Seiffert Dominates at the Florida Open

Chase Seiffert captures the 66th Florida Open Championship posting a tournament total of 23-under par at The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club and Sara Bay Country Club in Bradenton/Sarasota on July 20-22.

Chase Seiffert, of Panama City, outlasted the field of 156 players to capture the 66th Florida Open Championship with a record setting performance. Seiffert posted a six-under par 66 at The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in the first round to trail Chase Marinell by one shot. Seiffert’s flawless first round included six birdies and no bogeys.  Playing Sara Bay Country Club in the second round, Seiffert who started on the back nine, fired an impressive six-under par 30, which included four birdies and an eagle on the par five 18th hole. Seiffert kept the momentum going on his back nine making birdies on 3, 5, and 9, to go with only one bogey on the par three 4th hole for his round of eight-under par 64. His second round of eight-under par 64 set a new course record at Sara Bay Country Club. Seiffert would take a three stroke lead heading into the final round of the Championship at The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club.

In the final round, Seiffert picked up where he left off by making birdies on 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9 for an impressive five-under par 31 to expand his lead four strokes heading into the back nine.  Seiffert continued his torrid pace with birdies on 11, 13, 14, 16, and 17 to go with only one bogey on the 12th hole. After hitting his approach shot to the back of the 18th green, Seiffert would two putt for his incredible round of nine-under par 63. Seiffert's final round of nine-under par 63 established a new course record for The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club. Seiffert stated “Every part of my game clicked this weekend. The courses set up perfectly for me. This is an incredible feeling, to win the Amateur and the Florida Open is unreal”. Seiffert joined elite company on Sunday by becoming only the second player to capture the Florida State Amateur Championship and the Florida Open Championship in the same year. Don Bisplinghoff, a four time State Amateur Champion and a three time Florida Open Champion, was the only other player to achieve this great feat back in 1955.
 
Chase Marinell, of Cape Coral, finished in second place with a tournament total of 14-under par.  Marinell held the first round lead after a seven-under par 65 at Sara Bay Country Club and finished strong with rounds of 68-69 at The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club. Adam Fox, of Stuart, and David Ladd, of Palm Beach Gardens, earned low Professional honors with their third place finish posting 10-under par 206 for the Championship. The Defending Champion, Rod Perry, of Port Orange, finished tied for 15th place after his rounds of 76-69-68.