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10A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • MONDAY, JULY 31, 2017 CONTACT US FOLLOW US facebook.com/ DailyAstorianSports Gary Henley | Sports Reporter ghenley@dailyastorian.com It’s ‘Go Time’ for the Oregon Ducks as fall camp opens By ANNE M. PETERSON Associated Press EUGENE — There is much talk about a culture change at Ore- gon, and it seems as if the players are taking it to heart. Quarterback Justin Herbert was thrown into the starter’s role last season as a shy freshman. He’s since put 15 pounds on his lanky 6-foot-6 frame and new coach Wil- lie Taggart joked that he’s been strutting around without a shirt on. Then there’s running back Royce Freeman, already a phys- ical force, who Taggart said has changed both his attitude and his approach. Taggart is about to embark on his first season as Oregon’s head coach and he’s pleased with the attitude shift he’s seen in his play- ers since his arrival. Fall camp opens on Monday and the work begins in earnest. “It’s go time. The honeymoon is over,” Taggart exclaimed Sunday. “We are ready to roll.” Just two seasons after playing in the first College Football Play- off championship game, the Ducks’ run of 11-straight winning seasons ended with a thud — a 34-24 loss to the rival Oregon State Beavers. Oregon finished 4-8 overall and at the bottom of the Pac-12 North standings at 2-7. Three days after the season the Ducks dismissed Mark Helfrich. Taggart’s last two head coach- ing jobs have also been rebuild- ing projects. He was coach at South Florida for the past four sea- sons, guiding the team from a 2-10 record his first year to a 10-2 mark and a spot in the Birmingham Bowl last season. “Anytime you come into a new program, changing the culture is probably the biggest thing and the hardest thing to do because they have been doing it a certain way for a while,” he said. The transition hasn’t always been smooth. Co-offensive coordinator David Reaves resigned in January after he was arrested on charges connected to driving under the influence. Wide receivers coach Jimmie Dougherty, AP Photo/Anne M. Peterson Oregon head coach Willie Taggart speaks at Autzen Sta- dium in Eugene Sunday. The Ducks are preparing to open fall camp under their first-year head coach. a passenger in Reaves’ car, left in early February for UCLA. Oregon’s strength and condi- tioning coach was suspended in January when three players were hospitalized because of grueling workouts. And wide receiver Darren Car- rington was dismissed from the team recently after he was also arrested to driving under the influ- ence. Carrington, who had 15 TD catches for the Ducks, was expected to be one of team’s top receivers this season. He trans- ferred to Utah. Despite the rocky start Taggart has clearly embraced his new job, becoming the Ducks’ most visible cheerleader on social media. He’s enthusiastically pursued recruits, evident Saturday night when Ore- gon hosted “Saturday Night Live,” a prospect camp at Autzen Stadium. Herbert and Freeman will be key to his offense — which Herbert vowed will be even faster than Ore- gon’s speedy “blur” offense that pushed the Ducks onto the national stage under coach Chip Kelly. “We’re going to try and go even faster this year,” Herbert said at the conference media day this week. “The emphasis is on going fast. We’ve got so many guys to make plays, and my job is to distribute the ball.” SCOREBOARD GOLF Oregon Coast Invitational Final match results Grand Champions Championship Flight: Riley Elmes def. Anthony Arvidson, 3&2. Semifinals: Elmes def. Rex Puterbaugh; Arvidson def. Randy Tucker. First Flight: Samuel Hinton def. Bill Winter. Semifinals: Hinton def. Preston Van Hook; Torkelson def. Bill Winter. Second Flight: Patrick Wood def. Chris Shepard. Semifinals: C.Shepard def. A.J. Shepard; Wood def. Cameron Nicklos. Third Flight: Scott Vinson def. Craig Froude. Semifinals: Froude def. Tommy Mulflur; Vinson def. Richard McGee. Fourth Flight: Peter Griggs def. Rob Goodman. Semifinals: Goodman def. Mi- chael Wood; Griggs def. Steve Mozinski. Fifth Flight: J.P. Nantz def. Ronald Ste- vens. Semifinals: Nantz def. Jim Senes- cu; Stevens def. Brock Rice. Women’s Championship Flight: Lara Tennant def. Gretchen Johnson, 3&2. Semifinals: Johnson def. Cappy Mack; Tennant def. Amanda Jacobs. First Flight: Molly Edmunds def. Ali Battaglia. Semifinals: Battaglia def. Dotty Johnson; Edmunds def. Renee Case. Second Flight: Hillary McNeill def. Mary Swingle. Semifinals: McNeill def. Jan Whitty; Swingle def. Kristin Finnegan. Third Flight: Lori Petersen def. Zeta Rennie. Semifinals: Rennie def. Robin Endres; Petersen def. Kathleen Casey. Fourth Flight: Helene Mayer def. Leslie Bickmore. Semfinals: Mayer def. LaVona Goforth; Bickmore def. Sue Ann Bearden. Fifth Flight: Luanne Fordney def. Jer- ry Bridwell. Semifinals: Fordney def. Pat Fuller; Bridwell def. Mary Wohler. Junior Seniors Championship Flight: Matt Elmes def. Dennis Sturgell. Semifinals: Sturgell def. Kurt Payne; Elmes def. Doug Edwards. First Flight: Mike Ralston def. Rob Turk. Semifinals: Ralston def. Mike Naimo; Turk def. Allan LaPlante. Second Flight: Jim Fromer def. Greg Korkowski. Semifinals: Korkowski def. Beau Harlan; Fromer def. Mark McGraw. Third Flight: Brad Nantz def. Tal Gohl. Semifinals: Gohl def. Dan Hall; Nantz def. Bill Hurst. Fourth Flight: Doug Palin def. Greg Hope. Semfinals: Hope def. Jim Jack- man; Palin def. Mark Murphy. Fifth Flight: Storm Floten def. Brian Pienovi. Semifinals: Pienovi def. Robert Endres; Floten def. Tumbarello. Sixth Flight: Wes LaRiviere def. Tim Regan. Semifinals: LaRiviere def. Joe Dandoy; Regan def. Dennis McAuliffe. Seventh Flight: Mike Obrien def. Mi- chael McNamara. Semifinals: Obrien def. John Tennant, Jr.; McNamara def. Rick Campbell. Seniors Championship Flight: Bret Stevens def. Tom Mulflur. Semifinals: Stevens def. Mike Maltman; Mulflur def. Patrick Terrell. First Flight: Michael Terrell def. Wal- ter Yeaw. Semifinals: Terrell def. Brooke Benz; Yeaw def. Robert Tennant. Second Flight: Chris Hayward def. Roger Stalick. Semifinals: Hayward def. Anthony Rennie; Stalick def. John Mayer. Third Flight: Bill Bristol def. Royal Latham. Semifinals: Latham def. Dan Whealdon; Bristol def. Lynn Brigham. Fourth Flight: Bob Jordan def. Stanley Gott. Semfinals: Gott def. Scott Peterson; Jordan def. Rick Nelson. Fifth Flight: Daniel Lindquist def. Mike Capri. Semifinals: Lindquist def. Joe Uzelac; Capri def. Skip Nau. Super Seniors Championship Flight: Larry Wob- brock def. Gaylord Davis. Semifinals: Da- vis def. Peter Roscoe; Wobbrock def. Jeff Leinassar. First Flight: Russ Taggard def. Rick Abrahamson. Semifinals: Abrahamson def. Bill Weed; Taggard def. Jon Palm- berg. Second Flight: George Mack, Sr. def. Joe Patrick. Semifinals: Patrick def. John Dunkin; Mack def. Jon Woodson. Third Flight: Lang Bates def. Larry Veltman. Semifinals: Veltman def. Tom Stearns; Bates def. Ron Nakata. Fourth Flight: Gordon Harris def. John Turman. Semfinals: Harris def. Fred Hamel; Turman def. Kevin Kelly. Fifth Flight: Tom Isenhour def. Jarrett Jones. Semifinals: Jones def. Tony Pa- sion; Isenhour def. John Holt. Sixth Flight: Wayne Spencer def. Peter Goforth. Semifinals: Goforth def. Michael Millette; Spencer def. John Holmes. Seventh Flight: Jeff Wohler def. Ken Kadera. Semifinals: Kadera def. Miles Sweeney; Wohler def. Jim Hauck. Eighth Flight: Marty Sells def. Jerry Briggs. Semifinals: Sells def. Russ Drag- on; Briggs def. Gary Clunas. Ninth Flight: Albert Carder def. John McLoughlin. Semifinals: Carder def. Rick Williams; McLoughlin def. David Aase. Gary Henley/The Daily Astorian Bret Stevens of Astoria won the Seniors’ title in the championship flight Saturday, a first for Stevens. Family connections rule final day of Coast Invite By GARY HENLEY The Daily Astorian WARRENTON — “It’s all about family,” said Lara Tennant, in her address to the crowd follow- ing her Women’s Division victory in the annual Oregon Coast Invi- tational, which concluded Satur- day at the Astoria Golf & Coun- try Club. “Family” is why Tennant plays in the annual tournament, and fam- ily is why one of the oldest tourna- ments on the West Coast remains so popular. The 107th Oregon Coast Invi- tational definitely had a big fam- ily theme this year, as multiple families went home with some prize-winning hardware Saturday. In addition to Lara (Mack) Tennant winning her 10th Wom- en’s title, father George Mack Sr. won the second flight in the Super Seniors’ division, and sister Cappy advanced to the semifinals of the Women’s championship flight. Elsewhere, Astoria’s Bret Ste- vens won his first championship flight trophy, taking first in the Seniors division, while son Ron- nie was runner-up in the Grand Champions’ fifth flight. And Saturday’s big winner was definitely the Elmes’ father-son combo. Riley Elmes successfully defended his Grand Champions’ title, winning the championship flight for the second year in a row, while dad Matt Elmes rallied to win the championship flight of the Junior Seniors division. It’s been a tradition like no other for the Mack family, which now has over 20 championships in the OCI. Women’s Division In Tennant’s victory Saturday, she held a slim 2-up lead after the morning 18-hole round, increased it to 3-up, then finally finished the match on the 34th hole, for a 3&2 win over Portland’s Gretchen Johnson, playing in her first Coast Invitational. It’s the 10th Women’s title for Tennant, her first coming in 1990. She had to get past four-time OCI champion Amanda Jacobs in Fri- day’s semifinals, one day after a quarterfinal victory over Charisse Spada. Tennant used a near-miracle shot on the sixth hole in Satur- day’s afternoon round to maintain her lead over Johnson. Her tee shot on No. 6 landed on the other side of a ridge bordering the right side of the fairway. “I was more concerned about Gary Henley/The Daily Astorian Laura Tennant sends her approach shot to the green on the 13th hole in Saturday’s afternoon round, as her caddy (and sister) Cap- py Mack looks on. Gary Henley/The Daily Astorian Riley Elmes tees off on the seventh hole, on his way to his second straight Grand Cham- pions title. getting it up and over the hill,” she said. “And I hit a6-iron to within 15 feet. I knew I hit it well, but you never know how it’s going to end up.” Later, Tennant made a birdie on 14 and parred 15 and 16, “and just wanted to make par from there,” she said. “(Johnson) played well.” The entire week was “slower at the beginning, then I played bet- ter each day,” Tennant said. “And that’s what’s most important, to play really well on Friday and Sat- urday. The wind was so tough this year. It was consistently the most windy golf of any coast tourna- ment I’ve ever played in.” Grand Champions In the Grand Champions’ match, Elmes was 1-down to Anthony Arvidson after the morn- ing round, but rallied and was 1-up through the fifth hole of the after- noon round. Elmes also clinched the win on the 34th hole, 3&2. Seaside’s Sam Hinton bounced back from his first round loss in the Grand Champions division to win the first flight. Elmes’ father, Matt, was even with Dennis Sturgell through 11 holes in the Junior Seniors cham- pionship, but then won the next two holes for a 2-up lead. It was the second Junior Seniors title in three years for Matt Elmes. In the Seniors’ championship flight final, Stevens had the home course advantage against Tom Mulflur. “Most of the club mem- bers know all the bounces on this course,” Stevens said. “You know where to play it, so it’s a little bit of an advantage. But the out-of-town people have also played this course a lot. It’s highly competitive.” Stevens was 3-up through 11 holes, but Mulflur rallied and eventually pulled even. “We both bogeyed 17, then parred 18 to go extra holes,” Ste- vens said. From there, both golfers parred the first extra hole, and Ste- vens parred the 20th hole (played on the 18th) to win. “It was an even match the whole way,” Stevens said. “(Mul- flur) was a little longer off the tee, I just got the ball up and down around the greens one more hole than he did.” Stevens’ highlight shot was “the putt on the 20th hole for birdie. I just put it up there close, about a foot away, and made that for a par.” Sturgell said, “Bret also won the Senior (Astoria) Club Cham- pionship, so he’s had a good golf season.” “I’ve been playing this for about 20 years,” Steven said, “and this is only the second time I’ve made it to Saturday, but the first time for a championship flight.” The Super Seniors title went to Larry Wobbrock, who made a nearly 35-foot putt on the first hole to set the tone in his match with Gaylord Davis.