Scott Turner
JUPITER, Fla. - Scott Turner of Palm City posted his second straight three under par 68 Sunday to win the ninth annual Palm Beach County Stroke Play Championship on the Hills course at the Jonathan's Landing Golf Club at Old Trail.
At 136, Turner, the first round leader, finished three strokes ahead of the field. Tied for second at 139 were former champion Mike Nealy of Boca Raton and Ben Hartman of West Palm Beach, who matched scores of 69-70-139.
"Even though it was three strokes at the end," Turner said, "It was very stressful on the last nine holes. It seemed like it was a lot closer than that." Indeed, Nealy was three ahead after both birdied the 10th hole. But Turner birdied the next three holes to take the lead by two.
It was the first win against adult competition for Turner, a rising senior and business management major at the University of South Florida in Tampa. "This is the first tournament I won since I was in junior golf," he said
"This is very exciting for me," added Turner, a 2002 graduate of South Fork High School who turns 21 in two weeks. "I putted well and my ball-striking was decent." His biggest error of the day came at the par-4 sixth hole when he pulled a 9-iron into the trees and had to chip out left-handed enroute to a double bogey.
"I just can't imagine the difference in my putting since Thursday," Turner added. In U.S. Open local qualifying at Hobe Sound Golf Club, he hit 14 greens in regulation but had 37 putts and shot 80, missing by 11 shots.
Next on Turner's agenda is qualifying for the Florida State Amateur June 1 at PGA National and for the Palm Beach County Amateur June 18 at Hammock Creek, his home course. The 88th State Amateur is scheduled June 23-26 at Bear Lakes, the 30th County Amateur July 8-10 at Mayacoo Lakes, both West Palm Beach clubs.
Nealy, the 2000 Stroke Play champion, made an eagle at the par-5 fourth hole and added four birdies and five bogies. Hartman had two birdies and one bogey.
Scott's dad, Gil Turner, was in the small gallery on the inward nine after finishing his round earlier. The elder Turner has been a member of the winning team in two Palm Beach County Golf Association events, the senior better ball in 1999 and the senior four-ball in 2003.
In the handicap division Sunday, Kevin Pallone of Lake Worth was the winner on net scores of 67-76-143.
Qualifying for the County Amateur will be conducted on three consecutive Saturdays: June 11 at PGA National, June 18 at Hammock Creek and June 25 at Boca Country Club. For membership information and tournament entry, call Tommy Belen, executive director, 561-625-0400, or go to www.pbcga.org.
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Palm Beach County Golf Association
Stroke Play Championship
Jonathan's Landing GC at Old Trail, Jupiter, Fla.
Hills course, 6,350 yards, par 71
Scott Turner, Palm City, $400 68-68-136
Ben Hartman, West Palm Beach, $212.50 69-70-139
Mike Nealy, Boca Raton, $212.50 69-70-139
Chappell Brown, West Palm Beach, $137.50 74-66-140
Ryan Konkus, Tequesta, $137.50 71-69-140
Dann Merrell, West Palm Beach, $100 72-69-141
David Abell, Jupiter, $80 73-70-143
Andy Johncke, Palm Beach Gardens, $65 73-71-144
Mike Blake, North Palm Beach, $65 72-72-144
Robbie Wight, West Palm Beach, $50 76-69-145
Dave Roschman, Jupiter, $50 71-74-145
Greg Gonzales, Palm Beach Gardens, $50 70-75-145
R.J. Nakashian, Palm Beach Gardens, $37.50 75-71-146
Brandon Smith, Lake Worth, $37.50 72-74-146
Rick Othmer, West Palm Beach, $32 74-74-148
Mark Brown, West Palm Beach, $27 76-73-149
Mark Rubin, Boca Raton, $27 76-73-149
Chris Cowell, Lake Worth, $27 75-74-149
Jamie Krone, Delray Beach, $27 73-76-149
George Weston III, Palm Beach, $20 77-73-150
Scott Harris, Wellington, $20 76-74-150
Gary Zentner, Palm Beach, $20 76-74-150
Nick Norman, Palm Beach Gardens, $20 75-75-150
John Del Prete, Palm City, $20 73-77-150
Brian Ross, Boca Raton, $20 73-77-150
Brett Burton, Stuart, $10 78-73-151
Tim Stieren, Palm Beach Gardens, $10 77-74-151
Pat Rooney Jr., West Palm Beach, $10 75-76-151
Ira Saltzman, West Palm Beach, $10 75-76-151
Rick Westwood, Wellington, $10 75-76-151
Scott Stubbe, Jupiter, $10 73-78-151
Handicap Division
Kevin Pallone, Lake Worth, $100 67-76-143
Carl Sawyer, Jupiter, $50 71-78-149
(Money listed awarded in gift certificates)