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World Woods to test state's best amateurs
By BRANT JAMES
© St. Petersburg Times, BROOKSVILLE -- Almost every time the phone rings in Scott Wyckoff's office, somebody wants something of him. But when Jim Demick, executive director of the Florida State Golf Association, wants to hold the state Amateur Championship at World Woods, well, that's just fine. "We'd always said if we had the opportunity, we'd love to hold it," said Wyckoff, World Woods' head professional. "It was mutual." Rated among the top public courses in the nation by several magazines and perennial sites for local U.S. Open and PGA Tour qualifying, the Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks courses will be the first in Hernando County to host the 72-hole, four-day tournament. World Woods is not directly compensated by the FSGA for use of the courses, Wyckoff said, but will earn revenue from cart and greens fees from the golfers. "To have two courses -- not just one -- of such excellent caliber is very rare," said Demick, who once brought the state four-ball championship to World Woods. Familiarity also had a lot to do with the offer. "It's a great championship facility," Demick said. "We have worked with World Woods for many years holding (U.S.) Open qualifiers and any number of championships. "It's a great 36-hole facility, and we thought it would be a great course to identify the best amateur golfer in Florida." Brooksville's Todd Jefcoat, 38, said he hopes the course identifies him in his fourth Amateur, but the customer care representative at The Dunes said he would be happy to finish in the top 20 out of 168 competitors. "I'd like to be in the top 10, but realistically, being in the top 20 of a big field would be a success," he said. "My first goal is to make the cut, and after that, you see how low you can go." Jefcoat, Hernando County's only participant, qualified for the Amateur by finishing tied for seventh with a 74 at Fox Hollow. His best Amateur finish was 18th at Lake Nona Golf & Country Club in Orlando in 1998. He's hoping a home-county advantage and relentless practice the past several weeks help him achieve his goal. If not, so much for that vacation time. "I feel great," he said. "What I did was take my vacation this past week from The Dunes, and I've been at it almost the whole time. "I've probably gotten in five rounds in at World Woods and Silverthorn and The Dunes; hitting a lot of balls, working on my short game." That, he said, will be the key to his game and if he makes the cut. "Pine Barrens gives you a real generous shot off the tee," he said. "The tee shot is not the major deal, but the greens are so protected and so fast, your game has to be sharp." A little extra input doesn't hurt either, which is why Jefcoat plans to bring along Al Fernandez -- who works in The Dunes cart barn -- as his caddie. "He's about a 3 handicap, and he's a great, great putter and reads greens real well," Jefcoat said. "That's where I need help." The other crucial facet -- mental approach -- he can handle only himself, Jefcoat said. "I'm not trying to put too much pressure on myself, but because this is kind of at home, I feel like this is one of my better chances," he said. "But I need to stay in the present. "If I get 1 or 2 under, I get ahead too much. This week, I'm going to try to play them one at a time. Everyone will make some mistakes at World Woods. There's double-bogeys to find out there. But if I stay in the present, there's some birdies out there, too." And somewhere out there will be Wyckoff, doing "anything they need" to keep the event moving. "I'm sure it'll go smooth," he said. "We hold a number of big events, so this is nothing new to us." - Staff writer Brant James can be reached at (800) 333-7505, ext. 1430. Send e-mail to brant@sptimes.com. FSGA AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIPELIGIBILITY: Amateurs who have a USGA Handicap Index not exceeding 11.4 and either are a Florida resident, member of an FSGA member club or military personnel based in Florida on active duty. WHERE: Pine Barrens and Rolling Oaks courses at World Woods. SCHEDULE: Eighteen holes of stroke play today through Sunday. If needed, a playoff will be held immediately following the 72 holes. TOTAL ENTRIES: 716. The 1991 State Amateur at Black Diamond Ranch received the most entries with more than 900. CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD: The starting field of 168 golfers will be cut after 36 holes to the low 70 scores plus ties. DEFENDING CHAMPION: Justin Biggs, 21. RETURNING CHAMPIONS: Two former champions are entered, Leetzow and Doug LaCrosse of Tampa (1992). YOUNGEST AND OLDEST: The youngest player is Thonotosassa's Patrick Gibson (16 years, 17 days). Crystal River's Joe Cristillo Jr. is the oldest (58). He will be 59 on Sept. 10. TENNIS CHAMPION: Ranked as high as seventh in the world, Aaron Krickstein won nine titles on the ATP Tour before retiring in 1996. Now a Palm Beach resident, Krickstein is playing in his first Amateur. His 13-year old niece, Morgan Pressell, qualified for the U.S. Women's Open. SCORING RECORD: Rick Pearson, with a 274 at Feather Sound Country Club in 1980. PRIZES: The champion will receive a crystal vase and have his name inscribed on the Clarence Camp Championship Bowl. He also will earn exemptions for the 2002 Western Amateur Championship, the 2002 Southern Amateur Championship, the 2001 Florida State Match Play Championship and the 2001 Florida State Mid-Amateur Championship. The champion also will earn a lifetime exemption for future Florida State Amateur Championships. -- Source: FSGA Want more?For information about the Florida State Golf Association Amateur Championship, check out these Web sites: www.fsga.org/pairings/fsga_pairings.html www.fsga.org/tourney/entry.cgi?tournament=Amateur
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