Club professional is accustomed to Senior Tour tests
By DAVE THEALL
Published December 2, 2003
Pressure.
PGA Senior Tour veteran Jay Overton, the host professional at Westin Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club, has been there and done that.
Most recently, he advanced to the finals of the Champions Tour Qualifying Tournament, in which a top-seven finish would give him a full exemption for the 2004 season. Two weeks ago, the 72-hole test was held at the challenging TPC Eagle Trace course in Coral Springs.
In the 50-and-over field from around the globe, Overton placed 12th at 1-under 287, shooting 71-73-72-71. Mark McNulty of Zimbabwe won at 275.
Though Overton's goal was an exemption, he played steadily and finished among the next eight to earn conditional status for next year.
"I played that last round aggressively because I knew I had to be 4- or 5-under to make the top seven," said Overton, who will play his fourth year on the Senior Tour.
"That 71 the last day could just have easily been a 65," he said. "I only missed one green all day. My putting was good, but not enough of them dropped in."
Overton said he will approach next season a lot differently than this one, when he was on the road 34 weeks using earned spots and grinding Monday qualifiers.
"Those Monday qualifiers are killers," said Overton, who turned 53 on Thanksgiving Day. "And next year there will only be two spots available for the usual 72-128 contestants. They are mentally exhausting.
"Last year, I was working 10-day work weeks. Next year, I plan to only travel 12-15 weeks and see how that works out; it's not the money. I'll only go on tour when I'm playing well and see if that helps my percentages."
In 17 Senior Tour events this season, Overton collected $181,799 for 71st on the money list. Tom Watson ($1,853,108) was first.
To earn full-exempt status, a top-30 finish on the money list is required. After that, priority goes to the all-time money leaders, then places 31-50 on the previous year's money list, who are conditional.
Overton said the best part of his game always has been driving, but it wasn't this year. Nevertheless, he drove long and accurately in the Qualifying Tournament.
Overton said he has been among the tour's top five putters the past three seasons. On the downside, he said he never has been good with long irons.
Overton hopes to have his son, Jason, caddie for him as often as he did last year, the first six months.
Overton will use the extra time teaching at Innisbrook's Troon Golf Institute, working with membership programs and entertaining prospective clients.
"I'm committed to working 10 or more weeks a year revitalizing membership programs here, and helping (director) Lew Smither at the institute with the teaching program," Overton said.
POLO JUNIOR CLASSIC: Palm Harbor's Jason Elliott and Seminole's Brittany Lincicome advanced from 36 holes of medal play to the round of 32 for match competition in last week's AJGA Tournament at Walt Disney World.
Elliott, the Times' boys Pinellas County Player of the Year, lost his first-round match 1-up. Lincicome, who defended her Class 2A state title this fall, also lost 1-up.
DOUBLE EAGLE: County Golf Association director Ray Goodman scored the rare feat last week.
In a tournament at River Hills in Valrico, Goodman holed out a metal 3-wood second shot on the 538-yard par-5 12th. He had another double eagle 25 years ago.
COMING UP: Cove Cay plays host to a Pinellas Interclub match 12:30 p.m. Dec. 11.
RESULTS: Directors of annual Pinellas club championships and fund-raising tournaments are asked to send results to the Times.
Needed information includes winners, scores, dates, courses, the name of the event and name and phone number of the sender. Reports should be sent to the Clearwater Bureau, faxed to 727 445-4119 or e-mailed to davetheall@attglobal.net
