BETWEEN the LINES

Pre-qualifying for Transitions Championship set March 10 at Southern Hills Plantation

BROOKSVILLE - Qualifiers have been scheduled for the Transitions Championship on the PGA Tour and the Champions Tour's Cap Cana Championship, giving pros and amateurs the opportunity to play against some of the game's best golfers.
The Transitions Championship is scheduled March 19-22 on the Copperhead course at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor. Pre-qualifiers are slated March 10 at Southern Hills Plantation in Brooksville and March 11 at Fox Hollow in Trinity. A total of 30 players will advance to the open qualifier March 16 at Fox Hollow. The number from each pre-qualifying site will be announced before play begins. Four players from the open qualifier will advance to the main event. The entry deadline is March 6.
The Cap Cana Seniors Championship will be played March 26-29 at Punta Espada Golf Club, Jack Nicklaus course, near Santo Domingo in the Dominican Republic. The pre-qualifier is scheduled March 18 at Ridgewood Lakes Golf Club, near Davenport, with five advancing to the open qualifier March 20 at Timacuan Golf Club in Lake Mary. The top four at Timacuan qualify for Cap Cana. The entry deadline is March 13.
Pros and amateurs with a maximum handicap of two are eligible, with the stipulation that the Cap Cana event is for contestants 50 years and older. The entry fee is $200.
For information and entry, go to www.nfpga.com or call the North Florida PGA office at 1-(386)-322-0899.
 
Junior Golfers Nights at Golf, Etc.

BROOKSVILLE - Golf, Etc. is offering FREE lessons to children, 12 and under, each Monday for 15 minutes between 4-7 p.m.
The lessons will include tips on utilizing a full swing, stance, grip, putting and chipping.
Golf, Etc. is located in the Western Way Shopping Center, 13045 Cortez Blvd., Brooksville.
For additional information, contact Golf, Etc. at 597-5994.

Seeking boys volleyball players

SPRING HILL - The Hernando Juniors (nonprofit volleyball club) is looking to form boys volleyball teams in three age groups (16U, 14U and 12U).
To register or for additional information, contact Doug Liddle at 556-8054 or Dan Murphy at 650-7363 or visit www.hernandojuniors.com.

Sheriff's Office Youth Education Golf Tourney

BROOKSVILLE - The Hernando County Sheriff's Office Youth Education Services will be hosting its 23rd Annual Scramblers Golf Tournament on Saturday, March 14, at Brooksville Golf and Country Club.
Hole sponsorships are $50 and registration is $75 per player, which includes a buffet lunch. Donated items that could be used as prizes are also being accepted and all donors/sponsors will be recognized at the event.
All proceeds from this annual event will benefit the Hernando County Sheriff's Office Youth Education Services (Y.E.S.), which is a non-profit organization that was formed to develop programs for our growing youth population.
To register or for additional information, visit www.hernandosheriff.org for a printable registration form for both sponsorships and registrations; or call 754-6830, Ext 53660.

Fit N Fun '4' Kids exercise program

BROOKSVILLE - Fit N Fun "4" Kids is a new one-hour exercise program offered by the City of Brooksville Recreation Department that allows children the opportunity to play video games powered by GameBikes, which are stationery bikes that are used to play the games.
The program is offered to children, ages 7-14, from 4:30-5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursdays at the Jerome Brown Community Center, 99 Jerome Brown Place, Brooksville.
The program is free to youth who are more than 85 percent of the recommended Body Mass Index (BMI).
For additional information, contact JoAnn Munford at 352-540-3835.

Adult Baseball League seeking players

SPRING HILL - The Pasco-Hernando Area Senior Baseball League (PHASBL) is offering a 15-game summer season beginning March 29.
The adult league, ages 18-65, expects to field six teams of players, age 16 and over.
Games will be played primarily on Sundays, with the possibility of some weeknight games later in the season.
Games will be played on various high school and park fields throughout western Pasco County as well as the Spring Hill/Brooksville area in Hernando County.
The league is continuing to hold registration.
To register early or to get more information, contact Dave Conrad at 683-1692.

Spartans seek players

SPRING HILL - The Spring Hill Spartans, a competitive Under 11 Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) travel ball baseball team, is seeking additional players. Players cannot turn 12 before May 1, 2009.
Practices will be held at the Anderson Snow Sports Complex in Spring Hill and Kennedy Park in Brooksville.
For more information, contact Jeff Hamilton at 346-1802, Gary Myers at 650-9070, or Angelo Sparacia at 428-9032 or online at asparacia@tampabay.rr.com.

AAU Bombers 13-U seeking players

BROOKSVILLE - The Bombers Baseball Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) travel ball team is seeking players 13-and-under.
For a tryout, contact Shawn Laferty at 813-267-8530 or online at claferty5@yahoo.com.

Free vessel check

HERNANDO BEACH - The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary is offering free vessel safety checks.
The auxiliary will come to your boat wherever you keep it.
Contact Jackie at 666-7239 to set up an appointment.
For more information on the auxiliary visit online at http:/a0701508.uscgaux.info.

West Florida Panthers baseball tryouts

SPRING HILL - The West Florida Panthers, a 14-and-under Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) elite travel baseball team based in Hernando County, will be hosting open tryouts for the spring season.
If you wish to play at a higher competitive level, contact Coach Scott Treverton at 263-9302 or email him at trev7172@bellsouth.net.

SH Wrestling Club seeks additional members

SPRING HILL - The Spring Hill Wrestling Club is the place to learn the fundamentals of wrestling.
Practices run through March, 2009 in the wrestling room at Springstead High School. Grades K-3 will practice from 6-7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays; Grades 4-8 from 7-8 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
Cost is $80. Checks should be made out to Springstead Wrestling. For more information, visit online at www.springhillwrestling.com or contact Springstead Head Coach Eric Swensen at 797-7010, Ext. 347.

Learn to scuba
    
SPRING HILL - Learn to scuba at the Hernando County Family YMCA. Classes begin Feb. 10 and run Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6-9:30 p.m.
This course includes six class and pool sessions for ages 12 and older in good physical health and comfortable in and under the water.
There will also be classes from 8:30 a.m-4:30 p.m. for ages 10 and older, plus open water dives on Thursday and Friday in the Gulf of Mexico or Rainbow River at $20 per day.
Upon completion of the classes persons will be certified as Open Water Scuba Diver, recognized worldwide.
The cost is $120 for YMCA members and $140 for non-members, plus $60 for use of scuba equipment.
Personal equipment, mask, fins and snorkel are not included, but can be purchased at a discount from instructors: Jack Farrell at 727-861-3483 or 800-633-1633 and Mark Butler at 352-214-1171, who are YMCA, PADI and NAUI instructors.
For additional information, contact Olivia Matles at the YMCA at 688-9622. 

Attention Springstead football alumni

SPRING HILL - When was the last time you laced up a pair of cleats or strapped on a pair of shoulder pads? Do you still dream of playing like Al Bundy about "One Last Game"? Here's your chance.
Springstead High football will be hosting an alumni game on April 17 at Booster Stadium. Participation in the event is only $60 (which includes equipment rental, T-shirt, and more) and is open to all able-bodied Springstead High football alumni.
To register, contact Coach Mike Garofano at (352)797-7010, Ext. 227 or Coach Bill Vonada at (352)797-7010, Ext.251. Proceeds will benefit the Springstead High football program.

Spring Lake 5K set May 23

BROOKVILLE - The third annual Spring Lake 5K Run and two-mile fun walk/run is set for Saturday, May 23 at the Arc Nature Coast, 5283 Neff Lake Road.
Race day registration begins at 7 a.m. with the race to follow at 8 a.m.
Prizes awarded from first-third place in five age groups.
Entry fee is $25 and $20 for fun/walk.
T-shirt is guaranteed if registration is received by May 8.
To signup, or for additional information, call The Arc Nature Coast at 544-2322, Ext. 109, or reach online at www.active.com.

Charity fishing tournament to benefit Hernando-Pasco Hospice

BROOKSVILLE - The Hogan Law Firm is sponsoring a charity fishing tournament to benefit Hernando-Pasco Hospice beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday, April 18 from Bayport.
Early registration runs until Feb. 28 and costs $75 per angler with their own boat, bait and tackle and $475 for individual anglers.
Individual angler registration fees include a boat, bait and a guide. All anglers will receive a gift bag, angler shirt, and breakfast, lunch and dinner.
First place is 30 percent of the total registration fees while second place is 20 percent of registration fees and third place is a guided local fishing trip.
To register or for more information, contact Debbie Hogan or Jennifer Rey at 799-8423.