Sarasota Golf News

Derek Lamely of Fort Myers won the Charlotte County Open in 2006 and 2008.

Currently, he is ranked No. 9 on the Nationwide Tour’s money list and has put himself in contention for top rookie honors. Also, he is in good position to earn a 2010 PGA Tour card. The top 25 of the Nationwide Tour automatically receive a card for the following year.

The $5,000 Rotonda Golf and Country Club Summer Sweepstakes is well under way. Rotonda Golf is giving away $5,000 to a lucky winner on Monday, Nov. 2.

Every time you play an 18-hole round of golf at any of the Rotonda Golf and Country Club courses you will receive a raffle ticket into the drawing for your chance to win the $5,000.

Don’t tell Jim Pfrogner he hits from the wrong side of the tee box. 

Over the years, being a left-handed golfer has served him well. 

Pfrogner, a single-digit handicapper from Palm Aire Country Club, recently won the National Senior Amateur Left-Handed Tournament held at the Lakes of Taylor Golf Course in Taylor, Mich. It was his third national left-handed title.

BRADENTON, Fla. - Lennar has 25 resort-style golf course terrace homes for sale, priced from under $140,000 with top model upgrades at River Terrace at River Strand, its gated, country club community within Heritage Harbour, located off S.R. 64 near I-75 Exit 220-East in Bradenton.

Matt Devereaux, director of sales for Lennar’s Southwest Florida Division, said all 25 resort-style condominiums in the second phase of River Terrace at River Strand are slated for completion by the end of November.

Who will win this week’s PGA Championship?  Tiger Woods. Would you pick anyone else? I don’t think so. He’s hot in more ways than one.

First, he was visibly upset after not making the cut at the British Open, where 59-year-old Tom Watson almost pulled off the upset of the century. 

Lew Smither III, the director of instruction at Innisbrook Resort, has resigned his position to become the new director of golf at Cypress Run Golf Club in Tarpon Springs.

His new position is to oversee the golf operation and establish the club to be the premier private club in the community. 

John Van Vranken IV shot a final round 70 to win the Greater Sarasota Junior Golf Association’s Tournament of Champions at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice. Van Vranken defeated Englewood's Jaime Veloz Jr., by two strokes in the prestigious year-end tournament for the GSJGA.

Tim Garofalo of Venice and Ryan Lort of Punta Gorda finished tied for third, four strokes back. 

Joey Lamielle of Sarasota cashed his first check ($9,900) on the Nationwide Tour last week and moved from off the charts to 160 on the Nationwide money list. Lamielle, who went to Booker High School, qualified for the 2008 U.S. Open but did not make the cut.

Wendi Golden of Lakewood Ranch, Gennifer Mendez of North Port and Meghan Bolger-Stasi of Fort Lauderdale will represent Florida in the upcoming USGA Women’s state team championship. This past week, Golden, Mendez and Nancy Smith of North Port competed for Florida in its victory over Georgia at Ford Plantation in Richmond Hill, Ga.  Mendez and Smith recorded victories. 

Charlie Darbyshire is a proud papa, and rightly so. Less than two weeks ago, the Sarasota National assistant pro and his wife, Aga, celebrated the birth of their first child.

From now on, Darbyshire’s golf accomplishments will have to take a back seat to Alexandra Lisa. 

The First Tee of Sarasota/Manatee will be conducting an “Open House” Junior Golf Clinic at Heron Creek Golf and Country Club on Saturday.

This fun golf clinic will be free to South Sarasota County Juniors ages 5-17. It will be held from 9-10:30 a.m.