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Veteran golfers missing out on Pebble

PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — The sun tried to poke through thick marine layer in the late afternoon, which would have illuminated Pebble Beach on what already had been a special occasion. The “Reunion of Champions” was for all past U.S. Women’s Open winners. They gathered for a group photo Monday unlike any previous reunion because of the setting — short and left of the 17th green, with golf’s most famous coastline as the backdrop. This celebration had a measure of regret. Sure, they soaked up a view to their left of the fourth green, the steep cliffs along the right side of ...

Commitment made Lozinak’s dream come true

BY Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com The Lozinak family has sold the Curve, and the only thing left for them to do is take a bow. All the way back to the early 1970s, Bob Lozinak had a vision to bring minor league baseball to his hometown of Altoona, and although his dream was ...

Blair County rivalries are set to heat up

By Michael Boytim mboytim@altoonamirror.com HOLLIDAYSBURG — Tyrone, Central, Bellwood-Antis and Hollidaysburg all had girls basketball teams playing at the Blair Regional YMCA on Tuesday night. This winter, those Blair County rivals, in addition to Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic and six other non-county teams, will all be part of the Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference’s East Division. “I think it’s exciting,” New Bellwood-Antis coach Kyley Longo-McGarvey said. “I played at Hollidaysburg, so I’m used to having rivalries against Altoona and State College. I think it’s ...

Ryder Cup US team may be loaded with stars

Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson still has time on his side, just not as much. He also keeps getting more candidates for his U.S. team, which isn’t making the job any easier. And it’s no longer about Brooks Koepka or anyone else from LIV Golf. “There’s still a lot of golf between now and then,” Johnson said that Sunday morning in May at the PGA Championship, a few hours before Brooks Koepka showed off his major swagger at Oak Hill with a victory that did more than restore his reputation as Big Game Brooks. It moved him to No. 2 in the Ryder Cup standings. Given that Koepka ...

NBA buzz should help PSU efforts

By Neil Rudel nrudel@altoonamirror.com Catching up with Penn State related news: Penn State’s NBA profile was raised considerably Thursday night. For the first time in program history, two Nittany Lions were drafted as Jalen Pickett went to newly-crowned NBA champion Denver with the 32nd pick and Seth Lundy followed, going to Atlanta at No. 46. After transferring from Siena, Pickett carried the Lions to this past NCAA Tournament while Lundy spent his entire career in Happy Valley. Pickett showed versatility both in facing the basket and with his back to it while Lundy did ...

Questions won’t stop about McIlroy’s drought

LOS ANGELES — The only thing worse for players than getting asked about winning their first major are endless questions about when they will win another one. That’s what Rory McIlroy is facing. The scrutiny no longer is limited to the spring, with Augusta National on the horizon and the reminder that a Masters green jacket is all that keeps McIlroy from the career Grand Slam. Any major will suffice at this point. And about the only answer is what Wyndham Clark offered not long after the tears, the hugs and the hoisting of the U.S. Open trophy. “I just feel like it was my ...