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JCPenney lures big money-winners

 
Published Oct. 30, 1990|Updated Oct. 18, 2005

Eight golfers from the elite 30-man field of last week's Nabisco Championship are scheduled to play in the 1990 JCPenney Classic, Nov. 29-Dec. 2 at the Innisbrook Resort. And of the top 30 LPGA money-winners this year, 27 will be at Innisbrook.

The field for the JCPenney Classic was announced Monday, and it appears to be one of the best. Wayne Levi, No. 2 on the money list and winner of four tournaments, is teamed with Tampa's Dale Eggeling. No. 4 Paul Azinger will play with Susie Redman.

Among the other PGA Tour stars are Billy Mayfair, Larry Mize and John Huston of Palm Harbor. Huston is teamed with former Clearwater resident Amy Benz, with whom he won the title with in 1988. The defending champions, Bill Glasson of Oldsmar and Pat Bradley, return. Brian Claar of Palm Harbor also is playing, with Kristi Albers.

From the Senior PGA Tour are two local favorites, Chi Chi Rodriguez and Tampa's Jim Dent.

Almost all the name players from the LPGA are coming; Patty Sheehan is one exception. Popular Nancy Lopez is returning after a three-year absence and will play with Jay Haas. Leading women's money-winner Beth Daniel is paired with Davis Love III, and last year's money leader, Betsy King, is teamed with Doug Tewell.

Not ready: The bad news from the JCPenney office came last week, when Heather Farr announced that she could not compete. Farr underwent breast-cancer surgery in July 1989. She hoped to begin playing on the LPGA tour this past August, but her doctors have said she is not ready to compete in a four-day tournament. Farr's scheduled partner, Mark Brooks, decided not to play with another partner. He will enter foreign tournaments instead.

JCPenney charities: In the PGA Tour Charity Team competition, the JCPenney Classic finished 16th, meaning that the 10 charities benefiting from the Classic will divide $25,000.

The team competition lasts through the PGA Tour season. Each tournament is represented by four tour players. How those players perform equates to how a tournament does in the team competition.

The 1990 JCPenney team consisted of David Frost, John Huston, Bill Buttner and Jim Hallet.

Last week, the 1991 JCPenney team was chosen: Joey Sindelar, Peter Persons, Brian Claar and Bill Buttner.

Another honor for Upper: Feather Sound head pro Brett Upper, fresh from his national club-pro championship earlier this month, won the PGA Club Professional Player of the Year Award, based on points won through tournaments.

Upper clinched the award last week with a second-place finish in the Wilson PGA Club Professional Classic, in Tucson, Ariz. He shot a 10-under-par 278, two strokes behind Bob Boyd of Rockville, Md.

Forty something: A field of 122 played in the Life After 40 Championship, a Florida State Golf Association tournament last week in Venice. The top Pinellas golfers were Glenn Pratten of St. Petersburg (tied for eighth in the 40-49 division with a three-round total of 234); Jim Montgomery of Clearwater (fourth in 50-59, 243); Meade Stull of Palm Harbor (fourth in 60-64, 258), and Bob Waltz of Safety Harbor (ninth in 65-69, 328).

Tournament change: The Suncoast Family YMCA benefit golf scramble has been postponed a month, to Dec. 15 at 9 a.m., at the Chi Chi Rodriguez Golf Club in Clearwater. The entry fee is $60 and includes lunch. For more information, call Chris Hardman (786-2445) or Doug Curry (461-9622).

Hole-in-one hotline: Eight-year-old Michael Milas of Largo scored an ace at the 18th hole at Baypointe Golf Course.

Coming up: The Kiwanis Club of Belleair Bluffs is having a charity tournament Nov. 3, 1:30 p.m., at Pinecrest Country Club. Entry costs $25. For more information, call 585-0055.