LPGA Symetra Tour: Esther Choe wins again; Ginger Howard grabs second

Esther Choe tees off the first hole in the final round at the LPGA Symetra Tour's inaugural Sara Bay Classic. Jason Dill/jdill@bradenton.com

 Bradenton's Ginger Howard tied for second place a week after a disappointing finish in the LPGA Symetra Tour's inaugural Sara Bay Classic in southern Manatee County.

Howard fired a final-round 69 for a 213 total at the Riviera Nayarit Classic in Mexico to grab a $10,038 check.

She finished six shots behind Scottsdale, Ariz., resident Esther Choe, who captured her second consecutive title.

After scores were extremely high at Sara Bay Country Club the previous week - Choe won with a 1-over par total here - there were several rounds under par on the par-73 El Tigre Golf and Country Club layout.

Choe was chief among those players as she cracked par in each of the three rounds, going as low as 67 in the first round.

That might shake up her schedule plans, since Choe was uncertain what her future schedule would pan out following her first Symetra Tour title at Sara Bay due to full-time status on the Ladies European Tour.

Choe rose up the "Volvik Race for the Card," where the top 10 players at the end of the season earn an LPGA Tour card.

Choe, though, has travel and playing arrangements through June on the LET.

Howard also moved up on the money list with her performance. She's currently in seventh place.

Also performing well from the area was Bradenton's Jaclyn Sweeney, who snagged a top 10 finish with a 216 total.

It's Sweeney's second straight top 10.

Local: Summer membership deal at Sara Bay

Sara Bay Country Club's seventh hole was taken last summer. Paul Videla/pvidela@bradenton.com

Sara Bay Country Club, the Donald Ross-designed course in southern Manatee County, played host to the LPGA Symetra Tour's inaugural Sara Bay Classic last week. The club is also offering a killer summer membership deal.

Here's the scoop:


The cost is $600 plus tax for a six-month membership, running May 1-Oct. 31. There is a minimum of $50 charged per month for food and beverage costs.

There are no greens fees, but a $23 cart fee or $11 (18 holes)/$6 (9 holes) walking fee each round.

Summer members are allowed guests at a $30 rate plus cart or walking fee. Monthly dues must be paid in advance. Summer members also have full access to all club facilities with charging privileges, must keep a current credit card on file and are not eligible for reciprocal play at other clubs.

Contact Sara Bay at 355-7658 for more information.

Symetra Tour: Sara Bay Classic resumes play after long rain delay

 The LPGA Symetra Tour's Sara Bay Classic has resumed. The tournament was delayed for nearly two hours after a rain delay. Some afternoon groups did not begin play when the event was halted for lightning in the area.

Therefore, the field is not expected to complete the second round today.

Following second round action, the field will be trimmed to the low 70 and ties. The $100,000-pursed tournament is in its inaugural year at Sara Bay Country Club in southern Manatee County.

Symetra Tour: Viewing the Sara Bay Classic

Golfers play the 7th hole last summer at Sara Bay Country Club, which features the trademark Donald Ross-designed crowned greens. Paul Videla/pvidela@bradenton.com

The West Florida Golf Tour gave local professional golfers the chance to play tournament golf in preparation for PGA Tour Q-School a couple years ago.

But this week's marquee golfing moment is the arrival of professional women's golf back in town.

The LPGA Tour used to run an annual event at Bent Tree Country Club in Sarasota, before leaving the area.

The Champions Tour held a tournament at TPC Prestancia, also in Sarasota, before a lack of sponsorship meant the former event was gone.

Now, historic Sara Bay Country Club is the venue for this week's LPGA Symetra Tour event that begins on Friday.

But how should you watch the event?

In case you missed it, a primer on spectating can be found here.

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

Welcome Back!

After a hiatus during a hectic (almost) two months of Golf Guide and prep football work, the Golf Coast is back to updating more regularly.

It's been a wild time locally with Hunter Sagar capturing the City of Bradenton Men's Amateur title, after helping his high school teammates etch their collective names into the record book following an unbeaten season that ended in a state championship.

Yours truly played in the City tournament for the first time, and despite playing the two worst rounds in the last five years, I still somehow managed to win my flight.

There's several new faces at local golf clubs, too, with various clubs letting employees go or watching employees leave. For instance, longtime employee at Sara Bay Country Club, Gavin Darbyshire, accepted a position as the new head pro at Jacaranda West Country Club in Venice.

Speaking of Sara Bay, the tradition-rich golf course was announced as the host for the LPGA's Symetra Tour in 2012. The tour is a developmental tour that's been a stepping stone for several former and current stars on the LPGA Tour. It was previously known as the Futures Tour.

Happy New Year! May your slices and snap-hooks straighten out and may all your lip outs become holed putts in 2012!