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Letter to the editor

For teaching pro, a surprise victory

By DAVE THEALL, Times Correspondent
Published October 7, 2007

Much to his surprise, PGA teaching pro Jim Smith of Missing Links Range won the 10th annual Skip Alexander Pro-Am at St. Petersburg Country Club on Monday.

Smith, 54, shot 1-over 73 in a stellar field of younger players, including runnerup Terry Decker (76), the host pro.

"The win came as a complete surprise to me," said Smith, a two-time Florida PGA senior champion and former Florida Gator player. "I really didn't think much about the competition or the score: I just tried to play the game to the best of my ability."

Smith said his recent work with PGA Tour pro Greg Kraft of Belleair has helped his game somewhat in that he's gotten up-to-date with some recent innovations.

And the former coach at St. Petersburg College reflected briefly on what might have been the highlight of his amateur career: "We (the Gators) went into the final round of the 1971 NCAA Championship in first place," referring to teammates Gary Koch, Andy Bean and Andy North. "However, the University of Texas, led by Tom Kite, ovetook us for the title," he said.

Randy Mosley of the Vinoy tied for third with the host club's Robert Jacks, posting 77s.

Dean Hedstrom of Belleair Country Club shared fifth place with six others shooting 79.

"Skip would have been very proud of Dean," Decker said. "Dean, the former head pro here, is battling cancer and just had his hip replaced due to this disease. He has a wonderful spirit."

In pro-am scoring, Gary Metzger's team of Bob Weaver, Bob Mertzman and Bob Wharton won with a 135 in a two best-balls format. Second went to the team of Ken Betz of Mangrove Bay with Johnny Williams, Tim Cyr and Bob Hewitt. And third place were Decker with Rich and Mike Riggins plus Bob Byelick.

Betz crafted the shot of the day, an ace on the 189-yard No. 4 hole on a day with blustery winds. He used a 5-iron.

Skip Alexander, who was the head pro at St. Petersburg Country Club for 33 years, was a two-time Ryder Cup member in his prime and a leading pro on tour. He died in 1997. A movie script of his life and survival of a plane crash has recently been completed, but there has been no announcement of a release format or date.

CGA: Odessa's Jeff Neugebauer won back-to-back matches. A score of 2-over 74 held up last week at Lansbrook, and he went low with 4-under 67 to win Monday at Bellair.

In the senior division, Wayne Mateer and Bill Johnson tied (74) at Lansbrook, and at Belleair the teams of Bobby Kilgore with Connie Wren and Bill Sanders with Richard Bullock won in a better-ball format with 70.

COLLEGES: Alabama freshman Courtney Harter (Palm Harbor University) rated a place in the team's starting lineup at last weekend's Wildcat Invitational at Kentucky, but she was entered as an individual. No problem. She shot 5-under 67 in the first round, followed by 71 and 75 for medalist honors with 213. Her 67 ties for Alabama's second lowest round. The Crimson Tide won the team title.

- Boston College senior Lara Smilnak (Clearwater Central Catholic) finished third for the ninth-place Eagles at the Nittany Lion Invitational at Penn State. Her three-round score was 246.

DUNEDIN COUNTRY CLUB: Bill and Ruth Hook were honored at a recent dinner at the club, where they were conferred honorary memberships. The Hooks spent winters in the area starting in 1947. Bill played the course, then the PGA National Golf Club, often and in 1962 became a charter member of the club. He later (and still) taught thousands of juniors to seniors how to play and improve their game. A resolution regarding the Hooks was read at the dinner and at a Dunedin City Commission meeting.

CYPRESS RUN: In a two better-ball format tournament, the team of Mel Arthur, Frank Zepf, Ralph Sgroi and Greg Liamcuris were winners.

[Last modified October 6, 2007, 20:43:05]