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Charles Schwab Cup Championship Tournament Director Leon Gilmore's smile is just a little bigger this week and, surprisingly, it's not solely to do with how this year's tournament is coming together.

Gilmore and his wife, Melissa, welcomed their first child last week, a little boy named Bryce Preston Gilmore; weighing in at 7 lbs 2 oz.  Gilmore plans to take a week off before jumping back into his work and getting the small details finalized for the tournament, which is now just two months away. Even with the birth of his child, and all the excitement that comes with being a father for the first time, Gilmore is still just as excited about how things are turning out for this year's Schwab Cup.  "Things are really coming together great, we're going to have an excellent field, filled with former major champions," Gilmore said.

  With two majors in the last two weeks, there has been great opportunities for players to move up the money list and Charles Schwab Cup points list, but stalwart Bernhard Langer still sits on top of both lists in his first full season on the over-50 circuit.

 

Despite not playing the Senior Open Championship due to a family emergency, Jay Haas remains at No. 2 on both lists, trying to avenge last year's loss to Loren Roberts in the season-long chase and repeat what he did during the 2006 season.   Long-hitting Argentinean Eduardo Romero made the most of the past two weeks, finishing third at the Senior Open and then winning the Senior United States Open to rocket from 11th on the points list to third and into fifth on the money list.

The happy-go-lucky player has found a new home on the Champions Tour and has shown that his game is one of the best suited to the bigger events on the Tour after claiming his second major title to go along with several runner-up finishes in majors since turning 50.

One name that Gilmore would love to see compete at Sonoma is Greg Norman.  

After Norman's amazing run at the (British) Open Championship, where he led going into the final round before finishing third behind Padraig Harrington, Norman went on to finish tied for fifth at the Senior Open Championship and fourth at the Senior U.S. Open.  His stellar play of late has moved him to 48th on the money list and 18th on the points list, but he doesn't plan on playing the remainder of the year, leaving him with no shot at making it to Sonoma.  

Right now, Fulton Allem occupies the all-important 30th place on the money list with several big name players currently sitting outside the magic number, none more glaring than three-time Charles Schwab Cup Championship winner Jim Thorpe.  Thorpe is currently in 40th place on the money list and needs a solid finish to the season if he is to try and make it three in a row at Sonoma.  

The scenario is eerily similar to last year when he was the final player to make the field and then went on to win.  The later part of the season has often been kind to Thorpe, who looks to get his game in shape in order to make the trip to Sonoma to play and not just perform the Champions Clinic.  

At 12th on the money list, Nick Price looks to make his first trip to Sonoma.  A former World No. 1, Price has yet to win on the Champions Tour, but his strong play this year has him knocking on the door and his accurate iron-play could do well around Sonoma's long set-up.  

Also looking to make his first start at Sonoma is fan favorite Joey Sindelar, who at 19th is in good shape to make the field but does need a few more solid finishes.  

The Champions Tour is off this week, with a couple of players, including Haas, playing in the PGA Championship at Oakland Hills in Michigan.  They will return to action Aug. 14 through the 17, at the season's fourth Major, the Jeld-Wen Tradition at Crosswater in Oregon.

    

SONOMAN JERRY ELLIS has put a lot of smiles on other's faces over the years.  

His fun-loving attitude on the golf course makes him a popular player to go out on the course with, but it was Jerry who was smiling the most this week after he scored his second hole in one, this time on the 16th hole of Oakmont's West Course.  

Ellis used an 8-iron to ace the water-guarded par-3 and it was witnessed by longtime friend and golfing partner, Roger Doty, along with Mike Jonas and Bill Garecht.   

YOUNG LIFE IN Sonoma - a non-profit faith-based organization for middle- and high-school kids - will hold its second annual golf fundraiser on Wednesday, Aug. 27, at the Chardonnay Golf Club in Napa. The cost is $135 a person, with the early registration deadline being this Sunday, Aug. 10. To register, e-mail www.sonomayounglifegolfevent.org or call 938-8388.

SONOMA VALLEY CHAPTER of Realtors has joined forces with the Sonoma Valley Kiwanis Club to create the Kiwanis/Realtors Golf Classic, to be held at Sonoma Golf Club on Monday Sept. 15.  

This year's event will see 100 percent of the profits go toward programs that benefit the youth of Sonoma Valley.  The tournament is a scramble format starting at noon.

Cost is $195 a player and $780 a foursome and includes a box lunch, putting contest, cart and green fees, driving range, dinner, awards and prizes.  There will be an awards dinner and auction following the completion of play and anyone interested in only attending that portion of the event can do so for $85.  

For additional information, contact Robert Guddee at guddee@realestatesonoma.com or 938 1999.  

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