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Father-son day turns into winner

By DAVE THEALL
Published March 31, 2007

Why would a 67-year-old golfer be required to play in the regular division instead of the senior in Monday's CGA match in Parrish?

Simply because in team competition, in this case better ball, the senior division is open to only players 55 and over. And Bob Riley, a retired dentist from Palm Harbor, was keen on playing with his son, Bill, 30, who lives in Lakeland and plays to a 2 handicap.

No problem. The Rileys won with a par 72 at River Wilderness Club aided in no small part by the eagle crafted by Bill on the 510-yard par-5 No. 4 hole. After a 310-yard drive, Bill, a former Times player of the year at East Lake High, sent his 3-iron approach shot to the center of the green, then eased his 15-foot putt into the cup.

"It was a thrill playing with him again," said Bob, who plays to a 9 handicap. "He's real busy over in Lakeland teaching school and raising three children ages 6, 4 and 2. We only get to play together about twice a year, so I really look forward to those opportunities."

The senior Riley said his son's best shot of the day came on the par-4 11th hole, measured at 310 yards. Bill drove the green but missed his 13-footer for a second eagle. He contributed two other birdies to the team effort and his father, one.

After East Lake High, Bill went on to play for Florida Southern helping the team win the NCAA Division II Championship twice. He tried the PGA Tour's Q-School once but didn't make it past the opening qualifier, so he turned his goals elsewhere.

Bob Riley was an accomplished athlete at Ohio State at the same time a classmate by the name of Jack Nicklaus was winning the NCAA individual championship. That was in 1961, the year Purdue won the team title.

Riley won three varsity letters on the track team, running the high and low hurdles, and earning points in the long jump.

"Bill and I had a great time at River Wilderness," Bob said. "We each won $50 gift certificates and another $98 for the eagle skin on No. 4."

St. Petersburg's Bill Laurich also scored an eagle in the tournament. His came on the par-5 14th hole. Teamed with Brian Pesola, they captured the net division with 12-under 60.

Decker Todd and Joy Whelchel finished a stroke behind the Rileys with 73 in the regular division, one ahead of Tom Smith and Eddie Grant.

Teammates Gil Day of Clearwater Beach and Jim Hunter of Largo won the senior division with 72 as winds prevailed.

Janet Richey and Nan Sher took women's net honors at 69.

COLLEGES: Brittany Jones (East Lake High) led the Youngstown State Penguins to a 10th-place finish at the recent North/South Collegiate in Jacksonville Beach. She shot 79-76-155. ... At Winter Springs, Rachel Edwards (Seminole High) was the leading scorer for Daytona Beach Community College at the Peggy Kirk Bell Invitational with rounds of 75-78-78-231. ... Lara Smilnak (Clearwater Central Catholic) finished first (77-78-155) for seventh-place Boston College at the William & Mary Invitational in Williamsburg, Va.

QUIZ: Which college has won the men's NCAA title most often? Answer below.

MORE2LIFE TOURNAMENT: At the Bayou Club, 14-under 58 won for the team of Rod Kennedy, Bob Johnson, Bob Ryder and Meghan Chapman of Seminole High, the Times' 2006 player of the year. A stroke back were Randall Langley, Doug Plastow, Mark Berggren and Steve Wolfe. Northside Christian golf coach Dave Jackson's team of three teenagers took third with 60. They were Danielle Grace, Kelsey Gibson and Michelle Butler.

The tournament served as a fundraiser to expand the scope of the sexual abstinence to marriage program to teenagers. For more information, call deAnna Petruch at 545-8292, ext. 237 or visit www.joinred.com.

ELITE AMATEURS: St. Petersburg's Mike Barbosa (Georgia Tech 2007) finished third (67-74-73-214) at the Florida Azelea in Palatka. T.J. Shuart won with 210 (71-74-65).

HOLES IN ONE: Dave Cybuhski of West Seneca, N.Y., aced the 135-yard 12th hole at East Bay on March 17 with a 9 iron. ... Chris Chisholm of Nova Scotia used a wedge to ace the 106-yard third at the Tides on March 18. ... On March 23 at the Tides, Bill Horner of Treasure Island aced the 172-yard 15th with a 5 iron.

QUIZ ANSWER: Yale, 21 wins between 1897 and 1943.

COMING UP: The West Coast Women meet Monday at Lone Palm in Lakeland. Entries are closed.

[Last modified March 31, 2007, 00:20:31]