Four-Ball Championship

Gardner and Koch Win State Four-Ball Championship

Ben Gardner and Phil Koch continued their lead into the second day to win the 41st Four-Ball Championship at The Club at TwinEagles in Naples this weekend.

Gardner, 18, and Koch, 21, of Boca Raton, scored a 68 on the second day to add to their 65 for a two-day total of 133, 11-under par. Both students at Florida Atlantic University, Gardner and Koch went into the 18th hole thinking they needed to make birdie to win, par for a playoff, but really a par would clinch the Championship. After Gardner hit into the water on #18, Koch stepped up and two-putted for par to win the Championship. Koch says "I redeemed myself on 18 after missing a four foot putt on the 17th hole for birdie." Right behind the leaders were Brent Bush, of Palm Beach Gardens, and Vincent Cherrix, of Pompano Beach, and Bill Harvey, of Palm City, and John Sanford, of Jupiter, as both teams scored a 134 two-day total. Four teams finished with a 135 while two teams recorded a 136. A total of 38 teams scored par or better, 144 for the two days.

The Four-Ball Championship featured 52 teams of two playing 36 holes of four-ball stroke play over two days. In four-ball stroke play, two competitors play as partners, each playing his own ball. The lower score of the partners is the score for the hole. Forty-two teams qualified through one of the seven qualifying events and the other ten teams earned exempt status through one of five categories. The Club at TwinEagles, site of the Champions Tour event, the ACE Group Classic will also host the Florida State Amateur Championship in 2004.

Round One Story

The Four-Ball will head to The Club at TwinEagles, who hosted the Mid-Senior Four-Ball South event last year. This course is located on 1,100 acres of pristine preserves and lakes and was designed by Jack Nicklaus and his son, Jack. It is also the site of the ACE Group Classic, a Champions PGA Tour event, through 2004.

ELIGIBILITY

Entrants must both be members of the FSGA.

ENTRY FEE

Entry fee of $140 per team. ($130 for online entry.) Those teams who advance to the Championship, including exempt teams, must pre-register and remit $100 either online at the FSGA website at www.fsga.org or by check to the FSGA office for advance payment of Championship fees. Payment must be received by Monday, July 14, or the team will be withdrawn from the Championship.

EXEMPTIONS

The following are exempt to the championship (Teams must be intact):

• Top five teams and ties from the 2002 championship
• 2003 Mid-Amateur Four-Ball champions
• 2002 Mid-Senior Four-Ball champions
• 2002 Senior Four-Ball champions
• Champions from the last three State Four-Ball Championships

(An exempt team shall meet all entry requirements and submit a complete entry prior to deadline.)

QUALIFYING FORMAT

18 holes of four-ball stroke play at 9 sites.

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

36 holes four-ball stroke play

CARTS

During qualifying, each player must rent and use a golf cart. Caddies are acceptable, but he/she may not ride in a golf cart or carry their clubs. Players are responsible for cart fees for all practice rounds. Those teams who advance to the Championship, including exempt teams, must pre-register and remit a Championship fee which includes cart fees for all competitive rounds.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS

Mike Freeman, Longwood, and David Sutton, Maitland, posted 67-67--134 at TPC at Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach to win three strokes ahead of the field.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Arrangements have been made at the Ritz-Carlton for $99 per night for resort view or $109 per night for golf view room. For reservations, call (239) 593-2000 or (800) 241-3333 by June 18 and identify yourself as an FSGA competitor.