NAPLES — Defending champion Mike San Filippo of Hobe Sound is among five former winners representing 11 titles who have entered the 32nd annual Florida State Senior Open.

The tournament is scheduled Friday through Sunday at the Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club, its home since its inception in 1977.

San Filippo won the title last year at 12-under par 204, three strokes better than his winning total of 207 in 2004. He tied for fourth last weekend in the Senior PGA Professional National Championship at Indian Wells, Calif.

Other past champions among the 159 pros and amateurs 50 years and older entered here are: Fiddler’s Creek’s John Calabria, the winner in 1999 and 2005; Jim Chancey of Altamonte Springs, 2002-03; Fort Myers Beach’s Marion Heck, 1993 and 1996-97; and Ed Sabo of Tequesta, 2000-01.

Competition will be six age groups: 50-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79 and 80-and-over. The two older divisions play a 36-hole event ending Saturday. Starting times begin daily at 7:30 a.m. from the first and 10th tees.

Dr. Gary Wiren of North Palm Beach is this year’s honoree. Ceremonies are scheduled during an awards reception Thursday night following the Bobby Goodman Memorial Pro-Am.

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Nevin Sutcliffe of Bonita Bay Club East missed qualifying for the 2009 Senior PGA Championship by a stroke.

Sutcliffe finished the Senior PGA Professional National Championship tied for 37th with a 72-hole total of 292. The top 35 finishers earned spots in next year’s Senior PGA.

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Naples High School graduate Ryan Thomas finished third in the Special Olympics Golf National Tournament on Monday in Port St. Lucie.

Thomas shot 91-83-82 fora 256 total in Level 5 Individual 18-Hole Stroke Play.

Fort Myers’ David Johnson shot 48-54-58 for a 160 in the Level 4 Individual 9-Hole Stroke Play.

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Fort Myers’ George McNeill tied for 22nd on Sunday in the PGA Tour’s Turning Stone Resort Championship.

McNeill moved from 102nd to 95th on the money list.

Next week, McNeill will defend his title at the Justin Timberlake Shriners Hospitals for Children Open in Las Vegas. The tournament was called the Frys.com Open when McNeill won it last year.

McNeill, Naples’ Rocco Mediate and Fredrik Jacobson, who plays out of West Bay Club in Estero, are skipping this week’s Valero Texas Open.

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Liz Janangelo, a golf ambassador for West Bay Club, is in the field for this week’s Longs Drugs Challenge in Danville, Calif.

Naples’ Kris Tamulis is listed as an alternate. Bonita Bay resident Catriona Matthew is not in the field.

None of the local players were in last week’s Samsung World Championship.

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Marco Island’s Tee McCabe is playing in this week’s WNB Classic on the Nationwide Tour.

McCabe is 50th on the money list. Fort Myers native Tommy Tolles is not playing this week.

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The team of Bill Corrigan (Heritage Bay), Bill Keigler (Countryside), Bill Zelin (Naples Lakes), and Ron Coccari (Vasari) won the Men’s Summer Interclub event on Oct. 3 at Heritage Bay. The next event is Friday at Eagle Creek.

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The Sam Snead’s Tavern golf tournament raised $5,500 for Avow Hospice, Shelter for Abused Women and Children, and The First Tee of Collier County. The tournament was Aug. 24 at Olde Cypress.

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The Naples Chapter of the Executive Golf Association has named its officers for 2009: Faith Matous, president; Diana Johnson, vice president; Lori Drumm, secretary; Michele Klinowski, treasurer.

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Rodney Bungartz is holding Saturday morning adult golf clinics beginning through the month of October from 10 a.m.-11 a.m.

The fee is $20 a person per session. The deadline is the Thursday prior to the session.

Call 348-5929 or e-mail rodney@naplesgolfinstructor.com.

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LIGHT of Southwest Florida will hold a charity golf tournament on Saturday at Raptor Bay Golf Club.

LIGHT is a nonprofit charity that helps local patients in Lee and Collier counties to pay for cancer treatment they cannot afford.

Register at www.lightswfl.org, call Sandy at 947-9009 or Chick at 948-0387.

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The Canterbury Cougar Golf Classic will be Sunday at The Club at Mediterra.

A limited number of playing spots remain. The tournament has a 9 a.m. shotgun start, and the entry fee is $175. Instructor Adam Bazalgette is donating lessons.

Call Fran Bailey at 560-4100 or Lou Ann Ozboyaci at 481-4323, ext. 222, or register online at www.canterburyfortmyers.org/supporting/events.

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The Step by Step Early Childhood Education and Therapy Center will host its fifth annual golf tournament on Saturday, Oct. 18 at the Hideout Golf Club in Naples.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. with a shotgun start and scramble format at 8:30 a.m. Lunch will be provided.

The cost is $175 per person or $700 per foursome. Sponsorship opportunities are available. All proceeds benefit Step by Step. For more information, call 455-9525 or e-mail to mekeelstep@aol.com

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The third annual ServPro Fall-oween Golf Tournament will be Friday, Oct. 17 at Vasari Country Club.

Registration is at 12:30 p.m., with a 1:30 p.m. shotgun start. The entry fee is $125 for CBIA members or $150 for non-members.

For more information, call 436-6100.

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The Everglades Region of the Club Managers Association of America will host its 11th annual charity classic golf tournament and gala from Oct. 19-20 at Quail West benefiting the Wishing Well Foundation, Inc., and Special Olympics.

Cocktails are 5:30 p.m., with a 7 p.m. live auction on Oct. 19 for $100.

The golf tournament is Oct. 20, with an 8:30 a.m. registration and continental breakfast, and 10 a.m. shotgun start. Lunch will be served following play. The golf package is $350 and includes a gala ticket.

For more information, go to www.wishingwellfoundation.com/charity classic or contact Barbara Alderson at 444-2360 or balderson@westbayclub.com.

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The second annual Baby Brady Golf Tournament will be Saturday, Nov. 1 at The Club at The Strand.

There will be a 9 a.m. shotgun start, and the entry fee is $125 and includes breakfast and lunch. The lunch will be at Pelican Larry’s Uptown on Immokalee Road.

Brady Colbert was born on May 8, 2007 with Zellweger Syndrome, a genetic peroxisome biogenesis disorder that damages brain matter and affects metabolism of substances in the blood and organ tissues. He died at 5 1/2 months.

Funds raised from the tournament will go toward a foundation in Colbert’s name dedicated to helping families cope with diagnosis, caretaking, and death of a terminally ill child.

For more information on the tournament, contact Ken Colbert at 293-0596 or kcolbert@bradycolbertfoundation.com.

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The Lifeline Family Center’s Birdies for Babies Golf Tournament is Monday, Nov. 3 at LaPlaya Golf Club.

The birdie-fest/pro-am will have 18 five-member teams, including one professional per team. Lunch will be at 11:30 a.m., with registration at 12:30 p.m., and a 1 p.m. shotgun start. An awards ceremony will be at 5:30 p.m.

The registration fee is $250. For every $1,000 in flat pledges or $100 per birdie pledges, a total of $50 will be taken off a golfer’s registration fee.

Pros should call Scott Richardson at 254-5001. Amateurs or sponsors should call Lifeline Family Center at 242-7238 and ask for Nanette Scoville.

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The Country Club of Naples will conduct “Golf Fore Health,’’ a charity tournament, on Wednesday, Nov. 5 to benefit the Neighborhood Health Clinic, a nonprofit organization that serves the uninsured working poor of Collier County.

There is a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The entry fee is $125 ($100 is tax deductible) and includes golf, prizes, cocktails and a buffet dinner at 5:30 p.m. Contact Angie Hodges at 261-1032 for more information.

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Naples’ Philip Boljanovich, and Fort Myers’ Austin Lee and Jack Hernandez shot 76s and tied for 11th in the Boys 13-15 age group at the Florida Junior Tour’s event at Wyndemere Country Club over the weekend.

Fort Myers’ Samuel Murphy shot a 77, and Matt Taylor of Naples had a 78.

Naples’ Ann Buersmeyer tied for ninth in Girls 13-15 with a 98.

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Naples’ Ryan Celano shot a 73 and finished second in the Boys 12-13 age group in the South Florida PGA Junior Tour’s event at Doral over the weekend.

Elizabeth Leiter of Naples was ninth in the Girls 16-18s with a 90, and Grant Burgess of Cape Coral shot a 76 and tied for 17th for Boys 16-18.

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Sergei Talalenko shot a 145 and won the Tournament Players Association’s event at The Club at Renaissance over the weekend.

Talalenko won by four strokes over Mike Lawver. Mark Williams was third at 150.

Jeff Bragg won A Flight with a 159, followed by Reed Longo (164) and Dennis Malenka (165). John Hinkson won B Flight with a 150, followed by Bill Gloeckner (1600) and Richard Lucas (165).

Jason Heidig won C Flight with a 174, followed by Ron Holcomb (182) and Howard McHenry (184).

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Other upcoming golf events follow:

• 2008 Merrill Lynch Shootout — Dec. 10-14 at Tiburon Golf Club. Tickets are on sale. Weekly grounds, $75; 18 Green Reserved Seating, $60; Tournament daily grounds, $25; Pro-Am daily grounds, $20. Taste of WCI, $110, include a weekly grounds pass, plus over 50 vouchers at 12 different courses. Visit www.mlshootout.com, Alf’s Golf Shop on the corner of Immokalee and Airport-Pulling, or call 888-66-SHARK or 254-9770.

• Executive Womens Golf Association — Weekly play days have been set up on Thursdays at Tiburon (593-2201), Wednesday evening at Glen Eagle (353-3699), and any day and any time at Arrowhead (596-1000), The Quarry (304-0172), Del Webb at Ave Maria (304-2835), Spanish Wells, Naples Beach Hotel & Golf Club (435-2475, ext. 3) , LaPlaya, and Old Corkscrew; and Tuesday through Saturday at Pelican’s Nest. Upcoming events: Saturday, Manatee Chapter sixth annual Memorial Touranment.

For more information on the chapter, contact Jeanie Bicanich at jbicanich@aol.com, call 254-8285 or go to the Chapter’s Web site at www.naplesewga.com.

• Tournament Players Association — Upcoming events: Cape Coral City Championship, Oct. 18-19, Coral Oaks; Turkey Classic, Pelican Preserve, Nov. 29-30. Call 458-0754 or e-mail tpagolf@msn.com for more information.

• Golf Channel Amateur Tour Fort Myers/Naples — The largest amateur tour in North America has a local tour. To join, go to www.golfchannel.com/amateurtour or call local tour director Jim Stockman at 593-3485. Membership is $199 per year.

• American Singles Golf Association — The Southwest Florida Chapter meets the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 at Pelican Sound Golf & River Club. The association offers regular events at various golf clubs in the area. Contact Kathy Sloan at kesloan2@gmail.com, call 233-2482 or go to the Chapter Web site ww.southwestfl.singlesgolf.com.

• South Florida Pro Tour — Tournament entry fees are $225 for members for one-day events and $350 for two-day events. Membership fees are $125, with a $25 discount for PGA professionals. The tour will run through October and has some events set up at www.sfprotour.com.

• Southwest Amateur Series — Conducted by the Florida State Golf Association. Traveling men’s circuit for Southwest Florida, and features 36-hole individual competitions with four flights by handicap. Annual membership is $100 and includes FSGA membership. Current FSGA members can join for $55.

The entry fee for tournaments is $125, with a $750 gift certificate to the first-place finisher. Upcoming tournaments: Oct. 25-26, TwinEagles; Dec. 6-7, The Quarry. To enter, go to www.fsga.org.

• First Tee of Naples/Collier — Play Golf Day every Wednesday from 4-6 p.m. at Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort.

The chapter is for ages 8-18 and is free. Registration is required to participate.

Through Dec. 12, the First Tee Life Skills, teaching the program’s nine core values through the game of golf, will be every Friday, also for ages 8-18.

High school: Vineyards Country Club, 3-5 p.m.; Middle school: Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort, 4-6 p.m.; Elementary school: Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort, 4-6 p.m.

An afterschool program will be from Oct. 23 through Nov. 22, with five-hole matches starting at 4 p.m. with six players participating from each school’s team. Matches will be played on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, usually two matches per week. Transportation to the match is the responsibility of the player. The cost of the program is $50 and includes a golf shirt with a school logo.

Registration applications for all of these can be found at www.thefirstteenaplescollier.org. E-mail tftnaplescollier@aol.com for more information.

• South Florida PGA Junior Tour — The tour has a $25 membership fee, as well as a $69 fee per tournament. Age divisions are boys and girls 12-13, 14-15, 16-18; For more information, call 954-752-9299 or go to www.sflorida.pga.com.

Remaining schedule: Nov. 15-16, Junior Tour Championship, PGA Golf Club, Port St. Lucie.

• Florida Junior Tour — The Florida State Golf Association has announced the 2008-09 schedule. The tour starts Sept. 13-14 and continues through May 2009. Local events are Oct. 11-12 at West Bay Club in Estero. For more information, go to www.fsga.org.

• Rodney Bungartz/Arrowhead Golf Club Junior Afterschool Clinics — Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Clinics are from 4 p.m.-5 p.m. and cost $12 per junior per session. Clinics are open to ages 7 and up. Students 6 and under must have prior approval. Call 348-5929 or e-mail rodney@naplesgolfinstructor.com.

• Rick Smith Golf Academy — High school afternoon program: One hour is spent at the academy, and another hour on the course at Tiburon. The program has started and goes from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. The cost is $50 per week, per student; Elementary and middle school: Ages 7 and older will meet on Mondays from 4-5:30 p.m., through Dec. 15. Middle school students will meet on Wednesdays from 4:30-6 p.m. beginning today and going through Dec. 17. The cost for either program is $190 for a four-week session. Call 593-1111.

• Florida Gulf Coast University Founder’s Cup — Monday at The Club at Mediterra in North Naples. Proceeds benefit the FGCU Foundation. Buffet lunch, 11:30 a.m. Shotgun start, 1:15 p.m. Registration, $1,800 per foursome, $450 for individuals. Call 590-1074 or e-mail jedens@fgcu.edu, or visit www.fgcu.edu/foundation.

• 13th annual Tommy Bahama Coconut Classic golf tournament — Monday at Tiburon Golf Club. The event benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation and the Garden of Hope and Courage. Registration is at 9 a.m., with an 11 a.m. shotgun start. The entry fee is $300 for individuals. Call 643-6889 or e-mail Linzie.Viers@tommybahama.com.

• Junior Achievement of Southwest Florida Invitational golf tournament — Friday, Oct. 17 at the Estuary at Grey Oaks. Registration, 9:30 a.m. Shotgun start, 11:45 a.m. Registration is $6,500 per foursome and $3,750 for a two-player team. Contact Karen Hargrove at 239-225-2590 or khargrove.ja@sfwdb.org.

• 10th annual Campiello Invitational and Interclub Challenge — Thursday, Oct. 16-Friday, Oct. 17. Benefits the Garden of Hope and Courage. Wine dinner on Oct. 16, at 6:30 p.m., featuring Clark Swanson of Swanson Vineyards.

Golf on Friday, Oct. 17 at The Club at Mediterra, with a lunch buffet from 10:30 a.m.-noon, and a noon shotgun start.

The entry fee for the dinner and golf tournament is $400 per player.

The Interclub Challenge is open to area club professionals with the opportunity to win a large cash purse. The entry fee is $10,000 for a team of five, featuring four amateurs and a pro. For more information, call 434-6697.

• Bank of America City of Palms golf tournament — Friday, Oct. 24 at Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero. Registration, 11:30 a.m. Shotgun start, 1 p.m. Funds raised go toward the Bank of America City of Palms Basketball Classic at Bishop Verot High School from Dec. 18-23. Lunch included. Visit www.cityofpalmsclassic.com or call Ron Riley at 671-9347.

• Police Unity Tour Southwest Florida golf tournament — Saturday, Oct. 25 at Cypress Woods Golf & Country Club. Registration, 7:30 a.m. Shotgun start, 8:30 a.m. Entry fee, $100.

Call Krista Williamson at 961-3124 or e-mail krista@policeunitytourgolf.com. More information and online registration is available at www.policeunitytourgolf.com.

• Autism Speaks Tournament — Saturday, Oct. 25, Arrowhead Golf Course. Shotgun start, 8:30 a.m. Entry fee, $75 per person, $275 per foursome. Contact Jamie Thomas at 287-8402 or jaimethom@aol.com or visit www.autismspeaks.org.

• Coral Isle Golf Center -- Ladies clinics each Tuesday and Wednesday, men’s clinics each Thursday, a mixed clinic each Wednesday at 2 p.m., and a mixed clinic each Saturday. All clinics are at 10 a.m., other than the Wednesday mixed clinic. Junior clinics also are offered from 3:45 p.m.-5 p.m. Wednesdays and 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. on Saturdays. Call 732-6900 for more information.

• Eagle Lakes Country Club --- Hosting a clinic every Saturday from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m., covering a new topic every week. PGA professional Phil Grear will conduct the clinic. Cost is $25 per person.

The club is offering ½-day and three-day golf schools with a 3-to-1 student/teacher ratio. Individual lessons are available. There will be clinics every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., addressing a different topic each week. There will be an emphasis on learning shots within 100 yards of the green.

The club staff has a total of 45 years of teaching experience. Michael Jachemack and Vanessa MacKinnon also are on the staff. Call 732-5108 or 732-0034 for further information.

• Greater Naples Golf Association — Accepting new members for its senior division. Interested golfers can contact Harry Sauchelli at 598-1261 for an application.

• Naples Recreational Golf — Singles 45-65 on Sunday mornings. Call 594-0661.

• Golden Gate Women’s Golf Association — Accepting members for a Thursday morning golf league. Call 774-3031.

• Arrowhead Golf Club — Weekly scramble, Wednesdays. Shotgun start, 5:30 p.m. Call 596-1000 at least two days in advance to sign up.

• Southwest Chapter PGA — For more information, go online to www.sflorida.pga.com and click on "Chapters."

• Body Balance For Performance of Naples — Mike Willett and Mike Via have their own golf/physical therapy show on Comcast Channel 35.

• Play Golf America programs — Rodney Bungartz is now running the Play Golf America adult programs previously coordinated by Ty Andersen.

Adults clinics are Mondays from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. and Thursdays from 6-7 p.m Cost for each session is $20. Private lessons are also available.

For more information on any of the Play Golf America Programs offered including family, buddy and private lessons call 348-5929 or visit www.naplesgolfinstructor.com

• Arrowhead Golf Academy — PGA professional Mike Dopslaff, a four-time Southwest Florida PGA Player of the Year, provides instruction. Individual, group lessons. Call 596-1000.

• KISS Golf For Women Golf Schools — At Royal Poinciana Country Club. LPGA teaching professionals Lorie McCabe and her staff offer two- and three-day golf schools for women. Private instruction also is available. Call 1-888-451-KISS or 354-3633. The school’s Web site is www.kissgolfforwomen.com.

• Gary Bower Lessons -- Teaching professional Gary Bower, former host of the television show “Golf Tips’’ and inventor of the 2-Way Putter Alignment System, will be giving playing lessons in Southwest Florida from December through March.

Each 9-hole playing lesson will cover woods, irons, chipping, putting, sand shots and golf course strategy. The cost is $85 per golfer. For more information, call 614-527-9527 or visit www.websitetelevision.net.

• Tom Patri Golf School — Patri is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher, and he works with all golfers of all ages and abilities. TPGS offers half-day golf schools, with and without nine holes of golf, and also offers fitness programs geared to golfers. Visit www.tompatri.com. Patri is at Friar’s Head in New York during the summer.

• Rick Smith Golf Academy — At Tiburón Golf Club. Smith, a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher and rated the No. 5 teacher by Golf Digest, has a staff of PGA instructors at Tiburón Golf Club. The academy has its lowest rates of the year through Sept. 30 for all 2:1 ratio schools. A school may be one half day up to three full days. The three-day class includes 18 hours of instruction, including video analysis and a launch monitor session, plus a round of golf at Tiburon. Private lessons also are available. Students may receive 2 for the price of 1, 3 for the price of 2, or 4 for the price of 3. Call 593-1111 or visit ww.wcigolf.com/ricksmithacademy.

• Dr. Jim Suttie Golf Academy — at The Club at TwinEagles. New studio with state-of-the-art technology. 2000 PGA of America Teacher of the Year. Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Rated No. 11 by Golf Digest. Instructional programs include 2- and 3-day schools as well as private lessons. Call 866-817-7729 or visit www.jimsuttie.com. Suttie currently is at Cog Hill in Lemont, Ill., for the summer.

• David Leadbetter Golf Academy — At LaPlaya Beach & Golf Club. Leadbetter is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Academy programs include three-day golf schools and players’ schools, and a one-day mini-school. Private instruction and playing lessons also are available. Call 592-1444.

• Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools — Now at Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero. Full and half day schools are offered. Instructional packages are one, two or three days. All instruction is by appointment only. Private instruction and playing lessons also available. Thirty-five years of instructional experience. Call 482-0900 or visit www.webgolfdoctor.com.

• Bourne School of Golf — At Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club. Bob Bourne is a master professional with the PGA of America and a former tour player with 35 years of experience in the game. The Bourne School of Golf at Miromar Lakes is open to members and non-members. One of Bourne’s keys is instructional follow-up for all students. Call 482-7644.

• Naples Golf Academy — Located at the Hibiscus Golf Club. Lauri Travers leads a team of instructors that offers private lessons, golf schools, clinics and playing lessons. Specialty programs geared toward women and beginner golfers are available year-round. Visit us at LearningGolf.com or call 239-732-9944 for more information.

• The Nick Faldo Golf Institute — At Marriott’s Marco Island Resort. Instruction programs are based on the teaching philosophy and techniques developed by Faldo. A three-day improvement school ($1,175-$1,295 per person), two-day weekend/short game school ($675 to $895), and a two-day selection session package ($500-$595 per person) are among the packages. Call 1-888-GO-FALDO for prices and information.

• The Golf Institute — Club fitting program includes evaluation based on series of tests, including frequency check and lie and loft angle. Putting evaluations also are available. Call 643-5895.

• Dennis Meyer’s Golf School — at Quality Inn Suites & Golf Resort in Golden Gate offers two-, three- , and four-day schools. Playing lessons included in full-day golf schools. Half-day options are available as well. Private lessons available. Call 1-800-445-4554 or 267-4652.

• Steve Anderson Lessons — Director of instruction at Greentree Resorts in Lehigh Acres. 2000 Teacher of the Year by the Southwest Chapter. Awarded Advanced Specialty Certification in Instruction by PGA. Call 369-1997.

• John Jacobs Golf School — at Lely Resort. Staffed by local PGA and LPGA professionals. School offers 5-day week and 2-day weekend sessions, plus corporate days and private instruction. Discounted rates for junior golfers. For more information, call 1-800-472-5007 or visit www.jacobsgolf.com.

• America’s Favorite Golf Schools -- At Quality Inn & Suites Golf Resort. Three-, four- and five-day schools are available. Commuter rates are available. Steve Driscoll, a United States Golf Teachers Federation, leads the instruction. Schools run through May 15. Call 1-800-365-6640.

To submit an item for the golf column, e-mail gshardwig@naplesnews.com or send a fax to 263-4816.