Brendan Steele Scores at Torrey Pines

In his final post from Torrey Pines, Jack Clark shares Brendan's thoughts on his first PGA Tour paycheck and playing with Tiger Woods.

After 54 holes in the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla, both Brendan Steele and Tiger Woods were 4 under par and in a fifteen-way tie for 24^th place. They squared off in Sunday’s final round in the same threesome, and 18 holes later Steele was five shots ahead.

Woods shot a three-over-par 75 and finished one under par in a tie for 44^th place 15 shots behind the tournament winner, while Steele fired a two-under-par 70 and finished the tournament six under par in a tie for 17^th place 10 strokes behind the winner. Steele’s performance earned him his first PGA Tour paycheck — $87,000 — in his third appearance.

Steele said that he had never played before a crowd as huge as the one that followed his group on Sunday, and he readily admitted that he had a case of nerves on the first tee after shaking hands with Tiger. He was the first to tee off on the par-4 1^st hole.

The day before he had driven the ball 340 yards in the fairway, but Sunday he mis-hit his drive short and into the fairway bunker on the right side. However, he made a fine sand shot to the green to par the hole and played bogie-free the entire round while collecting pars on the par-3 11^th and 16^th holes.

Steele said that at first he just tried to say out of Woods’ way, not wanting to make a mistake that would interfere with the veteran player’s game, but Woods seemed willing to converse. Many times Sunday, Woods and Steele were seen engaged in conversation as they walked down fairways. “We talked a lot,” Steele said, strongly emphasizing the word lot. “He didn’t have to do that, but he did, and I really appreciate it. Tiger had a lot to do with making me feel comfortable out there.”

A reporter asked Steele how it felt to “beat Tiger.” Steele winced and said that it was not a matter of “beating” him, that he could not affect another player’s game, he could only control his own. He said that he knew that Woods did not have his best game yet, but that he was closing in on it his preparation for the Masters in April. “If Tiger had his best game and shot a 64, and I shot 66, I’d feel very good about that,” Steele said with a genuine smile.

During the post-tournament interview, Steele was clearly upbeat. He related that he had not played well at his first tournament two weeks earlier in Hawaii. He said he played fairly well last week in La Quinta, but that his mental attitude was not the best. He felt that he had both going for him this week at Torrey Pines, and with a much better result.

Next week Steele competes in the $6,100,000 Waste Management Phoenix Open at the TPC Scottsdale course in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Torrey Pines teaches tyro PGA Steele tough third round

After Saturday’s round, Brendan Steele stated that he had “never played in front of crowds like that. It was a totally new experience.” But he enjoyed “the energy” of it, he said, acknowledging that he really loved it out there. Well, if he thinks he had a big crowd with him on Saturday, wait until tomorrow.

Last week, Steele said he hope to play with Tiger Woods to experience “the spectacle that is Tiger”. Only a week later, he will do that only three tournaments into his rookie season on the PGA tour.

Steele entered the third round of the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines tied with Tiger Woods at 6 under par for 36 holes. Today, Saturday, Steele experienced a grind of a day. He posted three birdies against five bogies, so he shot a two-over-par 74. And so did Woods.

The result is that both Steele and Woods are 4 under par and in a fifteen-way tie for 24^th place in the tournament after 54 holes. And Steele and Woods are playing together in the same threesome Sunday. During Saturday’s round, Woods continued to draw crowds that exceeded those of all other players, despite his mediocre (for him) performance.

On Saturday, Steele overcame two strokes in penalties for unplayable lies. He said he was frustrated that it seemed he was in between clubs all day — meaning he could not reach the green with a shorter iron, but was risking going over the green with the next longer club.

Birdies were few and putts for pars and bogies were several. But he persevered and birdied the 16^th hole with an 18 foot putt. Then scrambled by sinking a 12 footer on the 18^th green to make a tough par, which “made me feel good going into tomorrow,” he said.

On Sunday, Steele goes off the no. 1 tee at Torrey Pines South at 8:25 a.m. He is paired with Greg Chalmers and Tiger Woods.

Brendan Steele Makes First Cut on PGA Tour

Brendan Steele fired a fine 4-under-par 68 today, Friday, at the Torrey Pines North Course in La Jolla to tie for 12^th place with Tiger Woods and three others midway through the Farmers Insurance Open. He opened with a blazing 31 on his first nine, but a bogie and double bogie made him settle for a 37 on his second.

Most of Steele’s birdies came in a flock, six of them within seven holes beginning with the 13^th hole and extending through the 18^th and into hole no. 1 to start the front nine, which Steele played second.

On the 172-yard par-3 17^th hole, one of Steele’s playing partners, Michael Thompson, launched a high shot that hit the green and spun back to within one foot of the pin. Not to be outdone, Steele immediately reproduced that shot, landing within a few inches of where Thompson’s ball had hit, and spinning his ball back to come to rest only one inch from Thompson’s.

Steele gave back three shots with a bogie and double bogie on the 6^th and 7^th holes, respectively, but finished strongly with a birdie on the par-5 9^th hole to finish his round.

With rounds of 70 and 68 totaling 138, Steele easily made the cut in only his third PGA Tour tournament, and with five strokes to spare. To show how much his game has improved in recent times, three years ago in his rookie season on the Nationwide Tour he needed six tournaments to accomplish that feat.

When asked by the Town Crier if he felt that his white-hot 31 on his first nine had enhanced his confidence that he belonged on the big tour, Steele responded, yes, and iterated that he felt his game was good enough to win since he was making enough birdies to win—but he needed to reduce the bogies that hurt his scoring. He said he was working on eliminating the mistakes that resulted in bogies.

Saturday is “Moving Day” in a four-day tournament like the Farmer’s Insurance Open, with each player jockeying for position going into Sunday’s final round. Steele tees off tomorrow morning, Saturday, at 9:00 on the 1st hole of the Torrey Pines South Course. He is paired with PGA Tour veterans Billy Mayfair and Tag Ridings.

Fire Lake Lane

A fire was reported late this afternoon on Lake Lane. Idyllwild Fire Department and Engine 23 from the Riverside County Pine Cove Fire Station responded. IFD was able to "knock the fire down" without injury.


IFD Chief Norm Walker said the fire's cause was hot ashes in a flammable container up against the garage at the intersection of the wooden fence.


Firefighter Adam Rodriguez is hosing down the rear of the house.
The third photo is courtesy of Mike Freitas.

Brendan Steele — Mixed Opening Round at Torrey Pines

From our reliable and intrepid Golf Correspodent Jack Clark

Brendan Steele’s first round in the Farmers Insurance Open today, Thursday, at the Torrey Pines South Course in La Jolla had several phases.

He parred each of the first five holes, then birdied the par-5 6^th, bogied the 7th, and strung four birdies in a row on the 8^th, 9^th, 10^th and 11^th holes. This brought him to 4 under par and temporarily put him into a tie for 6^th place.

But then, after a par four at the long 12^th hole and narrowly missing a short birdie putt at the par-5 13^th, bogies set in—three in a row at the 14^th, 15^th and 16^th. After parring the 17^th, he birdied the 18^th to finish and post a 2-under-par 70, putting him in a tie for 35^th place going into tomorrow’s second round.

Throughout his round, Steele maintained the calm and cool demeanor of a PGA Tour veteran, He displayed none of the nervousness that one might expect to see early in his rookie season. Although he did have five birdies on the day, he had birdie putts on several more holes that just did not drop, an encouraging sign.

Steele tees off tomorrow morning, Friday, at 10:20 on the 10^th hole of the Torrey Pines North Course.

What Jack didn't mention was after the 13th hole, Steele was four under par. At that point, Tiger Woods had finished 16 holes and was three under par. So for a moment, Idyllwild's Brendan Steel was ahead of Tiger Woods!!

IFPD schedules special closed session

Idyllwild Fire Protection District

Board of Commissioners

Special Meeting with Closed Session

AGENDA

January 28, 2011

1300 (1:00 pm) NO WORKSHOP

The meeting will be held in the Chief’s office Idyllwild Fire Protection District

54160 Maranatha Drive, Idyllwild, CA

Call to Order: Please quiet your cell phones and pagers.

Roll Call: Commissioners Capparelli – Killingsworth – Riggi - Schelly – Stigall

Chief Walker and Administrative Assistant Andrewson

Citizens’ Comments:

If you challenge any decision in court, you may be limited to raising only those items you or someone else raised at the public meeting described in this notice, or in written correspondence delivered to this agency at, or prior to, the public meeting.

Special Session Item(s)

• None

Special Session ended at

Non-Board members excused

Closed Session started at

Closed Session Item(s)

· Chief Walker’s evaluation

· Past due compensation – Conference call with Gresham/Savage

regarding career firefighters request for past

promised compensation

Closed Session ended at

Return to Special Session at

Announcement of any actions taken during closed session

Meeting Adjourned

Next regular Board meeting is on Tuesday February 8, 2011

"The People of this State do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created." ~Preamble from “The Brown Act”

Brendan Steele: Day Four at the Bob Hope Classic

Early yesterday evening, Jack Clark submitted this report on Saturday's results.

Brendan Steele faced a real challenge today, Saturday. He had to make up six strokes on the field in order to make the projected cut. He made up four of them, including birdying three of his final four holes. He posted 67-71-74-68 — 280 to miss the cut by only two.

When asked by the Town Crier if he felt this experience at the Bob Hope Classic better prepared him for next week’s PGA tournament at Torrey Pines, he responded, “Yes. Yes, I do. I feel I played pretty bad last week [in Hawaii], but I feel I played pretty good this week—I just made too many mistakes.

“I made enough good shots, and had enough good holes to do well. But I had too many bad shots and bad holes. I need to eliminate the bogies, then I’ll be alright.”

Next week, Steele will again pursue his first PGA Tour cut, playing in the $5.8 million Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in La Jolla.

Brendan Steele: Day Three at the Bob Hope Classic

From our golf correspondent Jack Clark

Brendan Steele had a rough time of it Friday. A triple-bogey on hole no. 13 of the Palmer Private course—his fourth hole of the day—seemed to set the tone for a two-over-par round that will make it difficult for him to break-through and make his first cut on the PGA tour.

That hole actually began with a drive that was very good—but “too good,” i.e., hit too far into a slight dog leg right, ending up in the left rough partly stymied by a tree. From there his ball found a bunker and a television tower, eventually resulting in a three-putt green.

Realistically, Steele proabably needs at least a four or five under par round tomorrow, Saturday, in order net his first cut on the PGA tour.

After 54 holes, Steele is tied with seven others for 91th place, with only 18 holes remaining before the cut. Tomorrow, Saturday, Steele tees off at 10:45 a.m. on hole no. 1 at the Nicklaus Private course at PGA West in La Quinta for the fourth day of this five-day tournament.

Brendan Steele: Day Two at the Bob Hope Classic

Jack reports on Brendan's day:

Brendan Steele experienced an up and down day today, Thursday, in the Bob Hope Classic. On the windy and tough Silver Rock Resort course, he put together four birdies against three bogies and posted a one-under-par 71 to bring him to six under par for the tournament.

After 36 holes, Steele is tied with 13 others for 48th place, but 54 holes remain to be played. Tomorrow Steele tees off at 9:33 a.m. on hole no. 10 at the Palmer Private course at PGA West in La Quinta for the third day of this five-day tournament.

Brendan Steele Gets Fine Start at Bob Hope Classic

Brendan Steele is playing in the Bob Hope Classic this week. It's a 90-hole tournament, rather than the normal 72-hole tour events. So it began yesterday and our intrepid golf scribe, Jack Clark, is reporting from on scence.

Brendan Steele exploded out of the gate at the Bob Hope Classic being played this week on four golf courses in the desert. At the La Quinta Country Club, he needed only 26 putts to go with drives averaging over 300 yards to post a five-under-part 67 in his opening round. He led the field after his first four holes, which he played in four under par, including an eagle on the 547-yard par-5 13^th hole.

But then came a down turn: “I kind of went to sleep there for seven holes,” he said after his round. Both he and his caddy Nick Wilkins used the word “overthinking” to describe his mid-round play. Wilkins related that Steele sees all the possibilities, which can sometimes interfere with best performance. Steele plays best, he said, when he trusts his instincts and commits to each shot, without worrying about the outcome.

Steele gave credit to Wilkins for his good play. “He tells me what shot he sees and how he wants me to hit it, and I select the club and hit the shot.” Steele played his final eight holes in four under par, including a second eagle on the 516-yard par-5 5^th hole. Then on the 527-yard par-5 6^th hole, his long putt stopped one turn away from what would have been his third eagle of the day.

As of this writing, Steele is tied with 14 others for twentieth place, but there are still 72 holes left to play in this 90-hole marathon. Tomorrow Steele tees off on No. 1 at Silver Rock Resort in La Quinta at 10:09 a.m. for the second day of this five-day tournament.

Chains: Revised

Change to Chain posting. From Shelli Lombard, our Caltrans official contact:

Caltrans has R1 conditions on Hwy 243 around Pine Cove and on Hwy 74
around Mountain Center and Lake Hemet.
we anticipate this to change as evening approaches-

R-1= chains on drive axles of all commercial vehicles.
Passenger vehicles okay with mud and snow tires
but must have chains in the vehicle.
Shelli Lombardo, Public Information Officer

Snow! Snow! Jan 3 Post #2

As the Weather Service forecast, the snowing and snow have stopped. See photos and below is the latest NWS short-term forecast.





















SHORT TERM FORECAST

 NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SAN DIEGO CA
837 AM PST MON JAN 3 2011





SAN BERNARDINO AND
RIVERSIDE
COUNTY VALLEYS-
THE INLAND EMPIRE-
SANTA ANA MOUNTAINS
AND FOOTHILLS-


.NOW...
A BAND OF HEAVIER RAIN IN ORANGE COUNTY WILL
SLOWLY MOVE EASTWARD THIS MORNING AND GET THROUGH
THE INLAND EMPIRE BY 10 AM. SCATTERED
SHOWERS WILL FOLLOW FOR THE REST OF THE MORNING.
LOCALIZED FLOODING IS POSSIBLE IN POORLY DRAINED AND
LOW LYING AREAS.

SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-


.NOW...
HEAVIER SNOW WILL MOVE THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS
 AND HIGH DESERT BY 10 AM ABOVE 3000 FEET. SCATTERED
 SNOW SHOWERS WILL FOLLOW FOR THE REST
OF THE MORNING. TRAVEL WILL BE SLOW AND
DIFFICULT OVER THE CAJON SUMMIT AND
OAK HILLS ESPECIALLY THROUGH 10 AM.

Snow! Snow! Jan 3

It snowed and is snowing in Idyllwild. We received between three and five inches last night. The main roads have all been plowed, Hwy 243 looks much better than Village Center Drive (see below). Thanks CalTrans

The National Weather Service regional and local forecasts for today and tomorrow (sunny) are also below.

Regional Forecast:

Short term forecast National Weather Service
San Diego ca   5:35 AM pst Mon Jan 3 2011  

San Bernardino County mountains and Riverside
County mountains

... scattered snow showers will increase in coverage
early this morning over the high deserts and
the mountains...especially over the
san bernardino county mountains. 

the snow level will be between 3000 and 3500 feet...

with snow at the top of the cajon pass. 

local snowfall rates up to one inch per hour will be possible...

though most snowfall rates will be lighter. 

roads will be snow covered and slippery.
 

Urgent - Winter Weather Message

 National Weather Service San Diego CA 

3:59 am pst mon jan 3 2011  

...a winter storm will impact southern california through this

 evening...  . a cold low pressure system over southern California

 will continue scattered showers today...decreasing this evening

 and ending early Tuesday

riverside county mountains-san diego county mountains-
including the following locations
...garner valley...idyllwild... pine cove...
vista grande...cuyamaca...mount laguna...ranchita

...winter weather advisory now in effect until 6 pm pst this evening 

above 4500 feet...  the winter weather advisory above 4500 feet is 

now in effect until 6 pm pst this evening.  

* snow levels: 3500 to 4000 feet.  

* snow accumulations: new snow accumulations of 1 to 3 inches

   above 4500 feet...except local accumulations to 4 inches above

   5000 feet.  

* timing: greatest coverage from mid morning through mid   

afternoon...then decreasing through early evening. 

Local forecast

Today: Snow showers likely. Patchy fog before 10am. Otherwise,

cloudy, with a high near 39. Calm wind. Chance of precipitation is

70%. Total daytime snow accumulation of less than a half inch possible.

Tonight: A 20 percent chance of snow showers.

Cloudy, then gradually becoming partly cloudy, with a low

around 31. East wind around 5 mph.

Tuesday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 44.

East wind around 5 mph becoming calm.

winter advisory & specific Idyllwild info

Specific Idyllwild forecast is below, this is a recent advisory for the Riverside County
 mountains and all of Southern California.
For the region:

Urgent - Winter Weather message national weather service 

San Diego CA 12:51 pm pst sun jan 2 2011  

...a winter storm will impact southern California through Monday...  .

a low pressure system will bring snow to the mountains 

and high desert of Southern California this afternoon and tonight. 

Snow showers will continue Monday before decreasing and 

ending late in the day as the low moves out of the region.  

...winter weather advisory remains in effect from

 4 pm this afternoon to 10 pm pst monday...  

* snow levels: 3500 feet

* snow accumulations: 2 to 8 inches with locally 

higher amounts possible.

* timing: snow will increase this afternoon and 

evening and become   heavy at times through monday 

morning. snow showers will   continue Monday

...ending late monday evening.  

* winds: southwest to west 10 to 20 mph with gusts 

to 30 mph.

* visibility: less than one-quarter mile at times

 in snow...   blowing snow...and fog.  

* impacts: snow and reduced visibilities will make travel

 hazardous.   precautionary/preparedness actions...  

 winter weather advisory means that periods of snow 

will cause travel difficulties. be prepared for slippery 

roads and limited visibilities...and use caution while 

driving. travelers should be prepared for hazardous 

winter weather conditions. motorists are urged to check 

the latest road reports before departing. always carry

 chains and take extra food and clothing. 

Here is the specific 24-hour Idyllwild forecast:

This Afternoon: Snow likely. Patchy dense fog. Otherwise, 

mostly cloudy, with a high near 46. West wind around 5 mph. 

Chance of precipitation is 70%. Total daytime snow accumulation 

of around an inch possible. 

Tonight: Snow. Patchy dense fog. Low around 30. South wind

 5 to 10 mph becoming west. Chance of precipitation 

is 90%. New snow accumulation of 3 to 5 inches possible. 

Monday: Snow showers likely, mainly before 4pm. 

Patchy dense fog before 10am. Otherwise, mostly cloudy, 

with a high near 42. Calm wind becoming east around 5 mph. 

Chance of precipitation is 70%. New snow accumulation 

of less than one inch possible. 

Monday Night: Scattered snow showers, mainly before 10pm. 

Mostly cloudy, with a low around 30. East wind around 5 mph. 

Chance of precipitation is 30%. Little or 

no snow accumulation expected.

2011 weather: redux 2010

It's overcast and dark in Idyllwild this morning. Happy 2011.

SPECIAL WEATHER STATEMENT NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
SAN DIEGO CA     1058 AM PST SUN JAN 2 2011

 THE INLAND EMPIRE-
SAN DIEGO COUNTY VALLEYS-SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY MOUNTAINS-
RIVERSIDE COUNTY MOUNTAINS-

 ...A COLD STORM SYSTEM WILL MOVE THROUGH SOUTHERN
CALIFORNIA THIS  AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY...


 A LOW PRESSURE SYSTEM WILL MOVE INTO THE REGION THIS
AFTERNOON 

 SPREADING RAIN AND SNOW ACROSS OUR REGION THIS EVENING INTO
MONDAY MORNING. SHOWERS WILL CONTINUE MOST OF MONDAY. 


 RAINFALL ESTIMATES ARE FROM ABOUT A THIRD OF AN INCH TO ONE
INCH FROM THE COAST TO THE FOOTHILLS...1 TO 1.5 INCHES IN THE 
MOUNTAINS...LESS THAN A THIRD OF AN INCH IN THE HIGH DESERT...
AND LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH IN THE LOWER DESERTS.


 WITH NEARLY SATURATED GROUND...THE ADDITIONAL RAINFALL WILL
CAUSE RUNOFF AND LOCALIZED FLOODING OF CREEKS AND LOW LYING
AREAS.THERE COULD BE SMALL DEBRIS FLOWS IN STEEP TERRAIN
AND ON AND BELOWRECENT BURN AREAS.

 THE SNOW LEVEL WILL BE AROUND 3500 TO 4000 FEET IN THE MOUNTAINS... 
BUT WILL REACH THE HIGH DESERT FLOOR. STORM TOTAL SNOWFALL OF
8 TO  12 INCHES IS POSSIBLE ABOVE 5000 FEET...AND AROUND AN INCH OR
TWO OF  SNOW COULD ACCUMULATE ON THE HIGH DESERT FLOOR...
WITH TWO TO FOUR  INCHES ON THE DESERT MOUNTAIN SLOPES.

 MOTORISTS TRAVELING THIS AFTERNOON THROUGH MONDAY SHOULD
CLOSELYMONITOR THE LATEST NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE FORECASTS
ANDSTATEMENTS AND PLAN ACCORDINGLY. THE RAIN AND SNOW WILL CAUSE
SLICK ROADS AND  MOTORISTS SHOULD USE EXTRA CAUTION. DO NOT DRIVE
THROUGHFLOODED AREAS OR AROUND BARRICADES. IF TRAVELING THROUGH
MOUNTAIN PASSESOR INTO THE MOUNTAINS...BE PREPARED FOR SNOW AND
ICE ON THE ROADWAYS AND LOW WIND CHILL TEMPERATURES.