Taylore Karle: The former Notre Dame Academy star, who would have been a junior this season had she not withdrawn, has decided to speed up the high school process in an effort to get to college a year earlier than expected. To do that, Karle has enrolled on-line with Laurel Springs Academy, an internet home-school service that will allow her to graduate next spring.

“I have verbally committed to Pepperdine for the fall of 2007,’’ said the 16-year-old Karle of the seaside university located in Malibu, Calif. “I thought that was best move for my brother and I, sort of a package deal.’’

Karle’s brother is Austyn, who is a 17-year-old senior at Notre Dame. Both Karles are outstanding junior players ranked among the nation’s elite. And both will have an impact at Pepperdine, where the Waves have two of the top golf programs in Division 1.

“It’s really where I need to be (college) in order to take my game to the next level,’’ Karle added. “And I just thought it would be fun to go out there to school with Austyn.’’

Taylore Karle created quite a media storm last year, when she qualified for the Cingular Wireless Arizona Open at Troon Country Club, which essentially is a men’s event featuring the state’s top amateurs and pros. And even though she didn’t make the cut after being tied for 25 th after the first round, Austyn did advance.

“I’m going to give it another shot,’’ she said of the upcoming Arizona Open, which

tees off next week at the Outlaw Course at Desert Mountain. “In fact, I’ve got a qualifier (today) at Lone Tree (in Chandler).’’

ON TOUR

Senior moment: Chip Beck, who won four times on the PGA Tour and played on three Ryder Cup teams, celebrated his 50 th birthday on Tuesday. The significance will come this weekend, when Beck joins the Champions Tour at the Constellation Energy Classic near Baltimore. Beck played from 1979-99 on the PGA Tour, winning $6.2 million along the way. Among his highlights, he recorded a 59 at the 1991 Las Vegas Invitational, and has the only ace on a par 4 in Nationwide Tour history.

LPGA bound: The Futures Tour ended its season with five players earning their LPGA cards for 2007. Most impressive was 18-year-old Song-Hee Kim of Korea, who led the money chase with $76,287 on five wins, which tied the all-time single-season victory record set by Grace Park in 1999. Also advancing to the big leagues were Charlotte Mayorkas, In-Bee Park, Kristy McPherson and Meaghan Francella.

NOTEWORTHY

Scholarship created: Members of Alta Mesa Country Club and the Southwest Section of the PGA are creating a scholarship fund honoring the late Jason Jensen, who tragically lost his life in a car accident on Aug. 16. The former Mesa Red Mountain High School star captured numerous events in the SWPGA, including the 2005 Junior State Championship. He also qualified for the 2004 First Tee Open at Pebble Beach, where he played with Champions Tour star Jose Maria Canizares.

The inaugural Jason Jensen Scholarship Fund golf tournament will feature four-person teams playing with an accomplished Arizona junior golfer. The entry fee is $250, with the field limited to the first 25 teams. To enter, call David Stead at (480) 827-9411.

SWPGA honorees: Michael Haywood of Tucson Country Club has been selected as the Professional of the Year by the SWPGA. Among the other honorees who will be feted on Oct. 23 at Phoenix Country Club are Whisper Rock’s Hank Gardner, the Teacher of the Year; Cottonwood Golf Club’s Mike Wright, Junior Golf Leader of the Year; and Legend Trail’s Rick Williams (public), Paradise Valley Country Club’s Al Sutton (private) and Sedona Golf Resort’s Ryan Stemsrud (resort), as merchandisers of the year.

Celebrities corralled: Harold’s Corral in Cave Creek is sponsoring a celebrity pro-am Sept. 26 as part of the Grey Goose Gateway’s Sidney Frank/Tour Championship, which will be played on the Outlaw Course at Desert Mountain (Sept. 28-Oct. 1). Among the celebrities competing are Matt Williams, Mark Grace, Dan Majerle, Ozzie Smith, Vince Coleman, Michael Finley, Royce Clayton, Seth Joyner and Todd Stottlemyre. The entry fee is $250 per player, with the proceeds benefiting the Sports Legends Prostate Cancer Project. To enter, call (480) 488-1906.