Twins in deep trouble!

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 08/03/2005

 Recently I wrote that the Twins’ three-year reign as American League Central Division Champs would come to an end this year, primarily because of the brilliant play of the runaway Chicago White Sox. Chicago has extended their AL Central lead to 14-and-a-half games over the Twins.

 

You can just about take that prediction to the bank now. The White Sox are 67-35, while the Twins are 54-50 and may lose former All-Star and Gold Glove center fielder Torii Hunter for four to six weeks. Hunter is the heart and soul of the Twins; the four-time Gold Glover is hitting .269 with 14 home runs, 56 RBI, and 23 stolen bases.

 

Hunter’s status depends on the results of a Monday MRI of his left ankle, which he injured while trying to catch a drive off the bat of Boston’s David Ortiz. Hunter tried to climb the wall to catch the ball and sustained the injury. He was taken off the field on a stretcher; X-rays taken at Fenway Park showed no fracture.

 

The Twins return home this week to play three games against the hottest team in baseball, the Oakland A’s, starting Monday. Oakland has won 36 of their last 50 games and has taken the lead in the American League Wild Card race.

 

Obviously, this is a huge series at the MetroDome for the Twins, who have lost four straight after losing five of six games on the road to the New York Yankees and the World Champion Boston Red Sox.

 

 

Wesley Crain wins 64th Bronze

 

Kansas City’s Wesley Crain dominated the smallest field in the history of the 64th Annual Bronze Memorial Golf Tournament to capture his first title. Crain shot 70-76, which was even Par 146 at Hiawatha Golf Course in South Minneapolis.

 

Only 37 players, men and women, participated in the 2005 Bronze. Temperatures in the low 90s kept the heat on all the players, but it was Crain who had the strongest game of all.

 

This year’s tournament honored the memory of the late Earl Bowman and Jack Smith; both men recently died and had been longtime supporters of the history and tradition of the Bronze, the first amateur golf tournament in the United States that gave Blacks the opportunity to play.

 

Times have changed; there are other tournaments, and yes, health and other issues also have taken their toll on this tournament as well. But it’s time now to roll up the sleeves and get busy and never lose the true meaning of what this tournament means in our community. Surely Jimmy Slemmons would be shaking his head asking why his prized baby, the Bronze, has lost its juice.

 

Locally, some players who would have played or could have played chose not to. It seems many have issues about the value and direction of the tournament started by the late Slemmons and carried on by Thad Nicklaus, Dick Kelly, and today the Twin City Golf Club.

 

Alta Brinker, ex-wife of the late Jack Smith, traveled from Southern Illinois to play. Several other players also came from out of state, including the champion, Crain. Clearly, the tournament needs an infusion of stronger appreciation for the meaning and historical significance of what it stands for.

 

 

64th Annual Bronze Memorial Golf Tournament results (* indicates playoff winner)

 

Men’s Championship: 1st, Wesley Crain, 146; 2nd, Ben Westly*, 149; 3rd, Noah Ormsby, 149

 

Men’s First Flight: 1st, Bill Winslow*, 155; 2nd, Ted Brown, 155; 3rd, Desmond Calloway

 

Men’s 2nd Flight: 1st, Mike Stewart, 172; 2nd, Geoffrey McCray, 173; 3rd, Dave Rundles, 176

 

Men’s 3rd Flight: 1st, Richard Copeland, 186; 2nd, Tim Payton, 196; 3rd, Al Cobb, 198

 

Men’s Senior Championship: 1st, Charles Portis, 160; 2nd, Timothy Giles, 163; 3rd, Larry Clark, 169

 

Men’s Senior First Flight: 1st, Ron Hunter*, 182; 2nd, Isaac Bassett, 182; 3rd, Bill Manuel, 205

 

Men’s Golden Senior: 1st, Robert Shelton, 162; 2nd, Otis Jenkins, 177; 3rd, Theodore Carr, 221

 

Women’s Championship: 1st, Rae Foster, 174; 2nd, Gwen Robinson, 201; 3rd, Alta Brinker, 224