Who won the first-ever Donald Ross Memorial Invitational boys individual title?

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

PGA Tour: Honda Classic notes

Sam Osborne hits a tee shot at a West Florida Golf Tour victory at the Legacy Golf Club. Photo provided by the WFGT.


Some kudos are in order for Sam Osborne.

Osborne, who hails from England but lives in Palmetto, advanced from the pre-qualifier for this week's Honda Classic.

Osborne fired a 68 to get to Monday's qualifier for the PGA Tour event. However, he stumbled with a 76 and didn't earn one of the four spots up for grabs.

Hampton Ballard also missed with a 77 in Monday's qualifier.

Ballard, who made the final stage of this past year's PGA Tour Q-School, works as a caddie at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club and is based in Bradenton.

He didn't have to go through the pre-qualifier.

The Honda Classic is already generating fireworks as the first part of the "Florida Swing" is taking that term literally with Tiger Woods having what the Associated Press described as a "terse exchange with a magazine reporter" on Wednesday.

It all stemmed from former teacher's Hank Haney's new book, and questions arose from an excerpt where Haney indicated that Woods thought about becoming a Navy SEAL and giving up golf.

To read the full story, click here.

Suncoast Ladies Series: Rachel Connor moves up the leaderboard




Two Bradenton-based golfers headed in opposite directions on Wednesday in the Suncoast Ladies Series at the Timacuan Golf Club in Lake Mary.

The women's mini-tour concludes its three-day, 54-hole event on Thursday.

Rachel Connor, who hails from Manchester, England, and trains at IMG Academies, fired a second-round 73 to move into a tie for 19th with a 5-over par total.

Connor tweeted about the round that included 35 putts.

"Please, the putting gods, give me a break," she said on the social media site.


Meanwhile, a former IMG standout went the other direction.

Ginger Howard, who won last week's event for her sixth career victory on the tour, followed up an opening-round 74 with a 76 and is tied for 22nd.

Both players are well behind the runaway leader Misun Cho.

The South Korean has a five-shot lead with an 8-under par total.

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Sara Bay Classic: All Faiths tabbed as charity for Sara Bay Classic




The All Faiths Food Bank of Sarasota was chosen as the charitable beneficiary for the inaugural Sara Bay Classic in a press release from the LPGA's Symetra Tour today.

The golf tournament is scheduled for April 20-22 at Sara Bay Country Club in southern Manatee County. The tourney's second round on Saturday, April 21st, fans donating at least a bag of non-perishable food items will receive free admission.

That day is designated as "All Faiths Food Bank Day."

"Bringing new events to communities gives us a great opportunity to develop strong partnerships with local charities and foundations to give back to the region that graciously hosts our tour,” Symetra Tour CEO Zayra Calderon said in the release. “We are extremely fortunate to donate to such an established and respected charity as the All Faiths Food Bank, who we know has such a positive impact on the Sarasota/Bradenton community.”


For more information on the tournament, visit www.SaraBayClassic.com

Monday, February 27, 2012

Local Professional: Jessica Korda plays in a West Florida Golf Tour event

Jessica Korda at the 2010 U.S. Women's Amateur/provided by McClatchy News-Service.


Bradenton's Jessica Korda spent Monday strolling the fairways at the Founders Club in a dynamic threesome.

Korda played with phenom Domenico Geminiani and golfing legend Tony Jacklin in a West Florida Golf Tour event on her 19th birthday.

Geminiani became the youngest player in European Tour history when he competed in the 2010 Italian Open at the age of 14, while Jacklin won two major championships during his career.

Korda and Geminiani hone their games in Bradenton, and Jacklin resides in Manatee County as well.

Korda won her first LPGA Tour event earlier this month at the ISPS Handa Women's Australian Open.

Her victory earned her $165,000. That's more than three times what she made in her rookie year last season.

To read more about this story, check out tomorrow's Bradenton Herald.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Women's Golf: Ginger Howard wins sixth career Suncoast Series event

Ginger Howard at last year's LPGA Tour Q-School at the Plantation Golf & Country Club. Photo by Jason Dill/jdill@bradenton.com


Former IMG Academies standout Ginger Howard collected her sixth victory on the Suncoast Ladies Series, picking up $2,000 for first place.

Howard, based out of Bradenton, fired two 66s and a final round 73 to finish at 8-under par.

That total was good for a two-shot victory at Sanctuary Ridge in Clermont. It's Howard's first victory on the circuit since September 2011.

Natalie Sheary, who also is a former IMG standout and trains in Bradenton, tied for 17th with a 6-over par 219 total in the 54-hole tournament.

She finished five shots out of the money.

Also finishing outside the money from the area was Rachel Connor, who trains out of IMG as well.

Connor posted a 9-over par 222 total.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Tip of the Week: The Power Lag

Want to hit the ball farther?

Want to increase your distance with every club in the bag?

Well, this week's tip focuses on that.

Bradenton resident and former Sarasota High and Ryder Cup winning captain Paul Azinger shows just how to do that.

Lag is what every golfer needs, and Zinger, who won the 1993 PGA Championship, provides that perfect tip in his Golfplan series.

Check it out below:


Wednesday, February 22, 2012

LPGA Tour: Jessica Korda on break, playing WFGT event Monday



Now that Bradenton’s Jessica Korda has her first LPGA and Ladies European Tour victory under her belt, it means she has the luxury of choosing her own schedule the rest of the year.

It also means she doesn’t have to play week-in and week-out. So Korda, who arrived back to Florida right after winning the Women’s Australian Open in a playoff, is scheduled to resume some competitive golf — albeit against the men — in Monday’s West Florida Golf Tour event at the Founders Club in Sarasota.

Argentinian star and IMG standout Victoria Tanco is also scheduled to play.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Local Golf: Charity tournament has huge turnout

Photo by Nick Williams/nwilliams@bradenton.com


Bradenton Herald colleague Nick Williams covered Monday's Junior Achievement Pro-Am golf tournament held at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in East Manatee.

The tournament attracted a record-setting turnout, and that was due to the West Florida Golf Tour's involvement.

The WFGT joined forces for the second consecutive year to supply the professionals for the event.

David Morland IV won the professional side of the event with a splendid 66. That was good for a one-shot victory over former Cardinal Mooney and University of North Florida standout Chris Kennedy.

Morland collected $2,000 for first place.

To read more about the story, check it out here.

Monday, February 20, 2012

Local Amateur: Bradenton City Senior Two-Man Results




David Brown
and Gene Shires shot 67 on Sunday to go with their opening round 62 for a one-shot victory in the 2012 Bradenton City Senior Two-Man Championship at River Run Golf Links.

The duo bested Jim Stone and Chris Muscara, who finished with a 68. Both teams posted superb 62s in Saturday's first round.

The tournament was the first in the city series for 2012.

The 15th Annual City Senior Championship is next up, scheduled for March 17-18.

Other flight winners included: David Peabody and Ray Wenck (first flight); Michael McGowan and Ed Scheid (second flight) and Bill Ball and David Poje (third flight).

You'll find the full results below:



CHAMPIONSHIP FLIGHT


NAME NAME 1st Round 2nd Round Final


1 Brown, David Shires, Greg 62 67 129


2 Stone, Jim Muscara, Chris 62 68 130


3 Bass, Eddie Schuchat, Brad 66 66 132


4 Bennett, Lee Smith, Dan 69 65 134


5 Belcastro, Mark Lacher, Steve 69 67 136


6 Kirby, Paul Soucie, Bill 67 70 137


Ramey, Rob Hodges, Charlie 68 70 138


Gering, John Quick, Jay 69 70 139


White, James Smith, Gary 68 73 141


Moore, Andy Walters, Charles 68 75 143


Eiffert, Eric Maglich, Rick 68 76 144


Knowles, Mike Miller Russell 69 81 150


1ST FLIGHT


NAME NAME 1st Round 2nd Round Final


1 Peabody, David Wenck, Ray 70 69 139


2 Adams, Carl Gromko, Dave 70 70 140


3 Tanner, John Kyllonen, Rich 70 70 140


4 Putrino, Dennis Jones, Billy 70 70 140


5 Adrian, Ralph Walker, Pete 70 70 140


6 McParland, Jerry Gillis, Peter 72 69 141


Morrissey, Tim Belajac, Dave 71 71 142


Smith, Jeff Clark, Randy 70 72 142


Dolison, Drew Reasoner, Greg 71 72 143


Petti, Nick Stang, Gene 71 72 143


Harrington, Michael Fine, Terry 72 72 144


Coffee, Craig Etcheverry, Mike 71 75 146


Cooper, Rick Frost, John 70 76 146


Coulter, Mike Farrer, Richard 70 76 146


Ash, Jerry Blevins, Dick 70 77 147


Francis, Richard MacGowan, Doug 72 75 147


Lyerly, Steve Gault, Ray 71 77 148


Bell, Greg Sindoris, Paul 72 79 151


2ND FLIGHT


NAME NAME 1st Round 2nd Round Final


1 McGowan, Michael Scheid, Ed 73 69 142


2 Cullagh, Patrick Gleeson, Liam 73 71 144


3 Hodges, Boots Jaudon Jeff 73 72 145


4 Holden, Joe Shondel, James 74 71 145


5 Loper, Ralph Munro, Bruce 75 73 148


6 Bernhard, John Ramsey, Jim 73 77 150


Farrell, Tony Reed, Mike 73 77 150


Lovette, Dale Osborne, Chris 73 77 150


Blackwell, Jerry Poston, Wayne 77 75 152


Bozzetti, Ted Burke, Kevin 75 77 152


McGrath, Steven Danziger, Steve 74 78 152


Godfrey, Bill Woods, Lewis 75 78 153


Neville, John Ruffino, Mick 74 79 153


Kemmedy, Richard Prigoda, Dennis 74 80 154


Mulvaney, Vinnie Zinno, Rich 77 77 154


Pratt, Dana Arnold, Bill 77 77 154


Straub, Jim Tennant, Thomas 74 80 154


Brickse, Ken Stufflebeam, Jim 74 83 157


Proos, Gary Rebh, Steve 77 80 157


Booth, Roosevelt Poole, Clyde 74 84 158


McGrath, Terrence Piccirillo, William 76 82 158


Kelley, Bob Jessen, Larry 77 83 160


3RD FLIGHT


NAME NAME 1st Round 2nd Round Final


1 Ball, Bill Poje, David 78 74 152


2 Dickinson, Duane Hryhorchuk, John 81 72 153


3 Liddell, Mike Tally, Marshall 80 75 155


4 Pinke, Ron TenHarmsel, Jason 78 78 156


5 Bennett, Jack Blassick, Kenneth 79 77 156


6 Costigan, Patrich Witte, Willie 80 77 157


Beauchamp, Dave Beauchamp, Marshall 82 78 160


Close, Eric Orav, Carl 80 80 160


Love, Larry Beauregard, Paul 79 81 160


Malone, Connie Gallogley, Reggie 79 83 162


Dobbs, Doug McLellan, Jim 84 79 163


Hegarty, James Lowry, Austin 81 83 164


Darden, Ron Murphy, Mark 82 84 166


Martin, Bruce Wilks, Leonard 85 83 168


Passaro, Dominick Vittorini, Richard 84 84 168


Bassett, Dane McNaughton, John 86 84 170


O'Shea, Frank Wilson, Bob 83 89 172


Landis, Don Murray, John 86 90 176


Steele, Alan Alvarado, Arnold 91 89 180


Hocker, Bill Rupert, George 96 90 186