Pro golf: Victorian Open leader DQ'ed

Golfers get disqualified from tournament competition for rules infractions. At the top level, it usually comes from a player not knowing they committed the penalty and were called out by a viewer that was sitting at home.

Well, how about the latest DQ in professional men's golf?

It wasn't because of the aforementioned viewer calling out the pro. Rather it's the pro failing to do the simplest of tasks: signing your scorecard.

New Zealander Nick Gillespie posted a 7-under par 65 that tied the course record at Thirteenth Beach Golf Links at the Victorian Open in Australia.

That was good for a two-shot lead heading into Friday's second round.

Except Gillespie didn't sign the scorecard and was promptly DQ'ed.

So local golfers should heed the above as a lesson: when playing tournament golf, double-check your scorecard and make sure you sign the card as well as sign for the correct scores on each hole.

Otherwise, you might cost yourself some big-time cash or a chance at a tournament title.

Poll: Tiger Woods

Will Tiger Woods win a major in 2013? That's one burning question heading into the new season that starts Friday with the PGA Tour's Hyundai Tournament of Champions in Hawaii.

Of course, it's been a question every season since Woods last claimed a major title, the 2008 United States Open on a bum knee.

The subsequent scandal of his infidelities broke globally and Woods hasn't been the same since.

But in 2012, he won three times. It's a sign that his game is recovering. Yours truly tabbed Woods to win either three or four times without a major leading into the 2012 season.

I've made some more predictions for 2013.

What are they?

Find out by picking up Saturday's edition of the Bradenton Herald.

Until then, make your voice heard by voting yes or no to the poll asking if Tiger Woods will win a major in 2013.

Local professional: Steve Pleis wins West Florida Golf Tour's Tour Championship

Logo provided by the WFGT

East Manatee County resident Steve Pleis fired a scorching 9-under par total to win the West Florida Golf Tour's 27-hole Tour Championship on Monday at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club.

Pleis is a former caddy of local famous golfer Paul Azinger, and has considerable talent in his own right as evidenced by Monday's performance.

He defeated a field of more than 40 players to win the championship by five shots and claim the first-place prize of $2,000.

To read more about Pleis and the event, check out tomorrow's Bradenton Herald.

LPGA Symetra Tour: Jaclyn Sweeney on bubble

Jaclyn Sweeney practices ahead of her 2011 season at IMG. Paul Videla/pvidela@bradenton.com

The LPGA Symetra Tour's season is almost over, which means it's crunch time for players looking to earn an LPGA Tour card without having to go through Qualifying School.

Only the top 10 players on the money list at the end of the year earn a free pass to women's golf's biggest tour for 2013.

So with two tournaments remaining in 2012, the pressure is on for anyone on the bubble for the Volvik Race for the Card.

That brings us to the only local player with a real chance: Jaclyn Sweeney.

The Andover, Mass., native and Bradenton resident had a golden opportunity slip away this past weekend to lock up an LPGA Tour card.

After firing a first-round 66 to share the lead at the Symetra Classic in Texas, Sweeney returned scores of 73 and 75 in the second and third rounds, respectively.

The former Arizona State University star, who entered the week No. 9 on the money list, fell into a tie for 11th in the $100,000-pursed tournament.

That dropped her two positions in the money list to No. 11 with $29,866 in earnings this season.

She trails Leah Wigger by less than $400 and still can fight for her LPGA Tour card with solid performances over the final two tourneys.

The Symetra Tour is in Georgia this week for the Vidalia Championship, before heading to Daytona Beach to wrap the season up at the end of September.

Esther Choe, who claimed the inaugural Sara Bay Classic when the Symetra Tour was in Manatee County earlier this year, still leads the money list despite playing in only five tournaments.

Ricoh Women's British Open: Paula Creamer records top three finish

Paula Creamer at the Kingsmill Championship in early September. Photo courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Services.

IMG Academies alum Paula Creamer snagged a third place showing in this weekend's RICOH Women's British Open, but she wasn't close to challenging winner Jiyai Shin.

The South Korean blasted the field by nine shots, but Creamer's final-round 72 jumped her from a tie for 10th to third place at the conclusion of play.

Other locals didn't fare as well at the difficult Royal Liverpool Golf Club.

Bradenton native Jessica Korda and Manatee County resident Jodi Ewart both missed the cut.

Also, while not a local, Jacqui Concolino missed the cut. Concolino finished runner-up in the inaugural Sara Bay Classic this year. The tournament is a Symetra Tour event and brought major professional golf back to the area for the first time since the Champions Tour left TPC Prestancia in the early 2000s.

Tip of the Week: Recovering with bounce

Heading out to the links this weekend, and need a quick tip to lower your score?

Well, check out this bit of advice from former major champion Paul Azinger on using bounce to drop shots.

The short game is where all the scoring is done, and Zinger, a Bradenton resident, offers the following tip through his GolfPlan app.

Here it is:

PGA Tour Q-School: Chris Kennedy advances

Chris Kennedy took over Cardinal Mooney's boys golf program this year. Jason Dill/jdill@bradenton.com

Chris Kennedy didn't have the best final round he would have liked, but the former Cardinal Mooney Cougar standout and current Lakewood Ranch resident still did enough to progress from the Pre-Qualification stage of PGA Tour Q-School on Thursday.

Kennedy's 4-over par 76 on the Bear Lakes course in West Palm Beach gave him a 4-over cumulative total for the 54-hole tournament.

It also earned him a tie for 27th place. The top 39 scores and ties advanced to the First Stage, scheduled at various venues beginning in mid-October.

"Mission accomplished really," Kennedy said. "I didn't play my best (Thursday), but at the end of the day the main thing is to get through."

Kennedy, who is the boys golf coach at Mooney, said he'll have to learn how to handle his nerves at the next stage.

"I was a little jumpy (Thursday), especially on the back nine," he said. "I think my routine probably got a little fast. And just kind of slow down, take a few deep breaths and really focus in on my routine and what I'm trying to do."

Kennedy also won't know where he'll head for the first stage until the Sept. 25. He said his top choice is the Grasslands in Lakeland, and then the Wanamaker Course at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie.

However, it's based on the players that finished above him at all the Pre-Qualification sites and their choices, before he'll know.

Kennedy is making his Q-School debut.

Meanwhile, Lakewood Ranch resident Adam Hogue snagged one of the last spots when he tied for 36th following a 222 total for the three rounds.