Farragut's Sidabras is right on course

An eighth-grade student at Admiral Farragut Academy is off to a good start in 2002.

Troy Sidabras, 14, shot 81-79-160 to finish second in last weekend's Florida Junior Golf Association Tournament at the USF course in Tampa. Kevin Lim of Eustis won the 12-14 division with a 156 total for 36 holes.

Sidabras, a resident of Largo, shot higher than he normally does for 18 holes at USF. Bill Rinaldo, the FJGA's director, had an explanation for the high scores.

"It was cold and windy out there," said Rinaldo, director of golf at Scotland Yards in Dade City. "And the USF course is well known for being difficult; it's narrow and easy to get in trouble there."

Sidabras is coming off a successful season at Admiral Farragut where he earned Times All-County honorable mention recognition.

He played in the No. 1 position for the second consecutive year. In those matches, Sidabras' record was 12-3-5 as he averaged 39.2 for nine holes. His low score was 1-over 37, and his high was 44.

In the Blue Jackets' district tournament, Sidabras carded a 3-over 75 for third place. In regional competition, he shot 86 to miss out on the state tourney.

"Troy is a grinder," Admiral Farragut coach Dean David Graham said. "He perseveres and doesn't get down on himself.

"Troy practices a lot at the Bayou Club and is passionate about the sport," Graham said. "He's strong academically and definitely has a future in the sport."

Sidabras reminds Graham of the last Blue Jackets golfer to be named Times Player of the Year, Matt Saglio of Clearwater. Both practice relentlessly and exude confidence.

The highlight of Sidabras' 2001 season was winning the Western Regional Toyota Golf Skills Challenge last summer over 800 competitors of all age groups, advancing to the national finals in Myrtle Beach, S.C. There, Sidabras finished ninth and won the "trouble shot" competition in a field of adults. In November, he won a Greater Tampa Junior match at Carrollwood.

FJGA NOTE: Saglio went on to earn NCAA Division II All-America honors at Florida Southern after leading the Moccasins to the national championship his senior year with a final round 5-under 67. Last season, he played a limited schedule on the Golden Bear Tour.

MORE PROS: All three Pinellas PGA Tour pros made the cut and scored well in last weekend's Sony Open in Hawaii.

Greg Kraft and John Huston tied at 5-under 275. Bob Heintz shot 70-67-71-70 for a 2-under 277.

Heintz, who finished 19th in the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament last fall, plans to bypass the next two tourneys and return to competition in the ATT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am in Peeble Beach, Calif. That starts Jan. 31.

COLLEGIATE CLASSIC: Seminole's Michael Kowalski finished eighth (85-87-172) in the 12-14 division of the FJGA Tournament last weekend at USF.

In the 15-18 class, Tim Sullivan -- the Times 2001 Pinellas Player of the Year representing Palm Harbor University -- was the top bay-area competitor, 81-80-161. Sullivan has been accepted to Florida State, Central Florida and USF. The left-handed player hasn't decided where he will go.

RANKINGS: Golfweek rates the Florida Gators' Bubba Dickerson as the nation's top amateur. Bradenton's Aree Wongluekiet is No. 5 on the women's side.

COMING UP: The County Golf Association will have 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. matches Thursday at Fox Hollow. For registration information, call 530-7226.

Dunedin Country Club will have its Diamond Anniversary on Saturday with an invitational tournament. The course, opened in 1927, played host to the PGA Seniors Championship in the 1940s when Dunedin served as headquarters for the PGA of America.

East Lake Woodlands will play host to the Pinellas Interclub match noon Monday.

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