FSGA
An official publication of the Florida State Golf Association ~May 2016~
Peter Wegmann Captures 55th Senior Amateur
Women’s International Four-Ball The Wanderers Club in Wellington was in pristine condition for the 69th Women’s International Four-Ball conducted February 16-17. This historic Championship has been hosted by The Wanderers Club, one of the finest clubs in Palm Beach County, for four consecutive years! Round one on Tuesday had a delayed shotgun start due to heavy rain and wind. After the weather cleared, the ladies faced a beautiful day for golf, resulting in nine scores in the red. In the Championship Division, the famous duo of Tara Joy-Connelly and Meghan Stasi took the early lead looking to capture their third win. JoyConnelly, of Palm Beach, and Stasi, of Oakland Park, posted an impressive five under-par for a two stroke lead over the team of Charlotte Daughan and Katie Miller. Daughan, who teamed up with Sarah Matin to win the Championship last year, matched up with Miller from Jeannette, Pennsylvania to shoot a three under-par 69 in the first round. Two teams tied for third place with a two under-par 70 including: Therese Quinn/Diane Lang and Marie Arnoux/Alexandra Frazier. The final round of the Championship Division boiled down to a head to head match-up between the teams of Joy-Connelly/Stasi and Daughan/Miller. Both teams contained a wealth of talent with JoyConnelly being named Women’s Player of the Year in 2015 and Stasi earning the same title five years in a row. Daughan was crowned Champion of the International Four-Ball last year but changed partners because Sarah Matin is expecting her first child! Katie Miller was a smart choice as a former college golfer for the University of North Carolina who made it to the final eight in the 2015 U.S. Women’s Amateur Four-Ball. Miller stated that in the final match her team recorded “All pars until we finally had a birdie on hole 12.” Stasi and Joy-Connelly fought hard and the match went back and forth for the last six holes. With a two under-par 70 posted by Daughan and Miller, the duo moved into a tie for first place with the round one leaders. Joy-Connelly and Stasi carded a steady final round of even par 72 to tie for first place with a tournament total 139. An exciting two hole play-off determined the Champions of the 2016 Women’s International Four-Ball. The teams of Joy-Connelly/Stasi and Daughan/Miller teed up on number 18 for the first play-off hole. With two pars, the ladies continued on to the first hole, second playoff hole, where the Champions were crowned. Daughan and Miller both hit their second shots on the green putting pressure on Stasi to stick her second shot close for a chance at birdie. Stasi missed the green leaving only the team of Daughan and Miller on the green with two looks at birdie. Meghan just missed her chip shot for birdie and knocked in a par (4) for her team. Katie then dunked her birdie putt to win the Championship. This marks Daughan’s second consecutive Women’s International Four-Ball win and Miller’s first FSGA victory. See fsga.org for full results.
Senior/Mid-Am Four-Ball Championship The clear morning skies on Saturday at The Country Club of Winter Haven turned gray and rainy by the afternoon causing round one to be suspended and resumed Sunday morning. The players arrived at the course early Sunday to complete round one and continue on to play the final round. After round one was complete, four teams tied for first with lackluster 68’s. The teams of Ed Tompkins/Devin Hernandez, Mike Riley/Rob Maddox, Randy Elliott/ Thad Hudgens, and Bill Moore/Matt Jackson started round two tied at the top. Seven teams tied for fifth place after round one, one stroke back, with a three under-par 69. The highlight of round one came from Edward Parnell when he aced the second hole with his first swing of the day Sunday morning when play resumed! The field was flighted into a Championship flight of scores 68-72, and a First Flight, of scores 73 and above after the completion of round one. Three teams tied for first in the First Flight at one over-par 73. These teams included Adam Krestalude/David Houghton, Alan Pope/Murray Hixson, and Kasey Denesevich/Douglas Ritter. Sunday’s final round saw a shift at the top of the leaderboard in the Championship Flight as the team of Jon Veneziano, 2015 MidAmateur Champion, and Doug Snoap came from behind! Veneziano, of Mount Dora, and Snoap, of Apopka, seemed to be golfing robots birdying every hole, with the exception of one par on the 14th hole, on their first nine holes (the back nine) to shoot a remarkable 28! The team finished with a three under-par, 33 on their final nine holes to post an outstanding 11 under-par, 61. After a first round of 69, the pair captured the win with a 14 under-par, 130. Five strokes behind in second place was the team from Vero Beach, Bobby Bird and Matthew Avril, who birdied three holes on the front and three of the last four finishing holes, to shoot a final round six under-par 66. Three teams tied for third place at eight under-par (136) including, Kelly Gosse/Pete Williams, who were defending Champions, Stephen Anderson/Rick Woulfe, and Rob Maddox/Mike Rley. Another exciting hole-in-one was recorded on Sunday, this time during round two! Jeff Kerns aced number six, making it his third hole-in-one in the last three months! See fsga.org for full results.
Men’s Interclub Championship The Champions Club at Julington Creek came back from a 14 point deficit and captured the 2016 Men’s Interclub Team Championship at Walt Disney World Golf Resort in Lake Buena Vista. After six weeks of matches followed by two rounds of playoffs, The Champions Club at Julington Creek outlasted eight other Regional Champions to be crowned the Men’s Interclub State Champions. The State Championship saw all new teams in the field this year competing on the Palm Course in round one and the Magnolia Course for the final round. Wednesday’s round, the players faced wet conditions due to two inches of rain the night before. Quail Creek Country Club, winning regional team from Naples, jumped to a nine stroke lead after a round one 215 team total. Black Diamond Ranch trailed behind in second place (206 total) followed by Dunedin Golf Club (202 total) in third place and Julington Creek (201) in fourth. The two players with the highest stableford points came from the first and second team. Dan Curran from Quail Creek and Black Diamond’s Jeff Seavey both helped their team with 39 points! The Champions Club at Julington Creek posted an impressive 225 points in the final round to break free of fourth place and climb up the leaderboard to a victory! Julington Creek’s 225 round two total was the tournament high and led to a tournament total 426 points. Congratulations to the members of the Championship team from the Northeast Region: Bryan Benton, Jimmy Bilsky, Dan Butterworth, Curt Etheridge, Ed Fernandez, LP Huffingham, Henry Lastrapes, David Palm, Matt Puckett, Joe Wallace, and Eric Wood. Joe Wallace posted the tournament high number of points on Thursday with 40 points. Quail Creek Country Club finished two strokes behind in second place with a 424 total.
Tampa Bay Region: Dunedin Golf Club, Dunedin Suncoast Region: TPC Prestancia, Sarasota West Region: Black Diamond Ranch, Lecanto Treasure Coast Region: The Evergreen Club, Palm City Central Region: Timacuan Golf & Country Club, Lake Mary Naples Region: Quail Creek Country Club, Naples Northeast Region: The Champions Club at Julington Creek, Jacksonville Panhandle Region 1: Regatta Bay Golf & Yacht Club, Destin Panhandle Region 2: Windswept Dunes Golf Club, Freeport
premium club fitting equals instant success 8 Out Of 9 GOlfers Added up tO 21 YArds Off the tee
By Leonard Finkel
ith advances in golf club technology, most golfers could easily hit the ball further and more accurately. Yet a Golf Magazine study found that 90% of U.S. golfers may be playing with improperly fit clubs. A Golf Digest study found that 8 out of 9 Club Champion custom fit golfers lowered their score by as much as 6 strokes per round and added up to 21 yards off the tee. Club Champion is the country’s premier club fitter, builder, and retailer of the best brands in golf. The company delivers a Tour-quality fitting that produces longer, more accurate shots, with a nearly 100% satisfaction rate. Their approach is unbiased; no specific vendor is promoted. The only goal - find the best combination of components to lower your scores. Ranked by Golf Digest among the 100 Best Club Fitters three times in a row, Club Champion has a unique coupling system that allows them to combine any head and shaft together, so golfers hit the precise combination to be custom built for them. Most golf stores use fitting carts provided by club manufacturers and while these carts offer options, golfers are unable to mix and match from different carts to determine ideal combinations. Club Champion offers hundreds of shafts and many are not available through most other fitters and retailers. Former PGA Tour player Jay Williamson says, “I had access to every brand of shaft and head, but I never understood what they did for me. I didn’t have the opportunity to experiment like I do at Club
“In our experience, Club Champion represents the finest in the art of club fitting and building. We are confident that Club Champion will fit, service and support the most discerning golfers.” – Chuck Thiry, VP Partnerships, Cleveland Golf
Champion. They bring the same level of service players receive on Tour, including the newest heads and shafts and the most advanced fitting technology. If you are a committed golfer at any level, I highly recommend it.” Incidentally, Club Champion was able to add an average of 15 yards to Jay’s driving statistics. Nick Mouzakis (Orlando, FL) first went to Club Champion two years ago for a driver fitting. He was so happy with its performance, he eventually purchased a full bag. Nick said, “My driver, which I’m still using is a Ping G30 with an Accra FX Series shaft. I gained about 30 yards in distance and my dispersion was much tighter than with my previous driver.” Since then, Nick’s handicap dropped from 15 down to an 8. Nick added the best part is the actual fitting. “To walk in and see the wall of clubs and shafts is awesome. The fitters at Club Champion are so knowledgeable. The variety of what they have is incredible. Any combinations you want; any price points you want. I like the fact that they build the clubs themselves. Club Champion made sure everything was perfect for me.
They’re fantastic. I will never buy another club unless it is fit by them. I recommend them to all my friends.” Club Champion stands out because they actually build clubs in-house, to exacting, unrivaled tolerances. Variables such as swing weight, length, lie and flex definitely alter performance. The experience and know-how in combining these intricate parts together is what separates Club Champion from its competition. While anyone will benefit from premium club fitting, it is for the golfer who wants optimized performance. When Club Champion says you’ll add 20 yards off the tee, they mean it. Whether you are looking to buy new clubs or fix your current set, premium club fitting is the answer. Fitting prices range from $80 for wedges to $350 for an entire bag. The company has 15 studios around the country including a location in Orlando. Summer Special* Buy a fitting get a $100 credit towards purchase Call (888) 335-9698 clubchampiongolf.com
* This offer is available only at Club Champion’s Orlando location. Customers will receive a $100 discount on their equipment purchase when they buy a Full Bag, Driver, Iron or Complete Long Game Fitting. The $100 offer is good only at the time of purchase after completion of a paid fitting. Promotion starts May 6, 2016. Fitting and equipment purchase must be completed by June 30, 2016. Credit may not be applied toward golf balls. Minimum $100 equipment purchase required.
Women’s Four-Ball Championship Inclement weather moved across Port Saint Lucie on Saturday causing, what seemed like, the longest 18 holes of golf at Santa Lucia River Club. Due to terrible thunderstorms and lightning, round one was suspended for over four hours and the last group finished just after 7:00 PM. Despite the weather, Tama Caldabaugh and partner Kristen Wagner posted a red number of two under-par, 70 in the Championship Division. Following close behind were two teams of tough competitors tied at second place. Charlotte Daughan, who is coming off of a win at the Women’s International FourBall, teamed up with 2015 Women’s Player of the Year, Tara Joy-Connelly, to shoot a round one even par. Mary Jane Hiestand, 2014 Senior Player of the Year, and teammate Diane Lang, 2008 Senior Player of the Year, made up the second team tied at even par. Meghan Stasi and Isabelle Lendl finished day one alone in fourth place with a one over-par 73. The ladies geared up with weather gloves and umbrellas to start round two. Spotty showers occurred throughout the morning of the final round but the skies opened up to some sunshine in the afternoon. It was special to have both the 2015 Senior Player of the Year, Tama Caldabaugh, and 2015 Player of the Year, Tara Joy-Connelly in the final grouping on Sunday. The final round was full of excitement as the team of Katie Williamson, of Deerfield Beach, and Sarah Noonan, of Vero Beach, slowly advanced up the learderboard as round one leaders started to falter. By birdying five out of their last nine holes, the duo fired an impressive final round score of seven under-par, 65, five under-par tournament total of 139. Williamson and Noonan, both active Florida Junior Tour players, captured their first FSGA Championship victory by five strokes! When asked about their second round the two stated that their “goal was to not make any bogeys,” which they accomplished with a birdie on their final hole. Williamson will be attending Florida Gulf Coast University in the fall and Noonan will be graduating high school in 2017. To round out the top of the Championship Division, Charlotte Daughan, of Orlando, and Tara JoyConnelly, of Palm Beach, finished alone in second place after another consistent 72 in round two, tournament total 144. Meghan Stasi and Isabelle Lendl finished in third place, one stroke out of second, with a second round of even par. Round one leaders Caldabaugh and Wagner tied the teams of Lin Culver/Gigi Higgins and Mary Jane Hiestand/Diane Lang for fourth place with a 147 tournament total.
Women’s Senior Amateur Championship Despite a steady wind, there was not a cloud in the sky at Belleair Country Club as the top senior women teed it up for two rounds of tough competition. After round one there was a tight race at the top of the leaderboard in the Championship Division. Mary Jane Hiestand, two-time winner of the Championship in 2013 and 2014, took the early lead and never moved from that position. Hiestand, of Naples, posted a first round of two over-par, 74 to lead Gigi Higgins, of Cape Coral, by one stroke. Higgins and Hiestand posted the same score in round two, 83, but Hiestand’s first round kept her in first place with a 157 tournament total. Hiestand commented on her second round stating, “ I just never got my rhythm today and struggled in the wind. Yesterday my tempo was so much better and it seemed so easy to play the course as it was meant to be played.” Tied for second, at a tournament total of 158, were Gigi Higgins and Sydney Wells. Marion Reid and Sarah Phillips-Durst had two identical days on the golf course both posting rounds of 81-78 to tie for fourth place with Therese Quinn who simply reversed the scores, 78-81, for a tournament total 159. In the Super-Senior Championship Divison, Patricia Hughes-Gelardi, of Palm Beach Gardens, won by seven strokes after rounds of 77-92 for a tournament total 169. Patricia was the only score in the 70’s in her division after round one and she never let the lead out of her sight! Kathy Baker and Nancy Jackson finished tied for second with a 176 tournament total. This marks Hughes-Gelardi’s first FSGA Championship win! See fsga.org for full results.
Patricia Hughes-Gelardi & Mary Jane Hiestand Weston Hills Country Club
Super-Senior Championship Robert Hess, of Casselberry erased a three stroke deficit to win the 65-69 age division! Hess took an early lead after round one with the low round of the day, three under-par, 69. He fell from the lead after never recovering from a double-bogey on his third hole during round two, posting a three overpar 75. Dan Reagan advanced up the leaderboard playing steady golf with two under-par rounds of 71-70. Reagan, of Stuart, held the lead after the second round by two strokes over Wyatt Meyer. Meyer, of Lutz, posted an impressive two under-par, 70 in the first round followed by a round two 73 to chase Reagan from second place. Hess fell to tied for third place with James Smith leading into the final round. Despite falling three strokes behind after round two, Hess kept his eye on the lead heading into the final round. He followed up a bogey on number one with a birdie on number two and carded two more birdies on holes five and 11 for a final round two over-par, 74. Meanwhile, Reagan struggled unable to recover from two double-bogies in his final round and finished the day with a six overpar, 78. As Reagan faltered, Hess advanced to capture a first place victory by one stroke with a three day total of 218. Reagan tied Meyer for second place after Meyer’s final round of four over-par, 76. Meyer started his final round with a birdie on hole number one but had a couple of rough holes keeping him out of first place. Tom Grady, Berger Warner, and Peter Van Ingen tied for fourth place, two strokes back, with a tournament total 220. Robert Hess earned his first FSGA win at Quail Ridge Country Club! See fsga.org for full results.
Robert Hess
Super-Senior Championship Cont. In the 70-74 age division, consistency was key for Champion Edward Craig, of Orlando who posted two even par rounds for a 144 total. Craig started his final round hot with four birdies in his first six holes to turn at two under-par, 34. After a steady two bogies on his last nine holes, Craig overtook first round leader, Jim Brown, of Port Saint Lucie. Brown tied the low round of day one with a three under-par, 69 but he could not hold onto his early three stroke lead. Brown struggled on his final nine holes to a four over-par 76, 145 total, and second place finish. Craig’s one stroke victory adds to his growing list of Championship titles with the FSGA! Three players faced off in a sudden death play-off to determine the Champion of the 75 and over age division. Ron Audi, Harry Cain, and Max Matthews tied at the top after the final round with a tournament total of five over-par, 149. Ron Audi, defending Champion, ended the play-off quickly with a birdie on the first play-off hole to be crowned Champion. Audi posted rounds of 76-73 for back-to-back victories! Audi played his final nine holes in oneunder par which included a clutch birdie on his final hole to earn his spot in the play-off. See fsga.org for full results.
Edward Craig & Ron Audi
Senior Amateur Championship Peter Wegmann, of Fort Lauderdale, prevailed with three solid rounds of golf to capture his first Senior Amateur Championship! Wegmann opened with a strong first round of four under-par, 68 to find himself tied for second place, one shot off the lead entering the second round. Day two marked Wegmann’s worst round but he did not fall far from the top of the leaderboard with one over-par, 73. He would start the final round tied for third with David Anthony at three under-par. The final round started with Bob Mathers, of Niceville, in first place after two great rounds of 69-70 (-5), Sam Till in second place at four under-par, and David Anthony and Peter Wegmann tied for third. Mathers got off to a rough start during his third round and fell down the leaderboard to finish tied for fifth with Rick Woulfe, of Fort Lauderdale, at a one under-par 215 . Anthony, of Jacksonville, played a steady final round with only one bogey and two birdies to stay at three under-par to tie Till, of Bonita Springs, for second place. Sam Till, who had a hole-in-one during the first round, fired a one over-par final round to remain in second place. Sarasota resident and defending Champion, Gordon Marshall, quietly moved up the leaderboard to finish fourth after carding his lowest round of the tournament, 69, for a two under-par 214 total. Wegmann, a past Boys’ Junior Champion, started his final round with a one under-par first nine and never lost his momentum. Coming down the home stretch he fell to a bogey on the 17th hole to enter the last hole tied with Anthony and Till. Wegmann stood on the 18th tee and struck a long drive down the center of the fairway. Not losing focus, he spun his wedge shot into the green leaving it seven feet from the hole. Needing a birdie to win and a par for a playoff, Wegmann stated, “I knew where I stood all day and thought, just trickle it down there and get in the playoff.” Trickle it down he did, right into the bottom of the cup for a birdie followed by a celebratory fist pump! Both Anthony and Till recorded pars for the hole. Being crowned the Senior Amateur Champion marks Wegmann’s first FSGA Championship victory. Reflecting on his win he stated, “I’ve really been wanting my name on this trophy since I was eligible!” See fsga.org for full results.
Become an FSGA Volunteer The Florida State Golf Association is proud to have one of the largest and finest volunteer based golf associations in the country. FSGA Committee Members act as tournament volunteers and/or course rating volunteers. There are many volunteers that participate in both and help us a great deal. Tournament Committee Members help administer over 500 days of competition each year, including 38 state-level championships and over 45 days of USGA qualifying. Tournament officials are designated, based upon their experience, as General Committee Members, Rules Officials or Tournament Chairman. At each event, there is a Tournament Chairman who is responsible for the overall administration of the event, including course set-up and coordination of other Committee Members. Rules Officials are experienced in officiating and are highly knowledgeable in the Rules of Golf. General Committee Members assist with starting, scoring, pace-of-play checkpoints, and general roving on the course. Course Rating Committee Members serve the golfers of Florida by systematically rating the state’s 1,300 golf courses. Our Committee Members follow strict USGA guidelines for rating each course. A course must first be accurately measured, and then obstacles that affect playing difficulty are evaluated in accordance with established standards. Typically, teams of 5-6 individuals spend over five hours making measurements and statistical calculations necessary to produce a course and slope rating. If you have any questions or would like to receive any additional information please contact Tracy Dachisen at 813-868-5816 or tracy@fsga.org.
Volunteer Spotlight Ted Burfeind
Ted Burfeind started off 2016 with a bang, volunteering at two Florida Junior Tour events in Amelia Island. His officiating schedule does not slow down with the eight FSGA qualifiers and three USGA qualifiers that he is conducting as Tournament Chairman. He will also be officiating at the Boys’ Junior Championship and several junior tour events. Not only is Ted a Rules Official, he is an active member on the FSGA Advisory Board. He has been volunteering with the FSGA since 1997, wining volunteer of the year in 2011. The FSGA appreciates all of Ted’s dedication and we are lucky that he decided to get involved with our association when he moved to Florida from New York. Ted officiated for the Metropolitan Golf Association in New York. What Ted finds most rewarding is the camaraderie with fellow volunteers and the relationships he builds with the competitors. The FSGA is thankful for Ted’s inspiring attitude and hard working nature!
Dave Aultman
Senior Rules Official, Dave Aultman is a busy volunteer this summer, working 18 qualifiers and several other Championships! Since he began volunteering for the FSGA in 2009, Dave has continued to add more events to his schedule each year. Dave’s interest in golf was sparked by his older brother who passed his love and appreciation of the game down to Dave. Working with the FSGA staff and fellow volunteers at excellent golf courses makes volunteering very enjoyable for Dave! Thank you for your positive outlook and hard work!
Interlachen Country Club July 15 - 17, 2016 Orlando
Qualifying Fee: $100/Amateur - $110/Professional $75,000 Estimated Purse Entries Close June 8th
New GHIN Clubs The FSGA welcomes the following clubs that recently joined the GHIN Handicap System. These clubs join the more than 700 clubs state-wide on the GHIN Handicap System. For more on the GHIN Handicap System, please contact Aaron Skoviera at 813.868.5802.
Boca Del Ray G&CC Links at Greenfield Plantation Palm Cove Polo Park West GC Tee to Green Players Club The Oak Bridge Club at Sawgrass The Oaks Golf Course The Palms GC at Forest Lakes
The Oak Bridge Club at Sawgrass
“What to Do?”
By Jack Pultorak - Director of Rules & Competitions
I’ve got a pretty good round going, if I can just get my ball into the hole on eighteen without messing up, I’ll be happy. I lace my drive down the middle and I am left with a short iron into the green from the middle of the fairway. There’s trouble over the green and junk off to the left. I think to myself, “just a short iron in and two putts and get out of here.” No pressure. Low and behold, I come over the top and tug my approach left and watch as it scurries through the fairway and into the junk; palmettos galore. A brief look and it’s obvious we won’t find it. What should I do now? a) Go back to the teeing ground, adding one penalty stroke, and playing a new ball from anywhere within the teeing ground, or. b) Go back to where I last played, adding one penalty stroke, and dropping a new ball as near as possible at the spot from where I last played, or c) Drop a new ball within two club-lengths of where it last entered the junk, adding one penalty stroke, or d) Estimate where the original ball came to rest in the junk, dropping a new ball as near as possible at that spot, adding one penalty stroke. The correct answer is (b). Rule 27-1c gives us guidance as to the proper procedure when a ball is not found within five minutes (i.e. lost ball through the green). It states that the player must play a ball, under penalty of one stroke, as nearly as possible at the spot from which the original was last played (Rule 20-5). It references Rule 20-5 which tells us how to proceed when playing a ball from where you last played. That procedure differs if the ball was last played from the teeing ground, from through the green, from a hazard, or from the putting green. In my case, the ball was last played from through the green, so I must drop a ball and the ball must first strike a part of the course through the green (not a hazard, the teeing ground or the putting green). Please note that if the “junk” had been marked as a lateral water hazard, I would have been able to use one option of the water hazard Rule in dropping within two club-lengths, no nearer the hole, than where it last crossed the margin of the hazard. Regrettably, in my case, it was not a lateral hazard. Rather it was through the green. Remember, use the index or the table of contents to find the correct Rule that applies to the situation and follow the Rules of Golf to help yourself to enjoy the game of golf.
Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship The 8th FSGA Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship was contested at TPC Eagle Trace, April 29-May 1, 2016. 136 Mid-Amateurs (players 25 years of age and older) would battle windy conditions throughout the three rounds. Joe Alfieri, of Lutz, is no stranger to success in the Mid-Amateur ranks and has been a household name in Florida the past few decades. Coming off representing a victorious United States team at last weekend’s Concession Cup, the 1999, 2001 & 2015 FSGA Player of the Year and defending Champion jumped out to an early lead on Friday, posting 67 (-5) and giving him a three stroke advantage entering the second round. Ten players total posted rounds of even par 72 or better in the first round. Round two saw Alfieri continue his steady play, matching his 3 bogeys with 3 birdies in the breezy afternoon conditions to post even par and stay at 5 under-par total. Michael Connors, of Palm Beach Gardens, posted the round of the tournament on Saturday’s second round. His bogey free 66 (-6) included an eagle on hole 8, and also 4 birdies to see him move to 5 under-par total to tie Alfieri. A group of five players would finish round two at even-par 144 to sit in a tie for 3rd place. 63 players finished at 13 over-par 157 or better, making the cut and advancing to Sunday’s final round. The winds picked up early Sunday morning at TPC Eagle Trace. Michael Connors would get off to a hot start, converting birdies on both the 2nd and 3rd holes, opening up a three stroke lead after Alfieri made bogey on 2. By the time Connors and Alfieri made the turn, Connors lead would open up to 5 strokes. Connors would continue the steady play and see the lead grow to as many as 6 after he birdied the 14th in the final round. Connors bogeyed the 7th hole on Friday, his 16th hole of the tournament, and did not make another bogey until the 17th hole in the final round. An impressive 37 holes played without a bogey. His final round 70 (-2) which included 3 birdies and a lone bogey would give Connors a 5 stroke victory and tournament total of 209 (-7). Marc France would post a final round 68 (-4) to finish 2-under par for the Championship to finish second. Defending Champion Joe Alfieri’s final round 76 saw him fall to a 3rd place finish. See fsga.org for full results.
2016 FJT Champions January 9-10 - Belleair Country Club, Belleair (16-18) Boys - Brandon Mancheno, Jacksonville - Girls - Haydyn Gibson, Clearwater January 16-17 - Don Veller Seminole Golf Course & Club, Tallahassee (13-15) Boys - Luke Gifford, Boca Raton - Girls - Macy Somoskey, Sanford January 23-24 - Southwood Golf Club, Tallahassee (16-18) Boys - Greyson Porter, Clearwater - Girls - Haydyn Gibson, Clearwater February 6-7 - River Wilderness Golf & CC - Parrish (13-15) Boys - Eric Berggren, Windermere - Girls - Caroline Hwang, Orlando February 20-21 - Amelia Island Plantation - Amelia Island (13-15) Boys - John DuBois, Windermere - Girls - Alexa Pano, Lake Worth February 27-28 - Stone Creek Golf Club - Ocala (16-18) Boys - Jacob Penny, Valrico - Girls - Ariel (SiQin) Yu, Bradenton March 5-6 - Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club - Tampa (13-15) Boys - Alexander Vogelsong, Palm City - Girls - Ariel (SiQin) Yu, Bradenton March 5-6 - Amelia National Golf Club - Amelia Island (16-18) Boys - Brandon Mancheno, Jacksonville - Girls - Lauren Miller, Niceville March 12-13 - Black Bear Golf Club - Eustis (16-18) Boys - Andre Leveque, Windermere - Girls - Alyssa Lamoureux, Seminole April 2-3 - Ocala National Golf Club - Ocala (13-15) Boys - Fred Biondi, Port St. Lucie - Girls - Lauren Heinlein, Ocala April 16-17 - Duran Golf Club - Viera (16-18) Boys - Calvin Sierota, Melbourne - Girls - Karen Miyamoto, Howey-In-The-Hills April 23-24 - Lemon Bay Golf Club - Englewood (13-15) Boys - Tyler Wilkes, Tampa - Girls - Alyssa Mercado, Bradenton April 30 - May 1 - Old Corkscrew Golf Club - Estero (16-18) Boys - Chris Nido, Palmetto Bay - Girls - Alexa Pano, Lake Worth May 7-8 - Indian Spring Country Club - Boynton Beach (13-15) Boys - Fred Biondi, Port St. Lucie - Girls - Alexa Pano, Lake Worth
Upcoming Florida Junior Tour Events August 13-14 - Mark Bostick Golf Course at University of Florida, Gainesville (13-15) August 20-21 - Plantation Golf & Country Club – Bobcat Course, Venice (13-15) August 20-21 - Quail Ridge Country Club – South Course, Boynton Beach (16-18) August 27-28 - Sandridge Golf Club – Dunes Course, Vero Beach (16-18) September 10-11 - Sugar Mill Country Club – White/Red, New Smyrna Beach (16-18) September 17-18 - Sara Bay Country Club, Sarasota (13-15) September 24-25 - Riomar Country Club, Vero Beach (13-15) September 24-25 - Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club, Haines City (16-18) October 1-2 - Rocky Bayou Country Club, Niceville (16-18 & 13-15) October 15-16 - Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club, Naples (16-18) October 15-16 - The Country Club of Winter Haven, Winter Haven (13-15) November 12-13 - Amelia Island Plantation – Oak Marsh, Amelia Island (16-18) November 12-13 - Santa Lucia River Club, Port St. Lucie (13-15) December 3-4 - Timacuan Golf & Country Club, Lake Mary (13-15) December 10-11 - Tour Championship – Adena Golf & Country Club, Ocala (16-18 & 13-15)
Adena Golf & Country Club 2016 FJT Tour Championship Host Site
Women’s Mid-Amateur Championship Meghan Stasi, of Oakland Park, regained her title as Mid-Amateur Champion after not playing as defending Champion in 2015. Stasi took the early lead after day one with a one under-par 71. Kim Benedict, of Bonita Springs, sat two shots back after a round one score of one over-par 73. Defending Champion, Tara Joy-Connelly, of Palm Beach, would start the final round three shots back at 74. Stasi never lost sight of the lead during the final round and posted an impressive second round score of three under-par 69 on near perfect course conditions. Consistent play and capitalizing on the par fives in her second round propelled Stasi to a wire-to-wire victory! She was the only player in the field with two under-par rounds and finished four under-par for the tournament with a 140 total. Seven strokes behind, Joy-Connelly finished in second place with a second round 73 and tournament total 147. Boynton Beach resident, Taffy Brower advanced up the leaderboard with rounds of 76-74 to take third place with a 150 total. The Middle Division, Middle Division First Flight, and Forward Division crowned gross and net winners on Sunday. Sandie St. Onge, of Jensen Beach, carded gross rounds of 74-77—151 to win the Middle Division by nine strokes over Lucy Sievers in second place. Consistency was key for Patrisa Handley, of Sarasota, who won the Middle Division First Flight with two rounds of 80, tournament total 160. Five strokes behind in second place was Tinker Sanger who came back in the second round with a 77 for a 165 tournament total. Jane Renninger, of Dade City, finished first in the Forward Division by eight strokes with a 172 tournament total. See fsga.org for full results.
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2016 One-Day Tournaments The 2016 One-Day season features 180 events. These events are great opportunites for players to play Florida’s premiere golf courses at great prices. Invite friends and fellow golfers to enjoy the One-Day Events. Entry Fee • Includes: Cart, golf, range balls and prizes. Divisions and Tees Played • • • • • •
Enter Online at www.fsga.org
• Men & Women eligible. • Players may play in all regions. • Stay and Play Tournaments
(Two one-days back-to-back Men’s Gross - All Ages - 6,500 yards (No Handicaps) with a hotel deal available). Men’s Under 50 - 6,500 yards (Full Handicap) Men’s 50-64 Years - 6,200 yards (Full Handicap) • Players may make their own Men’s 65 & Older - 5,700 - 5,800 yards (Full Handicap) groupings. Women’s Middle Tee - 5,400 yds (Gross and Net Scoring) Women’s Forward Tee - 5,100 yards (Gross and Net Scoring) • Men will be grouped with
Format
Men, and Women will be grouped with Women, unless players select a mixed group.
• • • •
18 holes of individual net stroke play within flights Players will play to 100% of their course handicap Players will play to 90% of their course handicap in four-ball events Gross Flight - All ages; players play the same tees, and no strokes are given • Shotgun starts Eligibility • Amateur golfers (18 years of age or older) with a Florida GHIN handicap index of 24.0 or less for men and 34.0 for women. All players MUST have a FL GHIN handicap. • Players who do not have a Florida GHIN handicap may purchase a handicap online for $30. Click here for more information on purchasing an online GHIN handicap. • Players without an established GHIN handicap index will be eligible to compete, but are not eligible for prizes, unless they would like to play in the gross division until their handicap is established. Prizes • $10 per person (from the entry fee) is in the gift certificate pot.
t a e n i l n O Enter g r o . A G S F . www
Willoughby Golf Club & Sailfish Point Golf Club August 12 - 14, 2016 Stuart
$100 Qualifying Fee $35,000 Estimated Purse Entries Close July 13th
Join the FSGA Today!! Membership Levels $1,000 Chairman’s Level - Foundation Member (Husband & Wife) $500 President’s Level - Foundation Member (Husband & Wife) $250 Director’s Level - Foundation Member (Husband & Wife) $160 Director’s Level - Foundation Member $50 Men’s Regular Level $40 Women’s Regular Level $40 FJT/Junior Level $25 Patron Level All membership dollars received above the Regular membership will go towards the Future of Golf Foundation. The Foundation is a need and academic based program that provides college scholarships to junior golfers and assists juniors with entry and travel expenses to national tournaments. Foundation Members will receive a Future of Golf Foundation golf shirt when joining as well as reduced entry fees into FSGA events.
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