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Largo, FIU grad gets back in the groove

By TIMES STAFF WRITER
Published October 22, 2006

A young golfer from Indian Rocks Beach has been successfully honing her game on the County Golf Association circuit with both short and long-term goals in sight.

Courtney Burdick, 24, a product of the golf programs at Largo High and Florida International University, was on a winning (67) two-person better ball team last week at Crescent Oaks. She teamed with Andrew Rilling, a co-worker at Belleair Country Club where Burdick is a pro shop assistant.

"Andrew played very well in that match, making three birdies on the back nine for us," said Burdick, adding that she contributed the other two birdies on the front, helping them tie for first.

"I'm just getting back into serious golf because I was virtually out of the sport for two years after graduating from FIU with a degree in sports management. Now I'm working with (instructor) Jim Slattery here at Belleair and looking forward to getting back into competitive golf."

Burdick has signed up for the Futures Tour qualifier in Lakeland next month where she'll compete as an amateur. But she sees that as a stepping stone to a dream and an ambition.

"Ideally, I'd like to make it to the LPGA Tour," she said. "That's my goal."

Slattery, the director of golf at Belleair, said she has the potential to reach her goals.

"Courtney doesn't hit it the ball as far as Brittany Lincicome, but she's very accurate and very competitive," he said. "When the chips are down she rises to the occasion. She makes a lot of clutch shots; she's a grinder."

MORE CGA: Seminole's John Lisenbee teamed with Johnny Reeves for 5-under 67 to tie Burdick and Rilling at Crescent Oaks.

There also was a tie for first among seniors (55-plus) as Jim Hunter and Malcolm Griffith matched the 71 of Dick Stafford and Johnny Halligan.

Net honors went to the team of Robert Hathaway and Larry Deavers.

- On Monday at East Lake Woodlands North course, Burdick teamed up with Decker Todd of Brandon. Their better-ball 72 from the blue tees was a stroke off the pace set by winners Jeff Pett of Safety Harbor and Claud Johnston of Clearwater.

Bill O'Hara and Bill Johnson of Clearwater captured the senior team title with 2-under 70, comfortably ahead of runnerups Bill Maxfield and Wayne Banting.

Greg McDonnell and Gary Shellenberger went low (63), winning the net division.

GOLF GETS IN YOUR BLOOD: The Florida Blood Services Foundation's annual fundraiser Monday produced an impressive winning score of 18-under 54 at Countryside Country Club. The members of the winning team were Hyatali Shah of Riverview, his brother Hassanali Shah, Keith Richardson and Michael Watson.

More importantly, the full-field event grossed $125,000 and netted about $75,000, reports Marla Grant, director of community relations for the Foundation.

Clearwater Mayor Frank Hibbard teamed with former mayor Brian Aungst, now with Bright House, Ed Hooper and event co-chair Bill Shaffer to finish seventh out of 37 teams.

WEST COAST WOMEN: Mary Ann Petrillo, a member at Pasadena, traveled to Sun City Center last week, shooting 80 for second to Jeanne Roth of Sarasota, 76.

In that same AA Flight, Pinellas golfers Cathy Moss of the Vinoy and Vickie Stafford of Cypress Run finished 1-2 in the net division with scores of 70 and 71, respectively.

SOUTHEASTERN CHALLENGE MATCHES: Peter Dachisen of Wesley Chapel and the Florida State Golf Association, was a member of second-place team Florida at last weekend's match with the top amateurs from winning Georgia and third-place Alabama.

The match was held at Hawks Ridge Golf Club in Ball Ground, Ga. Dachisen is a three-time winner of the Gasparilla Invitational at Palma Ceia.

COLLEGE: Brittany Jones (East Lake High), a junior at Youngstown State, led the Penquins to a ninth-place finish at this week's IPFW Fall Classic in Fort Wayne, Ind. She shot 8-over 80. The second round was rained out.

NORTH FLORIDA PGA: Belleair's Jim Slattery teamed with club member Jack Baughman to win a section championship with 15 points Monday at Golden Ocala Country Club. In individual pro scoring, Slattery finished second with 2-over 74.

[Last modified October 21, 2006, 17:53:07]