Back for Another Bite

It may be the off-season for professional golfers but for Jay Haas and Tom Kite, defending champions of the Shark Shootout, that means it’s time to get busy.

“Certainly the event is about having fun,” Haas said Wednesday after the first round of the pro-am tournament at Sherwood Country Club. “But at the same time, I’m working on things. It’s always about fun . . . . until you get in the hunt.”

Kite, who served as U.S. Ryder Cup captain in September, becomes eligible for the Senior PGA Tour when he turns 50 in December, 1999.

He finished 35th on the money list this year and hopes to improve before thinking about the Senior Tour.

“I have some goals for the next two years,” Kite said. “This year was good, but it only whet my appetite to play well.”

Haas and Kite birdied the final nine holes last year to win the two-man team event by two strokes. They earned $150,000 each for the victory.

The $1.1 million purse this year pays the same to the winner.

“I remember looking at the field list last year saying, ‘Jeez, how can we beat these guys,’ ” Haas said. “But now that we’ve accomplished it, I have the confidence it can be done.”

Haas then offered some self-interested advice to Kite: “Let’s get that two years started right now.”

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She may be collecting autographs today, but 15-year-old Jennifer Marshall might be signing them tomorrow.

The La Reina High sophomore is the reigning Ventura County golf champion for girls 14-17 and will play No. 2 on the Regents’ golf team in the spring.

Despite a promising future as a player, Marshall remains a fan.

She has attended the Shark Shootout every year since the tournament began in 1989 and has collected autographs from every professional who has played.

Marshall has a picture taken with each player, returns the next day with the developed photos to have them signed.

“I’ve never been turned down for a picture,” Marshall said. “You just don’t be pushy.”

Marshall said the players are usually open to autograph seekers, especially during the pro-am rounds.

“That’s when they’re the nicest,” she said. “Except Curtis Strange. He was mean.”

Strange, who Marshall said declined autograph requests twice last year before eventually signing, is not playing this year.

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Catheryn Fuller of Los Angeles made history Wednesday when she became the first woman to play in a Shark Shootout pro-am.

Fuller found out about her groundbreaking appearance well after she had accepted the invitation to play.

“I was thinking, ‘Oh my god, what did I get myself into?’ ” Fuller said. “But this is a once in a lifetime opportunity.”

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It should come as no surprise that David Duval’s team shot a net 53.1 and has the lead after the first round of the pro-am.

Duval finished the PGA Tour season by winning his last three starts, including the season-ending Tour Championship.

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The skies above Sherwood Country Club were crystal blue and the temperature rose into the mid-70’s on Wednesday, but you couldn’t tell by looking at the fans.

Clad in full-body rain suits or waterproof jackets and toting umbrellas, many strolled about the course cursing television weathermen, who predicted heavy rain for Wednesday and the rest of the week.

Patrick Barmasse of Agoura Hills, however, anticipated the meteorological miscue and wore shorts.

“I always wear shorts,” Barmasse said. “I didn’t hear about any rain. I’m not a big weather follower.”