Northpinellas: Cerutti clubs his way back for CGAC win

Having teed it up an estimated 10 times in one of the bay area's premier amateur tournaments, East Lake's John Cerutti finally took home the winner's trophy.

Cerutti, 40, a former pitcher with the Toronto Blue Jays and Detroit Tigers, overcame a four-stroke deficit from Friday's first round when he shot 4-over 75 and Steve Allinder of Tampa posted a 71.

However, on Saturday, Cerutti came back with a 72, including an eagle-3 on the par-5, 530-yard 12th, in his comeback. Allinder fell with a 79.

Cerutti's 147 total was three strokes better than Allinder and six better than Dalan Farren of Tarpon Springs and Don Southhall of Tampa, who tied with 153.

"I was in an even deeper hole after five holes Saturday than I was after 18 Friday," said Cerutti, a Blue Jays television broadcaster.

"That is, I bogeyed 5, 6 and 7 to go six down with 13 to play. But I figured there was still a lot of golf to play and if I settled down I might just pull it off," he said.

Cerutti proceeded to birdie the 403-yard par-4 ninth to pick up one stroke, then took command on the 11th with the eagle.

His drive settled some 337 yards down the fairway abetted by a long roll.

"I was still about 193 yards out," said Cerutti, who has a zero handicap with the CGA. "I hit a 7-iron pin high but on the right fringe. I figured I could roll it in with a perfect putt, and I did.

"Equally important was coming out of a bunker on No. 16 to within 4 feet and making the putt to save par.

"I haven't been playing my A game lately, but I told myself early on in this tournament to just play the course and realize that anything could happen, and it did."

Cerutti said the win was especially gratifying because he's played in the CGA Championship about 10 times and finished second two or three times.

"I love the competition and I love golf so it's a perfect fit," Cerutti said. "And (tournament directors) Ray and Jayne Goodman do a great job."

Two teenagers were in a three-way tie with Marshall Ames of Clearwater for fifth place.

They are Ryan Shears, a June graduate of East Lake High School, a member of the 1999 Times all-Pinellas first team. The other is James Boothe, a member of the golf team at Palm Harbor University High School.

They shot 157.

SENIOR DIVISION: Wayne Smith, 59, of Tampa, had to overcome a significant first-day deficit to win among players 55-and-over.

Smith opened with a 75 to fall three strokes off the pace set by Earl Roark of Lake Suzy.

But Smith rebounded Sunday with a 1-over 72 for a 147 total as Roark, just like Allinder in the regular division, slipped to a 79. Roark's 151 dropped him to third place.

Wayne Mateer of Clearwater matched his opening round of 74 for 148 and the runner-up position.

Sunday's senior match was a see-saw battle between Smith and Mateer.

Smith birdied their 16th to go 1-up only to lose the lead on their 17th, the par-3 8th, when Mateer birdied.

The match wasn't decided till the par-4 9th (their 18th) when Smith parred in and Mateer bogeyed after three-putting from 45 feet.

"The win was pure vindication," said Smith, who carries a 3 handicap. "I had a 9 on a par-4 yesterday (first round) where I needed a 10-foot putt just to do that. So that's hard to overcome.

"I felt like the whole ceiling was falling in. But Ray Goodman (tournament director) came by and said, "Hang in there -- you never know what's going to happen.' That helped," Smith said.

It was Smith's third victory in his last four tournaments.

He said his first-place award, a $210 gift certificate, will be used for cold weather gear as he sets out this week for seven days of play in Alabama with three golf buddies.

WEST COAST WOMEN: Mary Ann Petrillo of Tierra Verde fired a 2-over 74 to win the championship flight of the WCWGA's match at Imperial Lakes on Sept. 29.

Sharon Gonsalves of Palma Ceia was the runner-up with a 76.

Jackie Currier won low net with a 73. And Margaret Leigh of Countryside took Flight A with an 82.

STATE SENIORS: Barb Molloy of Naples defeated Gonsalves 5 and 3 for the championship in Daytona Beach last week.

Sue Riggins of St. Petersburg lost in the third flight finals, and Nina Schmidt, St. Pete, won the fifth flight.

COLLEGE RANKS: Jenny Gleason, a sophomore at UNC Greensboro by way of Clearwater High School, won medalist honors in her second consecutive fall tournament at the Memphis Intercollegiate two weeks ago.

Gleason had rounds of 73-76-77-226 for a two stroke margin over runner-up Maria Jose Hurtado of Arkansas-Little Rock.

Significantly, Gleason's solid play enabled the Spartans to win the 10-school match -- their 11th Division I tournament victory.

In last weekend's Lady Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C., Gleason tied for 30th with rounds of 76-78-84-238.

Seminole High School grad Natalie Smith, a sophomore at Alabama-Mobile, will be in the area this weekend playing in the Beacon Woods Invitational in New Port Richey. She's been playing in the No. 2 position for the Jaguars.

Ryan Gildersleeve (Clearwater High School), who was the Jaguars' No. 1 men's player last spring, has been on crutches lately due to an on-course accident.

Teammate Matt Lemma (East Lake High School), a transfer from Newberry College, accidently ran into Gildersleeve with a golf cart, reports coach Jim Johnson.

"Ryan's Achilles' tendon was badly bruised," Johnson said. "I expect he'll be fully recovered for the spring season when we'll contend for the Sun Belt Conference title."

JUNIORS: Brittany Lincicome of Largo shot 77-75-152 for third place among girls 13-18 in the Florida Junior Golf Association's Fall Classic in Port St. Lucie, Sept. 30 and Oct. 1.

James Boothe of Palm Harbor tied for 10th among boys 15-18 with a 155, followed by Danny Allen, Palm Harbor, with a 157.

Among boys 12-14, Jason Elliott of Palm Harbor tied for third with a 150, followed by Sam Rosati (154) of Oldsmar.

In a Greater Tampa Junior match at Belleair Country Club, Tyler Clippard of Clearwater finished third in the boys 14-15 age division.

PGA TOUR Q-SCHOOL: Seminole's Marc Prestipino, an assistant pro at Cove Cay, will play the first stage of the PGA Tour qualifying tournament at Pensacola Country Club, Sept. 24-27.

COMING UP: The Skip Alexander/City Championship is scheduled for Saturday and Sunday at Mangrove Bay. For an entry form, stop by the pro shop or call 893-7800.

The star-studded Tampa Bay Classic, set for Westin Innisbrook Resort's Copperhead course on Oct. 18-22, is offering $2.4 million in prize money. For ticket information, call 727-898-2100.

The Tampa Bay Chapter of The Executive Women's Golf League has a tournament set for Belleview Biltmore on Oct. 22.

For information on the league, call Jenni Marshall, 813-814-2056, or Donna Smith, 813-854-3240.

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