Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Golf

DAVE THEALL

By DAVE THEALL
Published January 26, 2005

A winter resident from Michigan made the most of his first County Golf Association tournament Thursday at Lansbrook.

Don Both, 63, of Traverse City, had six birdies and two bogeys in a 4-under 68 to easily win the senior division in the morning and afternoon matches for a 171-player field. Though Both was playing Lansbrook for the first time, it didn't take him long to figure out what would work on the popular East Lake course. It amounted to that familiar adage: "Drive for show and putt for dough."

"I only used my driver four times off the tees," said Both, a Navy retiree who works at a golf club in Traverse City. "Course management dictated that to ensure I had a good shot to the green, I needed to be in the fairway for my approach shot.

"The key to my round, though, was making par-saving putts from the 8-10-foot range," he said. "I did that by avoiding downhill putts and shifting to a heavier Ping C67 putter for the faster greens to stay on line."

Both started his round on the 477-yard par-5 13th hole with a birdie, then proceeded to birdie No. 2, 4, 6, 8 and 12. Bogeys on 3 and 5 left him with the 68.

The following day at Silver Dollar in Odessa, Both stayed on his roll with a 3-under 69.

Two of the area's better senior golfers, Gil Day of Clearwater Beach and Dennis Williams of Tarpon Springs, finished well behind Both at Lansbrook with 73 and 74, respectively. Mark Anderson won the net division with 75, using his handicap of 11.

Rick Kalil and Barry Smith of Clearwater tied for first (76) in the regular class, for players 54-and-younger. The net title went to Steve Gustafson (65). Pat Smith and Robert Ray deadlocked at 68.

Jean Thompson was the low net woman with 65.

MORE CGA: Dunedin's Andrew Turker, who plays for Cornell, teamed with Justin Meier to win a better-ball match at the Bayou Club last week. They crafted a 1-under 71.

J.R. Robertson of Belleair and Sean Martin finished second, 73.

Dunedin's Wayne Mateer and Tampa's John King posted the best round (71), winning the senior division over runners-up Day and Jim Hunter (79).

The Clearwater-based CGA had 9,860 rounds played during 2004, down from 10,539 in '03.

Jayne Goodman, co-director of the program, attributes the decline to hurricanes and more rainy weather. For the CGA's winter schedule, go online to www.countygolf.com

WEST COAST WOMEN: Loretta Roush of Innisbrook and Belleair's Anne Balderson finished first and second, respectively, in Flight C of the WCWGA's weekly match at Palma Ceia on Thursday.

They posted 87 and 88 on the 5,207-yard par-71 Tampa course. The top scorers were Palma Ceia members and highly-ranked state golfers.

Sharon Gonsalves won Flight AA with 75 and was followed by former state amateur champion Terrell Italiano (77).

Sallie Abraham, Clearwater Country Club, took third (85) in Flight B. Bobbie Henderson won (90) Flight D, and Cypress Run teammate Anne Foster tied for second (94).

PGA TOUR: Len Mattiace, the 1986 winner of the New Year's Invitational in St. Petersburg, fired a 6-under 66 in the second round of the Buick Invitational to make the 36-hole cut with a stroke to spare.

He finished 2-over 290, 18 shots behind winner Tiger Woods. Dunedin's Bob Heintz opened with a 2-under 70 but slipped to 74 in the next round and missed the cut.

Heintz's 36-hole total was one better than Dade City's Tim Petrovic and Ryder Cup veteran Justin Leonard and nine better than Dick Mast, 53, a Lakewood High School graduate.

COMING UP: The Westin Innisbrook Resort will have short-game and putting clinics conducted by the Dave Peltz Scoring Game School on Feb. 8-12.

The six-hour clinics begin with indoor presentations, then move outside for practice under staff supervision.

To enroll, call 1-800-735-9868 or go online to www.peltzgolf.com

Dunedin Country Club will host the Pinellas Interclub Association on Feb. 14 at 12:30.

On March 3, Belleair Country Club will have the Homeless Emergency Project Charity Tournament, a scramble fund-raiser for housing and support services for homeless families with children.

The registration fee is $150. To enter, call (727) 442-9041.

On March 5, East Lake Woodlands will have the Calvary Christian High School Classic, a scramble starting at 1 p.m.

There will be contests to win two cars. Proceeds benefit the school's athletic department.

To register ($160, $600 per foursome) or for information on sponsorship opportunities, call Allan Adzima, (727) 772-4124.

[Last modified January 26, 2005, 00:13:15]