Castle Rock – Castle Pines founder and president Jack Vickers turned 81 on Tuesday and continues to show he hasn’t lost any of his feistiness.
Vickers is asking the PGA Tour to reduce the size of the field for the 2007 International. The current field numbers 144 players. Vickers wants no more than 120.
“I’ve been told no before, but I’m not going to stand for it,” Vickers told reporters Wednesday. “We’d be a lot classier event with 120 players.”
It also would be easier to get 120 players around the golf course in the event of weather delays, which seem to be a natural occurrence at Castle Pines.
“Sometimes it’s a nightmare,” Vickers said. “If the tour doesn’t wise up, somebody is going to be killed (by lightning).”
With The International moving to the week of July 4 next year, Vickers plans a multifaceted celebration that could include a county fair and live musical entertainment.
“We’re going to pump it up a little bit,” he said.
Thick turf
Seven inches of rain that fell upon Castle Pines Golf Club during early July has left the course in perhaps its best shape ever for The International, according to Keith Schneider, the club’s general manager and director of golf.
“That rain couldn’t have happened at a better time,” Schneider said. “It flushed everything out and gave us a clean start. Then everything popped.”
Schneider said the 4-inch rough is the thickest he has ever seen it.
New flags over Pines
Three more countries – China, Colombia and Norway – were added this year to the list of those represented at The International, increasing the all-time total to 38 foreign lands.
Making their debut are Liang Wen-Chong and Lian-Wei Zhang of China; Henrik Bjornstad of Norway and PGA Tour rookie sensation Camilo Villegas of Colombia.
Zhang, who has played in the Masters and is China’s most revered professional golfer, received an invitation to the 2004 International but declined in order to be with his pregnant wife.
They named their son Tiger after you-know-who.
“I hope he will look to Tiger Woods as a role model,” Zhang said Wednesday through an interpreter. “And I hope he will like golf.”
Back again
With area resident Mark Wiebe not entered in this year’s International and his string of consecutive appearances having ended at 20, Steve Lowery now holds the longest current streak.
Lowery, the 1994 International champion, is making his 14th consecutive appearance at Castle Pines. David Duval, who received a sponsor’s exemption, is playing in his 12th straight to rank second.
Hey, aren’t you?
Kip Henley may be the only caddie on the PGA Tour who is more recognizable than the player he works for.
Henley, who totes the bag for tour rookie Eric Axley, won The Golf Channel’s “Big Break II.” The golf reality series aired in December 2004.
“It’s funny, but a lot of people know who I am,” Henley said.
Henley, 46, is a good stick. He has played in several Nationwide Tour events and qualified for the PGA Tour’s St. Jude Classic five times by placing first in a members’ competition.
“But I can’t play with these guys,” he said. “I could play really well out here and win about eight bucks.”
Tom Kensler can be reached at 303-820-5456 or tkensler@denverpost.com.
