TEQUESTA, Fla.- One-hundred and sixty-eight of the best amateurs in the state of Florida look to take on Turtle Creek Club and Abacoa Golf Club to battle it out in the 106th Amateur Championship. By the end of the week, one of these players will be able to join elite company as an Amateur champion.
By the Numbers
The average age in this year’s Amateur field is 27 years old. Standing out as the youngest player in the field is Jude Desmond, qualifying with a 2-under 70 at The Fall’s Club. The most experienced player in the field will be David Tassell, who was exempt into this year’s championship and will be representing Turtle Creek Club as the host club’s representative.
A total of 1,114 entries were received for this year’s Amateur Championship. One hundred and twenty players qualified for the championship at 16 qualifying sites around the state. Those players will join the 48 exempt competitors in Jupiter.
College Standouts
Out of the 168 total players in the field, 49 of them will consist of collegiate athletes. Standing out above them all is the 2023 NCAA Division II National champion, Andrew Riley. The Palm Beach Atlantic golfer finished 11th at the conference tournament, before winning both the regional and national title in record-setting fashion. Firing a 9-under 62 in the first round of the regional tournament, Riley did not look back, only having one round over par for the remainder of the postseason.
Other notable collegiate players consist of Brett Schell and Davis Lee, who both rank within the top 500 in the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Schell recently graduated from Ole Miss, where he finished up his redshirt junior year. The Saint Augustine native enters his graduate year in the transfer portal where he is still weighing his options on where to go next.
Davis Lee, the recent North Florida graduate, who will remain there for one more year, is coming off of a ninth-place finish at his conference tournament, as well as an 11th place finish at regionals. Lee has some unfinished business at UNF and decided to come back for one more year to help his team make it to the national championship.
Notable Players
A few other standouts who look to add an Amateur Championship title to their resume. After a third-place finish in last year’s championship, John Daly II is back for more. The Arkansas University golfer finished in the top 25 in his most recent two amateur events.
Reid Bedell also has some unfinished business after last year’s heartbreak in the 105th Amateur Championship. After losing in a playoff to Alex Vogelsong, Bedell is looking to add his first FSGA championship. The Naples native is off to a great start this season, advancing to the Semifinals at the Mid-Amateur Championship in May.
Rounding out the list is a player who is no stranger to the big moment, the reigning FSGA Senior Player of the year – Miles McConnell. After coming off of a quarterfinalist finish at last year’s U.S. Senior Amateur and punch his ticket to another U.S. Senior Open this year, McConnell is still looking for his first Amateur Championship title.
Past Champions Back for More
Six past champions are back in this year’s Amateur Championship field. After a top-25 finish at last year’s championship, Matt Galloway looks to get back into the winner’s circle.
The 2006 Amateur champion, Jeff Dennis, found his way back into contention after two rounds at The Bear’s Club last year, before struggling over the weekend to a 31st-place finish.
Other past champions playing in this year’s championship include Ryan Abbate, Brad Quiri, Justin Biggs and Daniel Owen
Turtle Creek Club to Play Host
Turtle Creek Club will be hosting its first ever Amateur Championship, and the club is more than ready. Designed by Joe Lee and opened for play in 1969, the club boasts a strong membership, including PGA Tour rookie, Brandon Matthews, USGA Senior Amateur Champion Chip Lutz, and three-time FSGA Senior Player of the Year, Pete Williams. It is also a favorite stop among local Jupiter professionals, including Rickie Fowler, Lexi Thompson and Justin Thomas.
The co-host of this year’s championship is Abacoa Golf Club. The golf course most recently hosted the 2017 Amateur Public Links Championship. It was the last course designed by renowned course architect Joe Lee before his death. In typical Joe Lee style, Abacoa’s lakes and bunkers meet its sloping fairways with little obstruction, and you’ll find scenic views with 14 of its 18 holes surrounded by water.
