Brian Hoops: The 36-year-old Chandler resident is coming into his own after a long and winding road led him to the winner’s circle of last weekend’s Arizona Western Amateur. The one-time pro, who got his amateur status back in 1996, says his recent success is more about a revised work schedule and maturity than discovering any long, lost secret.

“In the past, I’d only played in a couple (Arizona Golf Association) tournaments a year because I always had to work,’’ said Hoops, who is in the telecommunications business. “Now my schedule is more flexible, and I not only have time to (compete) but also work on my game. Being older, that’s helped, too.’’

Hoops had to work overtime at the Western, which was played at Yuma Golf and Country Club in some very windy conditions. He ended up 3-under after rounds of 71-70, then beat Mark Pancrazi and Guy Gedeon with a birdie on the fourth playoff hole.

“I’ve always been a top-10 type of player, so winning feels pretty good,’’ said Hoops, who grew up in Long Prairie, Minn., and played college hockey for St. Cloud State. “It’s my biggest win as an amateur in Arizona.’’

Hoops (prounced “Hops’’) decided to switch from hockey to golf midway through his college career, and at one point tried to walk-on at Arizona State. When that didn’t pan out, he turned professional in 1990 and went on an odyssey that included stints on such minitours as the Western States, Grand Canyon, Hurricane, Gary Player and Asian tours.

“My pro career was pretty mixed, because I never put any time into it,’’ he said. “I guess my claim to fame was that I once tied Charlie Rhymer in a (minitour event) in Florida, and that’s about as good as it got.’’

After taking an assistants job in 1992 at Rio Verde, Hoops embarked on a two-year battle to get his amateur state back with the USGA in 1994. And even though the results have been slow, he’s now pulled off a hat trick of sorts, which includes wins at the World Amateur Presidents Cup in Taiwan in December, and the East Valley Short Course Championship at Augusta Ranch in Mesa earlier this year.

On his game: “I guess I’m known for hitting it long. I probably average 340 to 350 yards off the tee, and I’m probably a couple of irons longer than most guys. It’s a little scary when you hit it that far. The big thing is, my short game has gotten better, and that’s what has really helped elevate my golf game.’’

Speaking frankly: “I probably shouldn’t say this because I don’t want to get anybody in trouble, but the best thing I had going for me in college at St. Cloud State, besides hockey, was that I used to play a lot of golf with my professors. That got me my big break in the classroom.’’

NOTEWORTHY

Stanley Cup sighting: The Coyotes NHL Alumni charity tournament that supports Phoenix Youth Hockey and the Shriner’s Hospital will be held Sunday at Eagle Mountain in Fountain Hills. According to the Coyotes’ Charlie Simmer, who serves as the executive director of the alumni association, fans will have a chance to actually touch the Stanley Cup, which will be on exhibition at the 10th tee. Due to the lockout, only former players will be in the field, including Jim Johnson, Cliff Fletcher, Bob Essensa, Craig Janney, JJ Dagenault, Bobby Smith and Simmer, to name a few.

Raptor closing: The Tom Fazio-designed Raptor Course at Grayhawk Golf Club in Scottsdale will close June 20 to undergo a conversion from Crenshaw bent-grass greens to a more heat-tolerant hybrid Bermuda (mini-Verde tiff dwarf). The Raptor Course is scheduled to reopen Sept. 12. The Talon Course at Grayhawk, which is slated for a similar resurfacing in the summer of 2006, will remain open this summer.

Smart kids: Arizona State landed 12 of its men’s and women’s golfers on the recent Pac-10 All-Academic teams. Leading the way with first-team berths were Alejandro Canizares (3.91 GPA) and Erin Tone (3.78 GPA). Earning second-team honors were Tifffany Tavee and Niklas Lemke. On the honorable mention list were Lindsay Anderson, Alissa Kuczka and Danelle Perata, along with Jesse Mueller, Pat Moore, Charly Simon, Kendall Critchfield and Phil Telliard.

Final thought: It pays to be charitible, as Tori Levitt of Scottsdale found out this week. Levitt was one of 5,284 fans who took part raising money in the FBR Open’s Birdies for Charity program in early February, and was randomly drawn as the winner of a new Buick LaCrosse on Monday. For the record, more than 1,356 birdies were made during tournament week with over $800,000 raised for charity.