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Senior Amateur Match Play Championship

Belleair Country Club - Belleair

June 9-13, 2013

LaCrosse and Earsley Victorious

Doug LaCrosse, of Tampa, defeated Walter Himelsbaugh, of Leesburg, to win the 8th Senior Amateur Match Play Championship, as Steve Earsley, of Hobe Sound, bested Brian Sachs, of Newberry, to win the Super Senior Division at Belleair Country Club, in Belleair, June 9-13.
 
Prior to the match play portion of the Championship, Doug LaCrosse, (pictured left) earned the 11th seed after posting a three-over par round of 74 in the seeding round. LaCrosse proceeded to win four matches to reserve his spot in the championship match. In the Round of 32, LaCrosse beat fellow Tampa resident, Kevin Macy, 4 & 3 to go on to face Owen Joyner, of Naples, in the next round.  LaCrosse would defeat Joyner in a close match, 2 & 1, in the Round of 16.  In the quarterfinals, LaCrosse defeated the 2012 Senior Player-of-the-Year, Rick Woulfe of Fort Lauderdale, 3 & 2.  LaCrosse continued his solid play in his semi-final match defeating Mike Bodney, of Jacksonville, 2 & 1 to advance to the finals against Himelsbaugh.  LaCrosse won his fifth and final match defeating the number five seed, Walter Himelsbaugh, 3 & 2, to capture his second State Championship of the year.  LaCrosse is the second competitor to win both the Senior Amateur and the Senior Amateur Match Play in the same year.  In the Senior Division First Flight, Bobby Kilgore, of Lutz, defeated Robert Noe, of Vero Beach, 3 & 1.
 
In the Super Senior Championship Bracket, Steve Earsley (pictured right) defeated the 2008 Champion Brian Sachs, 3 & 2 for his second State Match Play Championship. Earsley defeated Kent Whittemore, of St. Petersburg, 4 & 3 in the Round of 16 and then beat two time champion Edward Craig, of Orlando, 4 & 3 in the quarters.  Earsley continued his run winning his semifinal by a larger margin, 6 & 5, against Pete McDade, of Lakeland.  In the Super Senior Division First Flight, Jim DuBois, of Coral Springs, defeated Jack Ramsey, of Germantown, 6 & 4.

To be eligible, players must have reached 55 years of age by June 9, 2013. All players traveling to Belleair Country Club were guaranteed an 18-hole seeding round and at least one round of match play.

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West Course

Entries Close Wednesday, May 22, 2013

The Senior Amateur Match Play is a great chance for full-time senior residents of Florida to get a chance to compete in a state Championship.  There are two divisions in the Championship, Senior and Super Senior.

Belleair is a beautiful area in the greater Clearwater area that is located on the gulf of Mexico.  The area boasts many great hotels and restaurants and is located just minutes from both Clearwater and St. Petersburg Beach. Belleair Country Club is a Gulf Coast paradise and historic landmark, perched on one of the highest points of Clearwater Bay, Belleair Country Club proclaims the first golf course in Florida. The Championship will be played on the West Course, which is a classic Donald Ross design that offers multiple holes set right on the gulf of Mexico.

Eligibility

Male amateurs must be a member of the FSGA and have reached 55 years of age (Senior) or 65 years of age (Super-Senior) by June 9, 2013.

Entry Fee

$185 ($195 - members who do not have an active FSGA/GHIN Handicap). Late entries will be accepted subject to a $10 late entry fee should the entrant gain acceptance into the field.

Seeding and Championship Format

  • All players will play an 18-hole, stroke play seeding round to determine flights and seeding within each flight.
  • Championship flight of 32 in the Senior division and 16 in First flight. Two flights of 16 in the Super-Senior division.
  • There will be a hole by hole play-off to determine the 32nd seed in the Senior Championship flight only; all other ties for seeds will be broken randomly. 
  • All players will play one match on Monday morning. Matches will continue each morning.
  • Only the Senior division Championship flight will play Tuesday afternoon.
  • The finals are scheduled for Thursday morning.

Championship Field Size

80 players

Course Set-Up

The West Course will be set-up at approximately
6,400 - 6,500 yards (Senior)
6,100 - 6,200 yards (Super-Senior).

Divisions

  • Senior, Ages 55-64
  • Super Senior, Ages 65 and over
  • All players will be placed in the age division commensurate with their age as of the first day of the Championship. No player may play in both age divisions.
  • (Any Super-Senior wishing to compete in the Senior division must notify the FSGA upon entry.)

Tee Times

Round one tee times will begin at 8:00 AM off the 1st and 10th tees. Play will begin at 8:00 AM each day. Tee times are subject to change.

Practice Rounds

Practice rounds are available one week prior to the championship.  Practice rounds may be played after 12:00 PM on the weekend.  The price for a practice round is $30.00 + tax.  Please call (727) 442-0229 to arrange your practice round. The proper place to practice your golf swing is on the driving range, hitting multiple shots on the course is unacceptable.

Carts

Carts are included for all competitive rounds. Players are responsible for practice round fees.

Defending Champions

  • Senior Division - Howard Logan of Naples, defeated Rick Woulfe of Fort Lauderdale, 1 up at the Club at Renaissance
  • Super Senior - Jim DuBois, of Coral Springs defeated Ron Cleland, of Naples 2 & 1.

Exemptions Earned from this Tournament

Winner (Regular Division)

  • Next three Senior Amateur Champions
  • Current year's Florida Senior Open

Runner-up (Regular Division)

  • Next year's Senior Amateur Championship

Championship Pace of Play

Click here to read the Championship Pace of Play Policy.

Hard Card; Local Rules and  Conditions of Competitions

Click here to read the Hard Card and additional Conditions of Competitions.

Championship Policies

Click here to read the withdrawal, dress code, caddie and spectator and other policies.

Spectators and Caddies

Spectators and caddies are always welcome at FSGA Championships. Only players are allowed to ride in carts.  If a player employs a caddie, the caddie MUST walk and the player's clubs must remain on the golf cart.

Conditions; Schedules

The FSGA Championships Committee/on-site Rules Committee reserves the right to alter any of the conditions, provisions and/or schedules.  The decision of the Championships Committee/on-site Rules Committee in any matter will be final.

Accommodations

Please click the View Hotels tab in the Tournament Links section for hotels in the Belleair area.

Payment

Belleair Country Club accepts cash,Visa/Mastercard and American Express for method of payment.

Directions

Belleair Country Club
1 Country Club Lane
Belleair, FL 33576

Click here for directions