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.

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.

West Florida Golf Tour returns

Logo provided by the WFGT

The West Florida Golf Tour is back after a 2 1/2 week hiatus.

The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club is the host venue for the two-day tournament that begins the WFGT summer slate.

Nick Jones and Roger Hebert are the co-leaders after carding 67s.

Sarasota's Brian Ward and Cameron Knight are tied for third, a shot behind.

The top 14 players and ties receive a check.

Several players are bunched together between scores of 70 and 72.

Stay tuned to the blog for an update on Tuesday's final round.

IMG Leadbetter Junior Golf Tour completes first season

The IMG Leadbetter Junior Golf Tour concluded its inaugural season with the Power Balance Tour Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club this weekend.

There were two age divisions for the boys, and two age groups for the girls.

Bradenton's Zheng Liang and Jin Zhang took the top two spots in the boys 15-18 year old division, respectively.

Bradenton's Mika Liu came up two shots short of the playoff in the girls 15-18 division.

To read more about the event, check out Monday's Bradenton Herald.

Paula Creamer advances to Saturday in Sybase Match Play

Paula Creamer at last year's CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge. Courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Service.

The Pink Panther is still lurking in the LPGA Tour's Sybase Match Play Championship.

Pendleton School at IMG Academies grad Paula Creamer downed Hall of Famer Karrie Webb 1-up in Friday's second round.

Creamer's victory vaults her into a third round match against Brittany Lang, who defeated I.K. Kim 2-and-1 Friday, in the Mickey Wright bracket.

Creamer and Webb were evenly matched throughout as an early 2-up lead for the honorary Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club member vanished when Webb fought back to square the match after 10 holes.

Both players continued to halve holes as the match stood all-square heading to No. 18.

Creamer birdied the par-5, while Webb parred it to give Creamer the victory.

Paula Creamer ousts Aree Song in LPGA Tour match play event

Paula Creamer at the last year's CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge. Courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Service.

The LPGA Tour's Sybase Match Play Championship got underway Thursday in New Jersey.

Two players with Manatee County ties squared off against each other.
Paula Creamer, who is an honorary member at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club and trains with IMG Academies instructor David Whelan, faced IMG Academies alum Aree Song in the first round.

Creamer torched Song with a 5-and-4 victory. She won the first three holes and Nos. 7-10 where she birdied three of the four holes.

The No. 10-seeded Creamer plays Karrie Webb next.

Peter Uihlein grabs Ben Hogan Award

Peter Uihlein at the Masters earlier this year. Photo courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Service.

Peter Uihlein, the former IMG Academies standout and current Oklahoma State junior, culminated a scintillating past year with winning the Ben Hogan Award.

The award, given annually to the best male collegiate golfer, was handed out Monday night at Colonial Country Club in Fort Worth, Texas.

Uihlein joined teammate Kevin Tway and UCLA freshman Patrick Cantlay as finalists.

He also became the first Oklahoma State player to capture the award since PGA Tour star Rickie Fowler in 2008.

Uihlein played the Transitions Championship in Palm Harbor as a PGA Tour tune-up for the Masters, where he earned an invitation based off his triumph at the 2010 United States Amateur.

That victory also exempted the honorary Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club member from qualifying for the next month's U.S. Open and July's British Open.

But first, he'll help the Cowboys in a regional tournament at the end of this week. OK State can advance to the NCAA National Championship, which is held at the Cowboys' home course this year.

Area players make it through various U.S. Open local qualifiers

Qualifying for the 111th United States Open is in full swing, with the USGA receiving a reported 8,300 entries.

The local qualifying stage in Florida began May 6 and continues until Sunday.

Several players have gotten through with ties to Manatee County.

Travis Hampshire, who played several West Florida Golf Tour events in its inaugural 2010 season until he gained full-time playing privileges on the Nationwide Tour, made it through last Thursday at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando.

Hampshire earned one of the last spots in the sectional tournament after a playoff. He played in the 2010 U.S. Open.

Reigning City of Sarasota Men's Amateur champion and University of North Florida senior Chris Kennedy qualified last Monday at Hunter's Green Country Club in Tampa.

Kennedy played his high school golf at Cardinal Mooney.

Former IMG Academies student Christo Greyling advanced from the MetroWest Golf Club qualifier in Orlando last Monday.

West Florida Golf Tour participant Justin McCarraher, who lives in Fort Myers, was the medalist at the local qualifier held Monday at Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers.

Also on Monday, the lone Bradenton qualifying site took place at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club.

To read more about how the area players fared in Monday's qualifier at the Ritz, check out Tuesday's edition of the Bradenton Herald.

The Battle of the Yellow Golf Ball

The West Florida Golf Tour's "Race to the Ritz" match play competition concluded Sunday with three-time PGA Tour winner Robert Gamez and Nick Jones squaring off for the $4,500 PGA Tour Q-School payout as the grand prize.

Due to a high volume of players at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club, the final remained at the Founders Club in Sarasota where Gamez and Jones dispatched their semifinal opponents on Sunday morning.

The final was a back-and-forth struggle, where both players found birdies hard to come by as windy conditions and tough pin locations made scoring a bit more difficult than earlier in the day.

And the final proved as a good marketing tool for Srixon, which makes a popular yellow golf ball, since both Gamez and Jones play the ball.

Following the match, Jones said he plans on playing more WFGT events in preparation for Q-School in the fall.

He already attempted to qualify for the U.S. Open at his home course at the Innisbrook Resort in Palm Harbor.

That round didn't go quite the way he was rolling along in this weekend's match play tournament.

Gamez, however, is exempt from local qualifying for the U.S. Open.

Rather than take part in the lone Florida sectional site, Gamez said he'll attempt to qualify from the Columbus, Ohio venue at the sectional phase.

To read more about the Gamez and Jones final match, check out Monday's Bradenton Herald.

West Florida Golf Tour's "Race to the Ritz" begins

Logo provided by WFGT.

The West Florida Golf Tour's "Race to the Ritz" match play tournament began Saturday.

The competition pits the top 12 players on the tour's money list in a winner-take-all event. The prize is the winning player gets their PGA Tour Q-School entry fees paid for this year.

No. 9-seeded Sam Osborne, who lives in Palmetto, defeated two opponents - including top-seeded Joey Lamielle - during Saturday's first two rounds.

Nick Jones, seeded fourth, received an opening-round bye and then bested Travis Perkins 1-up.

Those two will meet in Sunday's first semifinal, slated for 9:30 a.m. at the Founders Club, where Saturday's rounds took place.

Daniel Stone earned a berth in the other semifinal as the tournament's 10th seed. He dispatched former Lakewood Ranch High and Florida State University standout Seath Lauer 5-and-4 before downing No. 2-seeded Matthew Galloway 4-and-3.

He'll face three-time PGA Tour winner Robert Gamez, who had a hard-fought 21-hole match against Sarasota's Brian Ward.

Gamez received an opening-round bye due to his No. 3 standing on the WFGT's Order of Merit.

Sunday morning's winners will then travel to the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club for the final in the afternoon, with the Q-School payment awaiting as the grand prize.

For more information on Saturday's matches, including the long battle between Gamez and Ward, check out Sunday's edition of the Bradenton Herald.

"Race to the Ritz" looms in one week

Logo provided by WFGT.

Next week is the stretch drive for West Florida Golf Tour players seeking a spot into the "Race to the Ritz" match play competition.

The top 12 players on the WFGT's Order of Merit qualify for the two-day tournament held at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch.

The top four earn first-round byes.

There are just three tournaments left on the schedule for anyone looking to sneak into the field.

Recently, the tour conducted two events in Manatee County - at Lakewood Ranch Country Club and the Ritz.

The WFGT also hosted two tournaments outside the area.

On April 28, Mark Miller won the event at Lakewood Ranch Country Club with a 3-under par 69. He defeated Matthew Galloway and Brian Ward in a sudden-death playoff for his first-ever WFGT title.

Galloway and Ward, however, were big winners despite not taking the title as they both climbed the money list ladder. Galloway leaped to No. 2, while Ward continued to cement his place in the top 12.

On Monday, Danny Evelyn won at Lake Jovita in Dade City with a 3-under 69. He then backed that up with a victory at the Ritz-Carlton in a playoff over Sam Osborne on Wednesday.

Finally, Friday's tourney featured another first-time winner. Former IMG Academies student Christo Greyling shot 5-under par 67 for victory in the Orlando-area Southern Dunes Golf and Country Club.

Nick Jones ready for "Race to the Ritz"

Logo provided by the WFGT

Nick Jones is eager to play in the West Florida Golf Tour's "Race to the Ritz" event held at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in May.

The format - a match play battle among the tour's top 12 players on the Order of Merit - suits his style.

Jones said that's all he's played while growing up with his grandfather and his grandfather's friends.

Jones is also the nephew to former multiple PGA Tour winner John Huston, who is known as a streaky player.

The 24-year-old said when he was 16, his swing matched up almost identically to his famous uncle's swing.

And in match play, a streaky player can fare quite well.

Jones said he makes many birdies during his rounds, which is another plus for the match play format.

He's currently sitting fifth on the WFGT's money list - the top four earn a first-round bye during the event slated for May 14-15.

To read more about Jones' story, check out Thursday's edition of the Bradenton Herald.

Paula Creamer in low-key practice session during LPGA Tour break

Paula Creamer at last year's CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge. Courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune News Service.

With the LPGA Tour on hiatus for a few weeks, the circuit's star players are left to head home and recharge their batteries before grinding again in a lucrative tournament atmosphere.

Take Paula Creamer for example.

While at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club on Monday, yours truly overheard that the Pink Panther was in town and at the Lakewood Ranch course to practice her game.

She's an honorary Ritz member.

Creamer, a former Pendleton School at IMG Academies standout, has yet to win on the LPGA Tour this year.

However, she's performed well - notching two top 10 finishes.

Creamer also tied for 19th in the most recent LPGA Tour event, which was the Kraft Nabisco Championship.

Creamer is the reigning U.S. Women's Open champ and the Ritz puts out pink golf balls for her to practice with while she's at the course to hone her game.

She was practicing Monday with her coach, David Whelan.

Following the round, Creamer had this to say on Twitter:

"No matter how much I practice I just can't se to beat David!!! I don't get it! Drives me crazy," Creamer tweeted."

The next LPGA Tour event is the Avnet LPGA Classic held in Mobile, Ala. at the end of April.

State Senior Amateur concludes Wednesday at Ritz

The FSGA's 50th Senior Amateur Championship concludes its 54-hole tournament Wednesday at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club.

Jim Stone was the only Bradenton resident to make the cut after posting a 73-75 in the first two rounds.

He sits in a tie for 25th.

Jim Carley, from Ormond Beach, and Venice's Tim Miller are tied for the lead with a 136 total.

Miller carded a pair of 68s, while Carley fired a 67 and 69 in the first two rounds.

The tournament is for players ages 55-and-older. Spectators are encouraged to attend the event.

Wednesday's tee times run from 8-9:30 a.m. off Nos. 1 and 10.

Individual scores from the 10-year War Match

Originally published in Thursday's edition of The Bradenton Herald, the inaugural 10-year War match was conducted at The Concession Golf Club and the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club.

Team scores from the match pitting players representing Ohio State and Michigan were listed.

Below, find the individual scores from each team:

Ohio State (Team Woody in honor of former OSU football coach Woody Hayes)

Rich Baesman - White Tees 13 28 41
Bruce Cassidy, Sr. - Blue Tees 24 35 59
Captain Bob Hinkle - White Tees 19 30 49
Nick Griffin - White Tees 20 29 49
Arlene McKitrick - White Tees 18 33 51
Wayne McMullen - Blue Tees 29 37 66
Chico Nelson - Blue Tees 23 28 51
Wayne Seitl- White Tees 19 32 51
David White - Blue Tees 25 30 55
Elton White - White Tees 25 31 56
Woody’s Team Total 215 313 528


Michigan (Team Bo in honor of former Wolverines football coach Bo Schembechler)

Dan Callaghan - Blue Tees 29 34 63
James Cornetet - Blue Tees 28 35 63
Herb Dunnington - Blue Tees 29 30 59
Gary Erickson - Blue Tees 30 33 63
Jason Green - Blue Tees 29 28 57
Noel Kile - White Tees 26 35 61
Captain Doug Mackenzie - Blue Tees 33 40 73
Jeff Mattice - Blue Tees 24 34 58
Andy Reeves - Blue Tees 28 38 66
Bill Tompkins - White Tees 18 34 52
Bo’s Team Total 274 341

Check out this video about the epic encounters during the 1970s between the two Big Ten heavyweights:

Travis Hampshire bags first WFGT major

Logo provided by the West Florida Golf Tour

The West Florida Golf Tour's second major of 2011 wrapped up play Wednesday with Travis Hampshire toting the winner's check.

Hampshire earned $1,000 for completing the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club's course in east Manatee in 67.

He carded the lone round in the 60s as he edged four players by three shots.

Hampshire joins Sam Osborne as major winners this season.

Osborne, the Englishman who stays in Palmetto during his time in the United States, did not participate in Wednesday's tournament.

To read about what Hampshire attributed to his success in the major, check out Wednesday's edition of the Bradenton Herald.

Paula Creamer performs clinic at Ritz celebration

Paula Creamer putts in the 2010 CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge/courtesy of McClatchy-Tribune Services

The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club celebrated its five-year anniversary last Saturday with a major champion conducting a clinic.

That player is reigning U.S. Women's Open winner Paula Creamer.

Creamer, dubbed the Pink Panther, braved the cold and wind for the morning clinic.

The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club also is the home course for reigning U.S. Amateur champ Peter Uihlein.

The east Manatee track features a various practice facilities, and several area mini-tour pros have frequented the club to hone their game.

And to whet your appetite, check out this video on Creamer's triumph last summer:

Innovative prize during WFGT event

Logo provided by WFGT

Players on the West Florida Golf Tour had the unique opportunity to compete for a brand-new Porsche, compliments of Suncoast Porsche, during Monday's event.

The prize came on a blustery day at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in the form of a hole-in-one contest.

Nobody won the Porsche on No. 3, a par-3, but WFGT owner Carl Wakely was the closest with a shot that stopped 2 1/2 feet away.

The tour keeps picking up steam with another sponsored event coming Saturday with the Lynches Pub & Grub Open at the Longboat Key Club.

The tourney will have $200 added to the purse.

In between those two events, the WFGT trekked north for a visit to River Hills Country Club.

Marco Dawson outlasted Joe Monte on the fourth playoff to collect the $1,000 first-place check.

Both players carded even-par 72s, before facing off in the sudden-death playoff.

Dawson drained a 40-footer for birdie on the first extra hole. Monte then sank a 35-footer right after to extend the playoff.

The WFGT returns to Bradenton with a tournament at IMG Academies Golf & Country Club on Jan. 21.

2011 Golf Guide trivia contest winner announced

Congrats are in order for Jeff Folb, who was announced the 2011 Golf Guide trivia contest winner in today's Herald.

Folb answered all the questions correctly.

Here are the questions and corresponding answer:

1. What former Pendleton School student broke through for his/her first major championship in 2010? Paula Creamer

2. How many tournaments did Tiger Woods win on the PGA Tour in 2010? None/Zero

3. Jack Nicklaus visited Manatee County prior to the Masters. How many green jackets has he won? Six

4. What is Tiger Woods' real first name? Eldrick

5. What notable Sarasota High grad and Bradenton resident made his Champions Tour debut in 2010? Paul Azinger

6. Who won the 2010 Ryder Cup held at Celtic Manor in Wales? Europe

7. How many Americans won a men's major in 2010? One

8. What's the name of the mini-tour located in Manatee/Sarasota counties? West Florida Golf Tour

9. Who is the only golfer to win the U.S. Open, British Open, U.S. Amateur and British Amateur in the same year? Bobby Jones

10. What two-time major winner calls Manatee County home? Tony Jacklin

11. Who won this year's Curtis Cup? United States

12. How many more major championships does Tiger Woods need to pass Jack Nicklaus? Five

13. What local course did Nicklaus visit prior to the Masters? The Concession Golf Club

14. What former Bradenton residents won the 2009 and 2010 U.S. Amateur? Byeong-hun An and Peter Uihlein

15. Which course boasts of having the highest point of elevation in Manatee County? Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club

16. Who won the last Champions (then Senior PGA) Tour event at TPC Prestancia? Tom Wargo

17. Lee Westwood took over the No. 1 ranking from Woods this year. How many weeks was Woods at No. 1? 281 weeks in a row

18. All-Star Golf once taped a match between Sam Snead and Bob Rosburg in Manatee County. What current course was it at? Palm Aire Country Club

Bonus 19. An up-and-coming golfer won a national tournament this year. What animal name does he go by? Lion Kim

The WFAT's discounted fee is hard to beat

Logo provided by the WFGT

The West Florida Am Tour is extending its special holiday membership offer through the next event.

That tournament is Monday's stop at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club.

The offer is a membership fee that is waived.

Call Stephen Arnold at 215-813-0237 for more information on the tour and if there are any spots remaining for the upcoming tournament.

And to find out how the mini-tour pros fared in the opening major to the 2011 schedule, pick up Thursday's edition of the Herald.