HorsePower Sports Marketing, the sanctioning body of the Horsepower Tee Shot Tour, adds driver Marcos Ambrose to the 2008 HTST season. … Golf Digest, in association with the U.S. Golf Association and NBC Sports, announces that John Atkinson of Omaha, Neb., has won the inaugural Golf Digest U.S. Open Challenge. Atkinson will try to break 100 at Torrey Pines Golf Course’s South Course with Matt Lauer, Tony Romo and Justin Timberlake a few days before the championship in June. … Dataw Island in St. Helena Island, S.C., releases two new membership classifications and categories for prospective Dataw Island Club members. Full golf or island social memberships are the only two categories available for prospects interested in purchasing property on Dataw Island. The initial membership fee for the full golf membership is $39,000. … Denver-based American Soda Machines currently is offering vintage golf-themed drink machines, which the company refers to as “re-made to order.” … The National Headache Foundation presents its Partners in Excellence Award to LPGA pro Diana D’Alessio. … Standard Golf Co. introduces its EasyMark System, which creates ease and flexibility in placing a temporary flagstick anywhere on a course. “The EasyMark System allows flagsticks to be placed around the course more freely,” said Matt Hurley, vice president of Standard Golf. “Flagsticks can be set for different chip shot scenarios on practice greens, or at a driving range.” … Eight associate members were elected regular members of the American Society of Golf Course Architects at the group’s recent 62nd annual meeting. Attaining regular membership were Paul Albanese, Rick Baril, Grant Haserot, Greg Martin, Scot Sherman, Mike Smelek, Brit Stenson and Jason Straka. … The 12-member U.S. team has been selected for the Fuji Xerox USA vs. Japan Collegiate Golf Championship, July 16-18 at Tokyo Golf Club. The team, which consists of eight men and four women collegiate players, will be coached by Mike Morrow of Kent State and Barry’s Jimmy Stobs. The team consists of Nick Bova (Methodist), Cydney Clanton (Auburn), Sam Cyr (Point Loma Nazarene), Sydnee Michaels (UCLA), Kevin O’Connell (North Carolina), Andrew Putnam (Pepperdine), Lizette Salas (Southern California), Ryan Spears (Wichita State), Zack Sucher (UAB), Brent Witcher (Valdosta State), Chris Wolfe (Armstrong Atlantic State), and Jessica Yadloczky (Florida). Team USA leads the all-time series, 24-8, and has won the last eight competitions in Japan. … Nine finalists have been named for the Golf Coaches Association of America‘s Jan Strickland Award, given to the NCAA Division I, II, III or NAIA assistant coach that has excelled in working with their student-athletes both on the course and in the classroom. This year’s finalists are Alan Bratton (Oklahoma State), Michael Burcin (South Carolina), Walter Chun (California), Jonathan Dismuke (Mississippi), Casey Lubahn (Michigan State), Marty McCauley (Texas Tech), Christian Newton (Georgia Tech), Adam Pry (Charlotte) and Bryce Wallor (Tennessee). … The First Tee of Metropolitan New York will host the 19th Hole Above the Hudson, Friday, May 16. The special event will be held at the Sunset Terrace, a 3,400-square foot riverside event space atop Chelsea Piers in New York City. Tickets are $100 in advance and $125 at the door. For information, go to www.thefirstteemetny.org.
Reigning champion and World No. 1 Lorena Ochoa commits to play the Ricoh Women’s British Open at Sunningdale Golf Club, July 31-Aug. 3. … Emerson Network Power will sponsor an American Junior Golf Association event, the Emerson Junior Golf Classic, Aug. 4-7 at the Carlton Oaks Country Club in Santee, Calif. … The P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship announces the charitable programs that will receive financial contributions from this year’s event, July 4-6 in Rogers, Ark. The charities are Arkansas Children’s Hospital, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northwest Arkansas, Boys and Girls Clubs of Benton County and Fayetteville, First Tee of Northwest Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter and Northwest Arkansas Food Bank. … Audra Burks and Hannah Junn have replaced Charlotte Mayorkas and Violeta Retamoza, who have officially withdrawn from the Sybase Classic.
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