UNDER THE BANNER
What's Going On In and Around Black College Sports
BACK IN THE SWING: Former Jackson State golfer Tim O'Neal played his best golf in weeks at the
Nationwide Tour's Rex Hospital Open in
Raleigh, N.C. last week finishing in the money for the first
time in six outings. O'Neal played himself into contention
with a five-under-par opening round 66 on Thursday.
He shot a one-over 72 on Friday to make the cut at
four-under 138. He came back to shoot even-par 71 on
Saturday before making a push into the top 20 with a
final round three-under 68. The high-light of his final
round was an eagle-3 on the par 5 finishing hole that landed him
in a five-way tie for 17th at eight-under 276. South
African Brendan Pappas birdied the final hole to post a one-shot
win over Charlie Wi at 16-under 268 and take home the
$81,000 top prize. O'Neal took home $6,300 for his efforts and
moved to No. 64 on the tour's money list with $29,560. The top
20 money winners at the end of the year on the Nationwide
Tour earn exempt status to the PGA Tour. The talented
Savannah, Ga. native had missed five straight cuts after earning
$23,000 in his first three tournaments of the year including two top
20 finishes. The missed cuts followed a layoff that included
the birth of his second child, nearly three-month old son,
Timothy Jayden. O'Neal and wife Melody are also parents of
a five-year-old daughter, Jordan.
MATHIS, WIMBUSH SIDELINED: It was learned recently that two of the most
productive black college rookies from the 2005 NFL season will be
on the shelf for a while.
Houston Texans' kick returner extraordinaire
Jerome Mathis out of Hampton University
and Derrick Wimbush, the former Fort Valley State University
standout running back who distinguished himself as a kick returner, back-up
fullback and special teams ace for the Jacksonville Jaguars, both were
diagnosed with injuries that will cause them to miss some time possibly
into the 2006 season. Mathis, who earned Pro Bowl status in his rookie year after finishing second
in the NFL in kickoff returns, underwent surgery Friday for
an injury to his left foot that is expected to cause him to miss
at least the first month of the 2006 season. Mathis was
drafted in the fourth round of the 2005 draft and averaged 28.6
yards on 54 returns and was the only NFL player to bring back
two kickoffs for touchdowns last season. The scintillating
speedster had a league-high five returns of over 40 yards and
added five receptions for 65 yards and one touchdown as a
receiver. Mathis said he first experienced pain in the foot
during workouts for the Pro Bowl. After four months of rest
and treatments, the pain persisted and team doctors uncovered
a stress fracture that mandated the surgery. He will be off
his feet for at least a month following the surgery and will
require four months of rehabilitation.
Wimbush, who made the Jaguars' squad as an undrafted free agent
last season, apparently broke a bone in his left arm during voluntary
workouts last week that will require surgery. He was sporting a heavy cast from
his fingertips to his left elbow after the final day of veterans' camp Friday.
He could possibly miss training camp and the preseason. Wimbush set the
team's single-season record for kickoff returns with 955
yards including a 91-yard return for touchdown against Arizona
in November. He also led the Jags with 18 special teams
tackles and had one of the team's two blocked kicks. He took over
at fullback when starter Greg Jones replaced the injured
Fred Taylor at tailback late in the season.
© 2006 Azeez Communications, Inc.