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Forsyth trio to play in Championship From staff reports When the Seventh Annual Georgia Women’s Match Play Championship gets under way this morning in Carrollton, three Forsyth County golfers will among the field vying for a shot at the title. Patti Huxford. Lori Whitaker and Jackie Sexton will each be on the links, with Sexton teeing off at 9:26 a.m., Whitaker at 10:14 a.m. and Huxford at 10:22 a.m. The tournament takes place at Sunset Hills Country Club and runs through Friday. The field Bennett a winner at Lanier National By Jeff Hood For the Forsyth County News Tony Bennett of Gainesville is proving to be the model of consis tency at Lanier National Speed way in 2004 following his win Saturday night in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Pro Late Model 50-lap feature. The 2000 track champion’s one-car length victory over Richey Etheridge, last year’s track champ, comes on the heel of two consecutive second-place finishes at the historic ,375-mile bullring. “There’s a lot of tough guys out here right now.” said Bennett, referring to Saturday night’s 20- car starting field. "And. 50 laps seemed like a long time to me tonight.” Bennett credited his early sea son success to off-season prepara tion on the No. 42 Dodge he pilots. "We've got top-notch equip ment." Bennett said “[Dwayne] Buggay's got good equipment, and so do a lot of other people. Right now we're happy with a win and two seconds.” Cornelia’s Curt Britt passed Larry Jordan on lap six then cruised to his second consecutive victory in the Team Ford of Marietta Pro Truck Series. Britt started eighth but moved up to second by lap three. Darrell Bryson of Lilburn was flagged the winner of the Simpson’s Trucking and Grading Sportsman 25-lap feature, but was later disqualified in post race technical inspection. Mike Bruce of Hoschton was awarded the win. Thomas Ross appeared to be on his way to victory with six laps remaining in the Billy Howell Ford Modified Mini feature until his No. 20 Ford's engine expired with leading with six laps remain ing. Homer’s Keith Roberts capital ized on Ross’ misfortune after he inherited the lead then held off Ty See LANIER, Page 2B Drivers prep for big races at Dragway By Tim Glover For the Forsyth County News Three husband-and-wife teams came to Atlanta Dragway this past weekend preparing for future races in three different categories. Fram Top Fuel racers John and Rhonda Hartman Smith brought their Top Fuel dragsters to prepare for an upcoming NHRA National event in Texas and the Southern Nationals at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, which will be held May 13-16. The Hartman-Smith team made single passes in each car. After dark, they thrilled the spectators with a side-by-side pass, with Rhonda going 4.621 seconds at 320.97 mph to beat John's early shutoff 4.830, 262.69 mph blast. Carole and Gary Parker brought their Mtjdular Motor Mustangs to the Sports of 64 is divided into seven flights by handicap index. There are 16 competitors in the Champ ionship flight, with eight in each of the other flights. The overall champion will come from the Championship flight, which will play their open ing round Wednesday, April 14, with both the quarterfinals and semifinals on Thursday and the Championship Match Friday morning. Players defeated in the opening match will compete in their flight's consolation bracket. Entries were open to the low 64 female ama- Fighting, Southern style ■' |Sr- ■ R ■ .Ml I H Photo/David McGregor Brazilian Jiu Jitsu competitors David Henson, left, and Chuck West display medals won recently at the North American Grappling Association Nationals in Fort Lauderdale, Fla. They hope to one day com pete in competitions similar to those in the Ultimate Fighting Challenge. School trains Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighters By Morgan Lee Sports Writer Surely you've seen it the big yellow sign above Buford Dam Road that blazes “Brazilian Jiu Jitsu” and “400 Fight School," is almost impos sible to miss for northbound drivers on Ga. 400. Once beheld, it's hard not to start wondering exactly what Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and the Fight School, nestled on the hillside, reveal. Dawson County High graduate David Henson found himself harbor ing the same questions back in the summer of 2002, just after the 400 Fight School opened for business. “My friend was riding down 400 and saw the sign, so we went to check it out," said Henson. “I joined the next night." What Henson quickly learned is that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu combines a mix of grappling with kicks and punches, and like any other mar tial art is based on discipline, respect and skill. track to get ready for this week’s Fun Ford Show, and Atlanta Dragway regulars Gerry and Cindy Williams brought their pair of '73 and '74 Chargers to race in the bracket race, with Cindy in Super Pro and Gerry in Sportsman. Pat Musi’s Pro Modified '57 Chevy made some six-second, 210- mph-plus passes in preparation of the upcoming NSCA Hot Rod Nationals on April 30-May 2. A father-and-son team also had a good evening, with father Ray LaCount winning Super Pro and son Preston LaCount making it to the semifinals in 8-12 Junior Dragster. Mel Abney, the 2003 Trophy Street track champion, overcame engine and transmission problems that have been plaguing his Cumming-based '67 Camaro this year and took home the winner’s tro- He also learned that he really liked it. So much so, that now almost two years later Henson can call himself one of the best amateur middleweights in America. Henson recently won a silver (in Gi) and a bronze medal (in No-Gi) at the North American Grappling Association (NAGA) Nationals in Fort Lauderdale. Fla. the nation's second-biggest Brazilian Jiu Jitsu tournament, second only to the Pan American Games. Yet one of the most astounding facts about the fledgling school is that Henson is not the only pupil in Cumming to rise to the top. In fact, under the guidance of head trainer John Henderson, the school also boasts one of the nation’s top heavy weights. Chuck West —a North Gwinnett graduate joined the program at 400 just eight months ago and is already on the fast track to the pinna cle of the Jiu Jitsu world. Winning gold in the Gi and silver in the No-Gi (Gi refers to the white uniform familiar with all martial arts. No-Gi means a competition in street clothes.) division of the NAGA Nationals. West hopes to go on to fight in No Holds Barred (NHB) competitions like those seen in the Ultimate Fighting Challenge. “He will be one of the top in the world in the next three of four years." phy after defeating Mike Newby from Marietta. Newby finished in the finals for the third time in four races with his show quality '69 Chevelle. Although both racers actually had a red light. Newby was the first one to go red (leaving the starting line before the timer starts), which cost him the race. Abney’s car was great, turning in a 13.49, 104.44 mph pass (13.48 dial). Newby’s car was close, run ning 13.78,97.01 mph (13.80 target). Rob Hogue (’B4 Monte Carlo SS; Loganville) and Josh Harris (’9B Mustang; Toccoa) were the semifinal finishers. Abney said he was still chasing a fuel problem, but added that at least the problem was consistent. Although Joshua Sisson has been See DRACWAY, Page 2B * teur golfers who are members of a GSGA Member Club and Georgia residents. The par-71 layout will play to about 5,751 yards for the Championship flight, while the first through sixth flights will play to approximately 5,349 yards. Laura Coble of Augusta returns to this year’s competition as the event’s three-time defending champion, the reigning Georgia Women’s Amateur Champion and the 2003 GSGA Women's Player of See TRIO, Page 2B said Henderson, who himself was a champion after training for “five to six years" in Alliance Jiu Jitsu under noted Brazilian master Jacare. "He's a prodigy." said Henderson of West. “He will be very well-recog nized pretty soon.” For West, who was a high school wrestler, the grappling and physical nature of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu came naturally. “I was just looking for something to get back in shape." noted West, who decided to give the sport a try after watching the Ultimate Fighting Challenge. “It's got a faster pace than wrestling, but you have to have about the same amount of stamina. They're both grueling, but Jiu Jitsu is more of an art form ” Henderson describes Brazilian Jiu Jitsu as a chess match. “It's based on science and lever age," said Henderson. “It’s a scientif ic art. more intellectual than physi cal." But don’t let that fool you. Jiu Jitsu athletes must be in top physical condition to deal with the fast-paced, five-minute rounds that start in a fighting stance and usually end in a heap on the floor. Competitors at NAGA tourna ments must force their opponents to submit, meaning that joint locks. See FIGHTING, Page 2B | U | 11 il.vl i ****!■. ' ** • MM— i Pboto/Submitted Pat Musi’s Pro Modified '57 Chevy made some six-second, 210- mph-ptys passes this past weekend at Dragway. OUTDOORS F ir > ___ i' Photo/Bill Vanderford Spotted bass have already begun their spawning cycle and are becoming more aggressive every day. April is a time of rebirth By Bill Vanderford For the Forsyth County News Spring has finally come to Lake Lanier, and the shorelines will soon be ablaze with colors from the dogwoods, mountain laurel, rhododendron and wild azaleas. Sediments deposited from rains mix with the constant ly falling pollen to give the lake water a greener color. Surface temperatures are rising above 60 degrees Fahrenheit for the first time, and the spotted bass popula tion has turned its interest to food and mating. Spotted bass have already begun their spawning cycle and are becoming more aggressive every day. One "sure-fire” method to catch big numbers of these one to five-pound bass during this period requires the use of a tiny lure that closely resembles small er shad minnows. This is accomplished by employing a small, inline spinner known as the “Swirleybird.” The perfect Swirleybird size for spot ted bass is one-eighth ounce. Though one may catch bass just by casting and reeling with the Swirleybird, learning the proper method will guarantee success throughout the next two months. However, one must learn to go against conventional bass wisdom, especially in respect to the hook set. In fact, if the reac tion to a strike is treated with a hard, upward jerk to set the hook, most spotted bass will be missed. Success will come when one learns to tease the spotted bass by winding the reel handle one quick revolution, followed by a contin ued slow retrieve. This action pulls the bait away just enough to incite the fish into taking in more of the tiny lure on its next pass. This sequence could See REBIRTH, Page 2B B