Amateur Match Play Championship

Seiffert Prevails Over Fellow Seminole

Chase Seiffert defeated Hank Lebioda in the final match to win the 22nd Florida State Amateur Match Play Championship at Country Club of Orlando on August 9-12.

During the morning Semifinal Round, Chase Seiffert started out his day with a hole-in-one on hole thirteen against Joe Alfieri of Lutz. He then birdied hole fourteen and eagled fifteen, to secure his spot in the Final Round against fellow Seminole teammate, Hank Lebioda of Winter Springs. In the Final Round, Chase got off to a quick start by winning the first two holes. Hank then came back and kept the match close on the front nine after winning the third hole. By hole ten, the match was square until Seiffert fired four birdies on the next five holes to secure his victory at 4 and 3. It is Chase Seiffert’s 21st birthday and his third FSGA state championship title. Earlier in the year Sieffert captured the Amateur Championship at The Bear's Club in Jupiter, as well as the Florida Open Championship at the Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club in Bradenton.

En route to the finals, Chase and Hank each won five matches to meet Sunday afternoon. Hank Lebioda, who earned the 16th seed after posting a 70 in the seeding round, outlasted Bodi Karsono of Gainesville in 23 holes to advance to the round of 16 where he beat Andrew Gain, of Bradenton, 4 and 3. In the Quarterfinal, Lebioda overtook David Brown, of Eustis, 5 and 3 and then defeated Ian McConnell in the Semifinals 2 and 1. Chase Seiffert won both the Round of 32 and Round of 16, 5 and 4. Seiffert then overtook Brandon Jowers, of Shalimar, 3 and 2 in the Quarterfinal.

Since the number of entries received has always surpassed the capacity of the Championship, a qualifying stage was instituted five years ago. More than 300 players attempted to qualify at one of seven sites across the state. In the qualifying, players competed in 18 holes of stroke play in hopes of reaching the Championship at Country Club of Orlando. The Match Play Championship began with an 18-hole seeding round to seed the 64 player field. Single elimination match play followed to determine the Match Play Champion.

Top Players Advance to Semifinal Round 

Field Set at Amateur Match Play

 Entries Close June 27, 2012

The Country Club of Orlando will play host to the 22nd Amateur Match Play Championship.  The Amateur Match Play attracts the finest players in Florida and serves as preparation for many players who are heading to the U.S. Amateur the following week.

Eligibility 

Male amateurs must be a member of the FSGA

Handicap Limit

Must have a handicap index no higher than 11.4.

Entry Fee

• $65 ($75 - members who do not have an active FSGA/GHIN Handicap).
• Those individuals who advance to the Championship through qualifying must pre-register and remit an additional $125 on the FSGA website under the "My Account" section, which can be located in the top right hand corner of the web-page.
• Payment must be received by Monday, August 6th by 12:00 pm, or the individual will be withdrawn from the Championship. Championship Fee includes cart fees for all competitive rounds.

Exempt Player's Fee

$160 ($170 - members who do not have an active FSGA/GHIN Handicap). Exempt Fee includes Championship Fee and Entry Fee for those individuals eligible for exemption. (See below)

Championship Format and Seeding

• 18 holes of individual stroke play on Thursday to determine seeds in round of 64. Ties for seeds will be broken randomly.
• Single elimination round of 64 match play will begin on Friday morning.
• The round of 32 is scheduled to begin Friday afternoon.
• The round of 16 will be played on Saturday morning followed by the quarter-finals that afternoon. 
• The semi-finals will be played on Sunday morning and the finals will be held on Sunday Afternoon.

Championship Field Size

64 players

Qualifying

18 holes stroke play at 7 sites. During qualifying, each player must use a golf cart. Caddies are acceptable, but he/she may not ride in a golf cart or carry the player's clubs. Players are responsible for cart fees for all practices rounds.

Qualifying Sites - Click here

Defending Champion

Don Bell, of Port Orange, defeated David Brown, from Eustis, 1 up at Southern Hills Plantation Golf Club, in Brooksville.

Carts

During qualifying and the Championship proper, each player must use a golf cart. Carts are included for all competitive rounds. Players are responsible for practice round cart fees at qualifying sites and at the Championship proper.

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 (407) 425-2319 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.

Exemptions

Players in the following categories will be exempt from the seeding round and will be directly placed into the Championship flight provided they meet all entry and eligibility requirements.

• Last three year's Amateur Match Play Champions
• Last year's Amateur Match Play semifinalists
• Last three year's Amateur Champions
• Current year's top five & tied Amateur Championship finishers
• Last three year's Mid-Amateur Champion
• Last year's Mid-Amateur Championship semifinalists
• Current year's Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Champion
• Current year's Amateur Public Links Champion
• Last year's Mid-Senior Champion
• Last year's Junior Amateur Match Play Champion (16-18 age division)
• Last year's Florida Open Low Amateur
• Current year's Boys Junior Champion (16-18 age division)

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.

Alternate Procedures

Click here for information on how alternates may gain entry into either qualifying for the Championship or into the Championship proper.

Accommodations

Click here for hotels in the Orlando area.

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.

Method of Payment

The Country Club of Orlando will accept cash and Visa/MasterCard for payment.

Directions

Country Club of Orlando
1601 Country Club Drive
Orlando, FL  32804
(407) 425-2319

Click here for directions.