Published: July 28, 2007 11:39 pm            

Rice making his mark on links this summer

Duncan High school golfer semifinalist at Oklahoma Amateur

Tyler Rice has had a busy summer.

Rice is going into his senior season at Duncan High School, but he has been making a name for himself on golf courses this summer.

Rice was a semifinalist at the Oklahoma Amateur Golf Tournament at The Trails Golf Course in Norman. He was the 10th seed after stroke play.

Rice was one of two DHS golfers in the field, as Jamie Gray made it to the round of 64, but was eliminated in the first round of match play.

Rice was making his second appearance in the Amateur, and said that the second time around was easier.

“I played last year and made it past stroke play, and got beat out in the second round of match play,” he noted. “Last year gave me something to shoot for.

“Last year, I made it in by two or three strokes, and this year, I made it by six strokes.

“Last year, I was a 30-something seed,. This year, I was the No. 10 seed. It kept getting tougher and tougher every round this year.”

Going into the Amateur, Rice had high expectations.

“I talked about it with my dad (Don Rice), and talked about winning it or at least doing really well.

“I didn’t go in trying to shoot a number in the first round.”

Rice has moved away from playing in the South Central PGA events in hopes of getting recognized by college coaches.

“I’ve pretty much been playing nationwide tournaments,” Rice said. “I used to play in the South Central (Jr. PGA), but I’ve been playing in bigger and better tournaments this summer.

“I’ve been playing AJGA (American Junior Golf Association) tournaments, which kids from all over play at, FCWT (Future Collegians World Tour and OGA (Oklahoma Golf Association) tournaments. Those are all pretty big deals.”

Rice said that The Trails links were difficult, but there are better courses closer to home.

“It is a tough course,” Rice said, “but I think The Territory is nicer.

“The Territory is about 7,100 yards, and The Trails is around 6,600. You have to be on target (at the trails), because it is a tight course. It’ll jump up and bite you.”

Playing against golfers that have a few years of experience on him has added to Rice’s confidence level.

“That gives me confidence,” he said, “but I still have two tournaments left this summer and I’m hoping to do well in those.”

Rice will play one tournament in Shawnee-Mission, Kan., and another in Springfield, Mo.

Note: Gray will play in the Big “I” Junior Classic Monday through Thursday at Crane Creek Country Club in Boise, Idaho.

The event consists of 102 boys and 60 girls from 43 states.

        

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