Global Golf Post - March 1, 2010

TAMPA – If Peter Dachisen had his
choice, he would rather be running a
golf tournament than playing in one.
Dachisen, 38, is tournament director for
the Florida State Golf Association. He is
also a five-time champion of the Gaspa-
rilla Invitational, held annually in Febru-
ary at Palma Ceia Country Club.
He has nothing to prove in this tour-
nament, the ninth time he has played
here. But every time he tees it up at
Palm Ceia, he gets a familiar churning
in his stomach.
“I enjoy the other side of it a little bit
more than this side,” Dachisen said af-
ter carding an opening-round, 2-under
68 on Friday. “I don’t know why, but I’d
rather be out in the middle of the trees
watching everybody else struggle than
being out there struggling myself.”
Sunday was different after Dachisen
spread-eagled the field by nine shots
to win this event for the fifth time and
second year in a row. His winning total
of 209 was 1-under par.
Dachisen seldom struggles on this
golf course. He had already won the
Gasparilla in 2002, 2005, 2006 and
last year. This week he was clearly the
player to beat in what is usually a com-
petitive field. Former champions Pat
Olive (2008), Richard Kerper (2004) and
Brad Burris (1993) were in the tourna-
ment, as well as former college and
FSGA champions. Olive finished second
this year to Dachisen
Dachisen is not going to look back
now that the Gasparilla tournament is
over. He will hit the ground running with
his FSGA responsibilities, and that’s fine
with him. Dachisen moved from New
Jersey to Tampa 10 years ago to become
head professional at Hunter’s Green Golf
Club in Tampa. In 2000, he joined the
FSGA on a full-time basis, and in 2002
he regained his amateur status.

Europe’s finest amateur players
flocked to the Aroeira Golf Club for the
80th playing of the Portuguese Inter-
national Amateur Championship. In the
end, it was France that stood out from
all other countries involved, filling the
top four spots in the final results. Jo-
hann Lopez-Lozaro of France carded a
final-round, 8-under 64 for a 14-under
274 total and a three-stroke victory over
countrymen Joel Stalter and Alexander
Levy. Stalter nearly fired a final-round
65 to vault up the leaderboard, but it
was not enough to overtake Lopez-Laz-
aro. Romain Wattel, also from France,
finished in solo fourth at 9-under 279.
In a tie for fifth place other countries
finally emerged with Ross Kellet, from
Scotland, Matthew Southgate, from
England, and Juan Sarasti, from Spain,
posting 8-under 280s.
With the win, Lopez-Lozaro vaulted
up the World Amateur Golf Ranking
57 spots from No. 118 to No. 61, while
Wattel moved up 10 spots to No. 20.
stroke victory over Peter King, from
Queensland. Four-time champion and
local member Michael Leedham was
the leading Tasmanian finisher, posting
a 10-over-par 223 for third place. Ross
Bockman from New South Wales joined
Leedham in third at 10-over.
SPEECHLy SPELLS WIN
West Australian Jessica Speechley won
the 52nd Women’s Riversdale Cup on the
second playoff hole over Queensland’s
Courtney Massey. Both shot 2-under-par
71s on the difficult Riversdale Golf Club
in Victoria to finish tied for the lead at
1-under 291. On the second playoff hole,
Speechly hit her approach to within two
feet, and when Courtney failed to hole her
20-footer, Speechly converted for the win.
Second-round leader Ashley Ona, from
Queensland, couldn’t match the leaders’
final rounds and finished in solo third at
even-par 292. Elle Sandak, from New
South Wales, held down the fourth posi-
tion at 2-over 294. Defending champion
Ashlee Dewhurst, of Tasmania, tied for
fifth with New South Wales’ Carly Beck at
7-over-par 299.
Gasparilla invitational winner Peter Dachisen.
SEEING DOUBLE
Stefan Albinski, from New South
Wales, successfully defended his title
at the Tasmanian Men’s Senior Ama-
teur Championship. Played at Mowbray
Golf Club, Albinski carded rounds of
71-74-71 for a 3-over 216 and a five-
SILVA AND JOHANI WINNERS
AT KUALA LUMPUR
Kenneth De Silva, from Malaysia,
rallied from behind to win the men’s
event of the Kuala Lumpur Amateur
Open thanks to a final-round 3-under
69 to finish at 2-under 214, one stroke
clear of overnight leader Chan Tuck.
Tuck posted a disappointing 2-over-par
74 to place second at 1-under 215. Both
players are in the Malaysian Golf Asso-
ciation’s National Squad. In the ladies’
event, Ainil Johani won in a playoff over
countrymen Kelly Tan. Both MGA Elite
players finished the tournament at
6-over 222, setting up a thrilling playoff.
The Kuala Lumpur Amateur Open is
a premier event and since 2008 it has
been included in the World Amateur
Golf Ranking counting events.