LPGA's pain is a golf fan's gain

    Much has been made of the slimmed-down schedule the LPGA has been forced to endure, mostly due to the downturn in the economy and partially owing to the previous commissioner who meant well, but chased away many of the circuit's traditional small-market events.
    Of the 27 or so events on the LPGA schedule only about a dozen are in the United States. The LPGA has been forced to recognize the game's global appeal, maybe even a little more than it really wants to.
    If you're a golf fan and there's an event near you, like this weekend's ShopRite Classic just outside of Atlantic City, N.J., the good news is that you'll likely find your favorite player teeing it up.
   On the PGA Tour, the big names routinely ignore the smaller tournaments. With all the money Tiger Woods has helped the tour generate, the big boys need only tee it up at the four majors, the World Golf Championship events and a few selected others to rake in a million or two.
   But when there's an LPGA event, the chance to make a check draws anybody who is eligible. The top namees in women's golf were in Gladstone, N.J. a couple of weeks ago for the Sybase Match Play Championship and they are back this week in A.C., and not just because they like to play slots.
    There were a couple of defections this week when injury and illness forced Yani Tseng and Suzanne Petterson, who won the Match Play, to put the clubs away.
    But if you're headed for the Jersey Shore today, you can see second-round leader Cristie Kerr and the best playeers in women's golf duking it out at the ShopRite.
    They're also playing a truly classic golf course, Seaview's Bay Course. The layout was originally mapped out by Hugh Wilson, who didn't even know there was such a thing as a golf course architect when he designed Merion's East Course. The Seaview job was then completed by Donald Ross, the author of any number of America's classic golf courses, including Aronimink G.C., where the AT&T National will be contested in a few weeks.
    The LPGA players have to make hay while they can, so skipping tournaments is not nearly as prevalent for them as it is on the PGA Tour.
A Sam sighting
    Sam Ryder, named the 2006-07 Daily Times Player of the Year after leading Radnor to the inaugural PIAA team title at a cold and windswept Heritage Hills Golf Resort in the fall of 2006, hasn't been playing a lot of competitive golf since his scholastic days.
     That's why it was to see him teaming up with dad David in the Golf Association of Philadelphia's Father & Son Middle Championship last week at Bala G.C.
   The Middle Father & Son event is for teams in which the son ranges in age from 18 to 29. GAP added the event because of the popularity of its Father & Son events in which younger and older sons tee it up with their dads.
   Representing Aronimink G.C., Team Ryder finished in a tie for fourth with a 73 in the gross scoring. Their 68 left them in a tie for fifth in the net division.
    Jeff Klagholz of Rolling Green G.C. teamed with his dad Martin, who plays out of Applebrook G.C., to finish in a tie for second at 71. Team Klagholz was among the groups tied with Team Ryder at 68 in the net scoring.
    Michael Johnson, a member of the La Salle University golf team, joined forces with dad Jim to take the title as the duo out of Talamore C.C. posted a 2-over 70 at Bala.