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Third Time's The Charm For Khara

BRIAN GJURGEVICH/Highlands Today

Overall Bagwell Junior Invitational champions Rocky Khara of Sebring (left) and Kristen Sammarco of Pembrooke Pines (right) pose with River Greens head professional Jason Beatty with their trophies after Sunday's final round.

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By Brian Gjurgevich | Highlands Today

Published: June 9, 2008

AVON PARK — If Rocky Khara had a chance to avoid a playoff on Sunday, he was certainly going to take it.

After finishing second in the 2006 and 2007 Bagwell Invitationals, Khara seized on his opportunity to claim top honors when he birdied his final hole to hold off Cory Meade of Haines City and win the overall championship at the 39th annual Bagwell Junior Invitational at River Greens golf course.

"It's very satisfying," said Khara, 16, a recent qualifier for the upcoming Florida State Golf Association Amateur championships. "It's something I've always needed to do, and not come in second again."

But it didn't come easy: Khara saw his three-stroke lead with five holes to play evaporate on a makeshift leaderboard strapped to the back of one of the dozen or so golf carts following the final group.

After sinking a 20-footer on No. 16, he figured he was in good shape to hold off Meade.

"All I was thinking was par-par, and I win the tournament," Khara said. "But I found out Corey birdied 18, and I had one hole to play. I didn't want to hold anything back."

Khara crushed a 310-yard drive down the center of the par-five No. 18's fairway and reached the green in two with a towering 170-yard shot that landed 10 feet from the pin, setting up a tap-in for the win.

"It was one of those shots where you just hit it and pray," Khara said with a smile. "It helps with experience, but you shouldn't think about needing a birdie or whatever to win.

"You think about hitting the fairway, hitting the green and a two-putt."

Kristen Sammarco, 16, of Pembrook Pines, won the overall girls championship with a steady 86 on Sunday, holding off the five-girl field with a +1 38 on her final nine holes.

"I was able to keep it consistent on the back nine," Sammarco said.

Meade, the defending champion, shot a 67 on Sunday to take second overall and the first-place trophy in the 17-18 boys division with a four-under 140, followed by Bartow's Mike Gillooley (144) and Lakeland's Case Gard (148), who rebounded from an 81 on the opening day to fire a 67 on Sunday.

Drew Guffey of Bartow took the first-place trophy in the 15-16 boys division with a consistent 73-73-146, while Avon Park's Greg Gentry took second with a 151 and Sebring's Blake Liles claimed third with a 155.

Connor Lynch of Bradenton won the 12-14 boys division after the 13-year-old stormed out with a 68 on Saturday and finished with a 76 for a 154. Owen Phillips of Lakeland took third with a 77-85-162.

Athena Young took the girls 12-14 division with a steady 95-95-190, followed by Sophie Benetti of Kissimmee (194) and Lakeland's Arialla Knight (205).

River Greens head professional Jason Beatty joked he may have to "toughen up the course a bit" after some of the numbers he saw, and that it was nice to see a local player win after two straight runner-up finishes.

Beatty noted only 11 players from the county participated, compared to 53 from outside the county.

"We'd like to have a little more local turnout," said Beatty, who added he's hoping to get 80 players for next year's 40th annual tournament. "It's really nice to see those kids come out and play. It's not all about the low scoring — the kids that were bogey golfers had a great time."

39TH ANNUAL BAGWELL JUNIOR INVITATIONAL
at River Greens (par 72)

Overall boys champion — Rocky Khara, Sebring, 66-73-139
Overall girls champion — Kristen Sammarco, Pembrook Pines, 81-86-167

17-18 boys
1. Cory Meade, Haines City, 73-67-140
2. Mike Gillooley, Bartow, 71-73-144
3. Case Gard, Lakeland, 81-67-148

15-16 boys
1. Drew Guffey, Bartow, 73-73-146
2. Greg Gentry, Avon Park, 73-78-151
3. Blake Liles, Sebring, 78-77-155

12-14 boys
1. Connor Lynch, Bradenton, 68-76
2. Robert Geibel, Pembroke Pines, 78-76-154
3. Owen Phillips, Lakeland, 77-85-162

Girls
1. Athena Young, 95-95-190
2. Sophie Benetti, Kissimmee, 94-100-194
3. Arialla Knight, Lakeland, 103-102-205

Local players' scores
Taylor Barlow, Zolfo Springs, 94-96-190
Clay Davis, Avon Park, 78-78-156
Zachary Foster, Sebring, 75-77-152
Drew Hornick, Sebring, 106-95-201
Jason Sava, Avon Park, 87-108-195
Austin Smith, Avon Park 75-83-158
John Tracey, Avon Park, 85-93-178
John Vicker, Sebring, 93-84-177
Aaron Walkup, Sebring, 79-78-157

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