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Saxon grabs big trophy at CGA event

By Times Staff
Published December 20, 2005

Frank Saxon 's decision to enter the open division of last week's County Golf Association Championship rather than the senior proved to be correct.

It would have been easier for the 56-year-old four-time winner to play from the white tees rather than the blue tees. And he would have faced men in their late 50s and 60s rather than players in their prime.

However, rounds of 1-over 72 at Fox Hollow and 4-over 76 at Countryside enabled Saxon to capture the crown for the first time since 1997.

It wasn't exactly a walk in the park.

Jeff Neugebauer came on strong Dec.12, going 1-under on the 9-hole Pine course with 35 while Saxon had four bogeys, offsetting his birdie on No.1. That tied them going to their 10th hole, which was No.1 on the Lake course.

"I had to get up and down there from the bunker to save par," Saxon said.

"I went ahead when he dumped one in the water on 12 but it was still touch and go until he ran into more trouble on 16. Up to that point, the match could have gone either way."

Saxon said the win vindicated the commitment he made last year to get back to a high competitive level.

Dunedin's Ken Palladino narrowed Saxon's first-round lead with 74. That left him tied for second with Neugebauer (76-76-152).

Clearwater's Mark Wilkins finished fourth (76-76-154), two strokes better than Matt Gesner of Seminole.

The senior division was the most competitive, with a 36-hole tie forcing a playoff. First-round leader (75) John King left the door open in the second round by shooting 79.

Conversely, Richard Bullock , who opened with an 8-over 79, closed the gap with 75.

On the first extra hole at Countryside, they tied with pars. Because of darkness they returned Dec.13, parring the first hole again. Then on the 475-yard par-5 second on the Pine course, Bullock parred after reaching in three and King three-putted from 30 feet for a bogey.

"It's always nice to win," said Bullock, who plays to a zero handicap at the Bayou Club.

The low scores among seniors were by John Erickson (136), Tom Bone (138) and Dick Ptomey (140). In the open division, the net winners were Chris Gamble (140), Hugh Forsythe (142) and Pete Yore (145).

MEN'S INTERCLUB: East Lake Woodlands strengthened its lead in the 12-club 2005-06 season, easily winning last week's match at the Bayou Club.

After consecutive second-place finishes in the first two matches, East Lake has 28 points. Cove Cay is second with 22, followed by Lansbrook, and a fourth-place tie between Belleview Biltmore and the Bayou Club.

East Lake's strongest two-man team was John Ruggiero and Gene Taylor .

They crafted 12-under 60 for the day, playing to 90 percent of their established handicaps. That was the best score among the 12 clubs, all twosomes.

Taylor (11 handicap) said Ruggiero's ball striking was particularly good, along with his ability to sink most of the 6- to 8-foot putts to save par. Overall, the pair only had one net bogey.

"We ham and egged it a lot," Taylor said. "John was playing exceptionally well on Monday. Although he's 81 he's still a fierce competitor.

"He used to be a pro bowler back in Michigan and he just doesn't like to lose. He usually brings his A game to these matches."

East Lake head pro Glenn Shirts , who shot 78, said his club's members know they are doing well in the series.

"We haven't done that well in Interclub in recent years and the members want to do well each match," he said. "They take Interclub very seriously."

Shirts said he got off to a bad start before settling down, with only one bogey after the first couple of holes. And that was offset by a birdie.

The Vinoy's Randy Mosley led the pros again, this time with 2-over 74. Chris Slattery (75) of Countryside finised second, followed by Harley Hjerpe (76) of the host club. Greg Hart of Cove Cay tied Shirts for fourth.

Lansbrook members Paul Gulley and Mike Konz had the second best amateur score, 63. Jim Eliason and Jim Moore of the Bayou followed with 64.

Cove Cay hosts the next match, at noon Jan.5.

PRO RANKINGS: Golfweek has a few area women listed after Annika Sorenstam and Bradenton's LPGA Rookie of the Year Paula Creamer , ranked 1-2.

They are Seminole's Brittany Lincicome , 97th, the tour's longest driver averaging 270.3 yards; Clearwater's Jenny Gleason , 174th; and Brooksville's Kelly Lagedrost , 231.

Clearwater's John Huston finished 120th on the PGA Tour money list, followed by Dunedin's Bob Heintz in 171st. Heintz has conditional status for 2006.

A big end-of-year winner was Greg Kraft , 41, who regained his PGA Tour card at the Qualifying Tournament this month.

Despite his pro ranking of 252, playing primarily on the Nationwide Tour, he tied for 18th at Q-School to earn a full exemption.

COLLEGE: St. Petersburg's Mike Barbosa is playing for third-ranked Georgia Tech in his final season.

The Yellow Jackets trail only Georgia and Oklahoma State with a full spring season ahead capped by the NCAA Championships. Tech isn't quite as strong as last spring when Nick Thompson of Coral Springs was a senior. But Thompson proved he was ready to move on, tying for third at the PGA Tour Q-School to advance to the big show.

JUNIORS: Wednesday is the final round of the Innisbrook Junior Classic.

Boys defending champion David Palm of Jacksonville recently signed with Central Florida.

Florida State has signed Cameron Knight of Dade City and Seth Lauer of Bradenton.

Florida signed Robbie Wight of Palm Beach and Jude Eustaquio of Lake Worth. The Gator women added Kelly Hurst of Melbourne and Brittany Nelson of Ponte Vedra Beach.

USF signed Chris Tallman of South Hadley, Mass.

FATHER/SON CHAMPIONSHIP: There are still openings for the annual team match at Tarpon Woods Country Club, at 8:30 a.m. Dec.28-29. For an entry form or further information, call the pro shop at (727) 784-7606.

[Last modified December 20, 2005, 01:50:22]