Three players shot a 69 to lead the Florida State Mid-Senior Championship at World Woods Golf Club in Brooksville on Friday.
Doug Ritter, the 1998 champion, and Miami Beach's Frank Strafaci shot 69's on the par-72 Rolling Oaks course, while current FSGA President Rick Woulfe of Ft. Lauderdale shot his 69 at the par-70 Pine Barrens course.
The 54-hole championship is being played on both of World Wood's acclaimed courses during the first two rounds. Players will swap courses for their second round. A cut to the low 70's plus ties will be used following play Saturday and then the players will play the final round Sunday on the Pine Barrens course.
Besides winning in 1998, Ritter was runner-up in last year's championship. Tallahassee's Kevin Davey, the only other former champion in the field, shot a 76. Tampa's Doug LaCrosse, who just returned from Baltusrol where he missed the cut at the U.S. Amateur, shot a 74.
