Mateer calls the shots for CGA victory

When Wayne Mateer stood on the tee at Lansbrook to start Thursday's County Golf Association match, he calmly told the men in his foursome that he expected to make 4 bogeys, 4 birdies and 10 pars for a round of even-par 72.

Although the 6-handicap player hadn't shot par in more than two years, he wasn't far off the make-up of his final score. Mateer had 5 bogeys, 5 birdies and 8 pars for a 72, posting the best score of the day in a field of 176 players.

"That round didn't surprise me at all," said Mateer, a former PGA Class A professional.

"For one thing, I've changed my swing path. It's now more an upright path rather than flat. Secondly, I credit my friend, J.R. Robertson (Belleair), who has a message about the importance of inner peace.

"I was so calm out there, I couldn't believe it," Mateer said. "The key is keeping your emotions even."

The worst shot for Mateer, 57, was a drive on his first hole -- the par-4 10th.

He pull-hooked it to the base of a tree and was forced to use a putter, left-handed, to get out to the fairway. He reached the green in three, then two-putted for his first bogey.

Mateer made back-to-back birdies on the par-5 second hole by chipping in from the fringe, and followed that with an 8-foot putt on the par-3, 138-yard third hole.

"I've been playing well lately, including a 74 at East Lake Woodlands on Monday, where I had a triple and double bogey, so I had a feeling I was ready for a good round," said Mateer, who has been a financial representative for Northwestern Mutual for 23 years.

Mateer was the head pro at Dunedin Country Club from 1973-78. He came here from Aurora Country Club, in the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, where he was an assistant pro and later the head pro for three years.

In Dunedin, he lives on Ben Hogan Drive, among the many streets in the area named after golf legends.

"But that name, Ben Hogan, doesn't ring a bell with everyone," Mateer said. "When I have to give my address to anyone under 40, the usual response is, "Who's Ben Hogan?' "

MORE CGA HIGHLIGHTS: Dick Noechel of Palm Harbor was second in the senior division (55-plus) with a 75.

He was followed by Bud Chapman from St. Pete Beach, who was a stroke back.

The best score in the regular division, 54 and younger, was a 76 by Clearwater's Gil Day. Vic Morelli of Oldsmar and Clearwater's Tom Bremer tied for second with a 79.

In the past two weeks, senior player John King of Tampa has been playing consistent golf. Heteamed with Mark Thomas to win (72) a better-ball match at River Hills. Then King teamed with Robertson in the same format for a victory (69) at River Wilderness.

On Feb. 7, King shot 76 in an individual match to beat Mateer by three strokes in the senior division at Heritage Harbor.

The CGA plays at Seminole Lake on Feb. 28, with starting times at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

On March 4, the 1,000-member organization returns to Countryside Country Club with tee-off times of 8:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.

LOCAL PROS: Kevin Kenny of Cheval Golf and Country Club was the big winner in last week's PGA West Central Chapter Pro-Am at Plantation Palms.

He carded a 6-under 65, six strokes better than runners-up Jim Garrison and Reb Brown.

There was a tie for fourth among Joe Hodge, Kenny Sims and Vic Conigliaro. Belleair's Jim Slattery, Wentworth's Paul Coe and Craig Kruger tied at 73.

In the Chi Chi/Joe Inman pro-am at the Chi Chi Rodriguez course last week, Tampa's Paul Michael and T.J. Heidel won with a 7-under 62.

They were followed by Eric Nixon and C.J. Brock (63), also of Tampa. Third place was taken by the team of Bobby Capobianco, Oldsmar, and Bill Hardwick, Toronto, (64).

Capobianco is a teaching pro at the Countryside Golf Center. He turns 50 in June and plans to enter some senior pro events.

Hardwick is a regular on the European Senior Tour.

WEST COAST WOMEN: Mary Ann Petrillo of Tierra Verde returned to the WCWGA winner's circle last week, shooting 4-over 76 on Pasadena's 5,275-yard layout.

Kathy Hunt (79) of Cheval finished second in Flight AA. Vickie Stafford tied for low net (72) with Judy Schmitt of River Wilderness.

Flight winners were Countryside's Margaret Leigh (81) in A, Belleair's Marian Curtis (83) in C, and Pasadena's Shirley Wetherby, who tied with Naomi Johnson (91) of River Wilderness in Flight D.

COLLEGES: Largo High School grad Courtney Burdick was Florida International's leading scorer in the recent Golden Panther Women's Championship at the Country Club of Miami.

With a 78-77-79-234, she finished eighth overall in a 63-player field.

In Gainesville, Countryside grad Amanda Dick has the second-best stroke average for the Gators, 76.3 to Brittany Straza's 76.1.

Whitney Code of Tampa is third with a 76.8.

Jordan Code, Whitney's brother, has an average of 76.2 -- seventh-best on the men's team.

ANNOUNCEMENTS: Pasadena will play host to the 10th Anniversary Day Tournament for the Day For Our Children Foundation on Monday. It is a five-person scramble starting at noon. A number of current and former Tampa Bay Bucs have been invited, including Mark Royals, Jerry Wunsch and general manager Rich McKay.

Player spots and corporate sponsorship information are available from Brandi Winans, 527-0130.

The Arthritis Foundation is offering its annual Golf Book, which will entitle players to free or reduced greens fees to 300 Florida courses.

The cost is $15. For information, call the Foundation's Gulf Coast Branch, (813) 968-7000 or 1-800-850-9455.

CORRECTION: Frank Reynolds of The Eagles won the 2001 North Florida PGA Section Senior title. A different player was reported winning it in this column two weeks ago.

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