GOLF NOTES: Golfers set for wild Battle race

This year’s race for the Bill Battle Trophy should be a great one, perhaps one of the best in its 19-year history.

After last weekend’s second of six events, the Old Trail Team Championships, which actually turned more into an individual tournament due to lack of club participation, the Battle standings took a dramatic turn.

Tied at the top are Mikey Moyers, who won the title three years ago, and Weston Eklund, both with 37 points. Just behind is two-time defending champion Nick Little.

All three are expected to tee it up in this coming weekend’s prestigious Kenridge Invitational at Farmington, won by Little last season.

Moyers and Eklund, lifelong friends who grew up together playing golf every day at Greene Hills Club, will be making their first Kenridge appearance.

After only two events, there are already 30 local golfers that have gained points in the standings, the most this early in the season in the competition’s history. Seven past Battle Trophy champions have already acquired points: Moyers, Little, Paul Kane, Jim Higginbotham, Dr. Bob Rotella, David Passerell, and Tommy Bibb III (see full standings).

The top 16 players in the standings will be invited to compete in the third annual Central Virginia Match Play Championships at Spring Creek Golf Club, Aug. 15-16.

The Battle Trophy is named for William “Bill” Battle, who passed away last summer. Battle was a local golf enthusiast who served as president of the United States Golf Association in 1988 and 1989.

Junior tour is on

After appearing to be cancelled, the 2009 First Citizens Junior Golf Tour is alive.

The first event will be June 17 at Old Trail in Crozet and will continue with eight more events on a weekly basis at courses in Charlottesville, Harrisonburg, Waynesboro and Staunton. More than 70 kids participated last year.

A season-ending championship has been scheduled at Spring Creek Golf Club. The top three golfers in each age group will receive awards and points toward the overall tour title.

Registration is $40 and event entry fees are $30 per contestant, an increase that will support the tour.

Bruce Stouffer, who created and directs the Father & Son Golf Adventures, is also serving as director of the First Citizens Junior Tour this season.

For more information, check out http://www.firstcitizens.com/juniorgolf/

Thought for the day

For all my lawyer buddies out there, including The Admiral:

“99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.”

The shag bag

Hats off to Kent Morris, who recorded the first ace of his career during the first round of last week’s Old Trail Invitational. Morris did it the hard way, on the 220-yard, par-3 second hole with a driver. ... Don’t forget the First Tee of Charlottesville’s golf equipment rummage sale, Saturday, June 6, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Meadowcreek Golf Course. The organization is accepting gently used equipment, and has already collected some good gear for the sale. Call Philip Seay or David Passerell for info at 970-3045.