A lot of hot air was circulating Thursday during the opening round of the Western Open, and not just in the clubhouse.
Temperatures in the mid-90s sapped a lot of energy from the golfers and their gallery at Cog Hill in Lemont.
At the U.S. Open in San Francisco last week, the story was different.
“Coming from last week when it was in the 60s with a cool breeze, this is definitely a shock,” said Steve Stricker, the 1996 Western Open winner.
Greg Kraft has the first-day lead at 67, fashioned by eight birdies.
“It was pretty hot when we started,” said Kraft, who had an early tee-time. “It’s only hot when you get in the little valleys or the coves. The 18th green was pretty hot. I don’t really think it’s that bad because of the wind–except in those little tough-to-reach areas.”
Jam camp: Juwan Howard of the Washington Wizards is the host as some Chicago Housing Authority youths attend his “Summer Basketball Jam Camp” this weekend.
Howard, a former CHA resident, awarded scholarships to 20 youths, 10 from the Frank O. Lowden Homes and 10 from the Ida B. Wells Homes.
Registration for the two-day camp begins at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Illinois-Chicago Physical Education Building, 901 West Roosevelt Road. A total of 100 youths chosen from across the nation will attend Howard’s camp.
Bear facts: Walter Payton has committed to the Bears’ second annual Fans Convention planned for Feb. 26-28 at the Chicago Hilton & Towers . . . The Bears will conduct a Fan Appreciation Night at 6:30 p.m. Aug. 27 at Soldier Field. Tickets can be obtained from WMAQ-AM 670 through their “listening to win” promotion. Fans, at a practice, will get a chance to get autographs and photos of the coaches and players . . . The Bears plan a Fan Appreciation Night in Platteville, Wis., Aug. 4. Call 608-342-3277 after July 1 for tickets.
Word on the street: The Little City Foundation’s 18th annual “Celebration of Sports” banquet will be Oct. 8 at the Chicago Hilton & Towers. Among the honorees will be Mark Giangreco of WLS-TV (Ch. 7); Tim Weigel of WBBM-TV (Ch. 2); Corey McPherrin of WFLD-Fox TV (Ch. 32); Mike North of WSCR-AM 1160; Chet Coppock of Fox Sports Chicago; Peggy Kusinski of WMAQ-AM 670; Tom Shaer of WMAQ-TV (Ch. 5); Dave Eanett of WGN-AM 720; Bill Gleason of The Daily Southtown; Rob Goldman of CLTV; Barry Rozner of The Daily Herald; Steve Olken of WMVP-AM 1000 and this reporter . . . Bulls Ron Harper and Steve Kerr and Blackhawks Tony Amonte and Chris Chelios will demonstrate the latest Sony PlayStation game at 12:30 p.m. Sunday at a Taste of Chicago exhibit . . . Sports director/producer David Greenbaum is leaving WMVP-AM 1000 to study at Northwestern’s Kellogg School of Management . . . McPherrin and Steve Baskerville, WBBM-TV (Ch. 2) weatherman, were co-anchors last Monday at the Museum of Broadcast Communications with 20 young contestants from the Inner City Games Junior Broadcast competition. The winner was 15-year-old Chenese Brown of Chicago. Brown will serve as Youth Master of Ceremonies at all Inner City Games events this year.
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Send e-mail to Fred Mitchell at kick3485@aol.com
