Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club Wins the 58th Club Team Championship
May 2, 1999
Sarasota, Fla. — Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club won the 58th Florida State Club Team Championship Sunday by four strokes at The PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie.
After shooting a cumulative round-one score of 299 to stand four strokes behind Feather Sound Country Club (Clearwater), Tampa Palms played consistent golf to jump ahead with a final-round 301. Steve Ousley led the team with a final-round 73 to go with his first-round 76. Jack Hannon and Jimmy Jones both closed with 75's, while Rob Glisson and Doug Reintgen had 78's.
First-round leader Feather Sound fell to fifth place with a final-round 313. Mike Natale fired a l¬over 73, but the remainder of the team faltered. Scores of 78, 79 and 83 were used.
Baytree National Golf Links (Melbourne) finished second. After starting the final round tied for third, the team posted a 301, two shots better than their first round. John Turk shot his second 73, while Rick Luzar shot back-to-back 74's. Tim Wahl closed with a 3-over 75, and Dave Lightholder had a final-round 79.
Two of the biggest moves in the final round belonged to two perennial champions from Tampa.
Avila Golf and Country Club's "A" Team and Palm Ceia Golf and Country Club both struggled on the first day, but made strong runs in the end. Avila, who won six championships in a row from 1991 to 1996, shot a first round 312, leaving them in 14th place. The final round saw them fire a 293, the lowest round of the championship, to more to third place. Both Wyatt Meyer and Wayne Rudzewicz shot 1-under 71's, with Paul Aoyak at 75 and Jerry Coren at 76.
Palma Ceia was in a tie for 16th place after shooting a 314 Saturday, but jumped to 6th place after a final-round 296. Doug LaCrosse fired a championship-low 2-under 70 to lead the team Sunday.
Emerald Dunes Golf Club, which won last year's championship, finished in 10th place. A 303 in the first round left them tied for third, but they fell with a final-round 314.
The Florida State Club Team is the second of 16 championships on the Florida State Golf Association's annual schedule. The Florida State Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship is the third championship, and it will be held June 5-6 at The Legacy Golf Club in Bradenton.
Round One Story
