McKnight surprises himself with qualifying round

Trinity's Jim McKnight had seen his name in the newspaper earlier this month as a local entrant in sectional qualifying for the U.S. Senior Amateur. Knowing his scores might be made public, he went into the round hoping not to embarrass himself.

McKnight, 55, did that and then some, shooting even-par 72 at Lake Jovita Country Club in St. Leo on Sept. 9 to tie for low qualifier. He was one of three Jovita entrants advancing to play at Jacksonville's Timuquana Country Club Sept. 29-Oct. 3.

"I was shocked, just real surprised to do as well as I did," said McKnight, who moved to Trinity in 1995 after 14 years in Clearwater. "I had hoped I'd come out and shoot 75 or 76, but I birdied three out of five holes late and held on for par."

McKnight, who had played Jovita twice but not in about two years, said he bogeyed two par-5s and was 3 over with six holes to play before ending strong with three late birdies. He's golfed for 20 years and said he's never had trouble in pressure situations.

"It's easier when you don't have any expectations, but I always seem to do better under pressure," McKnight said.

Dade City's Gary Pettit just missed the cut, shooting 1-over-par 73 but losing a playoff to Tampa's Raleigh Hackstadt. McKnight's 72 matched Mount Dora's Curt Madson.

McKnight met the tournament's age requirement just two months ago and said he'll drive up to Jacksonville two days early to get in a practice round or two. The field of 152 will be pared to 64 after 36 holes of medal play before the event switches to match play. McKnight, who plays out of Fox Hollow Golf Club, said he's only played match play a few times in club tournaments. If he makes it that far, he'll be pleased with his performance.

FSGA: New Port Richey's Howard Vaughn and Zephyrhills' Carl Sullivan will play in the Florida State Golf Association's Two-Man Shootout on Sept. 28-29 at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens. The 54-hole tournament uses three formats: a scramble, then alternate shot, then best-ball. ... Wesley Chapel's Peter Dachisen and Odessa's Jeff Neugebauer are in the field for the FSGA's Mid-Amateur Championship at Country Club of Ocala on Oct. 3-6. The tournament opens with 36 holes of stroke play. The top 16 advance to match play.

DIVOTS: The Florida Golf Tour, a Hudson-based regional mini-tour that will play 18 events in 2003, has a promotional event Saturday at Beacon Woods Golf and Country Club. A second event will be Oct. 19 at Silver Oaks Golf and Country Club in Zephyrhills. ... Meadow Oaks Golf and Country Club in Hudson saw two holes-in-one last week. Joe Lavoie aced the par-3, 127-yard No. 2 hole. New Port Richey's Lee Martel double-eagled the 260-yard, par-4 18th for his third hole-in-one and his second at Meadow Oaks in as many weeks.

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