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Gasparilla Victory Puts Oliver Into PODS Field

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By MICK ELLIOTT, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 25, 2008

TAMPA - Patrick Oliver has never missed the PODS Championship, the PGA Tour's annual Tampa Bay stop at Innisbrook Resort.

Each year the 36-year-old brokerage director from Tarpon Springs marks his calendar and gets tickets. A serious player in his own right - Oliver qualified for the 2006 U.S. Amateur - watching professionals up close never gets old.

"I'm one of those guys in the gallery with a couple of buddies drinking a beer," he said.

Not this year. When the PODS tees off in two weeks, Oliver will find himself inside the ropes, thanks to Sunday's victory in the Gasparilla Invitational at Palma Ceia Country Club.

For the first time, the PODS Championship offered a sponsor's exemption for the winner of Palma Ceia's long-running amateur championship, and Oliver gobbled up the prize with a score of 68-67-135 for a one-shot victory against Boynton Beach's Kevin Hammer (71-65-136).

Oliver, who plays at Wentworth CC, was born and raised in Tarpon Springs, where he played high school golf but never really pursued the game beyond recreation.

"I just enjoy mainly for the enjoyment with friends," he said. "It has been a passion for a long time. But you have kids and all of a sudden you don't know where the time went."

He'll be finding time this week to prepare for his first appearance in a tour event.

"Yeah, I'm going to be working hard the next week," he said.

Oliver will not have any trouble getting to the practice range. A representative from the event was on hand and handed over a courtesy car, which he will have through tournament week.

Oliver earned his victory with a birdie on the final hole of the rain-shortened event to hold off a charging Hammer, who birdied five of his final six holes.

Three-time winner Peter Dachisen, who led after one round, finished third at 67-72-139.

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