Boys' Junior Amateur Championship

SARASOTA -  Laurel Oak Country Club played a spectacular host to 168 of the top junior golfers in the state as the field competed for the 64th annual Boys' Junior Amateur Championship. After exempt players (42) set the early field, 6 qualifying sites around the state paved the road for the 124 remaining players that made their way to Sarasota. The Boys 16-18 division consisted of 111 players, with 50 eventually making the cut, while the 13-15 division consisted of 57 players, with 23 eventually making the cut. Laurel Oak Country Club's East and West Courses were solid mixtures of red number havens and high numbers waiting to happen. These great layouts tested each players ability to roll with the punches and laid the groundwork for an exciting final round.

 Boys 16-18

Round one featured 84 players competing on the West Course while the other 27 players in the 16-18 division started their championship on the East Course. The West Course showed its teeth as the majority of the field was left puzzled after their rounds. However, three competitors (Brett Schell, Alberto Martinez, and Jonah Manning) were able to fire rounds of 69 (-3) . Their efforts could not match Jonah Leach's red-hot performance of 66 (-6) on the East Course as he took the early first-round lead.

Saturday's round was the second half of a tail of two rounds for many players, none more impressive than Hayden Smith's 66 (-6) which helped him bounce back from a tough first round and post the low score of the day. Alberto Martinez, who fired yet another impressive round of 67 (-5) to backup a more-than-solid first round, took a two-stroke lead into the final round over Brett Schell with many others breathing down his neck. 

Per request, plenty of drama ensued on the final round as a number of players made their runs in hopes to claim the 64th Boys' Junior Amateur Championship. Alberto Martinez did just about everything one might need to do when entering a final round with a two-stroke lead; minimize any mistakes and fire a solid number. Martinez's 71 (-1) was his third red number of the week, but was one stroke shy of holding off Tyler Wilkes. Last year's 13-15 Champion, Tyler Wilkes, played his last 6 holes at 5-under par to fire a final round of 66 (-6) and bring his tournament total to 10-under par. Winning this championship once is not an easy feat, but two years in a row will add to Wilkes's already stellar resume.

  Boys 13-15

The East Course was the site of Friday's first round for the 13-15 division as players aimed to start their championship on a strong note. Out of the 57 players, there were a total of 10 scores under par for the day and a strong contingent of players tied for the lead. Chase Gullikson, Brendan Valdes, and Blake Rigdon were the three atop of the leader board after impressive rounds of 68 (-4). However, 7 players stood within 3 strokes of the lead awaiting the opportunity to go low on the West Course.

Much like the 16-18 division, Saturday's round offered a different result and look for each player as they battled the tough West Course. The second round only awarded 3 under par rounds, the low for the day coming from Parker Bell with a 70 (-2). This brought him within one of the lead which was retained by both Gullikson and Valdes who both fired steady rounds of 72 (E). The cut left us with just 23 players at 8-over par and better, all excited for another opportunity to go low on the East Course.

Heading into the final round, the Championship was wide open. The East Course offered plenty of challenges for their first round, but was primed to allow some low scores for those chasing the leaders. Tyler Stachkunas made that early run with his round of 68 (-4), and eventual low round of the day, but was just a little too far back to start the day. The tougher setup for the final round challenged the 36-hole leaders, but it was Chase Gullikson who remained unfazed to capture the title by three strokes at 4-under par over Brendan Valdes and Jay Brooks. Gullikson's impressive final round of 72 (E) is highlighted by his unflappable performance of 16 pars. Gullikson looks to bring this steadiness into next year's championship as he will be eligible for the 16-18 division.

Full Results

East & West Courses

Championship Format

• Age Divisions: 16-18 and 13-15 years of age
• Fifty-four holes of individual stroke play
• All players play eighteen holes each on the East & West courses on Friday, July 6th & Saturday, July 7th. 
• After thirty-six holes, the field will be cut to approximately the low 50 players and ties in the Boys 16-18 division and approximately the low 20 and ties in the Boys 13-15 division.
• The final eighteen holes will be played on Sunday, July 8th on the East course. The lowest score for 54 holes will be the Champion.
• If necessary, there will be a hole by hole play-off to determine the Champion immediately following play. It is the player's responsibility to be present for any play-off.

Championship Field Size

• Maximum of 168 players

Eligibility

• Male amateur golfer
• Florida Resident
• At least 13-18 years of age as of the last day of the Championship
• Entrant is not required to be a member of the FSGA
• All players will compete in the age division commensurate with their age as of the last day of the Championship. No players are allowed to play out of their age division.
• Players 12 and under may play up to the 13-15 age division if they have been granted permission to play in the 13-15 age division of the Florida Junior Tour.
• Entrant must not have reached their 19th birthday by the last day of the Championship and not attending college if graduated from high school. See exception here.

Qualifying Sites

• June 11 - Cimarrone Golf & Country Club, Jacksonville
• June 11 - West Orange Country Club, Winter Garden
• June 16 - Eagle Creek Golf & Country Club, Naples 
• June 18 - Dunedin Golf Club, Dunedin
• June 20 - Indian Spring Country Club, Boynton Beach
• June 25 - A C Read Golf Course, Pensacola

Entry Fees

• Qualifying Fee: Qualifying Fee includes entry fee and cart fee.
• Championship Fee: Fee paid by those individuals who advance to the Championship through qualifying. Includes tee gifts, course fees, and range balls for each competitive round.
  
• Exempt Fee: Exempt Fee includes Championship Fee and Entry Fee for those individuals eligible for exemption.

Late entries are subject to a $10 late entry fee should the entrant gain acceptance into the qualifying field.

Pre-Registration

Those individuals who advance to the Championship through qualifying must pre-register and remit an additional $120 Championship Fee at www.fsga.org. Payment must be received by Friday, June 29th by 3:30 pm, or the individual will be withdrawn from the Championship.

To Pre-Register:

• Log on to the FSGA website at www.fsga.org using your email address and password
• Click on "My Account" in the upper right hand corner of the homepage
• Under "My Tournaments", click on the "Pre-Register" button to the right of the tournament name
• Enter your credit card information and then click the "Charge My Card" button on the bottom right hand corner of the page

Refunds, Notice of Withdrawals

No requests for refunds for Boys' Junior qualifying fees will be honored.

Requests for refunds of Exempt or Championship fees prior to the pre-registration deadline will be honored (less $20 per entry administrative fee). No requests will be honored after the pre-registration deadline.

Course Set-Up

The golf course will be set-up at approximately:

• 6,900-7,100 yards (Boys 16-18)
• 6,500-6,700 yards (Boys 13-15)

Divisions

• Regular (16-18) as of July 8, 2017
• Junior (13-15) as of July 8, 2017
• All players will compete in the age division commensurate with their age as of the last day of the Championship. Players are NOT allowed to play out of their Age Division.

Schedule of Events

Friday, July 6th

• 6:45 AM - 9:15 AM - Registration - located near the clubhouse
• 7:30 AM - 9:27 AM - Round one tee times off of #1 and #10 on the East & West courses

Saturday, July 7th

• 7:30 AM - 9:27 AM - Round two tee times off of #1 and #10 on the East & West courses
• After the completion of play the field will be cut to approximately the low 50 players and ties in the Boys 16-18 Division and approximately the low 20 and ties in the Boys 13-15 Division

Sunday, July 8th

• 7:30 AM - Final round tee times begin off of #1 and #10 on the East course
• Awards ceremony immediately following the completion of play

World & National Rankings 

The championship is ranked by the World Amateur Golf Ranking and Junior Golf Scoreboard.

Top finishers in the championship will receive AJGA stars through their Performance Based Entry.

AJGA Performance Based Entry (PBE)

Boys 16-18

• Top five - Fully Exempt
• Top ten finishers earn 12 performance stars
• Top fifteen finishers earn 8 performance stars
• Top twenty five finishers earn 4 performance stars

Boys 13-15

• Winner receives 2 performance stars
• Top five finishers receive 1 performance star

Local Qualifying

• 18 holes stroke play at 6 local qualifying sites. 
• All players must walk during qualifying rounds
• Players are not allowed to employ a caddie
• Players are only allowed to attempt to qualify at one qualifying site per year.

Defending Champions

16-18 Champion - Fred Biondi (pictured far left)
13-15 Champion - Tyler Wilkes (pictured left)

Click here for 2017 results.

Practice Round and Practice Facility  Information

Practice rounds are available one week prior to the Championship on a space available basis and after 12:00 PM on the weekend prior. Players' ages 16-18 can ride, players' ages 13-15 will need to be accompanied by a parent to ride in a cart. The price for a practice round is $30.00 + tax. Please call 941-378-3600 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.

You may not make your practice round tee time before Championship groupings are made.

Pull Carts

The use of pull carts is permitted.

Exemptions

Players in the following categories will be eligible for exemption provided they meet all entry, age and eligibility requirements:

NOTE: Blank entries will be filed by the FSGA for players who become exempt after the close of entries. 

• Previous Boys' Junior Champions (either Age Division)
• Top 1,000 and tied from last year's final World Amateur Golf rankings
• Top 50 and tied from last year's final Junior Player of the Year Points List
• Top 10 and tied from last year's Boys' Junior Championship (16-18 Age Division)
• Top 10 and tied from last year's Boys' Junior Championship (13-15 Age Division)
• Last year's Boys' Junior Match Play Finalists
• Top 3 and tied from last year's FHSAA Class 1A Golf Finals
• Top 3 and tied from last year's FHSAA Class 2A Golf Finals
• Top 3 and tied from last year's FHSAA Class 3A Golf Finals
• Florida Junior Tour Boys (16-18 Age Division) Winners since the last Boys' Junior Championship as of the close of entries
• Florida Junior Tour Boys (13-15 Age Division) Winners since the last Boys' Junior Championship as of the close of entries
• Top 15 (16-18 Age Division) and top 10 (13-15 Age Division) and tied from the current year's FJT Points List as of the close of entries
• Top 15 (16-18 Age Division) and top 10 (13-15 Age Division) and tied from last year's final FJT Points List
• Players qualifying for any one of last year's USGA National Championships
• Players making the cut at last year's Amateur Championship

Exemptions Earned from this Tournament

Boys Junior (16 - 18)

Winner

• Future Boys' Junior Championships (must meet age and eligibility requirements)
• Current and next year's Amateur Match Play Championship
• Next year's Amateur Championship
• Next year's Florida Open

Top 10 and tied finishers

• Next year's Boys' Junior Championship

Winner

• Future Boys' Junior Championships (must meet age and eligibility requirements)
• Next year's Amateur Championship

Top 10 and tied finishers

• Next year's Boys' Junior Championship

Other Policies

• Spectators and Spectator Cart Policy -  Click here.
• Caddies - Caddies are not allowed.
• Championship Pace of Play Policy - Click here.
• Local Rules and Conditions of Competition - Click here.
• Championship Policies - Click here to read the withdrawal, dress code, and other policies.
• Procedures for Alternates - Click here for information on how alternates may gain entry into this Championship.
• Conditions/ Schedule - 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. 

Host Hotel and Accommodations

Hampton Inn & Suites Sarasota/Lakewood Ranch
8565 Cooper Creek Blvd.
Sarasota, FL 34201
$99 + tax per night
Reservations must be made by June 21, 2018
Click here to book

Courtyard Sarasota University Park/Lakewood Ranch Area
8305 Tourist Center Dr.
Sarasota, FL 34201
$109 + tax per night
Reservations must be made by June 21, 2018
Click here to book

Payment

Laurel Oak Country Club only accepts Visa & Master Card. 

Directions

Laurel Oak Country Club
2700 Gary Player Blvd.
Sarasota, FL 34240
941-378-3600

Click here for directions