LITTLE ROCK — Mahfouz, former coach, AD at UALR dies at 80
Former UALR Athletic Director Happy Mahfouz, who coached the Trojans men’s basketball team for 12 seasons and guided the school from the NAIA the NCAA died Sunday, according to the school
He was 80 years old.
Mahfouz, who was born in Brinkley, lead the basketball program from 1967-1979, compiling a 122-176 career record, and remained athletic director until 1984. His best stretch came in 1971-1975, when the Trojans went 73-37, including an 18-6 record in 1973-74.
He also led UALR through its transition to NCAA Division I in 1978 and its joining the Trans America Conference in 1979.
“I would call him the founder of Divison I athletics at UALR,” UALR assistant athletic director Richard Turner said.
In a January 1979 interview with the Arkansas Gazette, Mahfouz said the move to Division I stemmed from wanting to improve the department and school’s positioning.
“When you can compete at the classification you’re in, you want to set your goals a little higher,” Mahfouz told the paper. “The university has been growing and we want the athletic program to grow along with it.”
Mahfouz, who was an outstanding defensive lineman at Alexandria (La.) High School, attended Spring Hill College in Mobile, Ala., where he set 20 school records and scored 1,754 career points.
Survivors include his wife, Joan Fazio Mahfouz of Alexandria; a daughter Rosemary Mahfouz Young and her husband Mark; three sisters and three brothers, all of Alexandria; three granddaughters and three great-grandsons.
Visitation will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at John Kramer & Son funeral home, located at 2905 Masonic Drive, Alexandria, La. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the St. Rita Catholic Church in Alexandria, with burial to follow at Memorial Gardens. V
Condolences may be sent to the family at [email protected].
GOLF Moore shoots 73 in Atlanta
Arkansas freshman Taylor Moore shot a three-over par 73 on Monday and is in a tie for eighth place after the second day of the PING/Golfweek Preview at the Capital City Club in Atlanta.
Moore shot a two-under 68 on Sunday and was in a tie for second place heading into Monday. Senior Austin Cook shot a two-over par 72 on Monday and, after a one-over 71 on Sunday, is in a tie for 20th in the 75-player field.
Seventh-ranked Arkansas shot a 12-over 292 on Monday and are in a tie for 12th in the 15-team field with a 20-over 580 after the second day. UCLA leads with a six-over 566 and the tournament concludes today.
Benton, Kerstis under par in Kentucky
UALR senior Nicklaus Benton shot a three-under par 69 and a one-under par 71 and sophomore Alfred Kerstis shot a 73 and a 69 during the first two rounds of the Louisville Cardinal Intercollegiate in Simpsonville, Ky.
Benton is in fourth place in the 84-player field with a four under 140, and Kerstis is tied for ninth at two-under 142. Nick Zimmerman is tied for 14th with an even-par 144 and Colby Benton is in a tie for 20th at one-over 145.
UALR is in fifth place at the 15-team event with a seven-over 583. Bowling Green leads with an eight-under 568.
ASU in second place, UALR sixth
Arkansas State is in second place and UALR is in a tie for sixth after two rounds at the Marilynn Smith Sunflower Invitational in Lawrence, Kan.
ASU has shot 41-over-par 617, led by Abigail Laker, who shot a 3-under 69 in the second round to take the overall lead at 1-under 143. She shot rounds of 74 and 69.
UALR senior Emelie Westrup is tied for fourth after two rounds at 5-over 149, shooting a 74 and 75.
VOLLEYBALL Torres-Lopez earns SEC award
Arkansas middle blocker Janeliss Torres-Lopez was named Southeastern Conference defensive player of the week Monday, following matches against Tennessee and Georgia.
FISHING Marion’s Rose wins FLW event
Marion’s Mark Rose won the FLW Tour Open event on Wheeler Lake in Decatur, Ala.
Rose won the four-day event with 71 pounds, 6 ounces to take home $100,000 plus the $25,000 Ranger Cup bonus. Finishing second was Luke Clausen of Spokane, Wash., who caught 20 fish for 58-12 to earn $20,070.
Michael Williamson of Fort Smith finished seventh with a four day total of 49-9 to earn $8,797. Bee Branch’s Larry Nixon was eighth with 47-6 to earn $8,204 and Bryant’s Scott Suggs was ninth with 45-10 for $7,610.
Missing the cut was Rogers’ Greg Bohannan who caught 21-8 in the first two days to finish 27th and earn $5,830. George Cochran of Hot Springs finished 48th with 17-14 to earn $5,237.
Sports, Pages 19 on 09/25/2012