Golf Plus | Web.com Tour Qualifying School ends for two locals

The second stage for Web.com Tour Qualifying School concluded last week and it left two of three players with local connections on the outside of the cut line.

Lakewood Ranch's Adam Hogue (1-over par 289, 62nd place) and former IMG Academy golfer Casey Wittenberg (2-under par 286, tie for 47th) did not secure one of the qualifying berths awarded at Brooksville's Southern Hills Plantation Club.

Meanwhile, former University of Iowa star Vince India plowed through Southern Hills with a 15-under par tally over four rounds. India, a Lakewood Ranch resident, logged a third-place finish.

The top 21 and ties advanced to the final stage, held at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens on Dec. 10-13. Twenty-two players progressed from Southern Hills.

Bradenton's Charles Wang put himself in contention for a spot at PGA National following first-round action at Plantation Preserve Golf Course & Club in Plantation. A 1-under par 70 put Wang in a tie for 13th place following the first round. The top 21 and ties at that second stage venue progress to next month's final stage.

The 24th annual Joe Turnesa Memorial Scholarship Tournament is slated for this Monday at Sara Bay Country Club. To date, the event has produced 73 scholarships totaling $381,150.

The tournament also is in memory of Turnesa, who was one of the first PGA members and first to compete on the PGA Tour.

Turnesa was an honorary member at Sara Bay, where he taught golf on the club's grounds.

This year's recipients at the awards dinner are Sarasota Riverview's Michael Groves, Venice's Ronald Johnson, Venice's Allyson Guthrie and Venice's Victoria Cangero, who attends Pine View.

The tournament begins at 12 p.m., and each four-player team is paired with a local golf professional for competition in a three better balls of five format.

Bradenton's Alyssa Mercado tied for fourth place in the Florida State Golf Association's Florida Junior Tour event at Englewood's Boca Royale Golf & Country Club last weekend. Playing in the girls 13-15 year old division, Mercado posted a 76-82--158 to finish eight shots behind Lake Worth's Alexa Pano's winning total.

On the boys side, Lakewood Ranch freshman Drew Angelo tied for 12th place with a 79-74--153. That was 11 shots behind the winning mark from Orlando's Joseph Pagdin.

Also held that weekend was the 16-18 year old tournament at Ocala's Adena Golf & Country Club. Competing in the girls division, Bradenton's Ariel Yu carded a 79-74--153 to finish tied for sixth place, seven shots behind Mimi Chen, of Longwood.

Former IMG Academy standout James Yoon captured the prestigious St. Augustine Amateur last month with a record-setting performance.

Yoon fired a 3-over par 73 in the final round to finish the 54-hole tournament with a 6-under par 204. That was one better than the previous 54-hole scoring record in the event's history.

Yoon earned an eight-shot victory for his three days on the par-70 layout at St. Johns Golf Club.

Holes-in-one

On Tuesday, Nov. 10 at River Run Golf Links, Louis Liebovich aced the 152-yard 17th hole with a 7-iron. Ike Steele was among the witnesses.

On Wednesday, Nov. 11 at River Run Golf Links, Bob Conn aced the 133-yard fifth hole with a 7-iron. Witnesses were Joe Graham, Charles Burkhardt and Paul Burkhardt.

On Saturday, Nov. 14 at River Run Golf Links, Patrick Evans aced the 143-yard eighth hole with a 9-iron. Witnesses were George Burge and Larry Evans.

On Monday, Nov. 16 at Peridia Golf and Country Club, Joe Telesco aced the 113-yard fifth hole with a 5-hybrid. Witnesses were Henry Smith and Dick Bennett.

-- Jason Dill, Herald sports reporter

This story was originally published November 18, 2015 at 11:01 PM with the headline "Golf Plus | Web.com Tour Qualifying School ends for two locals ."