Gentry Rallies For Sertoma Win

Close matches were everywhere you looked during Thursday's final round of the Bill Jarrett Ford Match Play Championships at River Greens golf course.

The two-day event, which is part of the Sertoma Junior Golf Tour, featured a match-play format, which differs from the stroke-play used in regular tournaments, and it offers the youngsters ages 5-18 the opportunity to compete in hole-by-hole matches.

In the finals of the boy's 17-18 age group, Avon Park High School golfer Greg Gentry rallied to defeat Sebring High linkster Blake Liles 1-up.

Gentry was one down with two holes to play, but the Red Devil birdied the par 3 17th with a 4-iron to five feet to even the match, and then knocked in a 10-foot birdie putt on the par 5 18th hole for the victory.

"That was a heck of a match," said Sertoma Tour director and Sun 'N Lake assistant professional Andy Kesling. "Greg and Blake played very well and it's great to see the other kids playing in close matches.

"This is my favorite tournament of the year, and I think the kids really enjoy the match-play format."

In the upset of the day, 13-year-old Sarah Liles stunned Sebring High golfer Camiel White 4 and 2 to win the girl's 14-18 age group.

Lindsey Lovett took third place by getting up and down out of the sand trap on the final hole to edge Paige Moffat 1-up.

John Vicker Jr. edged Casey Lapadula 3 and 2 for third place in the boy's 17-18 division.

Sean Garner rallied from two down with two holes to go to beat Jason Sava 1-up in 19 holes to win the boy's 15-16 age group.

Taylor Barlow finished third by easing past Aaron Walkup 2-up.

In the boy's 13-14 division, Daniel Miller cruised past Colin Walkup 6 and 5 to finish first, while Dalton Hewett edged Austin Tracey for third place by a score of 1-up in 19 holes.

In the boy's 11-12 age group, Silas Berry held off Joey Staffieri 2 and 1 for first place, while Zack Garner slipped past Bradley Brewer 3 and 1 to finish third.

In the boy's 9-10 division, Nick Staffieri finished first by beating Ben Tubbs 1-up in 19 holes.

Staffieri was four down with four holes to play, but kept his composure and rallied for the victory.

"We had a great two days of golf," said Kesling. "The kids enjoyed themselves playing a different type of event and gained a lot of experience.

"The staff at River Greens did a fantastic job and the course was in great shape and we can't than Bill Jarrett Ford enough for sponsoring this event and feeding everybody for both days."

The next Sertoma Junior Golf Tour event is slated for July 24 at Harder Hall golf course with a 9 a.m. start.