By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach’s Jordon Murphy has enjoyed success in and out of the boxing ring. The 13-year-old Murphy recently took second place in the National Silver Gloves Championships in Independence, Missouri and was also presented a proclamation at the March 5 City Commission meeting.

“It is very humbling,” said Murphy, who has been boxing for the Deerfield Beach BSO-PAL for the past five years. The two-time national boxing champion has logged more than 500 community service volunteer hours. “I go around picking up trash and help with art festival and do other things around the community.”

It is a tall order for Murphy, who dropped a narrow decision to New Jersey’s Malik Nelson in the championship bout of the 75-pound division.

Murphy, who won the state and regional silver gloves titles to reach the national finals, is also an outstanding student in the classroom with a 3.4 GPA at Lyons Creek Middle School.

Murphy, a seventh-grader, runs track for Lyons Creek Middle School, wrestles for the Deerfield Beach BSOPAL and plays Little League baseball.

“I like (boxing) a lot,” said Murphy, who won national titles in 2010 and 2012. “It is the best sport I do. I like fighting and training to get ready for the big tournaments. I train Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday for two hours a day. I want to be a professional.”

“I think the best part is training for a fight because it helps me get conditioned,” Murphy added. “It helps me in school, and if I am doing track, it helps me with my energy and stuff in other sports.”

Murphy said he wasn’t disappointed with his performance at this year’s national competition because he tried his best.

“It has been a pleasure to watch him grow as a person and as a boxer,” said Deerfield Beach BSO Deputy Butch Santy, who heads the PAL program. “The one constant about Jordon is his desire to win and his willingness to put in the hard work to be one of the best boxers, poundfor- pound, in the country.”

Murphy’s coach, Steve Collazo, said he’s proud of his boxer’s accomplishments.

“He’s been tremendous,” Collazo said. “Jordon is one of the hardest workers in the gym and then he gives back to the community. He’s at everything … the DJ Program, the tutoring program … He boxes, does wrestling and baseball. He’s always busy.”

The program is free and Collazo said there are 10 boxers in the competitive program and between 35-40 in the recreational program. Collazo also said there were about 10 who just train.

“We work hard to give these kids the opportunities,” Collazo said with a smile. “The price they pay is the community service to the people who help us keep this going. They pay with their sweat and effort, so it really isn’t free.”

By Gary Curreri

Caitlin Huiting has her sights on taking her golfing career to a whole new level.

Whether it is on the LPGA tour or at a golf course, there is little doubt she can accomplish what she wants to.

“I want to be a pro golfer,” said Huiting, who spent her senior high school season playing for the boys’ golf team at Zion Christian Lutheran School in Deerfield Beach. “Either that or a teacher on a big golf course somewhere.”

When it came time for districts, she teed it up with the girls and finished third with an 82 in the District 7-1A competition and advanced to regionals. She duplicated her score at regionals, but didn’t advance to state. She is the first girls’ golfer at her school.

Huiting, 18, enjoyed competing against the boys. Her school team was composed of seven middle school and high school boys as teammates and Huiting said the biggest challenge was driving the ball and how she was a little shorter off the tee in some cases. She made up for it with a stellar short game.

“It was fun playing high school golf against the boys,” said Huiting, who was one of 91 female golfers from around the United States, as well as from China and Finland, that competed in the recent Dixie Amateur Women’s Golf Tournament at the Heron Bay Golf Club in Coral Springs. “I was a great experience, and I enjoyed it a lot actually. It was a lot different than playing with girls.”

Huiting doesn’t practice golf that often, and tries to play one tournament a month. The Dixie Amateur was a step up for Huiting as she took on some of the top amateur golfers in the world.

Huiting opened with an 88, but finished 79-73 for a 240 total and narrowly missed the cut for the final round. Huiting is headed to Seminole State College on a full ride scholarship to play golf next season.

“I am a little surprised that I have done as well as I have without playing that much,” said Huiting, who plans to play in the Future Collegians World Tour at Inverarry Country Club on Feb. 9. “I work really hard for it when I do practice. Taking time off just helps me to recuperate and do better the next time.”

Huiting said she likes golf because of the nature of the game.

“I like the respect that it has,” Huiting said. “Everybody who is around golf is just very respectful. It kind of makes you grow up more. Being around all of the older people is so nice. They are always so courteous and everything. I enjoy it.”

She is also an all-around athlete having played volleyball and softball all four years. She was also a member of the school’s girls’ soccer team and scored twice for the Lions including a penalty kick in a 2-1 (2-1 PKs) shootout win over Highlands Christian in the District 13-1A tournament. The team went on to lose to Yeshiva, 5-0, in the semifinals and finished the year 5-10-1.

By Gary Curreri

Greg Norman hit the ceremonial tee shot off the first tee of Pompano Beach’s Pines Golf Course last week. It signified completion of his first ever Signature Golf Course for a municipality.

The Pines Course has been closed since April 2012. The course is one of two owned by the city of Pompano Beach, and the first municipal course revamped by Greg Norman Golf Course Design.

Norman, who has won 80 professional events, including 20 U.S. PGA Tour titles in the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, said he got his start playing on a municipal course.

“I have been hearing some great reviews and the test of time is still ahead of us,” Norman said. “I am sure everybody is going to enjoy the course. It’s a significant day. We wanted to come in here and make sure that the people would be able to play and keep it affordable. Some of the holes are designed where the ball will gravitate toward the hole depending on the pin placements.”

Norman has designed or redesigned 12 courses in Florida and 84 overall around the world since 1987, including Dubai, Australia and South Africa. Two years ago, the city put out the redesign for bid and the process culminated last Wednesday with the official opening. The course has been open since Jan. 1 for play.

“We took a pig’s ear and turned it into a silk purse,” Norman said. “The important factor is that the city of Pompano absolutely loves it and, hopefully, they will see an increase in rounds.” The new course, which is next to the other municipal course, the Palms, features new Celebration Bermuda turf and irrigation, improvements that should keep the course playable and keep maintenance costs down. It is estimated that there are 94,000 rounds played on the two courses annually.

“This course will definitely be a destination, not only for the residents, but also for attracting tourists from around the world, which means an economic engine for our city,” said Pompano Mayor Lamar Fisher. “The course will be affordable in relation to its quality, complimenting a full service of facilities.”

Commissioner Charlotte Burrie called the day “a beautiful day in paradise.” She becomes a 50-year resident on Feb. 4. She said she played the courses when she younger “and all of the body parts worked.”

“I have never seen the Pines Course any more beautiful than it is right now,” Burrie said. “With a vision of ‘build it and they will come,’ it is beautiful. We have already seen an increase in play and we have received all favorable comments.”

Pompano Beach Golf Pro Bob Loring, who has been the head pro for the past 11 years, said he has already seen an increase in members.

“We have a Greg Norman Signature Golf Course that is close to the beach,” Loring said. “What a great combination for the city of Pompano Beach.”

Loring also shared with the audience how there was a concern about the placement of a cart path and, within a day, in the pouring rain, they moved the path from one side of the fairway to the other. He said the course has the “what” factor.

“Before, when golfers would come in after their round, I would say, ‘what’s the matter?’” said Loring, of the redesign that cost about $4 million. “Now when they come in, they say, ‘what a golf course!’ The Pines course is what you achieve when you combine a city with a vision and a visionary golf course architect.”

By Gary Curreri

It took a little more than half a century; however, Bill Delaney finally got his second hole-in-one.

Delaney’s first ace came as a 14-year-old at the George Wright Golf Course in Boston when he used a 5-iron from 145-yds. out on the fourth hole.

He recorded his second hole-in-one on the 17th hole at the Palms Course at Pompano Beach Municipal during a Pompano Beach Men’s Golf Association Two Best Balls of a Foursome tournament on Halloween.

“I think my skill level had something to do with it,” joked Delaney, 65, of Ft. Lauderdale, who used a 5-hybrid on the 155-yd. hole. “It didn’t allow me to get any closer. It’s actually the luck of the draw. I have had seven or eight balls that I have left inside of 2 in. of the cup. I have had three or four that I have left literally hanging on the cup.”

Delaney, a retired printing company president, helped his team – George Disch, Don Mann and Carlo Spirito – to a third place finish in the tournament with a 121.

“It was nice day,” Delaney added. “I was playing very well. I was hitting it straight all day long. There was a fair amount of humidity in the air and there was a moderate breeze.”

Delaney said after hitting his shot straight as an arrow, the ball hit the pin and dropped straight down into the hole.

“I knew when it hit the pin that it was in,” Delaney said. “It hit the pin with such a loud smack, I felt pretty confident that it went in and, sure enough, when we got up there, we saw it in the hole. My understanding is that when someone gets a hole-in-one, they come in groups. I sincerely hope that between now and when I am 70, I will get a three or four more.”

Delaney started playing golf when he was 12 years old and tries to play three to four times a week. He has an 18-handicap at Pompano because of the conditions; however, he said his actual handicap is around a 12. He said he plays a fair amount of golf at Palm Aire, Heron Bay, Woodmont and Woodlands Country Clubs in Broward County.

Delaney is an admitted chocoholic, so it was pretty fitting and sweet when he scored the second hole-in-one of his golfing career on Halloween. “Given the fact that I love candy, this was probably as good,” Delaney said. “I have absolutely no favorite (candy). As long as it is chocolate, I’ll devour it. I had a jar of candy when I got home that night.”

By Gary Curreri

Deerfield Beach’s Chris Arnold has been playing golf for nearly eight years, but never had a hole-in-one until he aced the Par-3, 190-yard fifth hole at Crystal Lake Country Club recently.

“I just hit an easy 5-wood on a windy day and flew the ball into the hole landing on the lip making a keyhole,” said the 45-year-old Arnold, who plays to a 15-handicap. “I was pretty excited. I’ve had some birdie chip-ins and hit balls in out of the bunker, but this is tops for me.”

Arnold said he saw the ball hit close to the middle of the green near the hole and thought it went long. His two playing partners, Steve Mowry and Will Jorge, were both searching long and short of the green trying to locate the ball.

“I had landed right on the edge of the hole and it blew the side of the hole up,” said Arnold, a cabinetmaker, who said he got as close as 1-ft., 9 in. about a year ago. “It looked like a keyhole, so it went straight in the hole, no bounce, no nothing and, on the bottom of the cup, there was some turf. The whole cup was filled with turf. Will spotted it in the bottom of the cup and I screamed, ‘don’t touch it.’ I ran over and pulled it out. I couldn’t play the next few holes (at all), I was so excited.”

Arnold, who tries to play once or twice a week, said what made it so exciting was the way the ball entered the hole.

“It basically flew into the hole,” Arnold said. “It never bounced and rolled. It literally just flew into the cup. I never realized it went in like that.”

Simply soccer camp slated

Simply Soccer has its final summer soccer camp in Pompano August 13-17. Registration is being held at the Pompano Beach Civic Center. The soccer camp is for boys and girls, ages 5-14, of all skill levels, who are taught a variety of soccer skills from dribbling to shooting.

There are three sessions each day ranging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. (Cost is $100 weekly); extended hours camp is available from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. for $125 each week, and a Tiny Tot program is offered for kids ages 5 and 6 from 9 a.m.to noon for $55 weekly.

Campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. For more information, call Pompano’s Parks and Recreation Department at 954-786- 4119 or 954-786-4111.

By Gary Curreri

Tournament Director Mike Goodrich couldn’t have been happier as a record number of golfers turned out recently for the 5th annual Frankie Foundation Golf Tournament at Palm Aire Country Club.

“We certainly had the biggest field we ever had with 240 golfers and a waiting list,” said Goodrich, 49, of Coral Springs, who said the tournament was staged to raise money and awareness for automated external defibrillators (AEDs).

“We certainly didn’t want to overburden the golf course with slow play, so we kept it at 240 on purpose.”

“You can’t put words on it,” said Goodrich, whose efforts with the foundation have helped raise more than $300,000 in five years.

“Frankie (Speciale) was a very, very special person to everyone and the impact he had on everyone he touched was great. You can see that by the turn-out that we get every year, either with the players, volunteers, sponsors … he was a friend of everybody.”

Goodrich said the scramble/ best ball tournament, on two courses at Palm Aire Country Club in Pompano Beach, raised $70,000 from in-kind donations, tournament fees and the LIVE auction.

More than 30 AED units have been awarded to cities and municipalities in Broward and Palm Beach counties. Goodrich said the Sheridan House and church groups have also been given AEDs.

They also award four $1,000 scholarships annually in Speciale’s name to deserving high school seniors. Speciale died of a massive heart attack while playing in a recreational men’s soccer league match in Deerfield Beach in 2007. Even though the 1982 graduate of Pompano Beach High School was given CPR immediately, his life could not be saved. It is believed an automated external defibrillator might have made the difference in him surviving.

Goodrich, president of the Frankie Foundation and classmate of Speciale’s, said the tournament has grown over the years. The first tournament at Colony West drew a capacity crowd of 144 golfers.

On the Oaks course, Ryan Romero, Jay Guerrieres and Luis Guerrieres won with a 59, while Tom Cooper, Jim Fry, Troy Parra Jr. and Pete Tagget were second with a 60, and won by a match of cards over Doug Chasser, John Dedes, Connor MacBeth, and Ian Shinnick, who took third with a 60.

Dustin Major, Jon Major, Frank Major and Bob Salico shot a 61 to win on the Cypress Course, while Dan Calleja, Shawn Cevra, Howard Nash and Marlon Thompson took second with a 63.

The tournament will be played at Woodlands Country Club next year. Palm Aire, which was purchased by ClubLink last fall, suggested the tournament move to Woodlands because its banquet facility can accommodate the 240 golfers.

By Gary Curreri

Greg Norman returned to his roots, sort of, and hopes to give the city of Pompano Beach a “memorable” golf course.

Norman, 57, the former World No. 1 ranked player who had 20 wins on the PGA Tour, two British Open titles and 80 wins worldwide, was on hand at the Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Course on April 26 for the groundbreaking ceremony of his redesign. This will create a signature course bearing his name.

Redesign of the Pines Course at the Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Course is Norman’s first work on a public course, which is where his career got started in his native Australia.

“My golf career started on a public golf course and I wouldn’t be here today if I didn’t have the access to public facilities,” Norman said. “With that being said, the game of golf can only be started and promoted and grown through public facilities.”

The Greg Norman Golf Course Design company was established in 1987, has opened 74 courses worldwide and has an additional 39 projects in various stages of development. The project began April 2 and the former Pines course is scheduled to reopen on Nov. 16. Norman’s group was the low bidder.

He said the course would be accessible by all walks of players.

“It will be for someone who can hit the ball 40 yards in the air or 300 yards in the air,” Norman said. “They made a big move, a courageous move and I think, from an overall economic side of things, it will be one of the cheapest moves they would have done, in the long period of time. They will see that.”

Bob Loring, head golf professional at Pompano Beach Municipal Golf Course, looked around at the gathering on-hand for the ground breaking and smiled.

“I have been in the golf business for 26 years and this is the most exciting thing that has happened to me as a golf professional,” Loring said. “To have Greg Norman and a Greg Norman Signature Golf Course is just great!”

Dr. Richard Porraro, 75, a member of the Pompano Golf Advisory Board, said because the current course has good soil, it would save on the overall cost.

“It’s an unbelievable day,” Porraro said. “I have been a resident of this city for 48 years and played this course when I was a kid. To think that we would have a signature golf course and the first in the man’s portfolio is phenomenal.”

Broward Sheriff’s Office Homicide Unit detectives have made an arrest in a golfer’s murder from earlier this year.

On January 13, 2011, BSO deputies responded to the Deerfield Country Club after a golfer was shot near the 17th hole early that evening. Lataurus Randall, 35, of Deerfield Beach, was golfing with his cousin Melvin Philpart, when they were approached by two armed and masked suspects that came out of the bushes. During the course of a robbery attempt, Randall was shot and critically injured by one of the gunmen. The two suspects fled into a residential neighborhood to the east of the 17th hole. The wounded golfer was taken by then-Deerfield Beach Fire Rescue to North Broward Medical Center, where he died the next morning.

In the days and months that followed, BSO homicide detectives pursued the search for Randall’s killers. Through the course of the investigation, numerous leads and witness statements led them to Lamont Mayweather, 25, and another man, Charles T. Moye, 25. While Mayweather has been charged with murder while engaged in a felony, Moye is only considered a person of interest at this time.

If anyone has additional information about this homicide, they should contact BSO Det. John Berrena at 954-321-4210 or Broward Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at 954-493-TIPS (8477).