Northpinellas: Vinieratos gets third Open shot

In a Chicago-area sectional qualifier last week, she found herself in an eight-way tie for the final three spots after 36 holes. On the fifth playoff hole, Vinieratos' par putt earned her the last spot.

Vinieratos (pronounced Vin-er-ott-oss) competed in U.S. Opens in 1987 and 1993. She played for the University of Florida, graduating in 1991 with a degree in journalism. She qualified for the Futures Tour that year. Except for 1997, when she was fully exempt on the LPGA Tour, she has been a Futures regular, winning three times.

With her fifth-place standing on the Futures money list this season, Vinieratos is in a good position to finish among the top three and earn an automatic promotion to the LPGA Tour.

St. Petersburg's Marilyn Lovander accomplished that in 2000, and Tampa's Beth Bauer advanced as the leading money winner on the 2001 Futures Tour.

"I'm playing better this year," Vinieratos said.

"The main part of that is I'm healthy. I had a wrist injury last season," she said. "Also, I'm working with a new teaching pro, Craig Shankland of Daytona Beach, and constantly fine-tuning my game."

Vinieratos said she's grateful for the Futures Tour, which has enabled her to continue to compete professionally, but the downside is the prize purses are relatively small. Plus, she doesn't have a sponsor.

"I have to watch my spending, stay in private housing on tour when I can, and use my credit cards in the offseason," Vinieratos said. "I'm staying with it because I've been there (LPGA Tour) before and I'm confident I can get back there again."

NORTH FLORIDA PGA: Palm Harbor's Frank Reynolds of The Eagles won four tough duels en route to the section's senior match play championship in Lake Lady. In his second match, Reynolds defeated former PGA Tour member J.C. Goosie 1 up. In a third-round match, Reynolds beat Isla Del Sol member Charlie Tatz 3 and 2. For the title, Reynolds turned back Mike Joyce 1 up to earn $800.

PINELLAS INTERCLUB: Cypress Run finished second to Dunedin in last week's match. But Cypress' nine points were just frosting on the cake, as it won the 10-month series title. The league's first-year club captured the Bud Donahue Trophy as the winner of the May-June playoff. East Lake Woodlands received the season-long runner-up trophy, just ahead of Seminole Lake, Innisbrook, Countryside and Dunedin. Vinoy assistant pro Brad Smith had the best score among the 12 pros, shooting 3-under 69 on Countryside's Pine and Lake nines. The round consisted of a personal-record eight birdies. Seven came from his eighth hole to his 17th. The one blemish was on the dogleg left par-5 No. 6 on the Pine course where he hit two drives out of bounds. "They were two of the ugliest shoots I ever hit," said Smith, 35, a native of Michigan. "At that point, I'm hitting five off the tee. But from that point, I got down in four, which would have been another birdie, except for the two OBs. ... I was in the same foursome with (pro) Steve Martin of Cypress Run, and he was hitting it real well too. That really helped me. We fed off each other." Martin carded a 71, tying with Brian Richards of East Lake Woodlands and Innisbrook's Chris Slattery. Among the amateur pairs with handicaps, the best better-ball score was produced by Cove Cay's Cappy Dallacosta and Jack McCraney.

MORE COVE CAY: In the annual Guys and Gals Tournament, Paul and Dottie Teller teamed with Dave and Nancy Anderson to post a winning 13-under 57. Second went to Chuck Wells and Mark and Bev Zettelmeyer (59). They were followed by the squad of Jerry Dye, Rosann Kraus, and Bill and Judy Muncie (61).

OUTBACK STEAKHOUSE TOURNEY: At the Bayou Club, the scramble team of Bob Hewitt, Tim Wilson, Bill Axley and Dick Pyle won with a 13-under 59. The event was a fundraiser for the American Lung Association of Gulfcoast Florida. Another Outback tournament is scheduled for Aug. 5 at the same club. For registration information, call 347-6133.

ROLEX CHAMPIONSHIP: Seminole's Brittany Lincicome, the Times 2000/2001 high school player of the year, fired a 2-under 214 (71-71-72) for fifth in the American Junior Golf Association event in Daytona Beach to strengthen her standing toward a return trip to the U.S. Canon Cup East team. She's 13th behind Tampa's Mallory Code (fourth) and Bradenton's Aree Wongluekiet (10th).

MORE JUNIORS: Danielle Jackson, an incoming ninth-grader at Northside Christian, shot 75 and 79 in a match-play tournament at Rogers Park earlier this month. More recently, she won the girls division of a Bay Area Junior Tour event at Buckhorn Springs. Jackson was the youngest member of the Times 2001 all-county girls first team.

STATE AMATEUR: Clifton Williams of Seminole, St. Petersburg's Carson Crooms, Preston Knox of Dunedin and Palm Harbor's Jason Elliott are among the players in this week's 85th annual FSGA State Championship in Daytona Beach. Previous winners include Matt Kucher and former Gators Gary Koch and Scott Dunlap. Elliott has another major tournament on his schedule this summer, the Hawaii Classic, a junior event on the island of Maui. The Palm Harbor University junior plays to a 1 handicap at Lansbrook. Elliott will be the only Florida player in Hawaii. MORE GATORS: Countryside High grad David Cosper, the Times 2000 Suncoast Player of the Year, was dismissed from the University of Florida team earlier this year, according to the school. No reason was given. Cosper could not be reached for comment. ... Countryside grad Amanda Dick, a sophomore on the women's squad, averaged 77.23 this season. Jeanne Cho of Orlando led the Gators with 74.97.

COUNTY GOLF ASSOCIATION: Dennis Williams won the senior division in a CGA event at Fox Hollow with a 2-under 69. Dalan Farren took the regular championship, 72.

GREATER TAMPA JUNIORS: The GTJGA will play host to the Avila Junior Classic on July 2-4. Top players from 18 states and eight foreign countries will compete, including Lincicome, Code and Kelly Husted of Sarasota. Boca Raton's Morgan Pressel, who qualified for last year's U.S. Women's Open at age 12, is entered. James Dickey of Miami will return to defend his boys title. To start the week, a charity junior amateur tournament to benefit junior programs will be played July 1 at Avila. Each team of three amateurs will be paired with one of the nation's top juniors in a best-ball format. The registration fee is $200 per person. For information, call Mike Lawlor, (813) 961-1754.

TAMPA BAY CLASSIC: Volunteers are needed for the event Sept. 16-22 at Innisbrook. For information, call (727) 939-3844 or e-mail tbclassic@aol.com.

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