Sertoma Has Super Finish

The Sertoma Junior Golf Tour keeps getting bigger and better.

The summer golf tour, which is for ages 5-18, wrapped up a highly successful 14th-year with a season-ending two-day tournament and awards banquet on Sunday.

The Sertoma Junior Golf Tour gives youngsters of all abilities the chance to work on and improve their golf games by competing at different courses each week during the summer

"We had a great summer," said Sertoma Junior Tour director Andy Kesling. "The kids had a good time and it was fun to watch them improve over the course of the season.

"I played on the Sertoma Tour when I was growing up and it really helped me become a better golfer, it means a lot to me to be able to give back to the community and help the kids learn the game the right way."

The Tour Championships, which was held Saturday and Sunday at Sun 'N Lake Country Club, was worth double points and the final event of the season decided many of the age group winners.

In the boys 17-18 age group, 16-year-old phenom Rocky Khara finished first with 195 total points, which were accumulated over the summer, while Blake Liles placed second with 175 and Greg Gentry came in third with 157.

Khara, who has won numerous age group titles in his time on the Serttoma Tour, was also selected the boys over 14 Player of the year.

"It means a lot to me to win my age group," said Khara. "I like to play with my friends and the competition on the Sertoma Tour helps keep my game sharp.

"I've played on the Sertoma Tour since I was five and this is where I learned the fundamentals and the right way to play the game."

In the girls 14-18 division, Camiel White finished first with 210 points, while Sarah Liles placed second with 153 and Paige Moffat came in third with 140.

White, who has been playing on the Sertoma Tour for four years, credits the summer competition with helping her to make the Sebring High girls golf team.

"The Sertoma Tour taught me so much about the proper way to play," said the 16-year-old Blue Streak linkster. "It taught me course management, how to stay within myself and play one shot at a time."

In the boys 15-16 age group, Sean Garner finished first with 176 points, Evan Danzey placed second with 157, Jason Sava came in third with 145, while Taylor Barlow took fourth with 144.

"That was a competitive division all summer," said Kesling. "Those boys have all improved a lot and it came down to the final round."

Colin Walkup won the boys 13-14 age group with 195, while Daniel Miller placed second with 190 and Dalton Hewett came in third at 140.

In the boys 11-12 bracket, Silas Berry rolled to the title with 225 points, Joey Staffieri came in second with 168 and Zack Garner claimed third with 148.

In the boys 9-10 age group, Jett Dexter finished first with 195, Nic Staffieri came in second with 165 and Ben Tubbs took third at 158.

Dexter was also selected as the boys 10-under Player of the Year.

In the girls 10-under division, Kendall Griffin finished first with 185 points, Emily Waller claimed second with 138 and Avie Clark came in third.

Griffin was also selected the girls 10-under Player of the Year.".

In the boys 6-8 age group, Julian Crozier finished first with 165 points, Quinn Clark came in second with 145 and four-year-old Zach Doorlag came in third.

Sarah Liles won the Best Sportsmanship award, while Terrell Williams, Clay Davis and Lindsey Lovett were selected the Most Improved Players.

"I can't thank the sponsors enough," said Kesling. Without their support the Sertoma Junior Golf Tour wouldn't exist.

"Our numbers were up from last year and I'm already looking forward to next year."