TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Highlands Today

Khara, White Set The Pace

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Rocky Khara tees off on Thursday during the Sertoma Tour event at Pinecrest golf club in Avon Park. Khara won the 17-18 boys division with a 1-under-par 71.

ADVERTISEMENT

By BRIAN GJURGEVICH

Highlands Today

Published: August 2, 2008

AVON PARK - Rocky Khara and Camiel White are hitting their stride as the Sertoma Junior Tour winds down for the summer.

Each posted impressive rounds at Tour stop No. 8 on Thursday at Pinecrest golf club, with Khara winning the 17-18 boys division with a 1-under 71 and White winning the 14-18 girls division with a 91.

With just one event remaining before the Sertoma Tour championship, Sertoma Tour director Andy Kesling said Khara is poised to separate himself from the pack and claim top honors.

"Rocky's the type of kid that wants it real bad and practices real hard," Kesling said. "He's a good ball-striker and a very good putter, but it's his course management that's a couple notches above everyone else.

"This game is all about discipline, and Rocky's game is one to admire."

Khara edged John Tracey, who fired a season-low 74, while Greg Gentry turned in a solid 77.

The 11-12 boys division also provided some drama down the stretch: Five shots separated the top five finishers, with Silas Berry carding a nine-hole score of 51 to take top honors. Joey Staffieri (52), Terrell Williams (53), Zach Garner (54) and Tyler Hewett (55) rounded out the top five.

Kesling said he's been working with Williams all summer, and was very happy with his pupil's third-place finish.

"Terrell started out shooting 65-70 in the first couple of weeks," Kesling said. "He's always been able to putt the ball a little bit, but his ball-striking has gotten really consistent.

"He's a good example of a kid who's working hard and seeing things work out."

Mark Granger won the 15-16 boys race with a solid 78, followed by Jason Sava (85), Taylor Barlow and Sean Garner (87) and Evan Danzey and Drew Hornick (89).

Colin Walkup won the 13-14 boys division with a 95, while Daniel Miller took second with a 105 and Dalton Hewett fired a 109. Joseph DeGenaro (117) and Cory Burns (119) rounded out the top five.

In the 9-10 boys division, Jett Dexter led the way with a nine-hole score of 50, followed by David DeGenaro (54), Kyle Hewett and Nic Staffieri (56) and Austen Flannery (79).

Following White's lead in the 14-18 girls division, Paige Moffat took second with a 105, while Lindsey Lovett finished third with a 109.

Emily Waller was the lone competitor in the 10-under girls division, and fired a solid score of 61 for nine holes. Likewise, Julian Crozier was the lone competitor in the 6-8 boys division, and turned in a score of 30 for six holes.

The Sertoma Tour holds its final event of the regular season on Thursday, Aug. 7 at Placid Lakes. The two-day Tour Championship is set for Aug. 16-17 at Sun 'N Lake.

Sertoma Junior Tour

Event No. 8 at Pinecrest

17-18 Boys - Rocky Khara, 71

14-18 Girls - Camiel White, 91

15-16 Boys - Mark Granger, 78

13-14 Boys - Colin Walkup, 95

11-12 Boys - Silas Berry, 51 (nine holes)

9-10 Boys - Jett Dexter, 50 (nine holes)

Brian Gjurgevich can be reached at 863-386-5841 or bgjurgevich@highlandstoday.com

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT