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USA Today
2 days ago
- Business
- USA Today
Golfweek Pacific Northwest Amateur returns to Wine Valley GC, where owner Jim Pliska will tee it up
Golfweek Pacific Northwest Amateur returns to Wine Valley GC, where owner Jim Pliska will tee it up It's important to Jim Pliska that there are opportunities for the top seniors in the Pacific Northwest to showcase their talent locally, get World Amateur Golf Ranking points and play with the best talent in the world. Luckily Pliska, the owner of two top courses in Washington and Oregon, is in a position to do something about that. Pliska runs Space Age Fuel, one of the largest independent fuel marketers in Oregon, and is also the owner of Wine Valley Golf Club in Walla Walla, Washington, and Emerald Valley Golf Club in Creswell, Oregon. The courses, roughly 350 miles apart, frequently host championships – and that was one of Pliska's motivations for getting involved in the golf industry as a course owner. Tournaments range from Oregon Golf Association events to Pacific Northwest Golf Association events to college events, considering Emerald Valley is home to the University of Oregon Golf teams. Perhaps most notably, Wine Valley served as a U.S. Open Final Qualifying site on June 2. Next month, Wine Valley will host the Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Amateur for the fourth time. The 54-hole event draws top amateurs from around the country. Last year, former U.S. Senior Amateur champion Doug Hanzel took home the trophy. 'I like to give back in that respect because I feel supporting the competition and competitive golf helps overall golf in general,' Pliska said. 'I think it's such a great game I want to keep it in existence.' Pliska, at 66, is an accomplished player himself. He competes six or seven times a year and is constantly working on his game. Lately, that means working out daily and also working through swing issues with instructor Mike Mitchell in La Quinta, California. 'My game, I can feel it's getting better but getting it consistently better,' Pliska said, 'it's still got work to be done.' Pliska, who will tee it up at the Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior, played on the University of Oregon roster for a year in the late 1970s after transferring in from Mt. Hood Community College. He continued to stay sharp in the game and has won the OGA Tournament of Champions a handful of times. Pliska, a veteran of several USGA championships, is still pursuing a U.S. Senior Amateur berth. As he works to get his game to the level that he can meet that goal, the majority of his time continues to go to Space Age. Meanwhile, the day-to-day of golf course operation largely falls to the general manager at each facility. 'I've got some good people that have worked for us for a long time,' Pliska said of his golf course staffs. And despite being hands-off in most respects, he's still involved in major decisions. Pliska's history with Emerald Valley goes back to his days at Oregon but Wine Valley, site of the Golfweek event, is a relatively new course. Wine Valley opened in 2009 and was designed by Dan Hixson. It is ranked No. 3 in the state of Washington on the Golfweek's Best Public Courses list and also appears on the Golfweek's Best Top 200 Modern Courses list. Pliska thinks golfers love playing Wine Valley because it's a challenging-but-fair layout. He calls it a second-shot golf course. Because many holes have multiple sight lines, a player can be out of position and still have a chance to recover. That there's no standard way to play the course is one thing that Pliska thinks makes it great. 'It gives you a lot of different opportunities out there,' he said. 'There's not a tree on the golf course so it's kind of open, big features, big greens, lot of movement on the greens. It's a fun course to play because you can play different shots, it's not standard shots – it's not a traditional golf course. It's more of the newer links type of golf course. I think the beauty of it, too, is great.' The Golfweek Pacific Northwest Senior Amateur will be played July 1-3 at Wine Valley and registration remains open across all four divisions: Senior (age 55-64), Super Senior (Age 65-69), Legends (age 70-74) and Super Legends (age 75 and over).
USA Today
4 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Kiara Romero posts lowest final-round score by an amateur in a U.S. Women's Open history
Kiara Romero posts lowest final-round score by an amateur in a U.S. Women's Open history ERIN, Wis. – Kiara Romero leaves Erin Hills with a piece of history. The 19-year-old amateur went out in the first group on Sunday at the 80th U.S. Women's Open and posted the lowest final-round score by an amateur in championship history. Romero's 5-under 67 included six birdies and was a whopping 17 strokes better than her Saturday score. "I think just knowing that I was literally in dead last kind of freed me up into knowing I had absolutely nothing to lose and just playing my game," said the University of Oregon standout. "Knowing I've been playing some good golf. I made the cut to get here. I knew I had it in me and I just tried to stay patient and put that round behind me." The third-round scoring average at Erin Hills was 75.23, and Romero, like many other players, got especially tripped up on the drivable par-4 15th where she made an eight. "I think it was just a lot easier, like everything was just coming to me," said Romero, one of six amateurs to make the cut. "I could read the greens and I knew what club I was hitting. Yesterday all those things were just a mystery to me. It was like I've never played golf before, yeah. Just happens I guess." Romero, who will return to Oregon for her junior season in the fall, had head coach Derek Radley on the bag at Erin Hills. The 2023 U.S. Girls' Junior champion made her USWO debut last year at Lancaster Country Club where she missed the cut.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Open letter: UO journalism faculty, staff warn of growing threats to the press
An open letter to our journalism students and the University of Oregon community from faculty and staff of the School of Journalism and Communication. Dear students, colleagues and our community, Journalism and freedom of speech are under attack. We write this letter as proud faculty and staff in the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon who feel the urgency of the times. These are not isolated events, anomalies in an otherwise functioning system. These are systemic and systematic attacks on the First Amendment by our own government. In recent months, the administration has targeted journalism. Lawsuits are in motion against '60 Minutes,' the 'Des Moines Register,' and the Pulitzer Prize Board while the Associated Press was banned from the White House for refusing to change the name of the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. Voice of America has been gutted, and an executive order would defund the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Our political leaders have set a tone of accusation and denial, and the label 'fake news' has normalized open hostility against journalism and journalists. Large corporations have the choice whether to fight or acquiesce. But these attacks chill the broader journalism landscape, pressuring local news organizations to make choices about whether to publish news that risks lawsuits and costly legal action. Rümeysa Öztürk, a Tufts University Ph.D. student, was arrested by plainclothes ICE agents on the streets of Boston on March 26 and was held in a Louisiana detention center for the act of writing an op-ed in her college newspaper. After six weeks in detention, a federal court ordered her release. From the highest offices of our government, we've heard rhetoric that characterizes journalists not as citizens doing the hard work of democracy, but as enemies to be discredited. And this rhetoric has spread to state and local government leaders, a contagious disease in a country that has lost its herd immunity. Let us be clear: These actions are not political disagreements or critiques of coverage. They are threats — direct and indirect — to the constitutional foundation of our democracy. You do not have to like what journalists report to support their right to publish. As teachers and staff, we train our students to report honestly, think critically and serve the public good. As a university community, we are charged with nurturing free inquiry, principled debate and the exchange of ideas across differences. These values are not partisan. They are democratic. To our journalism students: Your work matters. You are carrying on the essential, often risky work of bearing witness and seeking truth. Journalism is not an act of compliance. It is an act of responsibility. To our community: A free press is not a luxury. It is a safeguard. At its best, it holds power accountable, exposes injustice, and helps us understand one another. It is a check against the excesses of governments and corporations. To weaken it — whether through legal intimidation, rhetorical attacks or bureaucratic roadblocks — is to weaken the public's ability to know, to question and to decide. Silence is not neutrality. In moments like this, we must affirm, clearly and unapologetically: The role of journalism is essential. The right to report, to question and to publish is not a privilege granted by the government. It is a right enshrined in the First Amendment and defended by generations who came before us. Respectfully,Faculty and staff in the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon, including: Charles Butler, professor of practice; Christopher Chávez, professor; Ari Coburn, development program coordinator; Alex Segrè Cohen, assistant professor; Nicole Dahmen, professor; Andrew DeVigal, director, Agora Journalism Center; Therese Devoe, building & operations manager; Torsten Kjellstrand, journalist; David Koranda, professor of practice emeritus; Peter David Laufer, James Wallace Chair, professor; Dr. Regina G. Lawrence, associate dean and professor; Tai Le, communications & events assistant; Ed Madison, associate professor; Nick Mahlum, SOJC academic affairs project manager; Karen McIntyre, assistant professor; Joey McMurry, instructor; Annie McVay, graduate programs assistant; Juan-Carlos Molleda, dean and professor; Daniel D. Morrison, professor of practice; Deborah Morrison, Ph.D., professor, associate dean; Camilla Mortensen, Ph.D., instructor, Eugene Weekly editor; Hailey Nailor, career & academic advisor; Julianne Newton, professor and doctoral program director; Sung Park, professor of practice; Kym Rohman, instructor; Lori Shontz, professor of practice; H. Leslie Steeves, professor; John Sutter, assistant professor; Brent Walth, associate professor; Christine Wise, professor of practice; Will Yurman, instructor. This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: University of Oregon faculty defend First Amendment
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Derrick Harmon signs rookie deal with Pittsburgh Steelers as team bets big on defensive future
Derrick Harmon signs rookie deal with Pittsburgh Steelers as team bets big on defensive future (Image Source: Getty Images) The Pittsburgh Steelers formally signed their 2025 first-round draft choice Derrick Harmon on Tuesday, May 20. The young defensive tackle has now signed a four-year rookie contract with the team. The contract, per NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, is fully guaranteed for a total value of $17,973,604. Derrick Harmon (the third Harmon to play professionally), is a former college football player from both Michigan State and the University of Oregon, was chosen 21st overall during the 2025 NFL Draft. The Pittsburgh Steelers are aiming to strengthen their defensive front with this agreement in place heading into the new season. Derrick Harmon signs Pittsburgh Steelers rookie deal after standout college career Derrick Harmon, 22 years old, started his college football career in 2021 at Michigan State University until 2023, and finished at University of Oregon for his last year in 2024. His experience at defensive tackle made him desirable to many teams. On April 25, 2025, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Derrick Harmon with the 21st overall pick in the first round of the NFL Draft. Derrick Harmon signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers on May 20, 2025, after weeks of negotiation. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Thị trường có dấu hiệu suy thoái không? IC Markets Đăng ký Undo His contract consists of a full guarantee, so he will get the entire figure of $17,973,604 whether he gets injured or performs badly. The signing was confirmed by NFL insider Tom Pelissero in his official X (formerly Twitter) post. Also Read: Aaron Rodgers Puts NFL Career On Hold As Cancer Battles In Inner Circle Take Priority Over Steelers Deal Pittsburgh Steelers hope Derrick Harmon can bolster defensive depth The Pittsburgh Steelers had trouble stopping the run game in their 2024 playoffs. In their Wild Card game against the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh gave up 186 rushing yards to running back Derrick Henry and another 81 rushing yards to quarterback and overall threat Lamar Jackson. It became apparent the team required additional assistance in the middle of their defense. Head coach Mike Tomlin spoke about Derrick Harmon after the pick. 'For us, it starts inside and upfront, and this is a guy that is capable of dominating that space versus the run and the pass,' he said on April 25 during a post-draft press conference. 'He has Steeler DNA.' Derrick Harmon is expected to make his regular season debut on September 7, 2025, when the Pittsburgh Steelers visit the New York Jets. That game marks the beginning of the team's new campaign. With the deal done and training ahead, Derrick Harmon will now focus on learning the system and earning his place in the rotation. Fans hope he becomes a strong presence on the field and brings stability to the defensive line. Get IPL 2025 match schedules , squads , points table , and live scores for CSK , MI , RCB , KKR , SRH , LSG , DC , GT , PBKS , and RR . Check the latest IPL Orange Cap and Purple Cap standings.
Time Magazine
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time Magazine
Penny Knight and Phil Knight
Nike co-founder Phil Knight and his wife Penny regularly appear on lists of the most generous donors in the U.S., with estimated lifetime giving of $3.6 billion —including $370 million in 2024 —most often focused on educational institutions and community initiatives. Their donations to academia often have a personal connection. The Knights have donated $1 billion to the University of Oregon, Phil's alma mater, for the Phil and Penny Knight Campus for Accelerating Scientific Impact, an innovation hub focusing on biomedical and human performance research. Their $75 million gift in 2022 to Stanford University, where Phil got his MBA, set up a brain resilience research initiative, and followed earlier gifts to the school of more than $500 million. Elsewhere, the Knights in 2023 pledged $400 million to the 1803 Fund, which invests to strengthen the historically Black community in North and Northeast Portland. The nonprofit's initial project centers on Albina, a formerly vibrant business and residential community noted for its music scene that was partially razed to make way for a highway and basketball arena. 'I'm pretty proud of what it's done so far,' Phil, 87, says of the foundation. 'And I'm optimistic about what it will contribute in the future.'
