Kerry Robinson wonders why anyone plays golf

~ Robinson played golf for just the fourth time in his life.

Former Southeast Missouri State and major league baseball player Kerry Robinson added a little bit of celebrity to Monday's junior-am fundraising tournament at the Dalhousie Junior Classic, a first-year event on the American Junior Golf Association circuit.

Robinson said he was on the course for just the fourth time in his life. He played on a team with Southeast coach Mark Hogan, assistant coach Jeff Dodson and Bill Gosche.

The foursome was paired with Drew Miller from Tennessee.

"What a pleasure to have him back in town," Hogan said of Robinson, who now resides in St. Louis. "I think he has more game as a coach than as a golfer. He's learning. He's retired, so we're trying to get him into golf."

Robinson wasn't so sure about the game, at one point wondering why people would walk around in the hot sun to frustrate themselves.

"Hitting a baseball is easier," he said after the sixth hole.

Robinson said he is doing a bit of work on SEMO's behalf selling advertising time on the radio broadcasts of Redhawks athletics on the ESPN affiliate in St. Louis.

Raising funds

The junior-am, which had a $1,250 entry fee per foursome, was raising money for the AJGA's scholarship program as well as for the high school golf programs in Southeast Missouri.

One aspect of the fundraising is the giveaway on a two-year lease for a new car.

That drawing will take place Thursday, and tickets still are available at $100 per pop. Ask around at Dalhousie if you still have interest in taking a chance on winning.

Mayor finishes 10 back

Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson, the tournament co-chair, and his son Gunnar played on a junior-am team with Tony Buerhle and Chris Buehrle and junior player Courtney Harter, a Clearwater, Fla., native heading to the University of Alabama.

Harter has two career AJGA wins in her four years, including a victory last August at the Golf Pride Junior Classic.

Harter ranks 144th in the Polo rankings for girls.

The foursome shot a 62 on Monday, which was 10 strokes behind the winning team.

The squad of Aaron Dombrowski, Lee Smith, Jody Underwood and Seth Joy teamed with Ryan Sirman to shoot a 52.

Sirman is a Tyler, Texas, resident who is headed to Oklahoma in the fall.

The juniors had to play their ball through every hole while the rest of the team finished the hole from the best drive. The scoring was half-handicapped.

Sirman said he personally shot a 2-under for the round.

"I'll take that for the next three days," Sirman said.

Girl power

The all-women team of Ann Dombrowski, Alice Temm, Harriette Myers and Betty Dewitt teamed with Katie Sylvan, a high school junior-to-be from San Diego ranked 101st in the the Polo rankings, to shoot a 60.

Myers, who has teamed with Diane Fowler to win seven Lassies Classic two-woman scramble tournaments at Cape Girardeau Country Club, had the women's long drive on No. 7.

She also earned some money from her teammates with a birdie on the par-3 eighth hole.

Local tee times

On Monday night, the AJGA released the tee times for today's first round. Here are the tee times for local golfers:

• Emily Matthews of Cape, 1:39 p.m. at hole No. 1
• Trent Hillis of Poplar Bluff, 8:21 a.m. at hole No. 10
• T.J. Smith of Jackson, 1:12 p.m. at hole No. 10
• Danner McCauley of Poplar Bluff, 8:12 a.m. at hole No. 10
• The tee time for Jack Connell Jr. of Cape was not listed