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Seminole junior amps up her game

By DAVE THEALL
Published December 2, 2006

A young woman from Seminole shot a career-best 54-hole score of 2-over 218 (79-70-69) to finish second out of 24 players ages 16-18 in a Florida Junior Tour event at the Walt Disney World Resort.

In the process, Meghan Chapman, a junior standout at Seminole High, defeated some of the top teens in the state and beyond. Her division included two-time Class 2A champion state Alexandria Buelow of Palm City, who tied for fifth with Maria Ronderos of Colombia; Largo High standouts Andrea Messer (seventh) and Evan Jensen (tied for eighth), and Paula Reto of Cape Town, South Africa, 20th.

Chapman, who was named to the Times' all-Pinellas County first team as a freshman at Seminole, said she got off to a bad start on the first day due to unfamiliarity with the course and just not playing her game.

"Nothing clicked, I never got started and had a lot of three putts," Chapman said. "On the second day I not only figured out the course, but I was sticking my irons shots close to the pin and making a lot more putts.

Overall, it was a big confidence builder."

Chapman was coming off a disappointing high school finale where she lost in a two-hole playoff at a region qualifier to advance to state. As a freshman, she led the Warhawks to a 10th-place finish at state.

Chapman plays out of both Belleview Biltmore, where she has a job cleaning golf carts, and Belleair, where she caddies and takes lessons for director of golf Jim Slattery.

"Meghan was due to explode," Slattery said, referring to her recent improvement. "Last year she also played basketball at Seminole High and got hurt. This year, she's really been coming on with her incredible, fluid swing. She reminds me of (Hall of Fame member) Karrie Webb of the LPGA Tour. Meghan has no weaknesses in her game."

Chapman said she was looking forward to another Florida Junior Tour event in three weeks and later in December, the Innisbrook Christmas Classic.

TOURNAMENT NOTE: Chapman was the first teenager in her division since overall winner Alexis Thompson, from Coral Springs, is only 11. She won with rounds of 72-73-68-213.

MORE FLORIDA JUNIORS: Seminole's Ryan Ashburn, a standout at Northside Christian, won the girls 13-15 division at Disney World over a field of 12. She posted rounds of 77-78-81-236 to hold off Carlie Yadloczky of Casselberry by three strokes.

- Blayne Barber of Lake City, ranked No. 2 in the FJT point standings, shot a final-round 66 but his 54-hole total of 212 left him three strokes off the pace set by Chris Carlin of Miramar, who won the boys 16-18 division in a four-hole playoff.

The top Pinellas finishers were Tyler Wilkens (225) and Mike Baskovich (230) of Clearwater and Chad Fleming of Seminole, 242. St. Petersburg's M.J. Maguire (Shorecrest) finished fifth, 13-15, with even scores of 75-75-75-225. He was followed by Devin Hernandez (236) and Taylor Hancock (246).

PINELLAS INTERCLUB: Pat Treon and Bob Karouz led the host Bayou Club to a first-place team tie in November's match. Playing in a better-ball format with handicaps, they shot 9-under 63, winning by way of a scorecard playoff with Allen Dennis and Phil Castro of Countryside.

Through three matches of the 2006-07 season, Countryside remains in first followed by Dunedin, Seminole Lake and Belleair.

In the pro division, Joe Castellano of Cypress Run posted the low score, 76, followed by Innisbrook's Jayson Villagrana, the Vinoy's Stephen Johnson and Jim King of the host club, all with 78.

The league's December match is set for Cove Cay on Monday at 12:30.

COUNTY GOLF: Ken Mellem's eagle on the par-4 10th at Hunter's Green on Monday helped his two-man team , with Richard Bullock, win the better-ball match with 8-under 64 in the senior division.

Barry Smith teamed with Charlie Robbins (69) for the win in the regular division, followed by Ed Shedd and Ken Palladino of Dunedin (70) and Decker Todd paired with Kevin Andress, 71.

In net scoring, Bob Hathaway and Larry Deavers tied (62) with Dave Nagy and A.J. Finales. Janet Richey and Nan Sher prevailed among women with a net 67.

Frank Saxon of Clearwater is expected to defend his CGA Championship title, starting on Dec. 11 at East Lake Woodland. Bullock is signed up to defend the seniors title.

AREA PROS: At the PGA West Central Chapter's Pro-Pro tournament last week at Southern Woods in Citrus County, Stan Cooke and Scott Wykoff of World Woods won with 6-under 66. Dean Hedstrom of Belleair teamed with Frank Reynolds of Wentworth for second (5 under) followed by Jim Slattery and the Vinoy's Randy Mosley at 4 under.

PGA TOUR Q-SCHOOL: The Golf Channel will televise the final three rounds, starting Saturday at 4:30 p.m. Bob Heintz of Dunedin and Kyle McCarthy of Gulfport are in the field vying for a place on the main tour or Nationwide Tour.

ST. NICK OPEN: The 20th annual event at Mangrove, a two-person scramble, had a full field of 180 three hours after registration opened Nov. 1. The 27-hole event is set for Dec. 16 with nine holes played at Cypress Links.

The popular event raises money for a local family's Christmas.

"We take (a family) shopping and buy all of their Christmas gifts," said Kenny Betz, a Mangrove assistant pro.

FATHER-SON: Tarpon Woods hosts its annual team championship Dec. 27 and 28 in a scramble format. Each match is followed by a buffet dinner. For an entry form or more information, call the pro shop at (727) 784-7606.

[Last modified December 1, 2006, 23:46:59]