Saddlebrook regains title

By DAWN REISS
Published October 17, 2006

GAINESVILLE - Saddlebrook senior Jared Fishman's face lit up as he walked off Haile Plantation Golf & Country Club's 18th hole. His 69 easily won the Class A, Region 3 tournament Monday, but more important it gave Fishman the confidence boost he was looking for after he shot 78 at the district tournament.

After parring the first hole, Fishman three-putted for bogey on No. 2.

"I thought, here it goes again, a day where I can't make any of my shots," Fishman said. "But I just blocked it out."

He parred the next four holes, birdied No. 7 and 8 before parring another four. He bogeyed 13, then finished with two birdies and three pars for 34 on the back nine.

Teammates Diego Tomayo (74), who finished second overall, John Shaw (76), Hugh Lindstrom (76) and Thomas Riehle (79), helped Saddlebrook win the team title at 295. Citrus, who upset Saddlebrook last year, finished second at 303. Gainesville Oak Hall (313) was third followed by Nature Coast (331).

Citrus' top golfer, Bobby Bang, who shot 74 to finish third, nailed a 45-foot putt on the 18th to lead the 'Canes. Teammate Nick Brothers nearly bested Bang, but bogeyed the last two holes to finish fourth overall at 75. West Port's Rigoberto Negron fought back tears after missing the state tournament for the second consecutive year after shooting 75, which put him in the lead early in the day.

"I just let it slip away," Negron said. "I was so close."

[Last modified October 17, 2006, 05:12:57]