July 10, 2021 Issue, Page 4 of 10

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4 July 10, 2021 Sports The King of the Course: Legendary “Greens Chairman” leaves golf legacy By Shonda Little partial share that allowed the That made me get serious, and First, he and his wife had to it.” out of guilt,” Martin praised. development of houses while golf became my career. When I relocate from New Mexico. The Alvarez said that Stuart had Alvarez and Martin praised As the COVID-19 pandemic also funding the creation of came here, Elk City had not board’s integrity soothed their many friends and golfing Stuart’s innovative vision for has at long last lifted its the course. had a golf pro for a while, and anxieties. partners at the course. Craig technology and business. punishing head, the Elk City Stuart truly made the course they had been interviewing. “Right away, we saw eye to eye Martin, though, stood out to “He started out way back in the Golf Course is finally back in his home. If he wasn’t out Leon was on the board. He and — in and out of the course,” Alvarez as one of his more 1970s with the SCAT radio. He full swing. inspecting the facility or those other members were Alvarez said. “Leon was the consistent partners. built a pager business way back The summer slate is packed greens, he was thinking of the instrumental in bringing me kind of man who would call a Martin and Stuart also formed tight with tournaments and best way to irrigate it. He spent here and welcoming my family. foul on himself. In golf, you their friendship at the course. when. Now we can’t imagine scrambles. Plentiful rains and countless hours swinging clubs I didn’t want to work just really have to be your own Martin’s family owned and that with cell phones, but what careful grounds keeping have with his friends and business anywhere — I wanted to be at referee. It is not like football or operated the respected Martin he built got cell phones out resulted in the darkest greens associates. Then, at the end of a course with members who basketball or soccer where Funeral Home before selling to here so much quicker than in recent memory. the day, he would sleep nearby. loved the game. That is what I officials force players to follow the Dugger family in 2014. they would have been. He Nevertheless, members are “Leon loved the golf course,” got in Leon and the board.” the rules. In golf, you have the “Actually, Leon was my dad’s loved looking at towers. He eagerly taking to the course in said Elk City’s golf pro Alex As Alvarez took on the official opportunity to be as honest or friend before he was mine,” even owned a few,” Martin friendly competition. Alvarez. “He loved the people. managerial role at the course, dishonest as you can allow Martin laughed. “They had said. Missing, though, is a giant He loved every hole. He loved he observed how Leon yourself. Leon was the kind of golfed together, too. Leon and Stuart’s contribution to Elk amongst the Elk City Golf passing it onto new conducted himself. man who put penalties on I just made a good fit on the City — in business, in civic Course members and generations. Leon is the “The thing about golf is the himself. He wanted to beat you golf course. If I had to guess, I participating community. example of the best things the responsibility is all on you. If fair and square. And during would say that we probably groups, the golf course and, Leon Stuart, the only known game can teach you — hard you are late for a tee time, it is that time, whether you won or golfed 200 tournaments above all, his friends and person to have participated in work, honesty, and friendship.” not your mom’s fault or your he won, he was building together. My wife Brenda and I family are beyond calculation. all of the first fifty Oil and Gas Ten years ago, Stuart was on boss’s fault. It is your fault. friendships. You could count would travel with him and his Alvarez added, “He was a Tournaments, died on June 27 the Elk City Golf Course board Leon was someone who owned on him for a favor, and his wife Lana. Some of my very mountain of a man. We can’t at the age of 81. when Alvarez was hired. that responsibility, and he word was as good as gold. We favorite memories have his big go to him anymore and ask for Last year, The Elk City News “I had been at the game since handed it down to his children had a few professional smiling face.” business advice. He knew ran a series to commemorate 1967 when I was growing up in and grandchildren. Through disagreements, but we settled Martin echoed Alvarez’s every inch of this course. The the 50th anniversary of the Mexico,” Alvarez recounted. the years, I enjoyed watching them. It was then put aside, sentiment on Stuart’s honor void he leaves is bigger than Elk City Oil and Gas “Long story short, I was him pass that to each of his and we went back to working on the greens. the space he filled in life. I’ll Tournament. already playing around, but I little grandchildren. You could on the same team. He reminded “I saw Leon call several Stuart was featured and laid wasn’t serious. Then the World see how much he adored them me a lot of my dad because he penalties on himself through forever feel blessed to have out the history of the golf Cup came to Mexico City. and sharing his passion with always had your back, and he the years. The way he thought come to Elk City and to have course — how local citizens Arnold Palmer and Jack them,” Alvarez said. did not micromanage. He about it was simple — if he made all the friends I have. took action themselves to pay Nicklaus were both playing. Moving to Elk City was no expected a job to be well done, cheated you and knew it, he Leon Stuart is at the top of for the land, each getting a My mom was a big Arnie fan. small commitment for Alvarez. but he also expected you to do would end up beating himself that list.” Big 12 football: Thunder: Five things to know OU’s Spencer about NBA Draft Rattler named preseason Offensive prospect Jonathan Kuminga Joe Mussatto, The Oklahoman In a Players' Tribune essay, Kuminga wrote about buying Player of Year Last May, Jonathan Kuminga tweeted out a cartoon drawing of 30-minute sessions at internet cafes to watch highlights of Kobe Bryant and LeBron James. himself with five jerseys hanging in the background. From left to "Growing up, I almost never played on an indoor court — for Jacob Unruh, The media. right, Texas Tech, Duke, Kentucky, Auburn and finally, a black most of my childhood there weren't any in Congo," wrote Oklahoman Other Sooners selected were jersey bearing the NBA G League logo. Kuminga, whose first language is French. "Most of the time the fullback Jeremiah Hall, wide That last jersey is the path Kuminga chose. pair of sneakers I was wearing during games would be too beat- OU star quarterback Spencer After reclassifying from the 2021 to 2020 class, Kuminga skipped up to even recognize what brand they were. receiver Marvin Mims, Rattler was named the Big college and signed with the G League's developmental program "Basketball has been my passion for as long as I can remember, offensive linemen Marquis 12’s Preseason Offensive for a reported $500,000 deal. but for most of my life, nothing about the way I experienced the Hayes and Wanya Morris, The 6-foot-6 forward joined the newly-formed G League Ignite Player of the Year by the game was flashy." and kicker Gabe Brkic on the — a team coached by Brian Shaw that featured other preps-to- conference’s media on Kuminga moved to the U.S. before his freshman year of high offensive side. pros prospects like Jalen Green, Daishen Nix, Kai Sotto and Wednesday and was one of school. Defensive linemen Isaiah Isaiah Todd. 10 Sooners named to the "I think a lot about how so many kids from Congo usually don't Thomas, Perrion Winfrey Jarrett Jack and Amir Johnson were among the NBA veterans on get the same kind of opportunity as me to really follow their team. and linebacker Nik Bonitto the roster. Transfer running back Eric passions and show the world what they can do," Kuminga wrote. were selected on defense. The Ignite trained in Walnut Creek, California, before traveling Gray was voted the Newcomer "Thinking about that is one of my main motivations." OU led the conference in to the G League bubble, which began in February at Disney World of the Year. Kuminga told The Athletic that "If it wasn't the G League, I was selections, just edging Iowa in Orlando. The Ignite went 8-7. Oklahoma State had two going to play with my brother." Here are four other things to know about Kuminga: selections: offensive lineman State’s eight picks. Kuminga's older brother, Joel Ntambwe, was playing for Texas Kuminga, who doesn't turn 19 until October, averaged 15.8 Josh Sills and safety Kolby The Cyclones’ Mike Rose was Tech at the time. points, 7.2 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 13 games in the G League Harvell-Peel. named the Defensive Player Ntambwe, a 6-foot-8 forward, started 31 games at UNLV as a bubble. He was the Ignite's second-leading scorer behind Green. But the team was full of of the Year. Former Norman Kuminga excelled at using his size and strength to get to the rim, freshman before transferring to Texas Tech. He sat out the 2019- Sooners flavor. North star tight end Charlie where he was a skilled finisher. Kuminga often caught the ball in 20 season and left the program last December after playing in Rattler, a Heisman Trophy Kolar was the lone unanimous the high post and bullied smaller defenders as he backed his way just three games. contender, is coming off a selection. to the basket. Ntambwe is pursuing a pro basketball career. season in which he passed for Much like Scottie Barnes, Kuminga's jump shot needs a lot of Kuminga is one of the youngest prospects in the draft, and he'll Jacob Unruh covers college 3,112 yards and 28 work. He shot 38% from the floor and 25% from 3-point range need plenty of time to develop — particularly on the offensive sports for The Oklahoman. touchdowns in 11 games. He on five attempts per game in the G League. He was only a 63% end. You can send your story ideas also rushed for six TDs. free throw shooter. The Thunder is a natural landing spot in that regard given its Gray transferred from to him at junruh@oklahoman. patient approach and good track record of development. Kuminga certainly has the body to be an elite defender, but he Tennessee after he led the com or on Twitter at @ Thunder forward Aleksej Pokusevski was the youngest player wasn't known to be consistently locked in. team with 772 rushing yards. jacobunruh. Support his Despite a brief and uneven G League season, the young wing selected in the 2020 draft, and he showed significant growth He also caught 30 passes, work and that of other didn't slide too far down draft boards. Kuminga is projected by from the beginning of his rookie season to the end. which was second on the Oklahoman journalists by most to be picked fifth or sixth, putting him right in the Like Barnes, Kuminga would give the Thunder an imposing team. He was not selected to purchasing a digital Thunder's range. presence on the wing, but it's all about how his shot and offensive the overall team by the subscription today. Kuminga grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. skills progress.