Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Golf

Clearwater CC players capture fourth crown

By Times Staff
Published October 25, 2005

The winners of the men's and women's championships at Clearwater Country Club are on a roll.

In match play, Andy Nall coolly closed out Tom Anderson 6 and 5 in the 36-hole men's final for his fourth title in four years. And Shelly Urban nervously edged close friend Valerie Hazell 1 up in 18 holes for her fourth consecutive crown.

Though Nall, 47, fell behind early, he kept chipping away to take a 1-stroke lead after 18 holes. In the second round, Nall stayed with his game plan - be patient and keep the ball in play - and the pieces fell into place. He lost just one other hole after losing No.2 in the opening round.

"I gave myself a chance by avoiding a lot of bad holes," said Nall, a 1975 graduate of Clearwater High School where he was an outfielder in baseball.

"I tried to focus on one stroke at a time, and I got progressively more confident," he said.

The clincher was on the par-4 No.8 where Anderson sank a 20-foot putt for a birdie. Nall proceeded to drain a 15-foot equalizer.

Nall said he came away with not only a plaque and his name engraved on a permanent clubhouse trophy, but with a renewed sense of confidence.

Urban's victory turned out to be more of a challenge.

Playing to a 10 handicap, Urban faced an opponent and a friend who is a 7 handicap. They never had met in the finals despite Hazell capturing the championship four times from 1998-2001.

"I was extremely nervous at the outset, so much that I was down 4 after just nine holes," Urban said. "I wasn't comfortable, but I never got down on myself."

Urban started to chip away at the lead on the back nine, but was trailing by 1 going to No.17.

On that green, Urban encountered a slippery downhill 4-footer. She tapped the ball, and it fell for a par to even the match. On 18, she won with a bogey.

"I finally turned it around," Urban said.

"She (Hazell) won six (holes) on the front, and I only won one. But on the back nine, I finally got it together. I couldn't believe I won and was able to beat such a good player."

TOURNAMENT NOTES: Urban said she played only twice during the summer. When she got back into it this fall, her handicap rose significantly.

Urban took a couple of quick-fix lessons from teaching pro Ned Hall , and that helped her in the championship. Her game was there in the first two matches, as she swept opponents without losing a hole.

Clearwater Country Club has yet to crown a five-time winner of the men's or women's championships.

SENIOR ACE: Ken Bly , 85, of Dunedin, made his fourth career hole-in-one at Countryway Golf Club on Oct.12 when his 9-iron tee shot on the 86-yard 12th dropped.

Bly recorded his first two aces at ages 40 and 51 in his hometown of West Unity, Ohio. His third was scored at Clearwater Executive at 78.

JUNIOR LESSONS: St.Andrews Links in Dunedin will continue its junior programs this winter.

Sessions are scheduled for Wednesday afternoons and Saturday mornings. There also is an after-school program on Mondays starting at 3:30.

Group lessons are conducted by PGA teaching pro Paul Sylvester . He recently was named the West Central PGA Chapter Junior Leader of the Year.

For fees and information, call the pro shop, (727) 733-5061.

[Last modified October 25, 2005, 03:00:29]