The Jack Nicklaus Heart & Stroke Challenge is being played during the month of July across the country, and at nine clubs in Naples, according to a press release.

In its third year, the Challenge is a month-long series of golf events to raise awareness about the increasing risk of heart attack and stroke among men and women age 55 and older, and encouraging them to talk to their doctors about what they can do to reduce their risk.

Entry is free with the option of buying a $10 mulligan to raise money for cardiovascular disease research and education. Each member of the two winning teams at the local level will win a framed lithograph of Nicklaus’ farewell at the British Open and will become eligible for a day of golf activities in West Palm Beach with Nicklaus.

The participating courses in Naples are: Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club, Moorings Country Club, The Strand, Eagle Creek, Golf Club at Fiddler’s Creek, Golden Gate Country Club (the Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort), Arrowhead Golf Course, Bonita Bay Club East, and Olde Florida Golf Club.

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The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort was named No. 21 in the country and No. 1 in the state of Florida by Conde Nast Traveler magazine in its June 2006 issue. It’s the fifth straight year the resort at Tiburón Golf Club has been on the top 100 list.

“We take enormous pride in this annual ranking,” hotel manager Michael McMahon said in a press release.

The Golf Resort was one of several Ritz-Carltons on the top 100. La Playa Golf & Beach Resort in North Naples made the list at No. 50.

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The PGA Tour announced on Monday that the Ford Senior Players Championship winner on the Champions Tour and the Nationwide Tour’s leading money-winner will earn spots in The Players Championship beginning in 2007.

The 2007 event will be played from May 7-13.

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Bonita Springs’ Peter Jacobsen tied for third on Sunday at the U.S. Senior Open. Jacobsen, who won the tournament in 2004, had the lead after birdieing three of the first seven holes, but a double-bogey on No. 9 dropped him back.

Jacobsen won the tournament in 2004 in St. Louis. Fuzzy Zoeller, who plays out of Naples National Golf Club, tied for 22nd at 283, and part-time Naples resident Wayne Levi tied for 44th at 291. Part-time Naples resident John Harris missed the cut.

Jacobsen will try to defend his title at the tour’s second straight major, this week’s Ford Senior Players Championship, which begins on Thursday. Zoeller, Levi and Harris also are in the field.

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The Golf Channel announced on Tuesday that Nick Faldo would be the cable network’s lead analyst for its PGA Tour coverage beginning next year, when it starts a 15-year contract with the tour. The six-time major champion has worked the past few years with ABC.

“Adding someone of Nick’s caliber to our team will be a great asset to our network,” said David Manougian, chief executive officer of the Orlando-based network, in a press release. “And because of his versatility and various interests, we can explore ideas for him other than solely golf telecasts.”

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Rocco Mediate isn’t on the PGA Tour again this week. Mediate said after the U.S. Open that he wasn’t planning on playing again until the Buick Open, Aug. 3-6.

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Naples’ Kris Tamulis and Bonita Springs’ Catherine Cartwright are back on the LPGA Tour for this week’s Jamie Farr Owens Corning Classic in Sylvania, Ohio. Also in the field is part-time Estero resident Karen Weiss.

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Fort Myers native Tommy Tolles is in the field for this week’s Scholarship America Showdown at Somerby in Byron, Minn. Part-time Estero resident Chip Beck isn’t in the field. The tour was off last week.

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Ashley Prange, a part-time Fort Myers resident, and Meaghan Francella, who works with Naples-based instructor Tom Patri, are in the field for this week’s Duramed Futures Tour event in Bloomfield, Conn. The tour was off last week.

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Hideout Golf Club professional Gene Fieger won his third straight Firecracker Pro-Am on July 1 at Quail West Golf & Country Club. Fieger shot a 67 to win the 15th annual event over Peter Baxter of Grey Oaks, who had a 69. David Kent, J.D. Murray and Nevin Sutcliffe all had 70s.

Valencia’s Woody Dougherty and amateurs Roberto Bollt, Lane Price and Brett Howell won the team competition with a 24-under 120. Heritage Palms’ David Negip and amateurs Pat O’Brien, Sam Sirianni Jr., and Chocky Warriner were second at 121, followed by Quail West’s Scott Smith and amateurs John Conti, Phil Graffy and Jim Erwin at 122.

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Chris Jensen of The Landings in Fort Myers and Nevin Sutcliffe of Mirror Lakes Country Club in Lehigh Acres were part of a tie for second at the South Florida PGA Section’s Pro-Pro Championship on Tuesday in Key Largo.

Jensen and Sutcliffe finished with a 36-hole total of 127, one shot behind Lee Rinker and Jerry Tucker. Gary Baker and Wes Smith of Grey Oaks were part of a tie for fourth at 128, and David Kent and Brian Rigsby of The Club Renaissance were part of a tie for sixth at 129. Jeff Carter of Pelican’s Nest and Scott Smith of Quail West tied for 10th.

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Jackie Miller and Scott Ernst of Naples tied for 26th at the Florida State Four-Ball Championship over the weekend at Westin Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor. Miller and Ernst shot 72-71. Michale Thompson of Bonita Springs and Jeff Carine of Windermere finished a stroke behind Miller and Ernst.

Edward Kenny of Lake Worth and Paul Melson of Plantation finished at 135 and won on the first playoff hole over Andy Purnell of Jacksonville and Steve Carter of St. Augustine.

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Wayne Dahlstrom will be providing the free short-game clinics at Riviera Country Club for the Play Golf America’s Take Your Daughter to the Golf Course Week this week. To contact Dahlstrom, call 370-1047.

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Other upcoming golf events follow:

-- Executive Women’s Golf Association — League play every Monday at Arrowhead ($22), 596-1000, or The Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club ($25), and Thursday at Tiburón ($35), 594-2040. Upcoming events: July 29, The Club at The Strand; Aug. 12, Florida Sectional Championship, Lely Resort; Aug. 19, Glen Eagle; Nov. 2-4, EWGA National Conference, Palm Beach. For more information, go online to naplesewga.com.

-- Tournament Players Association — Upcoming event: Cape Coral Summer Championship, July 15-16, Cape Coral Country Club, $100 entry fee, stroke play. For more information, call Doug Oselett at 458-0754.

-- Arrowhead Twilight Scramble — Each Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Started on April 19. The entry fee is $25 for the four-person scramble. There will be a blind draw for groups. Call 596-1000 by 2 p.m. each Wednesday.

-- Collier County Women’s Golf Association — Remaining schedule: Cedar Hammock, Aug. 11; Vasari, Aug. 18; The Glades, Sept. 8; Glen Eagle, Sept. 22; Vanderbilt, Sept. 29; Stonebridge, Oct. 13. Those interested in joining can contact Doris Roberts at 793-0644 or Helen Nulse at 353-6944.

-- Gulf Coast Junior Tour Adult/Junior Golf Tournament — Saturday, July 29 at Vineyards Golf & Country Club in North Naples. The tour also will have its awards luncheon on that date.

There is no charge for junior tour members, and a $25 entry fee for adults age 21 and over. The tournament has an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. The entry deadline is July 10. The luncheon is from approximately 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. For more information, call Cindy at 597-6858.

-- South Florida Junior Tour — Conducted by the South Florida PGA Section. Juniors must join the tour by going to http://sflorida.pga.com and clicking on Junior Golf. Remaining tournaments — July 19-20, Hammock Creek, Palm City; Aug. 1-2, Doral Resort & Spa, Miami; Oct. 7-8, The Club at TwinEagles, Naples; Nov. 11-12, Martin Downs Country Club, Palm City.

-- Southwest Florida Junior Golf Association — Ages 8-18. Remaining tournament schedule — July 21, Worthington (18 holes), TBA (9 holes). The Nolan Henke/Patty Berg Junior Masters Invitational, July 24-29, Cypress Lake Country Club. July 31, Adult/Junior, Golden Gate Country Club. More information at swfjga.com.

-- U.S. Kids Naples Local Tour — Ages 4-12. Schedule: July 13, The Forest; July 20, Club at Renaissance; Aug. 7, Naples Grande; Aug. 12, Golf Club of the Everglades; Aug. 26-27, Tour Championship, Club at TwinEagles. More information: 1-888-3USKIDS or www.uskidsgolf.com.

-- Rick Smith Golf Academy Junior Golf Camps — Remaining session dates are July 17-21, July 24-28, July 31-Aug. 4, and Aug. 7-11. Registration deadlines are three days prior to the first date of each session. Camps are for ages 7-17. Entry fees are $250, plus tax. Sessions are from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Family members can attend Friday’s awards barbeque for an additional $15.

For the advanced junior golf camps, remaining session dates are July 17-21, July 24-28, and Aug. 7-11. There is a limit of 20 juniors for each session. Camps are for ages 7-17, with sessions from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. each day. A mini-tournament with trophies is held on the Thursday and Friday of each session. For more information, call 593-1111.

-- WCI/Mercedes-Benz of Fort Myers Junior Golf Tour — Remaining schedule: July 18, Gulf Harbour (18 holes), Pelican Preserve (9 holes), $25 entry fee; Aug. 1, Pelican Marsh (18 holes), Tiburón (9 holes), $25 entry fee; Tournament of Champions, Aug. 12, Hammock Bay. Junior golfers must also become members of the tour in addition to the tournament entry fee. For more information, go to www.wcijrgolf.com or call 498-8040.

-- X-Factor Junior Golf Tour — Upcoming tournaments: July 15-16, Don Shula’s Golf Club, Miami; July 29-30, Miromar Lakes, Estero; Aug. 5-6, University of Florida, Gainesville; Aug. 19-20, Hammock Bay, Naples; Sept. 2-4, Orange Lake, Kissimmee; Sept. 30-Oct. 1, Lake Jovita, Dade City; Oct. 28-29, Bonita Bay Club, Bonita Springs; Nov. 18-19, PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie; Dec. 31-Jan. 1, 2007, Tour Championship, World Golf Village, St. Augustine. For more information, call Karen Hannaford at 822-8590 or visit www.x-factorjuniorgolf.com.

-- Cypress Woods Golf Academy — Remaining three-day camps, July 18-20 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Fee, $90 per student. Monday Junior Camp: July 3, 10, 17, 31 from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fee, $25. Weekend Junior Camp: July 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., $30. Call 592-7860 or e-mail golfpro@cypresswoodsgolf.com.

-- Faldo Golf Institute/Kids Golf 4 Free — The new program allows adults and kids to play and learn the game together. Juniors age 15 and under can golf for free with a full paying adult after 3 p.m., and free lessons for juniors age 15 and under with full-paying adult. The program also is available at The Rookery at Marco. For more information, go to www.marriottgolf.com.

-- LPGA Girls Club of Collier County — At Arrowhead Country Club on Mondays at 10 a.m. on July 17, 24, and 31, and Aug. 7. Girls ages 7-18. High school girls grouped together. Same with middle school and elementary school girls. Call 450-1165.

-- Naples Grande Golf School — Remaining sessions, Tuesday through Friday, Aug. 8-11 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Players of all skill levels welcome. Ages 7-17. Entries limited to first 20 players. Fee, $150 per student per week or $40 per day. Deadlines for the remaining sessions are June 27 and July 25, respectively. Call Mark Durland at 784-2208 or e-mail him at m(underscore)durland@msn.com.

-- Vasari Country Club — Remaining sessions, Aug. 7-11 from 9 a.m.-11 a.m. Ages 5-17. Fee, $100 per child for five days or $25 per child per day. Call 594-3959.

-- Vineyards Junior Camps — Remaining sessions: July 18-21, Aug. 1-4 from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Fee, $150 per child per week. Call 353-0505. Junior golfers also are encouraged to check with their local club.

-- Joel Ingersoll Memorial Golf Tournament — Sunday at Pelican Marsh Golf Club.Registration is at 7:30 a.m., with a shotgun start at 8:30 a.m., and lunch and an awards ceremony to follow. Sponsorships are available for $100, $500 or $1,000. The entry deadline was July 5. The player entry fee is $125.

Johnson & Wales University will match the net proceeds raised in the tournament. As of last year, over $85,000 had been raised through the scholarship fund for scholarships to Collier County students to attend Johnson & Wales. For more information, contact Lori Ingersoll Jaffee at 591-3528.

-- Fort Myers Miracle Golf Giveaway Night — Friday, Aug. 11. Gates open at 6 p.m., with the Miracle’s game starting at 7. Hundreds of free rounds of golf will be given away during the game from area golf courses. For tickets, call 768-4210 or go to www.miraclebaseball.com.

-- Seventh annual Miracle Baseball Golf Classic — Sunday, Aug. 13 at Pelican Preserve in Fort Myers. The event benefits the Foundation Fighting Blindness. Registration is at 7:30 a.m., with an 8:30 a.m. start for the four-person scramble. The entry fee is $125, or $550 per foursome, including hole signage. Registration includes tickets to the Aug. 11 Miracle game. For more information, call 768-4210.

-- Fantasy Golfers Association/Michelob Ultra Golf Tour —The tour events are generally stroke-play formats following USGA rules, with one- or two-day events. Tournaments are flighted by handicap. Top finishers in each flight receive non-cash prizes. Awards vary depending upon size of fields. Events also provide optional skins games. In order to abide by USGA rules, no single or cumulative prize value will exceed $750. Call Jim Stockman at 593-3485 or visit www.ultragolftour.com.

-- Greater Naples Golf Association — Accepting new members for its senior division. Interested golfers can contact Harry Sauchelli at 598-1261 for an application.

-- Naples Recreational Golf — Singles 45-65 on Sunday mornings. Call 594-0661.

-- Southwest Florida Singles Golf Group — Sundays, ages 50-and-over. Call 597-7349.

-- Golden Gate Women’s Golf Association — Accepting members for a Thursday morning golf league. Call 774-3031.

-- Southwest Women’s Tri-County Golf Association — The association has monthly events. Call Rona at 793-6844.

-- Southwest Florida Seniors Golf Group — Call Bill Dey at 936-2018 or Kathy O’Hern-Smith at 275-9749.

-- Arrowhead Golf Club — Weekly scramble, Wednesdays. Shotgun start, 5:30 p.m. Call 596-1000 at least two days in advance to sign up.

-- Southwest Chapter PGA — For more information, go online to www.sflorida.pga.com and click on “Chapters.”

-- Body Balance For Performance of Naples — Mike Willett and Mike Via have their own golf/physical therapy show on Comcast Channel 35.

-- Cypress Woods Practice Facility — Open to the public with a natural grass range, pitching and chipping area and large practice green. Adult and junior individual lessons and camps by perennial PGA award winner Tal Buchanan. After school junior group lessons starting now. Call 592-7860 or e-mail golfpro@cypresswoodsgolf.com.

-- Arrowhead Golf Academy — PGA professional Mike Dopslaff, a four-time Southwest Florida PGA Player of the Year, provides instruction. Individual, group lessons. Call 596-1000.

-- KISS Golf For Women Golf Schools — At Royal Poinciana Country Club. LPGA teaching professionals Lorie McCabe and her staff offer two- and three-day golf schools for women. Private instruction also is available. Call 1-888-451-KISS or 354-3633. The school’s Web site is www.kissgolfforwomen.com.

-- The Naples Golf Academy— New location will be at Hibiscus Golf Club on Rattlesnake Hammock Road in East Naples. Hibiscus is in the process of developing a new practice area and clubhouse. The Naples Golf Academy will remain at the Naples Golf Center on Davis Boulevard until April. Lauri Travers, Phil Grear and Chris Travers are the academy’s instructors. Go online to www.learningggolf.com for more information on their new clinics, or call 732-9944.

-- Naples Grande Golf School — At Naples Grande Golf Club. The golf school assists club members, resort guests and the general public. Mark Durland has 10 years of experience, including the past five at Naples Grande as an assistant professional. Durland, who plays left-handed, also spent time teaching at Naples National Golf Club and Huntsville Golf Club in Shavertown, Pa. At Naples Grande, he has assisted with Dave Pelz Short Game Schools and Nicklaus-Flick Golf Schools.

Jeff Belen, founder of www.neutralgolf.com, has 17 years of teaching experience. A former member of the Michigan State golf team, Belen designed and taught schools for Champions and PGA Tour players with instructors Bob Toski and Mac O’Grady. Belen spends his summers at The Country Club at Muirfield Village in Dublin, Ohio. Neutral Golf incorporates two training aids: a swing path liner and neutral grip.

The school offers individual and package lessons, group and clinic instruction, as well as video instruction, playing lessons, club fittings and general game assessment. The school also has junior sessions on Saturdays from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. through the end of the school year. For more information, call Mark Durland at 784-2208 or Jeff Belen at 614-580-1506.

-- Tom Patri Golf School — Patri is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, and he works with all golfers of all ages and abilities at Lely Resort and The Health Club of Naples. TPGS offers half-day golf schools, with and without nine holes of golf, and also offers fitness programs geared to golfers. Visit www.tompatri.com.

-- Rick Smith Golf Academy — At Tiburón Golf Club. Smith, a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and rated the No. 5 teacher by Golf Digest, has a staff of PGA instructors at Tiburón Golf Club. Programs include Rick Smith Premier Sessions, conducted by Smith himself and two additional staff members. Along with private instruction, the academy also offers schools ranging from 1/2-days to a three full-day comprehensive school including on-course instruction. Ninety-minute golf clinics are being offered for $75, featuring full swing or short game instruction. Ladies clinics are scheduled throughout the year. Junior clinics available for golfers ages 7 to 17. Call 593-1111 or visit ww.wcigolf.com/ricksmithacademy.

-- Dr. Jim Suttie Golf Academy — at The Club at TwinEagles. New studio with state-of-the-art technology. 2000 PGA of America Teacher of the Year. Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Rated No. 11 by Golf Digest. Instructional programs include 2- and 3-day schools as well as private lessons. Call 866-817-7729 or visit www.jimsuttie.com.

-- David Leadbetter Golf Academy — At LaPlaya Beach & Golf Club. Leadbetter is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Academy programs include three-day golf schools and players’ schools, and a one-day mini-school. Private instruction and playing lessons also are available. Call 592-1444.

-- Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools — At Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. Full and half day schools are offered. Instructional packages are one, two or three days. All instruction is by appointment only. Private instruction and playing lessons also available. Thirty-five years of instructional experience. Call 482-0900 or visit www.webgolfdoctor.com.

-- The Nick Faldo Golf Institute — At Marriott’s Marco Island Resort. Instruction programs are based on the teaching philosophy and techniques developed by Faldo. A three-day improvement school ($1,175-$1,295 per person), two-day weekend/short game school ($675 to $895), and a two-day selection session package ($500-$595 per person) are among the packages. Call 1-888-GO-FALDO for prices and information.

-- The Golf Learning Center at Quail Creek Country Club — Tom Stickney is director of instruction. Programs are open to the public and include individual lessons and group school for players of all levels and ages. Stickney was voted by Golf Magazine as one of the top teachers in the state and the Southeast in 2003. Call 597-2900.

-- The Golf Institute — Club fitting program includes evaluation based on series of tests, including frequency check and lie and loft angle. Putting evaluations also are available. Call 643-5895.

-- Tom Manziano Golf Academy — At Pelican’s Nest Golf Club in Bonita Springs. The academy features a staff of PGA professionals. Call 947-4600, ext. 224 or visit www.tomgolf.net.

-- Dennis Meyer’s Golf School — at Quality Inn Suites & Golf Resort in Golden Gate offers two-, three- , and four-day schools. Playing lessons included in full-day golf schools. Half-day options are available as well. Private lessons available. Call 1-800-445-4554 or 267-4652.

-- Beach Club Golf School — Under the direction of Larry Gantzer, head professional, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club. Private short game instructional area, video taping, playing lessons available. Call 435-2475.

-- Coral Isle Golf Center — Located 5 miles north of Marco Island. Offering 1/2-hour and 1-hour private lessons, men’s and ladies clinics, golf school. Lights have been added extending hours until 10 p.m. every day except Sunday, when it’s open until 9 p.m. Demos also available. Call 732-6900.

-- Dennis Clark Lessons —A Golf Digest senior instructor and has an Advanced Specialty Certification in Golf Instruction. Call 250-6424.

-- Steve Anderson Lessons — Director of instruction at Mirror Lakes Golf Club in Lehigh Acres. 2000 Teacher of the Year by the Southwest Chapter. Awarded Advanced Specialty Certification in Instruction by PGA. Call 369-1997.

-- John Jacobs Golf School — at Lely Resort. Staffed by local PGA and LPGA professionals. School offers 5-day week and 2-day weekend sessions, plus corporate days and private instruction. Discounted rates for junior golfers. For more information, call 1-800-472-5007 or visit www.jacobsgolf.com.

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To submit an item for the golf column, send a fax to 263-4816 or e-mail gshardwig@naplesnews.com