Bret Voisin

Bret Voisin defeated Noi Chay in the final match to win the 25th Mid-Amateur Championship at Black Diamond Ranch in Lecanto on September 28-October 1.

Bret Voisin, of Orlando, last year’s Mid-Amateur runner up, earned the 14th seed after posting a 75-74—149 in the stoke play qualifying to advance to match play. “I like match play,” said Voisin. “I believe the putter is the most important club in match play, and I am very confident in my putting.” Voisin won four matches en route to the finals including beating Darryl Osler, of Boca Raton, 4 and 3 in the semifinals. “I was a little shaky in my earlier matches,” said Voisin. “I continued to hit the ball well and bring myself back into the matches.”

In the final match versus Noi Chay, Voisin made four birdies to make the turn at 4-under while Chay shot even par to be three down. After both players bogeyed the 10th hole and birdied the 11th hole, Chay made a tremendous par after hitting his approach shot from under an oak tree just short of the green to close the gap at two. Voisin and Chay birdied the par five 14th hole and halved the next three holes with Voisin making a three foot putt on the 17th hole to capture the Mid-Amateur Championship 2 and 1. “I feel very fortunate to win,” said Voisin. “I made a lot of putts and just hung in there.” With this win, Voisin was named to represent Florida in the Southeastern Challenge Matches on October 14-15 in Georgia. Voisin now has four state titles including the 2004 Four-Ball Championship, 2004 Parent-Child Championship and 2005 Mid-Senior Four-Ball North Championship.

Noi Chay, of Land O'Lakes, also posted a 149 in stroke play and beat Tommy Dudley, of Jacksonville, in the semifinals 5 and 4. In the quarterfinals, Dudley upset top seed and 2004 Champion Steve Carter in 20 holes.

To be eligible for the State Mid-Amateur, participants must be 25 years of age or older. More than 570 entries were received for this year’s Championship setting a new record for entries filed. Participants qualified in an 18-hole stroke play format to advance to the Championship. Playing the Quarry course, the Championship consisted of 36-holes of stroke play qualifying on Thursday and Friday with the low 32 advancing to the match play on Saturday and Sunday. Black Diamond hosted the Mid-Amateur Championship in 1988 and 2000.

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