Gary Wins 15th Annual Tom Dorsey Winter Classic in Pensacola

Today Gary won the 15th edition of this tournament at the A.C. Read Golf Course aboard the Naval Air Station in Pensacola, Florida. This tournament is in memory of Mr. Dorsey who was an avid golf fan and supporter of youth sports in the Pensacola Area. The Dorsey family puts on this well-organized event, and this is the eighth time Gary has entered while Christmas vacationing with both sets of grandparents who live in Pensacola.

The course is in the flight path of NAS Pensacola and the Blue Angels frequently fly overhead.

On day one Gary shot a two-under par 70 (four birdies) to edge out Brandon Jowers of Fort Walton Beach by one shot and Ben Ervin of Pace High School by three shots. On the second day Gary (four more birdies) and Brandon each shot even par 72 to finish first and second. Brandon made a strong run on the back nine but Gary threaded a 265 yard drive into the center of the narrow 18th fairway and threw a gap wedge from 100 yards to ten feet from the hole to close out the tournament.

Mrs. Dorsey presented a beautiful champion's plaque at the awards ceremony.

Winning in Pensacola was very important to Gary as his Dad learned to play golf here and graduated from the University of West Florida in Pensacola where he was an Academic All-American golfer. His mother is a graduate of the local Tate High School and Pensacola Junior College Nursing Program. Both sets of grandparents were present along with his mother for every hole of this tournament.

The Pensacola News Journal has a tournament photo album at the following URL: http://www.pnj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/gallery?Site=DP&Date=20081230&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=812300804&Ref=PH&Params=Itemnr=1

Big Week in Golf, Golf Honors, and Hunting.

This was a big week for Gary III in sports.

Today he finished tied for first in the Hurricane Junior Golf Tour Tournament of Champions at the Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel, Florida, shooting the second low round of the day with 71 to go along with his opening round of 74 yesterday. He had one birdie (the first hole) and two boggies for the day to finish one over par. He lost in a sudden death playoff to claim second trophy. Here's the website: http://hjgt.cmiregistration.com/saddleresults.aspx

This tournament had a field of top players as points accumulation or a tournament win over the last year were required for an invitation. Several international players and several from elite golf programs were in the field making this tournament a severe test. I guess Gary's work, his Dad's instruction, his Mom's management, and grandparent cheering are doing quite nicely!

Also today the Tampa Bay Tribune and the St. Pete Times Newspapers each named their all county golf teams. Gary, only a sophomore, was named first team all county by each newspaper.

Here's the Tampa Tribune writeup: http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/dec/07/sp-tribunes-golf-teams-all-hillsborough-county/sports-prepsports/

And here is the St. Pete Times writeup: http://www.tampabay.com/specials/2008/PDFs/ALL_COUNTY_FALL/hil_boysgolf.pdf

Early this week Gary and his Dad traveled to Pennsylvania to the family farm for deer hunting. Gary shot a very nice six point buck; his fourth buck in five years of hunting.