The Georgia Southern University golf program will have three representatives in the upcoming U.S. Amateur Championships.

            Assistant coach Carter Collins along with seniors Drew Lethem (Camdenton, MO/Olathe East/Odessa CC) and Jordan Johnstun (Evans/LaGrange) qualified through their sectional competition.

            The U.S. Amateur will be held August 18-24 at the Pinehurst Resort in Pinehurst, N.C. In all 312 players advanced. The first two days will consist of 36-hole stroke play. Following those two rounds, the field will be trimmed down to the top 64 for match play starting Wednesday. The championship will be held on Sunday, August 24.

            The U.S. Amateur, the oldest USGA championship, was first played in 1895 at Newport Golf Club in Rhode Island. The event, which has no age restriction, is open to those with a Handicap Index of 2.4 or lower. It is one of 13 national championships conducted annually by the USGA, 10 of which are strictly for amateurs.

            Collins shot an opening round 69 before bouncing back with a final round 64 at the Willow Creek Golf Club in Knoxville, Tennessee. In fact, Collins eagled the Par 5 18th hole to force a playoff.

            "We kept getting updates from the guys we played with. (In the playoff) Derek Rende (member of the Chattanooga golf program) and I both hit it right by the green then we both chipped it close. He left it about 3-4 feet away and I was about 2-3 feet. He missed the putt and I made mine," he said, noting there were 78 golfers vying for three spots.

            Lethem shot a 69 in both rounds to qualify at the Staley Farms Golf Club in Kansas City. His two round total of 138 finished first among that sectional field. In fact, this is the second USGA national tournament that Lethem has qualified for this summer. Last month he competed in the USGA Amateur Public Links championship in Aurora, Colo. Carding a 145, Lethem won his Public Links sectional (also played at Staley Farms) by two strokes.

            Collins added: "It is pretty rare to qualify for both events in the same summer."

            Johnstun's two round total of 142 placed him second in his field at the Auburn University Club in Auburn, Ala. Now all three Eagles will be ultimately competing against each other for the most prestigious Amateur golf award in the country.

            "It is a great honor to go out and represent Georgia Southern in our nation's best Amateur tournament. Just to qualify for this event is a special occasion," said Collins. "I think it shows where we are heading (as a program). It shows the kind of players we have here and the amount of hard work this summer they have put in to be able to qualify for this prestigious event."

Jenkins wins title in Germany

            Julius Jenkins has had little trouble translating his game from college to the professional ranks.

            Georgia Southern’s men’s basketball all-time leading scorer has become a star in Germany. The three-time All-Southern Conference honoree is coming off an incredible season that has seen him rack up individual and team accolades.

            Jenkins and his club, ALBA Berlin, are champions of Germany. The Deerfield Beach, Fla. (Deerfield Beach HS) native was a key component in the team’s eighth league title last season.

            Among his accolades are winning the 1.Bundesliga’s Most Valuable Player award for both the regular season and postseason, Best Offensive Player and All-Star Game MVP.

            Jenkins averaged 18.0 points per game, third-best in the league, and 18.9 ppg in the postseason, including 20.5 ppg in the finals, leading the Albatrosse to a 3-1 series win over Bonn.

            ALBA earned the No. 1 seed with a 54-14 record and finished it off with their first league crown since 2003 by going 9-2 in the playoffs.

            He led the North team to a victory in the All-Star game by scoring a game-high 22 points.

            Joining ALBA for the 2008-09 season to defend their crown will be Statesboro native and Georgia graduate Rashad Wright.

Caray’s family invites fans to memorial service

            ATLANTA (AP) — Friends and fans of longtime Atlanta Braves broadcaster Skip Caray, who died on Sunday, were invited on Tuesday to attend a memorial service in Atlanta on Monday.

            Caray’s family announced plans for an open service to be held Monday at 4 p.m. at Christ the King Cathedral, located at the intersection of Peachtree Road and Peachtree Avenue, near West Wesley Road.

            Caray, 68, was the son of former legendary broadcaster Harry Caray and a member of the Braves broadcast team for 33 years.    

            Tuesday morning, Atlanta mayor Shirley Franklin, Braves chairman Terry McGuirk and Skip Caray’s longtime broadcast partner Pete Van Wieren are among those scheduled to speak at a tribute to Caray at Turner Field.

            One of Caray’s sons, TBS broadcaster Chip Caray, also is scheduled to speak at the tribute on Tuesday at 10 a.m.

            The Braves also are planning to honor Caray before Tuesday night’s game against the Chicago Cubs.

            The Braves said Sunday that Caray died in his sleep, but his wife, Paula, later said he died while attending to a bird feeder in his yard.

            Another of Caray’s longtime Braves broadcast partners, Joe Simpson, will lead the event on Tuesday morning. Gates will open at 9 a.m.

            Tuesday night’s pregame tribute is planned for 6:45 p.m.

            In lieu of flowers the family is asking that donations be made to one of the following: Camp Twin Lakes, P.O. Box 933507, Atlanta, Ga., 31193-3507; Winship Cancer Institute, Plaza 1000, 762 Clifton Road, Atlanta, Ga., 30322-4001; or Friends House, which accepts donations online only at www.smalldoghumane.org.

8th Annual Brooklet Peanut 5K Run/Walk

            The 8th Annual Brooklet Peanut 5K Run/Walk will be held on August 16.  The race is set to begin at Brooklet Elementary School at 7 a.m..  

            The cost is $15 until Aug. 11 and $20 after Aug. 11.  Trophies and gift cards will be awarded to the top three male and female overall runners and top three male and female masters overall.  Trophies will be awarded to the top three males and females in each age division.  

            Proceeds benefit the Southeast Bulloch Cross Country and Soccer programs.  Save a stamp and register online at www.active.com, or contact Kent Brannen at 912-682-6924 or kbrannen@bulloch.k12.ga.us.

Travel Team tryouts

            Around the Horn Baseball/Softball, travel teams with the Statesboro-Bulloch County Parks and Recreation, will be having open tryouts on August 16 at Mill Creek Regional Park.  Around the Horn will be instructed by former college and professional athletes who stress fundamentals and skill development. 

            The team will be competing in the USSSA Baseball Division of 11, 12, 13, and 14-under and ASA Softball Division of 12, 14, and 16-under. The tryout times are: 11 and 12-under boys at 10 a.m. and 13 and 14-under boys at noon.  The girls’ softball times are: 12-and-under at 10 a.m. and 14 and 16-under at 11:30 a.m.  For further information contact Dadrian Cosby or Mitch Stafford at (912)764-5637.

BA Booster membership drive                                       

            The Bulloch Academy Boosters Club is currently holding its annual membership drive.

            The drive provides financial support for the school’s 31 varsity and junior varsity athletic teams and squads. The Boosters Club helps to provide equipment, uniforms and other necessities of the various sports. Financial and volunteer support from the Boosters also helps to maintain and improve the school’s athletic fields and facilities.

            Six levels of memberships are available and, with each level, there are different benefits such as season passes, listing in the Fall Sports program, discounts on Booster concession items and merchandise, “Booster Board” display, press box signage, banners for athletic fields, preferred parking and other items.

            Watch for a BA Boosters member to contact you or your business. For more information or to pledge support if you unfortunately do not get contacted in person, get in touch with Booster Club president Olin Lovett (682-0336), vice president Don Lanier (536-0812), Bulloch Academy athletic director Clint Morgan (764-0715) or director of institutional development Rahn Hutcheson (764-0707).

BA Program sponsors needed

            Sponsorship advertisements are currently being sold for Bulloch Academy’s 2008 Fall Sports Program.

            Both color and black and white ads are available in a variety of sizes in this glossy, high-quality publication. Spotlight your business, highlight your favorite Gator student-athlete or just show your support for Gator athletics.

            Contact BA alumnae Jessie Averitt at 687-6748 or email her at jessiea06@yahoo.com for more information or to secure your spot in the 2008 Bulloch Academy Fall Sports Program.

Little Eagles Camp

            On Saturday, Aug. 23, Georgia Southern University football will again offer the Little Eagles Camp followed by 'Meet the Eagles' presented by Trapnell Dodge. The event will take place at Paulson Stadium.

            Head football coach Chris Hatcher, his staff and players will offer the Little Eagles Camp in the morning. Sign up will take place from 9-9:45 a.m. for children ages 4-12 and the event is free. Little Eagles Camp will run from 9:45-10:45 as campers will participate in various football drills.

            Following the Little Eagles Camp, the public is invited to Bishop Field House for 'Meet the Eagles' presented by Trapnell Dodge. This will be the first chance to get the 2008 schedule posters and fans can get autographs and their picture taken with members of the Eagle Football program.

            Fans can also purchase football season tickets, the 2008 football media guides and the University Store will be on hand to sell Georgia Southern merchandise, all while meeting GUS and the cheerleaders.

            For more information contact the sports marketing department at (912) 478-1500.

SHS Hall of Fame nominations

            The Statesboro Athletic Hall of Fame Committee is accepting nominations for the 2008 induction.  A nominee must be a graduate of Statesboro High School, William James High School, or Marvin Pittman.  In order to be considered, one must be an alumnus from one of these institutions for at least fifteen years.

            A nominee will be considered in the following areas: high school athletic participation; high school athletic awards, records, and recognitions; college athletic participation; college athletic awards, records, recognitions, and scholarships; high school and college non-athletic extracurriculuar activities; accomplishments after high school and/or college (contributions to community); leadership and character

            Nomination forms can be obtained at the Statesboro High School main office or from Snooky’s Restaurant.  In addition, a form can be obtained from the Statesboro High School website (www.bulloch.k12.ga.us/shs)  For additional information, contact Kathy Tucker at 852-9205.  Forms must be received by Saturday, August 30, 2008 in order for the nominee to be considered for the 2008 induction.