Hannes Ronneblad knew most of the day who was in command of the Dixie Amateur Men’s Golf Championship — he was.
Ronneblad, from Sweden, had both confidence in his swing and focus in his mind during Tuesday’s final round at Heron Bay Golf Club, and that meant at round’s end he also had the winner’s trophy in his hands.
“The way I played from tee to green was really, really good,” Ronneblad said, stating a fact with no hint of bragging.
Numerous approach shots during the round landed close enough to the pin that Ronneblad had little chance of missing the putts, and it was putting that gave Ronneblad a problem earlier in the tournament.
With the conditions windy as they have been all tournament, Ronneblad, who attends Texas Tech, fired a precise 5-under-par 67 to finish the tournament at 8-under 280. That gave him a three-stroke margin over second-place Marcus Svensson and five strokes ahead of third-place Ryan Troyer.
▪ South Beach International Amateur: Sarosh Adi, who plays his college golf for Texas Christian, shot a steady 1-under 70 to take a one-stroke lead heading into Wednesday’s final round at Miami Beach Golf Club. Sarosh has posted rounds of 74-64-70 for a 4-under total of 208.
Three players were tied for second at 209: Eric Richard, who plays for LSU, shot a 68; Joshua Lee, a Florida State golfer, shot a 71; and Jacob Hicks from East Carolina had a 68. Philip Barbaree, the second-round leader and U.S. Junior Amateur champion, was two shots off the lead after a 73.
Jorge Garcia, who won two individual state championships at Plantation American Heritage High and is now a freshman at the University of Florida, posted a 71 and is also two back.
▪ Orange Bowl Doral-Publix Junior Classic: The tournament heads into its final day Wednesday with the championships on the line for the older boys and girls.
Leading the boys’ 16-18 division by one stroke is Rodrigo Sanchez of the Dominican Republic with a 148 total for the first two days, giving him a five-shot lead. Ava Bergner of Germany and Julia Ford of Massachusetts are tied in the girls’ 16-18 at 154.
In the boys’ 14-15 division, Aymeric Laussot of France leads by two shots with a 148 score. And in the girls’ 14-15, Aline Krauter of Germany totaled 151 for a one-shot lead.
Baseball
Coastal Carolina junior shortstop Michael Paez was named to the 2016 Louisville Slugger Pre-Season All-American team, as selected by Collegiate Baseball.
Paez, out of Miami Sunset Senior High, batted .326 last season while being selected first-team All-Big South and second-team All-Atlantic Region by the American Baseball Coaches Association.
Miami Hurricanes sophomore catcher Zack Collins also was named a first-team Louisville Slugger Pre-Season All-American. Collins hit .302 and had 70 RBI.
UM closer Bryan Garcia was named on the second team.
The only other player with South Florida ties who was recognized was FAU’s C.J. Chatham, a graduate of Plantation American Heritage, who was named to the third team.
Susan Miller Degnan
Comments