TOURNAMENT RECAPS

OAKLEY OUTDUELS BOWEN
IN SJGT 14-HOLE PLAYOFF

Derek Oakey and Drew Bowen played a few more holes than expected Dec. 9 in the Southeastern Junior Golf Tour's Precept Tour Championship.

After identical rounds of 67-72, the duo went to a playoff to decide the winner at Sea Island Golf Club in St. Simons, Ga. Fourteen holes later, Oakley made par to win the championship.

The playoff began on No. 18 where both players made par. They continued by playing No. 9 twice then headed back to No. 18. Oakey and Bowen made par on each of the first four holes.

With no predetermined order of holes to be played officials were searching for holes close to the clubhouse.

Oakley and Bowen made their fifth consecutive pars on the 17th hole then both made birdie on No. 18, the third time in the playoff they played the hole.

Seven consecutive pars on Nos. 10-16 kept the playoff going.

The 552-yard, par-5 17th would be the 14th and final hole. Bowen reached the green in three and three-putted for bogey. Oakley reached the green in two and three-putted for par and the victory.

''It was unbelievable,'' tournament director Todd Thompson said. ''Neither player missed a fairway during the playoff.''

An estimated 30 people were watching when the playoff began, but when the event was over only six remained -- Oakey's father, Bowen's parents, SJGT officials Rusty Estes and Thompson along with head pro Chrissy Felton.

The playoff lasted 2 hours and 40 minutes.

- For complete results visit www.golfweek.com/amateur/

NEWS AND NOTES
* Legislation is in the works in Florida to sell specialty automobile license plates and give the funds to junior programs. Several other states have existing specialty license plate statutes that provide the framework for similar programs. Junior golf in Florida anticipates an annual sum of more than $3 million from a golf license-plate bill that will go before the state legislature in January. The program will be presented as a stand-alone bill and is expected to be approved by Gov. Jeb Bush. The plate will cost $25 more than a regular plate.

* A dog-biting incident at a high school cross-country meet in Indianapolis prompted a state lawmaker to file legislation that would ban animals at events sanctioned by the Indiana High School Athletic Association. IHSAA assistant commissioner Bobby Cox said the organization welcomed any discussion that would make the events safer but suggested the bill would be difficult for the IHSAA to enforce. ''At cross country meets, just like golf courses -- these venues are huge,'' Cox said. ''We can certainly ban any live animals, but the question is, can you enforce it?'' State Rep. Gary Cook was at a cross-country meet in September to watch his son compete when a Rottweiler broke free from his owner's leash and bit a LaVille High School runner. The teen-ager was not seriously injured.

* High school sports for girls in Michigan must set schedules on the same basis as boys sports, a judge ruled Dec. 17 in a sex-bias case. Michigan is one of only a few states in which high school girls play basketball in the fall and volleyball in the winter. The suit by Diane Madsen and Jay Roberts-Eveland and their group, Communities for Equity, called the Michigan arrangement unfair to girls because it hurts college basketball and volleyball recruiters and limits news coverage. In addition to basketball and volleyball, the seasons are expected to change for girls soccer, swimming, tennis and boys golf. Judge Richard Enslen said he supported Madsen and Roberts-Eveland, contending the Michigan High School Athletic Association discriminates against female high school athletes. The state plans to appeal within the next month.

RECRUITING CENTRAL
Campus visits are the most important factor for most high school students in selecting a college or university. These visits are also very important to prospective student-athletes, because what they learn about the athletic departments and golf programs will greatly influence their final decision. Whenever possible the visits should be scheduled while classes are in session so prospective students can get a feel for the atmosphere of the school and campus life. It is also important to make advance preparations before visits so admissions departments, counselors and coaches can make time to talk or arrange campus tours. Each student will have priorities regarding dorms, study areas, academic interests, social activities or even golf course availability. Having questions written prior to visits will be a good reminder in prompting discussions and obtaining important information.

For more college recruiting information, visit the Ping American College Golf Guide at www.collegegolf.com/

Golfweek/Titliest Performance Index (as of Dec. 19)
BOYS:
1. Jessie Mudd 69.58
2. James Vargas 69.73
3. Taylor Hall 69.87
4. Webb Simpson 70.02
5. Joo Won Ko 70.06
6. Ryan Posey 70.17
7. Anthony Kim 70.32
8. Jonathan Moore 70.47
9. Ryan Cochran 70.63
10. Adam Cohan 70.70

For complete rankings visit www.golfweek.com/sagarin/boys.asp

GIRLS:
1. Aree Song Wongluekiet 68.80
2. Kelly Froelich 69.28
3. Nicole Hage 69.68
4. Whitney Welch 69.76
5. Nicole Perrot 70.00
6. Elizabeth Janangelo 70.00
7. Jane Lee 70.24
8. Aimee Cho 70.25
9. Naree Song Wongluekiet 71.20
10. Cindy Shin 71.44

For complete rankings visit www.golfweek.com/sagarin/girls.asp

THIS WEEK IN GOLFWEEK
Be sure to check out Golfweek and read our complete year-end Sagarin statistical package. . . . Log on to golfweek.com and participate in the ''It's Your Honor'' poll question. This week: What would you consider the most memorable golf story in 2001?

Have an interesting junior note to report or know an interesting junior we can profile? E-mail Golfweek scoreboard editor Jay Coffin at jcoffin@golfweek.com.