And Then There Was One Golf Newsman In Florida...

I believe news that Randall Mell is joining GolfChannel.com leaves just Garry Smits covering golf for a newspaper in Florida.

ORLANDO, Fla. (March 23, 2009) – GOLF CHANNEL announced today the addition of veteran sports writer Randall Mell as senior writer for GolfChannel.com. Mell will serve as a beat writer for golf’s professional tours, handling breaking news, features and opinion stories for the Web site, and will contribute to the network’s news reporting team on-site at PGA TOUR and LPGA Tour events, as assigned.

Mell brings 28 years of journalism experience to GOLF CHANNEL. An award winning senior writer/columnist/reporter with the South Florida Sun-Sentinel (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) since 1985, he also has served as a co-host for Golf World On-Air – a Saturday morning radio show airing on The Sporting News Radio Network in more than 100 markets.

“We are excited to have Randall join our editorial team as we continue to build GolfChannel.com into the leading destination for golf fans,” said Jay Coffin, editorial director for GolfChannel.com. “He is a well-respected journalist and his veteran leadership will be a valuable asset.”

After graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire in 1981, Mell began his career at the Marinette Eagle Star (Marinette, Wis.), then became sports editor at the Lake Geneva Regional News (Lake Geneva, Wis.).