Photo Story: Aspiring Golf Professional Jake Irving

Jake Irving graduated from local West Albany High School in 2010 after finishing his high school career with a 34th place finish at the OSAA 5A Golf State Tournament.

Irving was part of the West Albany golf teams that won back-to-back state titles in 2008 and 2009 and has always had a passion for the game of golf.

After high school Irving attended Linn-Benton Community College for several terms before deciding that his real passion lay in the golf industry.

Irving is currently working for Spring Hill Country Club in Albany and practicing vigorously for summer tournaments.

Next year Irving plans to move to Arizona to pursue his dream of becoming a member of the Professional Golfers Association. 

I followed Irving for one of his short practice sessions at Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis after he had already completed playing 18 holes earlier that morning already.







The aspiring golf professional stares down his final shot
on the range. Right after this shot he turned to me and
said, "Wish I could have hit 'em like this today." 6/2/2011



After completing his session on the range Irving
 then moved to the green beside the clubhouse to
 grind on his short game. 6/2/2011

After chipping Irving moved onto the green for some putting
practice. He is seen here reading a 10-footer that he hit
repeatedly. 6/2/2011

As you can see Irving sets his left
hand lower on the putter grip. This
is seen by many as unconventional,
but it works for him. 6/2/2011

This is my favorite picture that I took of Irving that day
and I just wanted to add it because I couldn't leave it off.
6/2/2011

Action/Sports Photos: "OSAA Golf Championship"

This past week the OSAA 4A/3A/2A/1A Girls Golf State Championship was held at local Trysting Tree Golf Course in Corvallis. One of the featured groups included defending state champion Lindsay Harmon of Valley Catholic and Sydney King of McKenzie.

King makes the short walk to the first tee
5/17/2011

Harmon tends the pin for King on the 17th hole.
5/17/2011

Harmon twirls the club after hitting her approach close on
the par-4 18th. 5/17/2011

Harmon taps in for par on the 9th hole,
the groups final hole of the day. 5/17/2011

King gives a fist pump after chipping in for birdie on
the final hole. 5/17/2011

King and Harmon shake hands as their round
concludes. 5/17/2011

Coach/father Dan King embraces his
daughter following her tournament.
5/17/2011

When it was all said and done Harmon finished in second place
while King, still just a sophomore finished fifth. 5/17/2011

Free Shoot Photographs

Recently I was assigned to shoot some random free photos for my photojournalism class. I chose to shoot some photos of a high school student named Evan Dirckx who was playing golf at Trysting Tree Golf Course during a beautiful Friday afternoon.

Dirckx, a high school senior, prepares to putt on the practice
green 5/13/2011

After a couple photos he became super in to
posing for the camera 4/13/2011

Dirckx's putt rolling towards the hole on the green 4/13/2011

Evan reacts to draining a long putt to beat his friend Thomas
in what turned out to be an epic match 4/13/2011

Moore's Record Performance Leads OSU Golf

The Oregon State Beavers men's golf team finished the Pac-10 Championship in eighth place, while Junior Alex Moore had a slightly better outing as an individual.

Moore ended the tournament in a tie for first place with Martin Trainer of Southern California, after shooting a final round even-par 70. Both players finished the tournament at 5-under and battled intensely through seven playoff holes, setting a record for playoff holes in the 52 year history of the Pac-10 Championship, according to OSUbeavers.com.

On the seventh playoff hole Moore hit a tree with his tee-shot, leading to a bogey, while Trainer was able to tap in for a routine par and one up Moore for the title.

Sophomore Nick Sherwood finished the tournament in a tie for 25th place at 8-over,Sophomore Dave Fink finished in a tie for 35th with a score of 12-over, and juniors Jonnie Motomochi and Casey King shot 21-over and 23-over, finishing in 51st and 53rd place respectively. Sophomore Jeff Petroff rounded out the Beaver scoring be recording a 25-over total and ended in a tie for 56th.

Moore's finish ranks as one of the all-time bests by an OSU golfer at the Pac-10 Championship, though a Beaver still has yet to win the title. Moore will get another shot next year when the Championship is held at Oregon State's home course, Trysting Tree. Until then he turns his focus to Regionals and, possibly, Nationals.

Video Courtesy of 

pac10conference