NAPLES, Fla. – The 42nd Mid-Amateur Championship will take place May 11-14 at the Royal Poinciana Golf Club in Naples. The tournament starts with 36-holes of gross stroke play followed by match play. In order to reach match play, the player must survive a cut of the low 32 players. The top amateurs across the state will battle it out to raise the trophy and be crowned champion.
Here are five things to know before the championship begins.
By the Numbers
Nearly 550 entries were received for this year’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Of those entries, there are 26 exempt competitors while 58 competitors qualified across seven sites around the state.
Only four seniors will be in the field at this year’s championship, with Royal Poinciana member, Andrew Fogarty, being the most experienced player in the field at 62 years old. Reid Bedell will be the youngest player in the field at 26 years old.
Royal Poinciana Takes Center Stage
The Royal Poinciana Golf Club will host the 42nd Mid-Amateur. The Royal Poinciana is a private, invitation-only club and maintains two 18-hole golf courses. The championship will take place on the Pines Course. Originally designed by Davis Wallace in 1970 and later redesigned by Arthur Hills in 2010, the course sprawls out over 6,794 yards from the number one tee. The course lives up to its name with pine tree lined fairways, deep bunkers, undulated greens, and water visible across half of the course. The Pines course has beautiful natural scenery and presents a great test of golf for each competitor.
Past Champions Back for More
Six past champions will be competing at Royal Poinciana. Defending champion, Joey Latowski also won in 2020 and has hopes of adding a third title to his resume. Last year, Latowski defeated Jake Sherwin in 20 holes to seize the title and raise the trophy for the second time.
In addition, past champions include Joe Alfieri (2021, 1999), TJ Shuart (2019, 2015), Thad Hudges (2014), Steve Carter (2009, 2004) and Jon Veneziano (2013, 2005) are all competing for the championship title once again.
Players of the Year in the Mix
Two of the 2022 FSGA Players of the Year will tee it up at Royal Poinciana: Latowski and Miles McConnell. Latowski was named the Amateur and Mid-Amateur Player of the Year and McConnell earned Senior Player of the Year honors for the second consecutive year.
In addition, Alfieri will join the others as a past FSGA Player of the Year. Alfieri has earned Player of the Year honors five times (1999, 2001, 2015, 2016), but most recently earned Amateur and Mid-Amateur Player of the Year in 2021. Veneziano is also a past FSGA Amateur Player of the Year, earning the honor in 2013.
Match Play Will Decide a Champion
Players will compete in 36 holes of stroke play with the low 32 scores advancing to match play, with a champion being crowned in the Finals match on Sunday.
