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By Craig Dolch
Supporting partners are John Deere, Srixon/Cleveland Golf/XXIO/ASICS and Jani-King.
Filippo Serra, Vilda Westh Blanc Win South Florida PGA Doral Junior Open
Evan Bowser Wins Natioal Car Rental SFPGA Assistant Professional Championship Evan Bowser shot an 8-under 64 Tuesday to charge from four shots back and win the National Car Rental SFPGA Assistant Professional Championship at Wyndemere Country Club. Bowser, a PGA Assistant Professional at LaPlaya Golf Club in Naples, eagled the par-5 first hole when he hit a 3-iron to 15 feet and made the putt. He added three birdies on the next six holes to take the lead. “My No. 1 priority wasn’t to win; it was to finish in the top five to qualify for the national assistant championship,” Bowser said. “Once I got off to a great start, I knew I had a chance to win.” Bowser made three more birdies on the back nine, including holing a bunker shot at the 10th hole, to clinch the three-shot victory over three players. Bowser’s round was almost 12 shots less than the scoring average (75.91) and the former Canadian Tour member finished at 9-under 135. “I knew I could do it,” said Bowser, who was followed by his sister, Elayna, a mini-tour player. “You can’t go into the round thinking you’re going to shoot a 64. You have to let it happen. “To say you’re the top Assistant Professional in South Florida is a great feeling. I’m going to the national tournament to win, not just have a good time.” Tying for second place at 7-under 137 were Jason Robinson of the Country Club at Mirasol, Jeremy Wells of Cypress 34
Lake Golf Club and Michael Welch of Kensington. Robinson, the first-round leader, made two eagles and five bogeys during his up-and-down 70. Wells (69), a PGA Director of Instruction, made four birdies and a bogey. Welch had an eagle to highlight his 68. Alan Morin, a PGA Assistant Professional at The Club at Ibis, birdied the fifth playoff hole to beat Ryan Leahy of The Bear’s Club to earn the final spot in the National Car Rental Assistant PGA Professional Championship Nov. 11-14 at PGA Golf Club in Port St. Lucie. Morin birdied the final three holes to make the playoff. Leahy is first alternate. The National Car Rental SFPGA Assistant Professional Championship is conducted by the South Florida PGA.
The South Florida PGA Doral Junior Open at Trump National Doral Miami produced a first-time SFPGA Junior Tour winner, Filippo Serra, in the boy's overall division, and a second consecutive major champion in the overall girl's division, Vilda Westh Blanc. Serra of Ponte Vedra, who recently moved to Florida from Switzerland, fired a one-under 69 today on the Doral – Red Tiger course, finishing at three-under for the three-day tournament. Moving three spots up the leaderboard, avenging a first-round 74, Serra fired six birdies today to hold off Chris Calvani of Palm Beach Gardens and Ryan Lopez of Pembroke Pines who finished at even and one-over for the tournament, respectively. In the girl's division, Westh Blanc, who recently won the SFPGA Junior Tour Patty Berg Championship two weeks ago, took hold of the lead thanks to a first-round 72 and never let it go. Westh Blanc followed her even-par round with another 72 today to beat the field by eight strokes, Madison Moman of Palm Beach Gardens finishing at 12-over for the tournament in second place. Additionally, the boys 11-12 divi-
Golf Central • Volume 22, Issue 5
