LOCAL GOLFER GETS HIS `BIG BREAK' AND NAILS IT PORTUGAL, WALES ON HOLTBY'S TOUR.Byline: Eric Leach Staff Writer SIMI VALLEY Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. - Paul Holtby is usually teaching other golfers at the Tom Barber Golf Center near Moorpark. But this year, he is also perfecting his own skills for a big break - a chance to show what he can do against some of the world's best players. On Dec. 20, millions of television viewers watched him win the Golf Channel's ``Big Break IV'' contest, which pitted American and European golfers against each other for the chance to compete in two European Tour tournaments. ``The Golf Channel has millions of viewers in the United States United States, officially United States of America, republic (2005 est. pop. 295,734,000), 3,539,227 sq mi (9,166,598 sq km), North America. The United States is the world's third largest country in population and the fourth largest country in area. and Europe. Hopefully, I will get some kind of sponsorship and be able to play this game professionally full time,'' said Holtby, 38, who's been working for this chance since he first picked up clubs at age 10 and taught himself how to play. Matt Rost of Culver City Culver City, city (1990 pop. 38,793), Los Angeles co., S Calif., a residential suburb of Los Angeles; inc. 1917. It is a center of the U.S. motion-picture industry, whose roots in the city date to c.1915. Its chief manufactures are rubber products and computers. had played with Holtby 13 years ago, but lost touch with him. ``I was watching the Golf Channel and I saw him hitting a put through the Valley of Sin'' on the 18th hole at Saint Andrews Saint Andrews, town (1991 pop. 11,302), Fife, E Scotland, on the North Sea. A summer resort, it is famous for its golf courses. It was the seat of an archbishop from 908 and the ecclesiastical capital of Scotland until the Reformation. St. Golf Club in Scotland, he said. ``I said, 'Oh, my God - that's Paul Holtby.''' Rost was among hundreds who called or e-mailed Holtby to congratulate him, and last week Rost came out to the Barber Golf Center for a lesson from his old friend. ``He has a tremendous amount of skill,'' Rost said. Holtby has always been an outstanding golfer, shooting a 65 at the Diamond Bar Golf Course when he was 16 in a Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, Junior Golf Association Tournament. He was captain of the golf team at the University of California, Santa Barbara History The predecessor to UCSB, Santa Barbara State College, focused on teacher training, industrial arts, home economics, and foreign languages. Intense lobbying by an interest group in the City of Santa Barbara led by Thomas Storke and Pearl Chase persuaded the State , and was the Simi Hills Golf Course club champion three years in a row. He turned pro in 1990. Now, he is a Professional Golfers' Association For other meanings of "PGA", see PGA. PGA stands for "Professional Golfers' Association". There are many national organisations of that name including:
His big break will now include a chance to compete in the Algarve Open of Portugal from March 30 to April 2, and the Celtic Manor Wales Open The Celtic Manor Wales Open is a European Tour golf tournament which was founded in 2000 and is played each June. The Celtic Manor Resort in the city of Newport, South Wales is a large resort and hotel which has been developed since the mid 1990s and is the venue for the 2010 Ryder June 1-4, both professional European Tour events that attract some of the world's top golfers. Both tournaments offer hundreds of thousands of dollars in prize money and will be broadcast on TV. To win the Golf Channel competition, Holtby played against 12 golfers in 15 shows that were filmed over 14 days at the Carnoustie and Saint Andrews courses. ``We filmed in June, so I had to keep this secret for six months,'' he said after the airing of the last show in December. Playing in Simi SIMI Sea Ice Mechanics Initiative SIMI Search for Intelligent Monkeys on the Internet SIMI Students Islamic Movement in India SIMI Society of Irish Motor Industry SIMI Smallholder Irrigation Markets Initiative Valley's windy conditions while growing up helped him develop a stroke that keeps the ball low - perfect for Scotland's high winds and a key to winning the competition. The event came down to a match-play tournament at Carnoustie between Holtby and Guy Woodman of England, and their final match went down to the wire, with Holtby leading by one hole with one left in the match-play event. ``For some reason, I always found ways to self-sabotage. I would never allow myself success,'' Holtby said in a Golf Channel interview. ``The only comforting thought was that I was 1-up with one to go.'' He nailed a 12-foot putt to win it. Eric Leach, (805) 583-7602 eric.leach(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Paul Holtby, who gives golf lessons at the Tim Barber Golf Center, came in first in a Golf Channel competition and will play in professional tournaments in Wales Wales, Welsh Cymru, western peninsula and political division (principality) of Great Britain (1991 pop. 2,798,200), 8,016 sq mi (20,761 sq km), west of England; politically united with England since 1536. The capital is Cardiff. and Portugal. Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News |
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