship Banquet.

• South Florida Junior Tour — Conducted by the South Florida PGA Section. Juniors must join the tour by going to http://sflorida.pga.com and clicking on Junior Golf. Remaining tournaments — June 26-27, Bonita Bay Club; July 19-20, Hammock Creek, Palm City; Aug. 1-2, Doral Resort & Spa, Miami; Oct. 7-8, The Club at TwinEagles, Naples; Nov. 11-12, Martin Downs Country Club, Palm City.

• Southwest Florida Junior Golf Association — Ages 8-18. Tournament schedule —June 12, San Carlos (18 holes), Country Creek (9 holes); June 19, The Golf Club in Cape Coral (18 holes), The Landings (9 holes); June 26, Fort Myers CC (18 holes), Whiskey Creek (9 holes); July 5, Port Charlotte CC (18 holes), TBA (9 holes); July 10, Shell Point CC (18 holes), Summerlin Ridge (9 holes); July 21, Worthington (18 holes), TBA (9 holes). The Nolan Henke/Patty Berg Junior Masters Invitational, July 24-29, Cypress Lake Country Club. July 31, Adult/Junior, Golden Gate Country Club. More information at swfjga.com.

• U.S. Kids Naples Local Tour — Ages 4-12. Schedule: June 19, Club at TwinEagles; June 22, Gulf Harbour; July 1, Eagle Creek; July 13, The Forest; July 20, Club at Renaissance; Aug. 7, Naples Grande; Aug. 12, Golf Club of the Everglades; Aug. 26-27, Tour Championship, Club at TwinEagles. More information: 1-888-3USKIDS or www.uskidsgolf.com.

• WCI/Mercedes-Benz of Fort Myers Junior Golf Tour — Schedule: June 27, The Colony (18 holes), Raptor Bay (9 holes), $25 entry fee; July 18, Gulf Harbour (18 holes), Pelican Preserve (9 holes), $25 entry fee; Aug. 1, Pelican Marsh (18 holes), Tiburón (9 holes), $25 entry fee; Tournament of Champions, Aug. 12, Hammock Bay. Junior golfers must also become members of the tour in addition to the tournament entry fee. For more information, go to www.wcijrgolf.com or call 498-8040.

• X-Factor Junior Golf Tour — Upcoming tournaments: June 17-18, Mission Inn, Howey-in-the-Hills; July 15-16, Don Shula's Golf Club, Miami; July 29-30, Miromar Lakes, Estero; Aug. 5-6, University of Florida, Gainesville; Aug. 19-20, Hammock Bay, Naples; Sept. 2-4, Orange Lake, Kissimmee; Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Lake Jovita, Dade City; Oct. 28-29, Bonita Bay Club, Bonita Springs; Nov. 18-19, PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie; Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 2007, Tour Championship, World Golf Village, St. Augustine. For more information, call Karen Hannaford at 822-8590 or visit www.x-factorjuniorgolf.com.

• Cypress Woods Golf Academy — Three-day camps, June 13-15, June 27-29, July 18-20 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Fee, $90 per student. Monday Junior Camp: June 5, 19, July 3, 10, 17, 31 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fee, $25. Weekend Junior Camp: June 24, July 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., $30. Call 592-7860 or e-mail golfpro@cypresswoodsgolf.com.

• Faldo Golf Institute/Kids Golf 4 Free — The new program allows adults and kids to play and learn the game together. Juniors age 15 and under can golf for free with a full paying adult after 3 p.m., and free lessons for juniors age 15 and under with full-paying adult. For more information, go to www.marriottgolf.com.

• LPGA Girls Club of Collier County — At Arrowhead Country Club on Mondays on June 12, 19 and 26, and July 10, 17, 24, and 31, and Aug. 7. Girls ages 7-18. High school girls grouped together. Same with middle school and elementary school girls. Call 596-1000.

• Naples Grande Golf School — Three sessions, Tuesday through Friday, June 20-23, July 11-14, Aug. 8-11 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Players of all skill levels welcome. Ages 7-17. Entries limited to first 20 players. Fee, $150 per student per week or $40 per day. Deadlines for the three sessions are June 1, June 27 and July 25, respectively. Call Mark Durland at 784-2208 or e-mail him at m(underscore)durland@msn.com.

• Vasari Country Club — Three sessions, June 19-23, July 10-14, Aug. 7-11 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Ages 5-17. Fee, $100 per child for five days or $25 per child per day. Call 594-3959.

• Vineyards Junior Camps —June 20-23, July 11-14, July 18-21, Aug. 1-4 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fee, $150 per child per week. Call 353-0505. Junior golfers also are encouraged to check with their local club.

• Father's Day Golf Getaway tournament — Saturday at Estero Country Club at The Vines. The event benefits the Children's Home Society of Florida's Southwest Division. The tournament is best ball of four with an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. For more information, call 334-0222, ext. 215. Children's Home Society works in homes to prevent child abuse and neglect.

• Healthy Start Golf Classic — Saturday, June 24 at West Bay Club in Estero. The entry fee is $150 per golfer or $500 per foursome. Sponsorships are available ranging from $200 to $3,000. Registration starts at 7:30 a.m., with breakfast from 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m., and a 10 a.m. shotgun start. Lunch and awards follow golf.

The four-person scramble benefits Healthy Start, a non-profit 501C(3) serving Collier, Glades, Hendry and Lee counties since 1992. To register, visit www.healthystartswfl.com. The entry deadline is June 20. For more information, call 425-6920, 425-6926 or 464-8838.

For more golf information, including instruction, please go online to www.naplesnews.com/npdn/sports. To submit an item for the golf column, send a fax to 263-4816 or e-mail gshardwig@naplesnews.com.