KEN McVAY

Sports Writer

Panama City Swim Team coach Jim Bucher would obviously like to see his squad win the 14th annual PCST Sailfish Invitational this weekend.

But the coach of the defending champs knows that depends on how many swimmers the Area Tallahassee Aquatic Club brings to the three-day meet at the Panama City Swim and Tennis Club.

ATAC will be the main competition for PCST. Other area teams competing are Maclay Swim Club, Tallahassee YMCA, Tyndall Swim Team, Playground Area YMCA, Capital City Aquatic Club and Bluewater Bay Swim Team.

The meet begins tonight at 5 p.m. with events in the Senior division, open to any swimmer in the meet. Competition will begin Saturday and Sunday at 9 a.m.

``You usually don't lose your own invitational,'' Bucher said. ``But we had a hard time last year, going down to the relays against the Beaches Aquatic Club of Jacksonville.

``They aren't here this year, and whether we get the first-place trophy or not depends on how many high-powered swimmers ATAC brings to the meet. If they bring the 46 swimmers that we have entries for, we're going to have to fight them for first place.''

PCST finished second to ATAC in two meets in the past two weeks.

``They have a fine program in Tallahassee,'' Bucher said. ``We want to win and they want to win. It all depends on how many they come with.''

Events tonight include the 50-meter freestyle, the 500-meter freestyle, the 400-meter individual medley and the 1,650-meter (mile) freestyle.

Some of the top swimmers for PCST are Kenny Munroe (8-and-under boys), Kelly Brown and Lindsay Scott (8-and-under girls), Lisa Cooper (15-18 girls), Spencer Gibson (Senior boys), Jonathan Mount and Townsend Cooper (11-12 boys) and Amy Guyne (11-12 girls).

``We have the people that can get us the points to win the meet,'' Bucher said. ``We just have to swim what we're capable of swimming.''

GC'S DAVIS

Bristol High School pitcher--outfielder Tim Davis became the sixth signee for Gulf Coast Community college baseball coach Bill Frazier on Thursday.

Davis joins Mosley's David Bryant and Scott Sullivan, Bay's Tombo Martin, Niceville's Corky Grantham and Pittsburgh outfielder Tim Henderson as the Commodores' 1988 signees.

``This is a good place to play baseball,'' Davis said. ``The program offers a lot and the new field had a lot to do with it.'' Davis chose Gulf Coast over Chipola Junior College, Lake City Junior College and George Wallace (Ala.) Junior College. Gulf Coast will play on a new $300,000 field beginning in the fall.

Davis hit .370 in his three years at Bristol, including .413 his junior year with seven home runs. He was 11-1 on the mound as a sophomore in 1986.

``He's a two-way player that gives us some versatility,'' Frazier said. ``He can play the outfield, first base and is a very good left-handed pitcher.

``We've started going after the best athletes we can find instead of a player who is just a shortstop or a pitcher,'' Frazier said. ``We got caught last year with a couple of weak spots in the infield and nobody but pitchers to put there.''

Davis played for former Gulf Coast pitcher Bruce Kombrink at Bristol. Kombrink holds several Gulf Coast pitching records including the school mark with an 18-2 season.

``He played for a good baseball coach,'' Frazier said, ``and has a lot of ability. I think that he can contribute right away.''

MCCARRA ACE

Larry McCarra of Tyndall Air Force Base aced the 160-yard fourth hole at the Pelican Point Golf Course at Tyndall on Tuesday.

McCarra got his ace with a five-iron while playing with Paul Goodson and Guy Turpen.