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Golf

Favorites in CGA range from 20 to 56

By Times Staff
Published November 29, 2005

The 28th annual County Golf Association event could come down to an intergenerational battle. The 36-hole tournament starts Monday at Fox Hollow in Trinity and finishes Dec.12 at Countryside Country Club.

Among the early favorites are Clearwater's Frank Saxon , 56, and Seminole's Matt Gesner , 20.

Both are on a roll. And though last year's winner, Jerry Thorn , has moved to California, a number of other low handicap players could shoot par and take the trophy.

Saxon has three CGA trophies, from 1995-97. He backed off the game soon after that but has been strong this year after changing some equipment, namely new irons.

"I'm playing better from tee to green," said Saxon, who qualified for this year's U.S. Senior Amateur and advanced to match play before losing to the defending champion. "I could play in the senior (55-plus) division at the CGA but I feel I ready to compete in the open division.

"I'm looking forward to it with high expectations. In fact, I'd be disappointed if I don't win."

Gesner, a former standout at Largo High who played briefly at Warner Southern in Lake Wales, is equally confident.

"I've been shooting consistently in the low 70s and high 60s lately," said Gesner, who led after the first round last year before dropping out because of sickness. "I've been playing extremely well this year, including just missing the cut for a playoff to the U.S. Open by just two strokes. I'm looking forward to the challenge. And if the weather is bad either day, it won't bother me at all. I do better in nasty weather because I go into a more focused mind-set."

Gesner attributes his recent improvement to lessons with teaching pro Jonathan Yarwood in Bradenton. Yarwood also coaches U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell of New Zealand.

Dalan Farren of New Port Richey and St. Petersburg's Ernie Muschner , the 2002 and '03 winners, respectively, have the experience to withstand final-day pressure.

Clearwater's Vic Morelli and Robert Cronk , plus Jeff Pett of Seffner, should also be in the mix.

In the senior division, defending champion Mitch Bentley of Tampa expects to contend with Gil Day of Clearwater Beach, the 2003 winner; '02 winner John King , Tampa; Wayne Mateer , Dunedin, and Dennis Williams , Tarpon Springs.

The tournament is open to all registered players with established handicaps. There are gross and net divisions with starts at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Monday. For further details, go to www.countygolf.com or call 727 446-6644.

PGA WEST CENTRAL: The chapter that covers the bay area has its Pro-Am end-of-year tournament set for Monday at the Bayou Club. The annual awards banquet is Dec.7 at Belleair Country Club.

For information, call Belleair's director of golf Jim Slattery at (727) 442-0229. Slattery showed his versatility by running in the Times Turkey Trot 5K race on Thanksgiving Day.

PINELLAS INTERCLUB: Rain canceled last week's monthly match at Cove Cay. The December tournament will be held at the Bayou Club at noon Dec.12.

AWARDS: The Florida State Golf Association named Kelly Gosse of Inverness the state's amateur of the year. Among his 2005 victories was the FGSA Match Play Championship.

At the Nov.18 awards dinner at Palma Ceia Country Club, the following members were inducted into the Florida Golf Hall of Fame: Bob Murphy , Don Bisplinghoff , Bo Williams , Carl Dann Jr. , Charlie Bedford , Jim Callendar and A.C. Ulmer . Ulmer founded the association in 1913, the year Woodrow Wilson took over in the White House. Ulmer went on to win the state amateur in 1917, '21, '22 and '28.

LARGO SCRAMBLE: Allison Stephenson from Indian Rocks Beach contributed to her team's win bi-weekly event at Largo Golf Course Saturday. She, Shane Stein of Largo and Enoc Doane of Seminole shot 12-under 50 to prevail among 14 teams.

JUNIORS: At Lake Buena Vista last weekend, Countryside High's Zach Walters shot 1-under 215 (73-70-72) to finish two strokes ahead of teammate P.J. Kolosvary . Tyler Wilkens , another Cougar, posted 222.

Dunedin's Preston Knox had rounds of 78-79-79-336, as Wesley Graham of Port Orange went to a fifth playoff hole with J.C. Horne of Ormond Beach before winning.

Largo High sophomore Evan Jensen finished 13th in the girls division (80-78-82-240). Madison Pressel of Boca Raton finished third behind Alexis Thompson of Coral Springs.

TAP-INS: St. Petersburg's Doug Root captured the senior title at the recent Tampa City Championship at Babe Zaharias, shooting 68-74-142.

Root is the defending senior champion of the New Year's Invitational at St. Petersburg Country Club. All-American Jeff Overton of the University of Indiana won the 2005 open title.

[Last modified November 29, 2005, 02:15:28]