Thursday, July 12, 2001
Herman out to repeat 'Masters' win
Met champion Gerwin also among favorites
By Malcolm C. Knox
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Same guy. Same event. Same results ... he hopes.
But still, it's not going to be the same.
Jim Herman will try to defend his title in the Fifth Third Bank/Fox 19 Celebrity Classic this weekend at Kings Island. Herman won the Classic last year as an amateur. It turned out to be his last amateur event.
Herman turned pro after the tournament last year and is now playing on the Golden Bear Tour in Palm Beach, Fla., where he has made the cut in two of four tournaments.
The Celebrity Classic matches the top golfers, amateur and professional, in Cincinnati with celebrities from sports and entertainment to crown a local champion.
“This year I'm going to side with the pros and try to put the amateurs in their place,” Herman said.
Greater Cincinnati Golf Association Amateur champion Robert Gerwin II said the media exaggerate the rivalry between the tiers of Cincinnati's golfers, but, “Of course the pros don't want to lose to the amateurs.”
His win in the Classic, dubbed the “Masters of Cincinnati,” was the second consecutive tournament victory for Herman last summer. Two weeks earlier, he won the 91st annual Met.
Herman followed this year's Met through friends and the Internet. Even though Herman and Gerwin are both St. Xavier High School graduates, Herman paid special attention to two guys from the University of Cincinnati.
“I was really hoping my former teammates, (brothers) Nick or Neil Lykins, would have pulled through,” Herman said. “It was nice to keep it in the high school.”
Gerwin and the Lykins brothers will play in the Classic again. Tim Donovan, another St. X alum, also will play. Donovan finished sixth in the Celebrity Classic last year and was one of the last 16 players in the Met.
“St. X has a history of some real fine players,” Gerwin said.
Herman turned professional after last year's Classic and has been trying to work his way up the pro golf ladder.
“I was expecting it to be hard,” he said, “and it's been hard. The money's good if you can get in the top five or top 10. I need to get playing a little better so I can play for the big dough.”
As an amateur, Herman didn't get a cash prize for his win last year. Paul Hobart had the lowest score among professionals and won $8,000.
“(Hobart) always gives me a hard time about that,” Herman said. “Last year I was just out to play and prove myself.”
Gerwin played golf at Furman University and took a shot at playing professionally, which didn't last long.
“I didn't really have the proper opportunity to succeed,” Gerwin said.
Just after the Met, Gerwin hadn't been champion long enough yet to talk about what it felt like, he said. A week and a half later, he feels like the same guy.
“It's been nice,” he said. “There's more to life than golf.”
Gerwin isn't making any predictions for the tournament at Kings Island.
“I just try to do one hole at a time,” he said. “I'm not as good as Jim Herman.”
Check out our Tristate golf guide for a directory and features on local courses, coverage of the Men's and Women's Met, and other news.
Sports Stories
Dunn, Rijo callups not imminent
Dunn hits two HR, wins All-Star MVP
Larkin having roughest year
Braves may have need for Reese
Reds-Indians Scouting Report
Xavier drops Midnight Madness
Price says he's headed to Delaware St.
Prison term renews Douthard's NFL drive
Bengals' 6th-rounder signs
UC awaits Maxiell's eligibility
Herman out to repeat 'Masters' win
