Golf

Largo High's Messer repeats in Christmas Classic

By DAVE THEALL
Published December 22, 2005

Belleair's Andrea Messer survived a final-round 83 on a blustery day to defend her title in the Innisbrook Christmas Classic in Palm Harbor.

Messer had opening rounds of 73 and par-71, but a combination of strong winds and difficult pin placements caused most scores to soar on the final day. Evan Jensen, also 15 and Messer's practice partner and teammate at Largo High, had the girls' round of the day, 75, to close the gap and tie for second with Wake Forest-bound Dolores White of Lakeland. They finished two back.

Jhared Hack, 16, of Heathrow (68-72-76-216) won the boys 14-18 title by two strokes over Safety Harbor's P.J. Kolosvary and Nathan Wine of Fort Wayne, Ind., one of the 12 states represented in the strong field of 124.

In the boys 13-and-under division, Travis Huston, son of the PGA Tour's John Huston, shot 75-76-151 to take first over St. Petersburg's Jack Maguire (79-76-155).

[Last modified December 22, 2005, 00:59:14]