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Junior tour benefits from Tiger's successBy DAVE THEALL © St. Petersburg Times, published November 22, 2000 The influence of Tiger Woods extends far beyond the PGA Tour and world golf scene. Whereas teaching pro Phyllis Lewellyn of the Countryside Practice and Learning Center used to work with just six or seven junior players five years ago BT, before Tiger, she now has an enthusiastic group of 40-50 juniors regularly. In last Saturday's Florida Suncoast Junior Tour match at the Chi Chi Rodriguez Course across the street on McMullen Booth Road, 66 players ages 4-17 participated. "There's no question about Tiger's increasing both kids' and parents' awareness of the opportunities in golf," Lewellyn said. "He has increased aspirations at all levels." In Saturday's tournament, the younger children played nine holes from advanced tees. Older children played from the red women's tees, and teenagers played 18 holes from the back tees. Brandon Duffey won the boys 15-16 division with a 3-over 72. "I coached Brandon when he was 9, and I recall he shot the same score, 72, for nine holes," Lewellyn said. Other standout rounds were carded by Dunedin's Preston Knox, who won the age 10 category with a 39 for nine holes, and Palm Harbor's May Ling Ko, winner of the girls 11 division with a 43. Lewellyn said her goal is to help the children have fun while learning the game, its rules and the honesty that's inherent in the self-regulated game. "Many of these kids want to prepare for high school golf," Lewellyn said. "We want their parents to be cheerleaders for them and even caddie for the little ones. "I get a lot of satisfaction seeing their smiling faces coming off the course, and find time for every child one-on-one," Lewellyn said. The Suncoast Junior Golf Tour meets again at Chi Chi's for its Christmas Tournament, Dec. 20-21. The tourney is open to juniors of all skill levels. For an entry form, call Lewellyn, 742-7307. TOURNAMENT RESULTS: The team of Richard Hope, John Hickman, John Jacobs and Mike Riggins won the gross division of the championship flight in the Nov. 16 match of the County Golf Association at Seminole Lake Country Club with a 14-under 58. In the Salvation Army's Copper Kettle Classic at the Bayou Club, retired St. Petersburg police department spokesman Bill Doniel's scramble team of Lee Martino, Kirk Davis and Bill Ines combined to defend their title with a gross 57. TAP-INS: Former PGA Tour member Bill Buttner has returned to the area as assistant pro at St. Petersburg Country Club, a name change for Lakewood Country Club. ... Steve Lupcho is the new assistant pro at Dunedin Country Club. ... Cove Cay assistant Marc Prestipino and Seminole Lake assistant Buck Thornbury shared low pro honors with 3-under 67s in the November match of the Pinellas Men's Interclub at Cove Cay. The host club won the match followed by Dunedin.
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