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Dunedin's Knox gains poise, championship

He recovers from a gaffe on No.18 to top Countryside's Dustin Taylor in a playoff.

PALM HARBOR - Preston Knox made par in 15 of 18 holes at Monday's Class 2A, District 8 tournament at Tarpon Woods. But the three holes the Dunedin sophomore didn't par almost cost him.

Especially the four putts he took on No.18. Knox found himself at 73 and in a playoff with Countryside senior Dustin Taylor for the individual title.

Knox three-putted the first hole but regained his composure and parred No.2 to win the playoff and the district.

"I just (think) the last hole got me," said Knox, headed to his first regional. "Then I made the rest pretty easily."

Taylor led the Cougars to the district team title and back to the regional by 16 strokes over runnerup Seminole, avenging last year's fifth-place finish.

"I think just the back nine in general was key," said coach Greg Bryant, who has won 15 district titles in 20 years. "Dustin, our No.1 player, turned in a 40 on the front nine which was the highest on the team. But he shot 33 on the back nine, so we really played the back nine really strong. When you've got four scores in the 70s, that's strong."

Indeed, Countryside (304) also counted on David Rupert's 76, Tyler Wilkins' 77 and P.J. Kolosvary's 78. Seminole (320) was led by a pair of 77s from Ben Drenth and Jon Dubbeld. East Lake (322) tied Mitchell for third thanks to Tyler Ausdemore and Nick Bucina each shooting 79.

Palm Harbor U.'s Tyler Corbett (78) will join them at the Class 2A, Region 4 tourney at Tampa's Rogers Park Golf Course on Oct.25.

BRADENTON - There was little drama as Bradenton and Sarasota schools tore up the 6,262-yard, par-72 course at the Links at Greenfield Plantation.

Heavy favorite Bradenton St. Stephens shot 2-under 286 to win by 12 shots over Bradenton Academy. Sarasota Cardinal Mooney (307) was third and Sarasota Booker (315) fourth. The top four teams qualified for next week's regional tournament at The Hideout in Naples.

The drama for area schools involved the individual qualifications, in which four spots were reserved for players with the best score on teams that did not qualify for regionals.

After a few anxious hours, Indian Rocks Christian's Kyle Woodbury and St. Petersburg Catholic's Kevin Meere tied for third with 8-over 80. Both will play as individuals at the regional tournament.

Bradenton Christian's Zach Walker (77) and Manatee HEAT's John Templeton (78) also qualified.

"I was on the edge of my seat," said Meere, a senior. "I kind of struggled on the back (nine). It was a long day, but I'm just happy to be playing at regionals."

Medalist honors went to Bradenton St. Stephen's Ville Vaisanen, who shot 66. Bradenton Academy's Arnond Vongvanij was second with 68.

Shorecrest was Pinellas County's top team with a 330 total and fifth-place finish. St. Petersburg Catholic was a shot behind in sixth and Indian Rocks Christian tied for seventh at 333 with Bradenton Christian.

SPC's Meere made the turn with an even-par 36 but stumbled on the back nine with 44. Woodbury improved on the back nine with 39 after a front nine 41, which has him optimistic about the regional tournament.

"It was my best 18-hole score this year," Woodbury said. "I still think I could have done better. I left three or four shots out there."

-RODNEY PAGE, Times staff writer

VENICE - Bradenton Lakewood Ranch lost its chance at a fourth straight Class 2A-District 9 golf championship, but settled for a second place finish and a berth in the regional championships next Monday in Bradenton.

Venice ran away from the field to win the championship, topping Lakewood Ranch by three shots. Those two teams, along with Sarasota and Lakewood, advance to the regionals.

It was a tough day for Pinellas County teams. Due to miscommunication, none of them County teams arrived at the Mission Valley Golf Club in time, and the teams - St. Petersburg. Gibbs, Boca Ciega, Dixie Hollins - all struggled.

Lakewood and St. Petersburg finished tied for fourth and Lakewood won a one-hole sudden death playoff 19-16 for the final team spot in the regionals.

St. Petersburg's Tim Stripling shot 78, and Kyle Menke shot 77 and will be Pinellas County's lone representatives in the individual competition next Monday.

Byron White shot 71 for Lakewood Ranch to tie with Venice's Tyler Sundin for medalist honors. White birdied the first hole in sudden death to win.

For Venice, a golf powerhouse in southwest Florida, it was its first time besting Lakewood Ranch since winning the title in 2000.

"We always go back and forth in these things with Lakewood Ranch," Venice coach Marty Tarala said. "Both teams played solid and we both have the capability to go a long way. We can compete with anyone."

-JEFF BERLINICKE, Times staff writer