NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA SENIOR AMATEUR TOUR BEGINS PLAY JAN. 12

            THE VILLAGES, FL—The Senior Amateur Golf Tour is teeing it up to start its second season in North Central Florida on Thursday Jan. 12, initiating a series of 14 tournaments that includes two majors, all leading to the National Championship in Pinehurst, NC.

            Tournaments are scheduled for some of the area’s most prestigious courses and certain to prove to be a good test of golf for all competitors.

            The Tour is open to all skill levels, 50 years of age and older.  Members are placed in one of four flights: Championship Flight (0-3.9 handicap), A Flight (4.0-8.9), B Flight (9.0-13.9), C Flight (14.0-plus).

            Tournament sites include: Stone Creek, Ocala; RedTail, Sorrento; Juliette Falls, Dunnnellon; Timacuan, Lake Mary; Black Bear, Eustis; Country Club of Ocala; Mission Inn, Howey-in-the-Hills; Golden Hills, Ocala; Alaqua, Longwood; Eagle Dunes, Sorrento; Black Diamond, Lecanto; Southern Hills, Brooksville; Harbor Hills, Lady Lake; and, World Woods, Homosassa Springs.

            The tournaments at Mission Inn and World Woods are major 2-day, 36-hole tournaments that award double points and prizes.  This often affects the standings in each flight since the top ten points leaders in each flight are invited to the National Championship held in November.

            Tournament format is gross stroke play, with USGA rules in effect. A software program tracks each player’s handicap to ensure participants are placed in their proper flight.  Once you begin playing on Tour, the integrity of each flight is kept and many players are moved up in flights during the season.  A Skins game is also available.

            “Players are truly treated like pros,” says local Tour Director Jim Castello, “This Tour gives competitive golfers the opportunity to test their skills on some of the finest courses in the area with some of the area’s finest players.”

            Tour President Dennis McCormac, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, heads-up the 13-year old Tour in 12 markets across the country. 

“A Tour member in North Central Florida can play in any Senior Amateur Golf Tour event in any of our other Tour cities and a percentage of their points accumulate in their home Tour,” said McCormac, emphasizing that this is a “huge benefit for those who travel, especially those who Winter in Florida and Summer in the North.”

            Tour membership fee is $85 and includes a tour gift pack, plus reduced rates on Tournament practice rounds. Entry fees vary with each event, and include cart, green fees, range balls and prizes. Golfers can check the Tour Manual, schedule, and sign up and pay by credit card at www.senioramateurgolftour.net.

            For more information contact Tour Director: Jim Castello, 352-446-3446; or, email at ncflorida@amateurgolftour.net.

CAMPBELL TAKES “PLAYER OF THE YEAR” AWARD; FLETCHER, MORRISON, RAYBIN WIN FLIGHTS

            The Villages, FL—Terry Campbell (center) has won the 2011 “Player of the Year” honors and first place in the “C Flight” on the Senior Amateur Golf Tour of North Central Florida.  Ed Fletcher (left) was the “Championship Flight” points leader, Dave Raybin (right) was the “B Flight leader. Wayne Morrison (not pictured) led the “A Flight” points race.

            Campbell played in 13 tournaments, won 10, and placed second once.  He finished with a 91.9 scoring average, a 15.9 Tour index and amassed 5,175 points.

            Fletcher played in 10 tournaments,  won 7 times, placed second twice, and recorded three sub-par rounds.  He completed the year with a scoring average of 73.8 and a Tour index of -1.2, which is the fourth lowest nationally on the Senior Amateur Golf Tour.  His point total was 3,875.

            Raybin played in 11 tournaments, won once, placed second three times and had a 95.2 scoring average.  His Tour index is 18 and his points totaled 3,000.

            Morrison played in 12 tournaments, won four times, placed second once.  His year-long scoring average was 84.4 and a Tour index of 7.4.  He finished with a total of 3,000 points.

            The trophies were presented Tuesday  night (11/29/11) at the Waterfront Inn in The Villages, FL.

            Recognition was also given to the first National Championship Team representing North Central Florida at Pinehurst, NC, which included Morrison, Pat Monti, Tom Gallagher, Dan Johnston, Scott Gourley, and Ron Cooper.  Gallagher was also recognized as the first member of the local Tour.

            Campbell is from Brooksville, FL, Morrison is from Macclenny, FL, and Fletcher and Raybin live in The Villages, FL.  Monti, Johnston, Cooper, and Gallagher are also from The Villages, and Gourley is from DeLand, FL.



Ed Fletcher, Championship; Terry Campbell, C, Player of The Year, Dave Raybin, B




Ed Fletcher, Championship Flight Winner




Dave Raybin, B Flight Winner




Terry Campbell, C Flight Winner and Player of the Year




Pat Monti, member of the First National Championship Team at Pinehurst



The First National Championship Team: Wayne Morrison, Pat Monti, Dan Johnston, Tom Gallagher, Scott Gourley, Ron Cooper




Members and wives at Awards Night




Talking Golf at Awards Night



SMITH WINS AGAIN IN SUDDEN-DEATH; GALLAGHER, FELTY, CAMPBELL RECORD REPEAT WINS

          SORENTO, FL—Dave Smith won in a sudden-death playoff for the “A Flight” win over Scott Gourley in the Senior Amateur Golf Tour of  North Central Florida tournament held yesterday (Wednesday, Oct. 12) at the Eagle Dunes Golf Club.  Tom Gallagher recorded two birdies on his way to a par 72 and another  win in the “Championship Flight,” while Jerry Felty shot an 85 to win again in the “B Flight,” and Terry Campbell won the “C Flight” again with a 91.

            Smith and Gourley finished regulation play with 78’s, as Gourley rolled in four birdies (two of them back-to-back)            for his first finish in the money.  In the “C Flight”, Joe Dunn had one birdie and tied  John Tayman at 92 after 18, but Tayman took second in a score card playoff.    

            Smith is from Ocala, FL, Campbell is from Brooksville, FL, Gourley is from DeLand, FL, Tayman is from Deltona, FL, and Gallagher and Felty live in The Villages, FL.

            Championship Flight:

1.      Tom Gallagher, 72

2.      N/A

3.      N/A

 “A” Flight:

1.      Dave Smith, 78 (sudden-death playoff)

2.      Scott Gourley, 78

3.      N/A

“B” Flight

1.      Jerry Felty, 85

2.      N/A

3.      N/A

“C” Flight

1.      Terry Campbell, 91

2.      N/A

3.      N/A

            The Tour’s next tournament is Monday, Oct. 24, at Gainesville (FL)Country Club.

            For more information contact: Jim Castello, 352-446-3446; or, email at ncflorida@amateurgolftour.net; web site:  www.senioramateurgolftour.net. Facebook: Senior Amateur Golf Tour North Central Florida; Twitter: @SAGTNCFla;Blog: SAGTNCFla.blogspot.com.

Dave Smith, A, 78 (sudden-death playoff), Terry Campbell, C, 91, Jerry Felty, B, 85, Tom Gallagher,Championship, 72



Tom Gallagher, Dan Johnston, Robbie Robinson, Ron Cooper




Tom Grant, Scott Gourley, Dave Smith




John Tayman, George Danforth, Terry Campbell, Joe Dunn




Jerry Felty, Jim Castello, John Abbruzzese, Tom Caven



Caven Cards First Tour Win; Fletcher, Smith and Campbell Win Again

          Dunnellon, FL—Tom Caven recorded his first win on the Senior Amateur Golf Tour of North Central Florida Monday, September 26, with a 90 in the B Flight, while Ed Fletcher claimed another Championship Flight victory with a smooth par 72 at the Juliette Falls Golf Club.  The tournament also had repeat winner Dave Smith in the A Flight with a 77, and Terry Campbell scoring a 92 in the C Flight to win again on Tour. 

            Caven carded two birdies and four pars for his win, while Fletcher sank three birdies to offset the three bogies to finish at even par.

            Rounding out the Championship Flight, Tom Gallagher was second with a 78 and Toni Baccari finished third with an 80.

            Wayne Morrison finished second in the A Flight with an 83, and Quay Burket came in third with an 84.

            Smith is from Ocala, FL, Morrison is from Macclenny, FL, Burket is from Altamonte Springs, FL, and Campbell is from Brooksville, FL, and Baccari lives in Odessa, FL..  Caven, Fletcher and Gallagher live in The Villages, FL.

            Championship Flight:

1.      Ed Fletcher, 72

2.      Tom Gallagher, 78

3.      Toni Baccari, 80

 “A” Flight:

1.      Dave Smith, 77

2.      Wayne Morrison, 83

3.      Quay Burket, 84

“B” Flight

1.      Tom Caven, 90

2.      N/A

3.      N/A

“C” Flight

1.      Terry Campbell, 92

2.      N/A

3.      N/A

            The Tour’s next tournament is Wednesday, Oct. 12, at Eagle Dunes Golf Club, Sorrento, FL..

            For more information contact: Jim Castello, 352-446-3446; or, email at ncflorida@amateurgolftour.net; web site:  www.senioramateurgolftour.net. Facebook: Senior Amateur Golf Tour North Central Florida; Twitter: @SAGTNCFla;Blog: SAGTNCFla.blogspot.com.



Tom Caven, B, 90; Terry Campbell, C, 92; Ed Fletcher, Championship, 72; Dave Smith, A, 77




Tom Gallagher, Tony Baccari, Dan Johnston, Ed Fletcher



Bob Coleman, Tom Grant, Quay Burket, Ron Cooper



Scott Gourley, Wayne Morrison, Dave Smith, Jerry Smith




Dave Raybin, Tom Caven, Ray Morawski




Joe Dunn, Terry Campbell



Gallagher Shoots First Tour Win; Tayman Wins in Sudden Death

          Howey-in-the-Hills, FL—Tom Gallagher recorded his first win on the Senior Amateur Golf Tour of North Central Florida yesterday (Monday, September 12) with a 77 in the Championship Flight, while John Tayman claimed the C Flight victory with a 99, after a sudden death playoff with George Danforth on the El Campeon course at Mission Inn Resort.  It was Tayman’s second Tour win.

            Gallagher played steady golf all day; but, parring the back nine that was set up by two birdies, clinched the win.  “I played pretty solid on the back side,” he said.

            The A Flight was won by Wayne Morrison with an 87, after “playing steady golf all day until I got to 17 and 18,” he said, “those two holes really did me in.”

            Ben Hamby won the B Flight with an 84, that included a birdie on the difficult par 4 eighteenth hole.

            Gallagher is from  The Villages, Morrison is from Macclenny, FL,  Hamby is from Winter Springs, FL, and Tayman lives in Deltona, FL.

            Skins in the Championship and A Flights birdie pool paid $14 each; in the B and C Flights they paid $15 each.

            Closest-to-the-pin in the Championship and A Flights on number 2 was won by Steve Johnson; and, on number 8, Ron Cooper.  Closest-to-the-Pin in the B and C Flights on number 12 was won by Dave Raybin; and, on number 15 by Danforth.

            Championship Flight:

1.      Tom Gallagher, 77

2.      N/A

3.      N/A

 “A” Flight:

1.      Wayne Morrison, 87

2.      Ed Paterniti, 88

3.      Larry Barousse, 89

“B” Flight

1.      Ben Hamby, 84

2.      Jerry Felty, 89

3.      N/A

“C” Flight

1.      John Tayman, 99 (Sudden Death Playoff)

2.      George Danforth, 99

3.      N/A

            The Tour’s next tournament is Monday, Sept. 26, at Juliette Falls in Dunnellon, FL.

            For more information contact: Jim Castello, 352-446-3446; or, email at ncflorida@amateurgolftour.net; web site:  www.senioramateurgolftour.net. Facebook: Senior Amateur Golf Tour North Central Florida; Twitter: @SAGTNCFla;Blog: SAGTNCFla.blogspot.com.



Ben Hamby, B, 84; Tom Gallagher, Championship, 77; Wayne Morrison, A, 87; John Tayman, C, 99, Sudden-death playoff



Ron Cooper, Pat Monti, Tom Gallagher



Wayne Morrison, Scott Gourley, Jerry Smith




Tom Grant, Steve Johnson, Ed Paterniti, Larry Barousse




Dave Raybin, Ben Hamby, Jerry Felty, Tom Caven



Mike Malloch, Terry Campbell, George Danforth, John Tayman



Burket Wins First Tournament, Smith, Campbell Win Again

            Citrus Springs, FL – Quay Burket notched his first win yesterday (Tuesday, June 21) on the tough El Diablo Golf and Country Club course in the Senior Amateur Golf Tour of North Central Florida tournament that also saw Jerry Smith and Terry Campbell win again.

            On a very hot day, Burket shot an 88 to win the “A Flight,” Smith shot an 86 to win the “B Flight” and Campbell scored a 97 to take the “C Flight” victory.  Bill Ferguson won the “Championship Flight” with an 89.

            Rounding out the “A Flight” was Dave Smith with an 89.  Dave Raybin finished second in the “B Flight” shooting a 94 and Joe Dunn placed second in the “C Flight” with a 101.

            Burket is from Altamonte Springs, FL, Jerry Smith lives in Spring Hill, FL, Campbell is from Brooksville, FL, Dave Smith and Dunn live in Ocala, FL, while Ferguson and Raybin are from The Villages, FL.

            Championship Flight:

1.      Bill Ferguson, 89

2.      N/A

3.      N/A

 “A” Flight:

1.      Quay Burket, 88

2.      Dave Smith, 89

3.      N/A

“B” Flight

1.      Jerry Smith, 86

2.      Dave Raybin, 94

3.      N/A

“C” Flight

1.      Terry Campbell, 97

2.      Joe Dunn, 101

3.      N/A

            The Tour’s next tournament is Monday, July 11 at Rolling Oaks at World Woods in Brooksfille, FL..

            For more information contact: Jim Castello, 352-446-3446; or, email at ncflorida@amateurgolftour.net; web site:  www.senioramateurgolftour.net.

Facebook: Senior Amateur Golf Tour North Central Florida; Twitter: @SAGTNCFla;

Blog: SAGTNCFla.blogspot.com



Bill Ferguson, 89, "Championship"; Jerry Smith, 86, "B"; Terry Campbell, 97, "C"; Quay Burkey, 88, "A"



Membership Fee Reduced to $55, a $35 saving

For the remainder of this year, the membership fee has been reduced to $55, a savings of $35. There is still time to qualify for the National Championship.  For those who thought it was too far into the year to play, this is the opportunity to join the Tour that treats amateurs like pros. Check the web site: http://www.senioramateurgolftour.net/. Click on North Central Florida. Sign up for the tour and then click the pay by credit card button to pay for membership and also tournaments.  If you have questions, call or email me.