Thomas Gemkow
For the Chronicle

INVERNESS–Ocala native Berger Warner is no stranger to success at the Inverness Golf and Country Club.

Warner shot a 72 in the final round of the 41st annual St. Patrick’s Day on Sunday to take home his third victory at the tournament in the last five years.

“I had a battle all day long with David Blackshear,” said Warner of his Championship Flight victory. “He (Blackshear) was one shot back of me. On the front side he moved ahead of me for a shot or two, so we were back and forth all day, and it just happened I was ahead at the end.”Blackshear was set to tie Warner after birdying on the 17th hole, but couldn’t connect on a short putt on the 18th green, sealing the victory for Warner.

“I thought he was going to birdie 18 to tie me,” Warner said. “He played really well and I was just fortunate to be ahead when the game was over.”

Blackshear said an off day with his short game hindered his chances in the final round.

“Usually the strength of my game is my short game with chipping and putting, and it seemed like I missed several short putts today, which is uncharacteristic,” said Blackshear of his performance this weekend. “But those sorts of things happen in the heat of the battle.”Blackshear won the tournament in 1994, but said his scores back then were much higher than they were this weekend.”With the advance in equipment and the quality of players, the scores are getting lower and lower all the time,” Blackshear said. “Everybody is playing really well.”

Tom Hendrick, last year’s champion, failed to place in the top six at this year’s tournament.

“I wasn’t playing very well this year, I putted poorly in one round, and I just didn’t hit it very well today,” said Hendrick, who despite firing a 69 in the second round, shot a 223 for the tournament. “But the course was in great shape and the weather was nice. We had fun, my caddie and I. I think this was the best condition and weather we have ever had since I’ve been playing here.”With showers forecasted for this weekend, the weather was the subject of much debate, but turned out to be perfect.

“We got a great break,” Blackshear a Citrus Springs resident, said. “Yesterday was an 80 percent chance of rain, and again today was very nice with forecasted showers. You couldn’t ask for anything better. It was about 75 or 80 degrees, the wind was down. The golf course was there for the taking.”

John Kelly, the Inverness Golf and Country Club PGA Golf Pro, was pleased with the weekend.

“It turned out good,” said Kelly, noting there were 199 participants. “We have about 20 people from Massachusetts who plan their vacation around this tournament. We have people from as far as Illinois, Indiana, a lot of New Yorker’s. Things ran real smoothly.”

The winners of second and third place in each flight on the ten flight field won Nike Golf Bags with the winner of each flight taking home a new set of Nike Pro Combo Irons.

Nick Nicholas Ford, the sponsor of this year’s tournament, had several vehicles to choose from if anyone were to sink a hole in one on the 8th hole.

Bill Perry of Massachusetts was the closest to taking home a new car, with a tee shot landing one-foot away from the pin. Harley Davidson of Crystal River sponsored the 11th hole, and had a brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle for the taking, but no one managed to nail a hole in one. Roy Brice was the closest Friday, but his tee shot spun out of the hole. Brice shot an 84 through two rounds before withdrawing before the start of the final round Sunday.