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Hernando Today

Jackson Totes Home First Title

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By CHRIS BERNHARDT JR.

Hernando Today

Published: August 13, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Jacob Jackson picked a great day to finally break through.

The 13-year-old Brooksville resident had never won a tournament in his three years on the North Suncoast Junior Golf Association Tour.

That all changed Tuesday at the completion of the two-day Tournament of Champions, a season-ending event that took place at World Woods Golf Club.

While rain forced an early end to the tournament, the four youngest divisions managed to get their full round in.

Jackson left World Woods as the only champion from Hernando County, claiming the nine-hole boys intermediate 13-18-year-olds group in a tiebreaker over Crystal River's Curtis Rogers.

"It felt really good," Jackson said. "I've been playing the past three years, I never came in first. I really wanted to. I just played my best and I ended up winning."

Jackson shot a 37 on Monday, tied for second with Belleview's Devin Eatmon and three shots behind Rogers for the lead.

Rogers maintained a two-stroke edge heading into the final hole on Tuesday, but Jackson notched a clutch birdie to finish with a round of 34, tie Rogers at 71 and force a tiebreaker based on their scores over the last six holes.

"Today I knew I had to play my 'A' game if I wanted to get back in it," Jackson said. "I just did that and I did it."

Jackson felt playing the short course at World Woods played to his strengths, and credited practice for his first championship.

"My grandpa and dad, they take me out to the golf course and helped me practice," Jackson said. "I really committed to it. It's fun to play and I played really good.

"...I feel this is going to help me improve and motivate me to work harder and I know that I can win."

Other county placers

Joe Jackson, the younger brother of Jacob, nearly made it two first-place trophies for the household, coming in second in the seven-hole boys and girls 8-9-year-olds division.

He shot a 28-31-59, finishing one stroke behind Deven Rabeiro of Tampa (30-28-58).

Spring Hill's Ben Cash finished second in the nine-hole boys intermediate 10-12-year-olds division with a 42-41-83, and fellow Spring Hill resident Megan Berube came in the same spot at girls advanced 10-18-year-olds.

Berube finished at 102, shooting 74 across 18 holes on Monday and 28 on Tuesday as that division was limited to six holes.

Briana Carlson of Inverness won with a 77-23-100. Hernando High's Lauren Shuford finished third with a 79-27-106.

Jans Tamayo of Spring Hill came in third behind Cash at 45-47-92. Brooksville's Kae Elliott shot a 46-41-87 to take third in the nine-hole girls intermediate 10-18-year-olds group.

FINAL NSJGA TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS RESULTS

Boys and Girls 8-9 (Seven holes) 1. Deven Rabeiro, Tampa 30-28--58; 2. Joe Jackson, Brooksville, 28-31--59; 3. (tie) Seth Kreinbrook, Silver Springs 27-32-59, Cameron Wyckoff, Homosassa 29-30--59.

Boys Intermediate 10-12 (Nine holes) 1. Bryce Wilson, Land O' Lakes 41-41--82; 2. Ben Cash, Spring Hill 42-41--83; 3. Jans Tamayo, Spring Hill 45-47--92.

Boys Intermediate 13-18 (Nine holes) 1. Jacob Jackson, Brooksville 37-34--71; 2. Curtis Rogers, Crystal River 34-37--71; 3. Chris Henry, Homosassa 38-37--75.

Girls Intermediate 10-18 (Nine holes) 1. Summer Moser, Lutz 34-40--74; 2. Breanna Schuman, Bushnell 43-42--85; 3. Kae Elliott, Brooksville 46-41--87.

Boys Advanced 10-12 (12 holes first day, five holes second day) 1. Ryan Hicks, Clearwater 57-26--83; 2. Matthew Allen, Citrus Springs 60-25--85; 3. (tie) Kyle Kidd, Crystal River 62-24--86, Micah Sugioka, Beverly Hills 57-29--86.

Boys Advanced 13-15 (18 holes first day, eight holes second day) 1. Gary Buffington, Tampa 71-30--101; 2. Evan Byrd, Ocala 75-31--106; 3. Mark Giardino, Homosassa 78-29--107.

Girls Advanced 10-18 (18 holes first day, six holes second day) 1. Briana Carlson, Inverness 77-23--100; 2. Megan Berube, Spring Hill 74-28-102; 3. Lauren Shuford, Brooksville 79-27--106.

Sports writer Chris Bernhardt Jr. can be reached at (352) 544-5288 or cbernhardt@hernandotoday.com.

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