The top 168 amateur golfers in the state will compete next week, June 17-20, with hopes of winning the 87th Florida State Amateur Championship at The Club at TwinEagles in Naples.
Before reaching the Championship, more than 700 participants attempted to qualify at one of 13 sites across the state. In the Championship, participants will play 18 holes each at The Club at TwinEagles and Bonita Bay East Cypress Course on June 17-18. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 70 and ties. The final 36 holes of the Championship will be played at TwinEagles on June 19-20. Designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son Jack, TwinEagles is host to the Champions Tour ACE Group Classic as well as last year's State Four-Ball Championship and this year's Southeast Challenge Cup Matches.
Defending Champion, Richard Maddox, of Panama City, carded a73-72-69-72--286 to win the 2003 Amateur at Arnold Palmer's The Bay Hill Club in Orlando. Maddox, as well as other former State Amateur Champions, are exempt from the qualifying. Maddox will try to defend his title this year as well as the 2002 Champion Ty Harris, of Tampa, and 2-time Champion Mark Leetzow, from Sarasota. Maddox is paired for the first two rounds with last year’s State Junior Champion Joong Jo and the 2004 State Senior Champion Bruce Scamehorn.
Started in 1914, the FSGA State Amateur is the oldest continuous sporting event in the state as well as the largest amateur event in Florida.Past Amateur champions include Bob Murphy, Jerry Pate, Buddy Alexander, and PGA Tour players David Peoples, Chris Couch, and Barry Cheesman. Spectators and media are welcome to watch the state’s best amateur golfers compete at TwinEagles and Bonita Bay East. For tee-times, pairings and results, please log on to www.fsga.org.
Organized in 1913, the Florida State Golf Association is a not-for-profit organization that governs amateur golf in the state of Florida. In addition to conducting 21 championships for amateur golfers in the state, the FSGA is responsible for 41 qualifying tournaments for USGA National Championships. The FSGA also maintains the USGA Handicap System, performs course ratings throughout Florida and assists in junior programs and scholarships.
