SSU GRAD LEWIS FINALLY MAKING THE CUT AS PRO

When he turned pro earlier this year and tried his luck on the Spanos Tour,

Adam Lewis, in golf parlance, carded a few bogeys.

''It was horrible,'' said the Sonoma State grad and a member of the

Seawolves' first-ever golf team three years ago. ''I missed five straight

cuts.''

But things started to get better for Lewis, a Windsor High grad who played

a season for Santa Rosa JC when the Bear Cubs won NorCals.

He cashed his first check ($1,600) at a Spanos event at Harding Park, then

followed up by making three more cuts.

Entering play this weekend, Lewis had earned almost $6,000 to put him 66th

on the Spanos money list. The top 50 make the tour finals Aug. 21.

He didn't help himself this week, missing the cut at an event at Oak Valley

GC in Beaumont, but he has three Spanos events left, then hopefully, the tour

championship.

''I need some good finishes, top fives,'' Lewis said.

SSU coach Val Verhunce likes Lewis' chances as a pro.

''Adam always has a goal in mind and works hard to reach it,'' Verhunce

said. ''He's motivated and puts in the time.''

''He has always found a way to improve,'' Verhunce added. ''I ran into him

after he missed those cuts, and he told me he was 'getting my head bashed in'

by other pros, but I knew he would turn it around.''

Verhunce told Lewis he should be winning and just needed that first

victory.

''I feel more comfortable now than I did at the start,'' said Lewis, who

plans on competing at the PGA Qualifying School in Florida this October.

He hasn't solicited sponsors yet, hoping a good showing at Q school will

help in that regard. The top 20 get PGA cards, the next 35-40 are given

Nationwide Tour cards.

Lewis, recently married to Corey Hansen, daughter of Windsor GC

superintendent Rick Hansen, is financing himself.

''I wasn't a very good investment at first,'' he said. ''But everything I

make now goes to paying my expenses.''

Andrew Hofer (Santa Rosa) and Isaac Jimison (Point Arena) also play the

Spanos Tour.

BLAST FROM THE PAST

If you're old enough to remember Carol Doda, you might want to mark July 22

on your calendar.

Doda, a popular entertainer at her Condor Club in North Beach for many

years, will be at Northwood GC.

Cost for the dinner show is $60 . Call 865-2454.

Northwood manager Gaylord Schaap hopes golfers will make a day of it,

playing at the scenic 9-hole course then sticking around to catch the show.

Restaurant manager Jim Kokalis said he has known Doda for many years. Her

club has closed, but she still entertains with a small band, so Kokalis asked

if she'd like to do it at Northwood.

FAIRGROUNDS REVISITED

Golf director Robert Braun reports that after a little negotiating, it

appears his nine-hole course will be able to open at the usual 7 a.m. time

this week before the fair starts July 25.

Fair manager Corey Oakley apparently worked out a deal with the Pleasanton

Fairgrounds to let horses heading for Santa Rosa train a few extra days in

Pleasanton.

So Fairgrounds' golf course will stay open until Friday. The course

re-opens Aug. 9.

WINE AND WAGGLES

Foxtail GC is offering ''Sips and Tips for Singles,'' a wine tasting and

golf clinic every other Thursday.

Wine tasting is from 5 to 7 p.m., the clinic 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Kris Moe will be the instructor, and Balletto Vineyards will do the

pouring. Cost is $20, including a lesson and wine tasting, with special prices

for golfers wishing to play nine holes.

The clinic will be geared for beginners, but tips will be offered for

advanced players.

Call Herlinda Heras, 584-7766, ext. 212, or e-mail

herlinda@playfoxtail.com* .

You can reach Staff Writer Bruce Meadows at 521-5263

bmeadows@pressdemocrat.com.