Bear Lakes features two championship courses designed by Jack Nicklaus. The Lakes Course was renovated by Nicklaus in 2003 and features the latest in turf technology combined with exciting architectural changes and the addition of 800 trees with many shots over vast expanses of water. The Links Course is designed as a tribute to Scottish golfing tradition, with its grass bunkers, pot bunkers and narrow fairways complemented by native plantings. Bear Lakes has played host to both Florida State Men’s and Women’s Amateur, Sectional Qualifying for the U.S. Open for both men and women as well as the 1995 and 2001 PGA Tour Qualifying Finals.
ELIGIBILITY: Male and female amateur golfers ages 13-18 as of July 31, 2008.
ENTRY FEE: $110 ($120 - players who do not have an active FSGA/GHIN Handicap).
ENTRIES CLOSE: Wednesday, July 2
ENTRY PRIORITY: Entry priority will be given players in each of the following categories within divisions. Players in the following categories will be eligible for exemption provided they meet all entry, age and eligibility requirements.
BOYS
- Previous Junior Amateur Match Play Champions (either age division)
- Previous Boys Junior Champions (either age division)
- Top 5 & tied from last year’s Boys Junior Championship (either age division)
- Current season’s Florida Junior Tour Boys Winners
- Top 5 & tied from the current year’s FJT Points List (either age division) as of the close of entries for the Junior Match Play Championship
- Special Entry Priority as determined by the FSGA
GIRLS
- Previous Junior Amateur Match Play Champions
- Previous FWSGA Junior Girls Champions (16-18 or 13-15 age division)
- Top 5 & tied from last year’s FWSGA Junior Girls Championship (16-18 or 13-15 age division)
- Current season’s Florida Junior Tour Girls Winners
- Top 5 & tied from the current year’s FJT Points List (either age division) as of the close of entries for the Junior Match Play Championship
- Special Entry Priority as determined by the FSGA
SEEDING AND CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT: All players will play an 18 hole stroke play seeding round to determine brackets and seed within each bracket. There will be a hole by hole play-off to determine the 32 seed in the Championship bracket only in each Boys Division and all other ties for seeds will be broken randomly. It is the player’s responsibility to be present for any play-off. Single elimination match play to determine bracket winners. All players will play one match on Tuesday morning. The finals are scheduled for Thursday afternoon. The schedule of play is explained below:
Monday
18-hole seeding round. All players must return an 18-hole score. Players will be placed in brackets and seeded based on their seeding round score.
Championship bracket - Low 32 scores from the seeding round. A playoff will be held immediately after the seeding round to determine the low 32 players if necessary in the Boys 16-18 and Boys 13-15 divisions only.
All ties for bracket determination (except Championship bracket) will be broken according to the USGA “matching scorecards” procedure as described in Appendix I of the Rules of Golf.
All ties for seeds within brackets will be determined randomly.
Tuesday
All players play a match in the morning. Winners of the first round of matches will play the second round of matches that afternoon. Afternoon starting times will be posted on the scoreboard. Players will have at least 30 minutes between their first and second round matches.
Wednesday
All remaining players play their third round of matches in the morning. Remaining players in the Boys 16-18 and Boys 13-15 Championship bracket will play their fourth round of matches in the afternoon. Afternoon starting times will be posted on the scoreboard. Players will have approximately 30 minutes between their first and second round matches.
Thursday
Final round of matches for all three brackets. All matches will begin in the morning and will be 18-hole matches to determine the Champions.
Scheduling of matches may be adjusted due to weather and field sizes.
BRACKETS:
- Boys 16-18 - Championship bracket of 32 and three brackets of 16.
- Boys 13-15 - Championship bracket of 32 and one bracket of 16
- Girls 13-18 - Championship bracket of 16.
Bracket sizes may be adjusted to accommodate entries
DIVISIONS: All players must compete in the age division commensurate with their age as of the last day of the Championship. No players are allowed to play out of their age division.
COURSE ASSIGNMENTS:
Boys 16-18 Age Division - Lakes Course
Girls 13-18 and Boys 13 -15 - Links Course.
SPECTATORS AND CADDIES: Spectators are always welcome at FSGA Championships. Spectators are allowed to ride and the cost of a spectator cart is $20 plus tax. Players are not allowed to employ a caddie. Click here for spectator policies.
CONDITIONS; SCHEDULES – The FSGA Championships Committee/on-site Rules Committee reserves the right to alter any of the conditions, provisions and/or schedules. The decision of the Championships Committee/on-site Rules Committee in any matter will be final.
ACCOMMODATIONS: Click on the link for hotels in the West Palm Beach area. Then click on the hotel icon. The FSGA does not have a host hotel. Click here
CHAMPIONSHIP PACE OF PLAY: Click here to read the Championship Pace of Play Policy.
HARD CARD; LOCAL RULES AND CONDITIONS OF COMPETITIONS: Click here to read the Hard Card and additional Conditions of Competitions.
CHAMPIONSHIP POLICIES: Click here to read the withdrawal, dress code, caddie and spectator and other policies.
REGISTRATION TABLE: There will be a registration table set up in front of the pro shop. All contestants are requested to check in.
PRACTICE ROUND: Practice rounds are available one week prior to the championship. Practice rounds may be played after 12:00 PM on Friday - Sunday. The price for your practice round is $20.00 + tax. Please call (561) 478-0002 to arrange your practice round. The proper place to practice your golf swing is on the driving range, hitting multiple shots on the course is unacceptable.
PAYMENT: Bear Lakes Country Club accept Visa/MasterCard and American Express for method of payment.
DIRECTIONS TO BEAR LAKES GOLF & COUNTRY CLUB: Click here for a map to Bear Lakes Country Club.
Bear Lakes Country Club is located just off I-95 and is convenient to Palm Beach, Palm Beach International Airport, the downtown West Palm Beach business district and numerous cultural events and attractions, including the Kravis Center.
Exit I-95 at Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard and proceed west to Village Boulevard. Turn right on Village Boulevard and continue north for one mile to the Bear Lakes Clubhouse on the left.
DEFENDING CHAMPIONS: Kevin Aylwin, of New Smyrna Beach, won the boys 16-18 age division at Eagle Creek. Erica Popson, of Davenport, claimed the girls 16-18 age division as Bodi Karsono, of Gainesville, and Jessica Schall, of Lake Mary, won the 13-15 age division titles at North Shore.
Ernesto Marin and Daniel Berger each won five matches en route to capturing their division titles in the Junior Match Play Championship at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach. Erica Popson made it three in a row winning the Girls 13-18 age division in the event held July 28-31. 
his lead back to three. Marin birdied the 15th hole to secure the Championship title 4 and 3. Britton, the 31st seed, had a good run knocking off the 2nd and 3rd seeds on his way to the finals. In the Snead Flight, Joshua Masterson, of Davenport, defeated JD Hefferin, from Maitland, 4 and 3. The Hogan Flight had Jason Del Rosso, from Orlando, beating Casey Matthews, of Miami, 8 and 6 for the win. Komsith Huachai, of Windermere, won the Jones Flight defeating Justin Dorward, of Port Saint Lucie, 3 and 2. 
and after halving holes, Berger closed out the match on 17. This win betters Berger’s runner up finish last year and most recent runner up finish to Gary Nicklaus in the Palm Beach County Amateur Championship. Next up, Berger will attempt to win the Amateur Match Play Championship in August at Quail Valley. To reach the finals, Ingham, of Pinecrest, birdied the last four holes to come back from three down to beat Matt Ceravolo, of Palm Beach Gardens, 1 up. Ingham placed third in this year’s Boys Junior Championship. In the Nelson Flight, Ittipat Chanakul, of Orlando, defeated Dylan Stilin, from West Palm Beach, 7 and 6 for the bracket title. 
