Matthew Galloway, 2007 Amateur Champion

More than 890 entries were received for the 91st Florida State Amateur Championship at Jupiter Hills Club in Tequesta on June 19-22 setting a new tournament record for entries filed. First, competitors must attempt to qualify for the Championship at one of 13 sites across the state.

From May 27 – June 10, the FSGA will conduct 13 qualifying tournaments of 18 holes of stroke play for golfers trying to advance to the Amateur Championship at Jupiter Hills. In the Championship, participants will play 18 holes each on the Village and Hills Course on June 19-20. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 70 and ties. The final 36 holes of the Championship will be played on the Hills Course on June 21-22.

Defending Champion, Matthew Galloway, of Valrico, fired a 69-70-70-71--280 at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club to win the 90th Amateur Championship. Galloway, as well as other past Amateur Champions, are exempt from the qualifying. Galloway will join 2006 Champion Jeff Dennis, from Parkland, and 2005 Champion Ryan Abbate, of Fort Lauderdale, in the Championship. Richard Maddox, from Panama City, won the 2003 Amateur to earn exempt status as did 1995 and 1997 Champion Mark Leetzow, from Sarasota, and 1990 Champion Robbie Davis, of Lakeland. In all, 25 players are exempt from qualifying.

The average age of participants is 30. Evan Byrd, from Ocala, is the youngest competitor at 13 years of age, and Aldo Butera, from Boynton Beach, is the oldest at 77. More than 300 of the entries filed are from current or past Florida Junior Tour Members with 188 participants 18 years of age and younger.

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.

Florida State Amateur Championship Qualifiers:
May 27 - Ironhorse, West Palm Beach
May 28 - The Bayou Club, Largo
May 28 - Victoria Hills, DeLand
May 29 - Club at Renaissance, Fort Myers
June 2 - North Hampton, Fernandina Bch
June 2 - CC of Ocala, Ocala
June 2 - Sara Bay, Sarasota
June 3 - Santa Rosa, Santa Rosa Beach
June 5 - GC at Bridgewater, Lakeland
June 6 - Legacy Golf & TC, Port St. Lucie
June 9 – Shula’s, Miami Lakes
June 9 - Grande Pines, Orlando
June 10 - Southwood, Tallahassee

Click here for results.

Over 350 Entries Received Sets Record for Boys Junior

A tournament record of 351 entries were filed for the 54th Florida State Boys Junior Championship on July 7-9 at Interlachen Country Club and Country Club of Orlando. First, competitors must attempt to qualify for the Championship at one of six sites across the state.

Competitors will play 18 holes of stroke play in the qualifiers with hopes of advancing to the Championship. The Championship field will feature 168 of the top male amateur golfers in the state including qualifiers and exempt players. There are two age divisions; 13-15 junior division and 16-18 regular division. In the Championship, competitors will play 18 holes on each course with the final 18 holes at Interlachen Country Club.

Last year at Country Club of Ocala and Golden Hills, Michael Hebert, of Orlando, shot a 70-75-69—214 to win the Championship as Hojin Kang, from Longwood, posted a 71-70-70—211 to win the junior division. Hebert and Kang are exempt from qualifying and will attempt to win another title this year. Other Champions in this year’s field include 2006 Boys Junior Champion Blayne Barber, of Lake City, and 2006 junior division Champion Tyler McCumber, of Ponte Vedra Beach.

Qualifying will take place at the following sites:
June 9 - Magnolia Point Golf & Country Club, Green Cove Springs
June 11 - Hunters Green Country Club, Tampa
June 11 - Westminster Golf Club, Lehigh Acres
June 12 - Rio Pinar Country Club, Orlando
June 12 - Bluewater Bay Resort, Niceville
June 13 - PGA National Golf Club, Palm Beach Gardens

To enter, participants must be between the ages of 13-18 as of July 9 and not attending college. Also, the juniors must have a handicap index no higher than 17.4.

Click here for results.