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Golf

Clearwater player is taking another shot at Q school

By Times Staff
Published September 13, 2005

Jenny Gleason , 24, narrowly avoided going back to Q school this year, finishing sixth on the money list of the Futures Tour, in which only the top five advance to LPGA exempt status.

But Gleason doesn't complain about what could have happened.

"I learned a lot on the Futures Tour," said Gleason, who also has non-exempt status on the LPGA Tour. "I learned how to win by coming from behind and by being ahead.

"Overall, it was a great year," she said. "But I knew I had to win or come in second at York (Pa., the tour's finale), and I didn't get it done after being in the top five for most of the last two months."

Gleason finished third in Futures putting with 29.4 per round. Her scoring average (71.9) was sixth best.

Statistically, she tied for first based on cumulative points to share the OSTOP Award with Nicole Castrale . That added an end-of-year bonus of $1,750 to the $34,138 Gleason won in 17 matches. She never missed a cut.

"I'm confident about my future. I know I'm good enough to play on the LPGA," Gleason said.

"My swing is fine. I'm going to get ready by focusing on hitting from 100 yards in and by returning to the fitness program of Lynn Colombo , a trainer who has helped me with my strength and flexibility."

MORE Q-SCHOOL NEWS: Ryan Gildersleeve , who graduated with Gleason from Clearwater High in 1999, plans to enter the three-stage PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament this fall.

He played collegiately at South Alabama and has had two top-10 finishes in his last three starts on the Hooters Tour. Gildersleeve caddied for Gleason in the Futures Tour finale two weeks ago in York, Pa.

Brad Quiri (East Lake High/USF) is expected to try to qualify for the PGA Tour. He won the 2004 Florida State Amateur Championship.

Q-school finals are scheduled for Nov.30-Dec.5.

PRO TOURS: Clearwater's John Huston and Dunedin's Bob Heintz tied for 11th in last weekend's PGA event, the Bell Canadian Open. They shot 1-over 281.

Huston's winnings, $115,000, brought his total to $367,928 and moved him from 174th to 150th on the money list.

On the Nationwide Tour, Clearwater's Greg Kraft is in 16th place ($160,031) with seven tournaments remaining.

CGA: St.Petersburg's Ernie Muschner , the association's 2004 champion, crafted a 2-under 70 to win last week's match at Mangrove Bay. Jeff Pett was second (74), and Bill Criqui captured net honors (64).

In the senior division, it was Tampa's John King on top with 74, followed by Cary Loomis (76). Curtis Dempsey , with 62, won senior net.

COLLEGE OUTLOOK: Georgia Tech, relying heavily on senior Mike Barbosa of St.Petersburg, is pegged for 12th among NCAA Division I programs this year by Golfweek.

Tech finished third in last spring's NCAA Tournament but lost several seniors to graduation. The Yellow Jackets' Roberto Castro is ranked second, and Barbosa is No.42.

The University of Georgia is predicted to finish at the top. The Florida Gators, under coach Buddy Alexander , is picked for third. Matt Every , Brett Stegmaier and James Vargas form the Gators' nucleus.

Dunedin's Lara Smilnak (CCC), No.1 on the Boston College women's team, finished 26th among 80 players in last weekend's Notre Dame Invitational. She posted 82-81-77-240.

Among other area women, Brittany Jones (East Lake/Youngstown State) and Heather Hagerman (River Ridge/Florida Gulf Coast) have prepared for their sophomore years. Jones and Hagerman finished tied for 11th and first, respectively, in July's Florida Amateur Women's Championship.

HURRICANE KATRINA: Adam Stuck , Bardmoor's general manager, left the area with 12 friends last week for Hattiesburg, Miss., to help 400 people on a farm. The group brought chain saws, plus enough Gatorade and food to feed people for several days.

[Last modified September 13, 2005, 01:45:22]