ad hitting?in the past

NL East standingsW L p~: GB55 33 .62553 36 .596 2V2

Next for Braves .Who: at PhilliesWhen: 7:05 p.m. todayTV; radio: SPSO; 680,93.7,100.5Starters: Braves RH BrandonBeachyvs. RH Roy Halladay

"~~~~;:;~your eyes- ed.

_1Ci:':.::5:_ the offensiveestions about a

-- rhe faceplant by_~ •••.••~_<::sudden tabloid

ger McDowell and-hatever that wasr Jones said some-ason Heyward not

- a sore shoulder ...•• ~~.- e Braves have over-

From the clubhouseSuper rookie: Freeman couldsurpass Heyward's first seasori.

1on a homestand. They've wonnine of their past 10 and 14 of,their past 17 to close to within2~ games of the first-place Phil-adelphia Phillies.The Braves and Phillies meet

in a final weekend series beforethe All-Star break beginning'to-night. A few weeks ago, couldyou have imagined this many

n again Thurs-umped the Colo-

ies 6-3 and swept a=. eries by a compos-

~ __c.,u:-24-8. They went 6- Schultz continued on C4

\HN MACKEY: 1941-2011~t end redefinedsition in the NFLfini~hed his career with"ceptions and ~8 touch-sin an era 'when most,indswere little morelockers. In retirement;hed for better health- former players. C6

Their next meetingoccurs in September.

Not a must-win seriesfor Atlanta, but' a chanceto gain some ground.

ByCarroll Rogerscrogers@ajc,com

,When the Braves playthePhillies this weekend, it will, be the last time the two teamsmeet before September.It will be a chance for the

Braves to get as close to thePhillies as they've been in al-most two months, after hover-ing around four or five gainesback for three weeks.But that doesn't mean the

Braves, 2Yz games back after a6-3 victory Thursday against •Colorado, look at this series inPhiladelphia as some kind of,must-win proposition. '

"It's still early in the sea-son," said Braves pitcher Der-ek Lowe, who will start the fina-le Sunday against Cole Hamels."Just don't get swept."Braves veterans might be try-

Series continued on C3

game series at Philadelphia thatstarts tonight."It was a good day," Brave.s

pitcher Tim Hudson (8-6) saidafter working 7V:J innings forthe.win, ~ ."A terrific homestand," man-

ager Fredi Gonzalez said afterhis Braves won six in a seven-game stand to gain momentumbefore the biggest series so' farthis season.

Braves continued on C3

Freddie Freeman is greeted in thedugout by Brian'McCanh (right)and others after his three-runhomer in the third inning.Curtis Compton ccompton@ajc,com

The fans like themThe Phillies' Shane Victorino andthe White Sox's Paul Konerko wonthe online fan vote for the finalspots on the All-Star rosters. C4

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First 'Tee,openslinksfor area junior golfers ,Adams, Swearingenamong 78 competingtoday at Pebble Beach. '

By Meghan Rosemrose@ajc.com

a reality for 78 of the nation's- junior golfers, as they pair with

professionals and play the linksat ,Pebble Beach in the NatureValley First Tee Open.Martavious Adams, who at-

tends Ben Franklin Academy,and, Tommy Swearingen Ill,who attends South Cobb HighSchool, join the junior field inthe tournament today throughSunday as-part of the officialChampions Tour."It offers them the opportu-

nity to play with world-classplayers on a world-class facili-ty," said Jeff Dunavant, direc-tor of instruction at the First

First Tee continued on C5' ,

Ask any young golfer, aridhe'll tell you about his idols inthe game, the professionals hetries toimitate from opening, drive to final putt. That younggolfer might even tell you abouthis dream to play alongsidethose same pros in the future,walking the course side by sidewith golf bags in hand. .But this weekend, that will be

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In a sense, Craig Ram-say is going home.Ramsay grew up out-

Tee of East Lake. "Peo- side Toronto and spentple go their lifetime withe Martavious'Adams attends TommySwearingen 1\1 22 NHL seasons in Buffaloout getting to play Pebble Ben FranklinAcademy In a}tends South Cobb High as a player and coach. HeBeach." Atlanta. He also played last School InAustell. Photos by found warmer confinesSwearingen, 16, is year at Pebble Beach. JohnnyCrawfordjcra,,<ford@ajc.com in 1993 when he went

paired with World Golf to Florida to help startHall of Famer Larry Nel- the expansion Panthers.son, who grew up in The Pebble Beach tour- golf and life-skills tests. Ramsay, and several of Gord MurpAcworth. Adams, 17,will nament is unique in that it "If they don't pass the his children, established a player forplay with pro golfer Jim is open only to junior golf- test, that's where the-life roots in Florida. during RThorpe. ers who are active mem- skillscomein," Dunov- The NHLlife took him sons (1993-9"I just want to learn bers of a First Tee pro- ant said. "They have to-re- to other cities - Tam- team. Defe

from who I get paired gram. Applicants for the main positive,ke,ep work- pa, Philadelphia, Ottawa, jovanovskiwith, and hopefully they'll tournament were judged ing on their game." Boston and Atlanta - but turned to thgive me some good tips to on golf ability, participa- Swearingen picked up now he is going back.. where he stake back home with me," .tion in their chapter, pro- golf 13years ago and now The former Thrashers four NHLsSwearingen said. _ gression through the pro- holds a USGAhandicap of coach was announced as He was coAdams added, "It's' gram's curriculum and in- 2,4. Adams started play- an assistant coach with the orga .

good to see how these volvement in extracurric- ing golf after-it was of- the Panthers on Thurs- Ramsay wasguys play golf differently ular activities. Additional- feredas a part of his gym day. Ramsay coached the connections- how they focus on each ly, each applicant was in- class six years ago. He . Thrashers for one season easy return.and every shot and make terviewed and answered a now has a USGAhandicap beforethe franchise was "We are p.sure that it counts." set of essay questions. ' of3. Something about the sold and reloca ed 0 Will- come Craig

While this is Swear- Adams has been a sport keeps them both nipeg, Manitoba, Ramsay Florida Paningen's first trip to Peb- member of the First Tee , coming back. interviewed for is posi- ly," Tallon.ble Beach, Adams played of East Lake for six years, "I'm a really competi- tion, but was .. ed. ment. "He isin last year's tourna- while Swearingen has tive person, and Ijust en- , "It is kind of e going hockey minment, hitting the course been a member of Atlan- joy competing against home" Ramsax - ~A .to our orgwith world-famous golf- ta's chapter-for 10 years. different people at each couple of other - and wealth of her Tom Watson. "He made First Tee aims to teach tournament," Swearin- I had discussio s. t this rience ha .you comfortable, and he young people charac- gen said, seemed to m - - e most player, headwould help you with any ter, values and healthy "Allmy friends would sense. It felt comf ble. tant coachpart of the golf course choices through the game be outside playing basket- It just seemed - - e player persothat you needed help. of golf. Through a life- ball and football; and I'd right fit. " "Craig'swith," Adams said, skills experience, First walk past them with my Ramsay's 50- of the, gameWhile the golf was ,Tee is able to incorporate. golf clubs," Adams said. lives in Fort •....••.....•.•.<OJ.u.a..1 set for head

.memorable in itself, it life lessons into golf and For Adams and Swear- Fla. He and his - E Dineen, ourwas the time spent with classroom instruction. ingen,' the First Tee pro- expecting the '- ,;:;:-~cail ing staff anda pro such as Watson "It's not only golf," gram has offered the op- in'December, -"",-.......x,! ers."that had the most impact Swearingen said. "They portunity to.grow as golf- son, Brandon. - Ramsay,on Adams. The pair still teach you life skills and ers and young people, er near Tampa '~ one year reswap emails a couple of the nine core values." while meeting people of hours away. Ra~zywoln his contracttimes each week. SOII,leof those values all ages-and backgrounds. the Stanley CuD ~ .:t,d ,,1.:) the Thrashe"When we were on the taught by First Tee include "Networking can get sistant with th g thought brie

driving range on Friday honesty, respect, sports- you a long way through- in 2004. ing a year off,night, he called me over manship, perseverance out life,'" Adams said. Ramsay kn~'Srl.!l:'}- "I just rein front of everyone," Ad- and integrity. To advance "You may meet someone da vice president ••.•...~ get back to \\ams said. "He gave me a through each level of the that you never thought eral manager say said.nickname and said, 'Hey program, participants you would meet, and that from their pla; - In other nMagic" meet me at the must receive cert,i,fication, person can help you out Also on new c ing former T

C.lli.~·.p.p.in.g.g.r.e.e.n•.'.'.'''''IE~a.p.r.omc.e.ss •.t.h.a.tainmV.~.I.ve.s"ImBlinSlth.elafumt~ucr.e~."~~~~.·.:••D.in••ee.n~'=s=st=aff==·~-~~~==~.~G;e~n~e~r~lm~

, e un-der still rumbling and theradar blinking red', offi-cials called play.There were 75 play-

ers on the course and 66

juniorsteam upwith prosFirst Tee·continued fromCl

w 0 p aye t e ac ninefirst, rolled in a 25-foot .putt on No.5 to start hislate run and capped it ..with an It-footer to leavehim alone at the top after

his Joe Gibbs Racing Toy-otas. He said momentum

derboard. George Coe-tzee of South Africa, Pe-'ter Hanson of Sweden andThorbjorn Olesen of Den-mark are three strokes be-hind the leaders.

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RamsayEx-Thrashers coachsays assistant jobwas the right fit.

ByChris Vlvlamorecvivlamore@ajc.com

'AE'PP:::I. UO!V11!lSuoJ-IE'uJnor E'lUE'IW 0)41.