Hogan's heroes

Southeast Missouri State baseball coach Mark Hogan has found a way to fill some of his summer hours.

Hogan was so impressed with the American Junior Golf Association tournament last year at Dalhousie that he will take on the role of volunteer committee chairman this year.

"I was a volunteer last year, and I decided to do more this year because I just loved it," Hogan said. "I loved the atmosphere and I enjoyed getting to know the players and their families. It was a real rewarding experience."

Hogan wants others in the community to have that experience at this year's Dalhousie Junior Championship and hopes to get another large group of volunteers hooked so they return for the 2009 AJGA event at Dalhousie -- the Rolex Tournament of Champions.

"I have my eye on the Rolex," Hogan said Wednesday during a news conference to help kick off preparations for this year's event, scheduled for Aug. 11 through 14. "We want to get people familiar with the surroundings so they're not new to it next year.

"My mission is to let people know they can come out here and enjoy the course and they get to see some incredible talent from around the country."

The Dalhousie Junior Championship will feature 144 boys and girls, ages 12 to 18. The field will include a handful of local players, several from the Midwest and other states, including California, Texas and Florida, and some from Canada.

Last year, 172 volunteers signed up to be a part of the inaugural event. That total led the nation.

"There were probably close to 200 out here doing different things at different times," Dalhousie managing member Cord Dombrowski said. "I expect the same thing this year."

Dombrowski said Jack Connell, Dalhousie's director of golf, was the chair of volunteers last year but has taken on different roles with the tournament this year.

"I posed the question to [Hogan] and he said without hesitation, 'Absolutely,'" Dombrowski said. "He's very enthusiastic in everything he does. His skills at soliciting help, whether it be financial support or otherwise, is unparalleled. To have him affiliated with the club as a member and then taking on the chair of the volunteer committee is a match, just a perfect match."

Hogan's volunteer group might grow this year just based on an increased presence from participants in the First Tee program.

Dalhousie last year tied the volunteer campaign to the financial distribution of tournament proceeds for local high schools' golf programs. A donation of $2,000 also went to First Tee, which was a first-year program for juniors last year. Gregg Choate, the administrator for First Tee in Southeast Missouri, said the program that started off with five youths has grown to 103, and he intends to get those junior golfers and their parents involved.

"They will be here to help out all they can," Choate said. "They've got our support 100 percent."