Inside the FSGA - September 2023

FSGA

AN OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE FLORIDA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION ~SEPTEMBER 2023~ MARC DULL

MID-AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

BRADENTON COUNTRY CLUB

OCTOBER 6 - 8

FLORIDA STATE GOLF ASSOCIATION

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2023 UPCOMING FSGA COMPETITIONS

INAUGURAL FLORIDA ADAPTIVE OPEN

2023 CHAMPIONSHIP RECAPS

TURTLE CREEK CLUB

HOST OF THE 106TH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

106TH AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

For the first time in 20 years, a mid-amateur player raised the Amateur trophy at the end of the championship. Marc Dull captured the seven-shot victory at the 106th Amateur Championship at Turtle Creek Club, carding a final-round 70 to secure the victory.

“This means a lot,” Dull said. “This is the one I wanted and I’ve been close so many times.”

The Lakeland native took home the victory at 17-under 271, the lowest total score in Florida Amateur history. With this victory, Dull becomes the first mid-amateur player to win the Amateur Championship since Richard Maddox in 2003. His seven-shot win is the largest margin of victory at Amateur since Sam Horsfield’s 11shot win 2013.

This is the sixth FSGA championship for Dull and his first Amateur title.

“I think this shows that us, mid amateurs can still play,” Dull said. “These kids are getting so good now and they can hit it so far. But guys like me, and a bunch of the other mid-ams know how to get it in the hole.”

94TH WOMEN’S AMATEUR CHAMPIONSHIP

After a long week of golf, it was Chloe Kovelesky who raised the Women’s Amateur trophy at the end of the day. Kovelesky defeated Victoria Zheng, 4 and 3, at Innisbrook Golf Resort to win the 94th Women’s Amateur Championship.

“I’m so grateful to have won the 94th Women’s Amateur. I’ve been working so hard the past couple years and I’m really glad to see the hard work pay off,” Kovelesky said.

Kovelesky, 16 years old, becomes the youngest player to win the Women’s Amateur Championship. She also becomes just the second junior golfer to win the Women’s Amateur in the championship’s 94-year history, after 17-year-old Bailey Shoemaker won in 2022.

This is the second FSGA championship victory for Kovelesky, who won the Women’s Four-Ball Championship with Gabriella Albert in 2022.

FLORIDA OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

It’s wasn’t until the 18th tee that Connor Arendell knew where he stood in the championship. After his drive found the center of the fairway, a friend told him he held a two-shot lead over Kevin Aylwin, Andrew Pope and the field.

A few minutes later Arendell tap in a short putt for par to be capture the 77th Florida Open Championship at The Golf Club at Crown Colony and to take home the $20,000 first-place check.

“To be in the last group and hang on to get it done today, it means a lot. Especially representing Florida and The FSGA and the history that goes with it, it is pretty cool to have your name etched into a trophy.”

“It’s an honor to win this championship again,” Arendell said. “Winning down here two years ago in Fort Myers gave me some extra confidence coming into the week.

This is the second Florida Open victory for Arendell, who won the 2021 Florida Open at Fiddlesticks Country Club. He becomes just the 11th player to win two Florida Open titles and the first player to win a second title since JC Deacon in 2020 at Pine Tree Golf Club.

FLORIDA WOMEN’S OPEN & SENIOR OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP

It was Jordan Fischer and Tammie Green who raised the trophies at the Florida Women’s Open and Senior Open Championship Grand Harbor Golf & Beach Club.

Fischer rolled in a 60-foot birdie putt on the 17th to secure the one-shot victory in the Open Division, finishing the championship at 8-under 206. Green took home the victory in the Senior Division at 12-under 202.

She secured the victory with a par putt on the final hole to post a final-round 69, ending the week with rounds of 70-67-69. It was a family affair for Fischer as she had her brother on the bag caddying for her.

The Legends of LPGA player secured the five-shot victory with a 12-under 202 for the championship. Green also become the first player in FSGA history to capture two Florida Women’s Senior Open titles, after winning at Bradenton Country Club in 2020.

FUTURES CHAMPIONSHIP

CHAMPIONSHIP RECAPS

FORTY & OVER FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP (NORTH)

In the Boys (11-12) division, William Richards won in a 7-hole play-off. Boys (9-10), Reed Abdelnour prevailed by four shots. In the Girls (11-12) division, Alexandra Snyder won on the 6th play-off hole and Harper Zhai won the Girls (9-10) division.

FORTY & OVER FOURBALL CHAMPIONSHIP (SOUTH)

SUPER-SENIOR

AMATEUR MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

William Mallon and Bobby Bird won at Vero Beach Country Club in a playoff with a two day total of 12-under par.

John Crum and Greg Eckels took home the trophy at Ocala Golf Club in extra holes with a two-day total score of 17-under par.

Ninety-six players made the trip to Buckhorn Springs Golf & Country Club, but only three were able to walk away with a trophy in their hands.

David Anthony, Tom Grady, and Pete McDade won the championship division, 70-74 division and 75 & over division respectively.

AMATEUR PUBLIC LINKS CHAMPIONSHIP

SENIOR AMATEUR MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Kiko Francisco Coelho of Miami captured the 26th Amateur Public Links Championship with scores of 69-67-64 at Dubsdread Golf Course. “I have just been working really hard and it feels really good to get it done today,” Coelho said.

SUMMER MIXED CHAMPIONSHIP

After four long days, and seven rounds of golf, on the Black Course at Streamsong Resort, Brian Keenan was able to navigate his way through the bracket to claim the Senior Amateur Match Play Championship.

64TH GIRLS’ JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

Thirty-six teams, teed it up at the start of the weekend, and after 36-holes, the team of Ty Capps/

Chrissie Capps came out on top to bring home the victory at Saddlebrook Resort.

Lydia Lin and Amelie Zalsman were crowned champions at the 64th Girls’ Junior Amateur Championship in wire-to-wire fashion at Seminole Legacy Golf Club.

69TH BOYS’ JUNIOR CHAMPIONSHIP

WOMEN’S AMATEUR STROKE PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Colton Swartz and Arth Sinha raised the trophy at the 69th Boys’ Junior Championship. The final round brought tough playing conditions for the competitors in the field at Mayacoo Lakes.

TWO-MAN SCRAMBLE CHAMPIONSHIP

After all 54 holes, and two playoff holes, had been completed, Alexandra Gazzoli had emerged victorious and laid claim to the title of Women’s Amateur Stroke Play Champion.

JUNIOR AMATEUR MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

Three players were crowned Junior Match Play champions. TJ Thompson raised the Boys (16-18) trophy at The Palencia Club, while Ana Boone and Jack Cook took home the Girls (13-18) and Boys (13-15) wins, respectively, at Jacksonville Beach Golf Club.

Marc Dull & Rhett Pooley won the Scramble Championship on Sunday at PGA National while Bobby Bird & William Mallon took home the Senior Division.

PARENT-CHILD CHAMPIONSHIP

During the largest Parent-Child Championship in FSGA history, over 520 players took on five different golf courses. Seven well-deserving champions were crowned at ChampionsGate Golf Club, Orange County National Golf Club and Lodge, and ChampionsGate Country Club.

Seven teams were crowned champions: Len and Leonard Schonfeld (32 & Over), Jackson and Doug Stroup (24-31), Steve and Jacob Carter (18-23), Stefan and Jesse Daley (17 & Under), Seth and Colby Strickland (1012), Nathan and Nott Naganidhi (8-9), and Trent and Benjamin Erb (6-7).

AMATEUR MATCH PLAY CHAMPIONSHIP

WOMEN’S FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

After a marathon four days that included seven rounds of golf, Andrew Morris was the last man standing to become the 31st Amateur Match Play Champion.

FOUR-BALL CHAMPIONSHIP

FORTY & OVER CHAMPIONSHIP

Jillian Bourdage and Casey Weidenfeld earned a comeback victory to win the 2023 FSGA Women’s Four-Ball Championship at Plantation Golf & Country Club.

Will Davenport and TJ Shuart handled the heat and challenging golf course to take home the 74th FourBall Championship at Seminole Legacy Golf Club.

After the final round, Abbie Valentine made history as the first player to successfully defend his title since 1993.

FLORIDA JUNIOR TOUR

FLORIDA JUNIOR TOUR

UPCOMING FLORIDA JUNIOR TOUR EVENTS

THE CLUB AT QUAIL RIDGE

SITE OF FJT PAM MCCLOSKEY-BROSNIHAN

SOUTH TEAM DEFENDS THE CUP

It was the South Team that defended the title and raised the cup to conclude the 17th Junior Florida Cup matches. The South Team earned 21 points while the North Team earned 11 points.

Four-Ball Matches

The Four-Ball matches took place Monday morning at PGA National, Match Course. The South Team took a commanding lead of 6.5 to 1.5 halfway through the rounds. However, the North Team made a comeback coming in with two wins on late matches to hold the lead of 4.5 to 3.5 heading into the afternoon Foursome matches.

Some highlights of the Four-Ball Matches included, James Earle and Tristan Wieland of the South Team took down Emmet Kuhlenkamp and Arth Sinha from the North Team 4 & 3. In addition, Miranda Lu and Kayla Bryant from the South team beat Sophia Hong and Braydn Smith 6 & 4.

Lorenzo Rodriguez and Parker Severs from the South Team tied Mingbo Jiang and Nicholas Pisarski. Rodriguez and Severs went back and forth with Jiang and Pisarski, each team holding the lead at various points in the round. Finally, the teams ended in a tie and were forced to halve a point.

Youyang Li and Ana Boone from the North Team defeated Brianna Castaldi and Gabriella Albert from the South Team on the last hole to earn a late point for the North.

In addition, Clark Mason and Vlad Alexander Bercea from the North team defeated Jessy Huebner and Xin Wang from the South Team on the last hole to go one up for the match and earn a late point for their team to take the lead.

Foursomes Matches

The afternoon matches were interrupted by some weather delays, but ultimately the South Team earned 5.5 points against the North Team’s 2.5 points. The South Team headed into the final day of Singles Matches with a two-point lead of 9 to 7.

However, the matches started out tight with each team holding leads to keep the score at only a one-point difference. Mingbo Jiang and Emmet Kuhlenkamp of the North Team tied with Elijah Zamarron and Ryan Miller of the South Team to halve a point. On the other hand, several of the close matches from the beginning of the round ended in a South victory.

Team Moman and Earle from the South Team faced Hall and Robards from the North Team. That match lasted until the final hole in which Moman and Earle capture the win one up.

In addition, Donaldson and Clark from the North Team faced Pedrique and Zhou from the South Team. Another match that was decided on the final hole and ended in a win and a point for the North Team.

Singles Matches

The final day brought the Singles Matches. Thirty-two players teed off on Tuesday morning in sixteen separate matches that ultimately decided the winning team.

The South Team extended their lead early with two matches finishing quickly. Ryan Miller of the South Team defeated Ronav Benak 6 & 5. Tristan Wieland of the South Team defeated Emmet Kuhlenkamp 7 & 6. In addition, Marley Pedrique earned another early point for the South Team after defeating Bradyn Smith 5 & 4.

The South Team won eleven matches and tied one which earned them twelve points for the day and 21.5 total points to capture the win and defend the cup for the second consecutive year.

Other notable matches included Henry Robards on Team North defeated Darren Zhou 3 & 1, Sophia Hong defeated Miranda Lu 4 & 2, and Hannah Hall defeated Madison Moman 2 & 1.

The overall record for the Junior Florida Cup matches are 11-5-1 with the South Team winning four of the last six.

Four players finished the week undefeated: Bryant (South), Coultoff (North), Brown (South) and Zhang (North). The South team picked up 11 points in the singles to take home the victory, while the North ended with 5.

LATE TO THE TEE

Darin Green - Director of Rules & Competitions

Starting times in golf are very specific. Being at the correct starting tee and ready to play is an essential rule of golf. It is the player’s responsibility to be at the tee and ready to play not one second late. If your tee time is 8:02 AM, that means 8:02:00 AM. If the fairway ahead is not clear to play at 8:02:00, then your tee time actually changes to the precise time the fairway is clear. We have seen players arrive to the starting tee after their assigned time, but not penalized because the fairway was not clear to play safely. “Ready to play” means having at least one golf ball and at least one club with you at the starting tee.

If a player arrives late to the tee, but within five minutes of the starting time, the player receives the General Penalty which is a loss of hole penalty in match play or a two-stroke penalty in stroke play. In match play, if both players are late to the starting tee, their first hole is considered tied and the players must proceed to their second hole. If a player arrives more than five minutes after their starting time the player is disqualified.

Recent Rulings - Florida Open

In the second round of the Florida Open two weeks ago, two of the three players in a group were at the first tee several minutes before their starting time. The third player in the group was missing, so the starter called over the radio that he was missing a player. The Committee searched for the missing player without any success. The starting time came and the fairway was clear, so the missing player was late. The player arrived about two minutes late to the starting tee and the starter informed him he must begin play and add a twostroke penalty.

The starter then called over the radio and informed the Committee of the situation. The starter also mentioned that the late arriving player had one of the other player’s clubs on the cart. The Tournament Chairman then clarified with the starter that one of the players that was present at the starting tee on time, but did not have a club and ball because he left all of his equipment on the shared golf cart and walked to the tee. The Committee discussed the situation and agreed that the player was also late to tee because he was not ready to play at their starting time. After play of the first hole, both players were informed they were late to the tee and must add a two-stroke penalty to their first hole.

The player that was at the tee without his equipment wrongly put his trust on the driver of the shared cart and assumed his equipment would arrive at the tee before his starting time. Unfortunately, his equipment did not arrive before his starting time and he was not ready to play at his starting time.

Do whatever it takes to make sure you are at your starting tee with a ball and a club before your assigned starting time.

PRESERVING & PROTECTING THE GAME OF GOLF SINCE 1913