HAMMOND | Kenny Ruesken spent his Sunday updating the leaderboard at Lost Marsh during the City of Hammond Classic after a thunderstorm halted play for three hours.

As a junior varsity golfer for Bishop Noll last season as a freshman, Ruesken said he could learn a lot from watching the pros play on the Warriors' home course.

"They really know how to use the greens," he said. "They're really good. They're getting about five feet from the hole on chips, so I'm definitely going to try to shoot like that."

WORLD CUP PROS AND WOES: After Germany recorded a 4-1 win over England in the World Cup on Sunday, two international golfers experienced feelings of joy and sadness after the whistle sounded.

Berlin native Miriam Nagl was happy with the win.

"I was yelling," she said. "I got excited."

Nagl watched the victory during the rain delay. but Germany is only her second favorite team in the World Cup field. Nagl was born in Brazil and lived there until she was 8 years old.

"I'll still root for Brazil," said Nagel when asked who she would cheer for if the two teams meet.

England's Jodi Ewart also watched the game during the delay.

"We played well, but I think things would have been different if that goal was allowed," Ewart said of a controversial referee call which negated a possible game-tying goal for England. "(Soccer) is huge. It's what our culture is all about."

HEADING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION: Jenny Shin has experienced an up-and-down season in her first year on the Duramed Futures Tour but is gradually improving. After finishing tied for eighth in her previous tour event in Decatur, Ill., on June 20 (her previous top tour finish), Shin's tie for second Sunday left her feeling pretty confident about the future.

Though she was frustrated enough to throw her club earlier in her 77 round, the 17-year-old Shin admitted her golf game is reaching new levels.

"After my horrible round and finishing 5 under par in three days, I think I'm improving," she said.

PRO GOLF | CITY OF HAMMOND CLASSIC NOTES