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Ron Balicki

Senior Writer

Ron Balicki joined Golfweek in 1983 and covers college and amateur golf. He was raised in New Britain, Conn., and attended Central Connecticut State. Prior to Golfweek, Balicki worked as a sports editor at the North Florida Daily News. He lives in Mount Ida, Ark., with his wife, Debbie, and enjoys bird watching and spending some quiet time on Lake Ouichita with friends and family.
 
 • Favorite interview: Byron Nelson
• Favorite story you’ve written: Jack Nicklaus winning the 1986 Masters
• Favorite golf memory: Playing in the Mercedes Championship pro-am with Peter Jacobsen, Jack Whitaker of ABC Sports and Stephen Stills of Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
• Best golf shot seen live: Robert Gamez holing out a 7-iron shot from fairway to beat Greg Norman at 1990 Nestle Invitational at Bay Hill

Recent Posts



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Balicki: Memories of a young Bubba Watson

A number of years ago, before he made his way to the PGA Tour, Bubba Watson was playing the Nationwide Tour’s Rheem Classic at Hardscrabble Country Club in Fort Smith, Ark.

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Nation's best headed to Southern Highlands

It has been a number of years since I’ve been to UNLV’s tournament, the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters, so I’m pretty excited about getting back this coming weekend.

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Southwest: Washington's win ends recent woes

After struggling in recent weeks, Washington conquered strong winds and top-ranked Texas to win the Southwest Regional by four strokes Saturday in Norman, Okla.

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Balicki: IUPUI pulls off a record-setting season

IUPUI is not likely headed to the NCAA Championship in L.A., but it can take solace in a breakthrough season.

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Southwest: Washington vaults into the lead

Cheng-Tsung Pan and his Washington Huskies took on the Oklahoma wind and came out with a four-shot lead over Florida State at the Southwest Regional.

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Southwest: Florida State, Texas share lead

Florida State's team unity and confidence showed in round 1 of the NCAA Southwest Regional Championship, as the Brooks Koepka and his teammates share a six-shot lead with Texas.

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Balicki: Kuchar provides a trip down memory lane

Through the years, 2012 Players champion and former Georgia Tech standout Matt Kuchar has stayed true to his roots, reflects Ron Balicki.

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CSU-Northridge's Russo gets NCAA spot, after all

CSU-Northridge junior Chris Russo got a pleasant surprise Tuesday when he was extended an invitation to NCAA regionals. Ron Balicki explains.

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Irish men fight their way into postseason

Ron Balicki: Notre Dame knew that the only way to make it to the NCAA regionals was to post a victory or finish second at the Big East Conference Championship . . . so why not win the title?

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Notebook: Ping/Golfweek Preview will return

An old friend returns to the college golf schedule this coming fall and, with match play now part of the NCAA Championship, some changes in the invitation criteria for the Ping/Golfweek Preview have been made.

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Notebook: Breaking new ground in Long Beach

Men's college notebook: Long Beach State sees steady improvement pay off with a top-40 ranking after hot start to the spring season.

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Notebook: Cowboys must rustle up strong finish

Because of the .500 rule in men's golf, Sean Einhaus and his Oklahoma State teammates are in jeopardy of missing NCAA postseason. College notebook

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Notebook: Kangaroos seek another NCAA kick

Ron Balicki: Last season, Missouri-Kansas City won its first Summit League Championship to gain the school's first NCAA appearance. This season has been up-and-down one for the Kangaroos, and though an appearance at the NCAA Championship is a long shot, anything's possible.

SE Louisiana snaps 2-year drought with victory

Coach Tim Baldwin and Southeastern Louisiana broke a two-year winless streak with a triumph at the UALR/First Tee Collegiate Classic on Tuesday.

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SE Louisiana leads First Tee Collegiate

Southeastern Louisiana fired the best round of the 36-hole day – even-par 288 in the afternoon – to grab a five-stroke lead Monday in the 19th annual University of Arkansas-Little Rock First Tee Collegiate Classic at Chenal Country Club’s Bear Den course.

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Notebook: Arkansas an NCAA contender

Ron Balicki: Texas and Alabama may be the obvious choices to win the NCAA Championship, but don't discount other top teams such as Arkansas, a team that has six wins on the season.

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Notes: A strange new world for Cowboys

Notes: After a stellar 2010-11 season, Oklahoma State lost three first-team All-Americans, which dimmed the Cowboys' prospects for 2011-12.

Notes: Cal's Kilpatrick gets a tough break

Notes: Cal's Keelan Kilpatrick did everything right on the 9th hole, but the course had other ideas for the Golden Bear.

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UNLV clips Cal for huge home win

Facing plenty of questions about its level of talent, UNLV shut up any doubters with a big win over an all-star field at the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters.

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California retains lead at Southern Highlands

It was more of the same Saturday at the Southern Highlands Masters, where California and Max Homa (pictured) retained their lead in the Las Vegas desert. Ron Balicki

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Cal men take lead at Southern Highlands

Coach Steve Desimone and his No. 10 Cal men's squad took the first-round lead at the Southern Highlands Masters in Las Vegas, with the likes of Texas and UCLA trying to chase down the Golden Bears.

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Pinehurst anticipates changes for North & South

Pinehurst Resort and its famed No. 2 course are facing a logistical traffic jam in the summer of 2014. With the men’s and women’s U.S. Opens being played in consecutive weeks, Pinehurst’s men’s and women’s North & South Amateurs, which typically fall within weeks of the national Opens, would seem to be under assault.

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Nation's best headed to Southern Highlands

It has been a number of years since I’ve been to UNLV’s tournament, the Southern Highlands Collegiate Masters, so I’m pretty excited about getting back this coming weekend.

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