POPE WINS 2ND STRAIGHT; MUTH TIES FOR 35TH

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Jeremy Pope was thinking that if he shot something in the range of 8 to 10 under par on Friday, he might win. He was right.

Of course, the hard part was actually doing it. But the 35-year-old mini-tour veteran from Pawleys Island, S.C. made nine birdies, seven of them in the last 10 holes, for a course-record 63 at the Club Med Sandpiper course -- and his second consecutive victory on the Gateway Tour's Beach Winter Series.

Pope, who started the day six behind, finished the sixth tournament in this with an overall 202, 14 under par and one stroke better than second-round leader Lee Stroever of Jupiter, Fla., could do. Stroever shot 70 to finish at 13 under.

First place was worth $14,250 to Pope, who now leads the Beach Winter money list with $35,319. 

He's hoping he won't have a chance to make it three in a row next week, because he'll be trying to qualify for next week's PGA Tour event, the Honda Classic, on Monday.

Pope has conditional status on the Nationwide Tour this year, and he will be trying to gain full status beginning in a few weeks. Meanwhile, he's demonstrating that he's not afraid to shoot low scores on the Gateway courses. Last week, he had two 64's in three rounds on the way to his victory at Martin Downs in Osprey Creek.

Last year, he won five times in the three Beach series (Winter, Spring and Summer).

Hastings assistant pro Shad Muth went into Friday's round tied for 20th, but he played the last 12 holes in 3 over to shoot 74, which dropped him back into a tie for 35th ($1,068).

GATEWAY TOUR

Beach Winter Series

Tournament #6

At Sandpiper Golf Club @ Club Med (Port St. Lucie, Fla.)

Par 72, 6,825 yards

Final results

1. Jeremy Pope, Pawleys Island, S.C.   $14,250    67-72-63--202 

2. Lee Stroever, Jupiter, Fla.                    7,125    68-65-70--203

T3. Henrik Bjornstad, Oslo, Norway       5,596     68-66-70--204

T3. Steve Wheatcroft, Jacksonville, Fla.   5,596     70-67-67--204

T35. Shad Muth, Hastings               1,068   72-68-74--214