Springtime notebook snippets from a reporter's bag ...
Utah lost one of its great golf resources this past weekend when 87-year-old Jimmy Thompson died from complications stemming from a fall in February.
Thompson was featured in this space last Thursday in a recap of some of his dreams. The former head professional at Timpanogos Golf Course in Provo and Tri City Golf Course in American Fork, Thompson retired in 1977 but continued to teach and play a role in golf on the local and state level.
A kind and gentle man, Thompson will be remembered for his love of youths, adopting kids, converting them to the game of golf, and giving them a chance when few others believed in them.
Thompson will be honored at a gathering at Riverside Country Club in Provo Saturday from 6 to 8 p.m.
Said Riverside head pro Robert McArthur of Thompson: "He was a fabulous man who impacted the lives of many, many people, and he's left a great legacy for us to follow."
Inducted into the Utah Golf Association Hall of fame, the inscription on Thompson's award reads: "Jimmy Thompson, one of Utah's most popular golf professionals, is viewed as the consummate golf professional by professionals and amateurs alike. His hallmarks are courtesy and friendliness, which make him one of Utah golf's great gentlemen. When you think of Jimmy you think of a smile, of loyalty, of love. He is a genuine father figure to dozens of Utah golfers.
"During a long career as a club professional he made small daily contributions to the game and his profession that, like daily deposits in a piggy bank, have amounted to a small fortune."
Fairways and greens, Jimmy.
NAME DROPPING: The Salt Lake Metro AAU team, comprised of 11-year-olds, defeated No. 1-ranked ARC 59-58 in the Easter Classic in Las Vegas two weeks ago on a last-second 3-point shot by Nic Emery.
Salt Lake Metro went 5-1, losing in the finals to No. 5-ranked Houston Defenders. Undefeated locally in head-to-head competition of the same age, Salt Lake Metro will attend the national championships this summer in Florida.
Emery, who has posted several games with eight 3-point field goals, is the younger brother of 2005 Deseret Morning News "Mr. Basketball" Jackson Emery, a freshman guard at BYU. Also included on the roster are sons of former Cougar guards — T.J. Haws (Marty Haws) Conner Toolson (Andy Toolson) — and Jordan Darger, brother of UNLV's freshman shooting guard. Other team members are Conner Pardoe, Brandon Miller, Parker Vandyke, Eric Mika, Cooper Holt and Dumsira Nwibiabu.
WHAT EVER HAPPENED to former Cougar backup quarterback Todd Mortensen?
After starting every game at the University of San Diego following his transfer from BYU, Mortensen was named the conference co-player of the year and signed with the New England Patriots last year. He now plays for the Sea Devils in NFL Europe. In his first action of the season behind Brock Berlin (Miami Dolphins) this past week, Mortensen led the team 64 yards in two minutes, capped by a 38-yard TD pass.
Said Mortensen's coach, former Boston College pilot Jack Bicknell: "Todd Mortensen is a very interesting guy. During the weeks he wasn't playing, he was our most outstanding player in practice, he was running scout squad for our defense and he is a brilliant young man who deserved an opportunity to play."
Mortensen, a former 4A all-state QB at Tempe High in Arizona, has more than football going for him. A 4.0 GPA honors student at BYU, he has published CDs of his musical compositions and is married to a former Miss Arizona.
E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com