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Thomas, Todd win CGA match

By DAVE THEALL
Published February 3, 2007

Five birdies and two bogeys resulted in a winning score of 3-under-par 69 for Palm Harbor's Mark Thomas and Decker Todd of Brandon at Monday's CGA match at St. Petersburg Country Club.

And there wasn't much margin for error in the team's win.

John Van Fleck and Jeff Pett were only a stroke back, along with Rich Volcko and Mike Sanderson of Homosassa. The latter team won individual CGA 2006 titles in December for the open and senior divisions, respectively.

Thomas, who plays to a 2 handicap, said he and Todd played steady with few mistakes.

Thomas's most memorable shot was on the 462-yard par-4, where his 3-iron approach shot came to rest within 3 feet of the cup for an easy birdie. His other birdie resulted from draining a 15-footer.

"What helped us was that the course was in great condition ... fast greens ... which is what I like," Thomas said. "I like better ball format equally with individual scoring.

"The County Golf Association mixes up their formats, which keeps the matches interesting. Ray Goodman and his staff do a great job for the golfing community."

Another dynamic duo, Ken Mellem of the Bayou Club and Richard Bullock, who plays out of Innisbrook, also won by a stroke (71) in the Senior Division.

They edged Jim Shepherd and Stan Lewis. Ed Niziolek and famed golf course artist Bud Chapman of Minnesota finished with 73.

Monday's net winners were Charlotte Purcell of Safety Harbor and Jeannine Wiles with 66, plus Dick Bartlett with Dan Menke in the men's division, along with solo-playing Tim Deleon at 65.

Tampa's Terry Firsdon fired a 4-under 68, winning last week's match at Plantation Palms in Land O'Lakes.

Clearwater's Jack Forbes, a winter resident from West Virginia, took senior honors with 72.

The CGA meets on Monday at Countryside and Thursday at The Eagles.

For further details, visit www.countygolf.com, or call (727) 446-6644.

PGA TOUR: Brandt Snedeker, who led last week's Bob Hope Classic after each of the first three rounds, learned something about perseverance at St. Petersburg Country Club playing in the New Year's Invitational as a student at Vanderbilt.

In 2003, Snedeker was caught and passed by Kentucky's J.B. Holmes on the fourth and final day. The next year, Snedeker hung tough on the final day and captured the prestigious title.

In Snedeker's opening nine holes at Torrey Pines last week he was 9-under 27 ... all birdies except for an eagle "offsetting" a lone par.

PRO LONG DRIVING: Steve Monroe, a 1998 graduate of Clearwater High, finished third in a competition in Melbourne earlier this week. Despite 20-mile-per-hour winds, Monroe reached 307 yards, losing behind drives of 324 and 312 yards.

Next week, Monroe travels to Mesquite, Nevada, for a big Long Drivers Association match.

COLLEGE: Freshman Danielle Jackson (Northside Christian) will lead the Stetson Lady Hatters into their first match of the 2007 season on Feb. 24-25 at the Bethune-Cookman Invitational in Daytona Beach.

In the fall season, Jackson, a two-time Times player of the year, led the team into the top 100 national women's rankings in NCAA Division II.

She averaged a team-low 76 in 11 rounds with a best score of 4-under 68 in the DeBary Invitational.

Jackson was also a basketball four-year starter at point guard for the Mustangs, who are coached by her father, Dave.

JUNIORS: The East Lake PAL (Police Athletic League) team is undefeated at 5-0 this winter. The Eagles are led by Nick Buccina with a 38 average (9 holes), plus Jeff West (41.3), Yanni Vretas (38.5) and Terry O'Reilly (39).

The team is coached by Terry O'Reilly Sr., a Pinellas County deputy and coach of the East Lake High boys and girls teams.

The youth league will wrap up its winter and spring season at the annual Matthew Hall Memorial Tournament at East Bay Country Club on April 27.

That annual event, headed by Sam and Melinda Hall of North Redington Beach, is changing its format this year from open to juniors. It will be a Sheriff's PAL League event.

For information on entering the event or supporting it, call Normajeanne Anderson, (727) 586-3292.

FLORIDA JUNIOR TOUR: Monica Miller of Davie is favored to win the girls 16-18 division of this weekend's match in Palm Coast. She is ranked fifth in the state based on accumulated points in FJT matches.

Belleair's Evan Jensen, who leads the standings, is not entered. Nationally, Jensen is ranked 86th by Golfweek.

This weekend's boys favorite is Hojin Kang of Longwood. He has won two of the tour's first four matches.

[Last modified February 2, 2007, 21:11:07]