Registration Closed:
Women's Mid-Amateur Championship

ENGLEWOOD, Fla. – No one could have scripted a more thrilling conclusion than what unfolded today at Lemon Bay Golf Club during the 2025 Women’s Mid-Amateur. At the end, it was the FSGA’s very own Madyson Gold who emerged victorious, capturing her first Women’s Mid-Amateur title.

The final round opened with Sokhary Pavese stumbling to a bogey on the first hole, immediately shifting the lead to Gold. Both contenders found birdies on the fourth, keeping Gold just one stroke ahead. A bogey on the sixth briefly derailed Gold’s momentum, but she bounced back with a clutch 20-foot birdie on the seventh, matched once again by Pavese to keep things tight.

Pavese took the outright lead for the first time with a birdie on the par-4 eighth hole. Meanwhile, Kim Benedict, the 2021 champion, caught fire with birdies on the eighth and ninth to pull within two strokes. At the turn, Pavese led Gold by one, with Benedict just two back and Ailsa Clark climbing fast after a 2-under front nine.

Benedict then delivered an act of dominance, making four straight birdies from holes 8 to 11 to grab a share of the lead. But the 13th hole proved pivotal, both Pavese and Benedict found the water. Pavese carded a triple bogey, Benedict a double. Gold moved into second, while Clark surged into a tie for third.

Then came Clark’s sensational closing stretch. She birdied her 15th, 16th, and 17th holes in succession to tie Benedict and Gold for the lead. But Gold had one more moment of brilliance left.

On the 18th hole, with 90 yards to the pin, she stuffed her wedge shot to three feet. “I had a solid 90-yard shot but I don’t like to hit a full wedge. I knew that my 50-degree plus my adrenaline would carry it the extra yards,” said Gold. She calmly rolled in the birdie putt to clinch the title…and office bragging rights.

Kim Benedict and Ailsa Clark finished tied for second at 6-over, while Sokhary Pavese placed fourth at 10-over. Clark’s final-round 68 (-3) was the low round of the tournament, capping an impressive Sunday charge.

Gold makes FSGA history by being the first staff member to win a state championship while on staff.

Middle Division

Betsy Knights of Naples held the lead by four strokes after the first round posting a 9-over, 80. Janet Van Slyke and Trisha Judge sat tied for second place. Knights secured the win wire-to-wire with with a closing round of 80. Trisha Judge finished in second place with rounds of 84-78, and Liann Thompson secured third place with scores of 85-80.

Forward Division

Katherine Moore-Lilly held the lead after the first round with a 5-over, 76. Carolann Ceglar was in second place with a 7-over, 78, and in third place was a tie between Polly Flinn and Tish Keltner. Moore-Lilly also went wire-to-wire to capture a dominant win 10-strokes ahead of the rest of the field. Ceglar finished in second place, and Flinn finished in third place.

Championship Format

• 54 holes of individual stroke play (Championship Division)
• 36 holes of individual stroke play (Middle and Forward Divisions)
• Three divisions - Championship, Middle, and Forward
• The overall Champion will be the individual from the Championship Division with the lowest total score

Eligibility

• Female amateur golfers at least 22 years of age as of the first day of the Championship - See FSGA's Competitive Fairness Gender Policy
• Florida residency required
• Not on a college golf team
• A valid Florida GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 34.0 at time of entry
• Entrant is required to be a member of the FSGA

Entry Fee

Entry fee includes all competitive rounds of golf, tee gift, final round luncheon and gift certificate prizes. Late entries will be accepted subject to a $10 late fee should the player gain acceptance into the field. 

• Promoting Women's Golf - Discounted Entry Fee - In an effort to attract younger women back to competitive golf, the FSGA is reducing the entry fee for this event for women between the ages of 22 and 29 years old as of the first day of the competition. Women's mid-amateur golf faces a crisis and declining levels of participation. Reduced participation by women who leave the game after college also results in fewer future junior players being introduced to the game by their families. The FSGA is dedicated to making every possible effort to provide competitive golf that is accessible to women of all ages, including the early mid-amateurs who often face the most obstacles related to time and finances. The full entry price to this event for women over 29 is the SAME as in prior years and we hope all players will support this initiative to promote golf to all women. Please join us in spreading the word so that more women will join us at the championship and return to playing competitive golf on a regular basis.

Schedule of Events

• Friday, May 2nd
  • 10:00 AM - 12:45 PM - Player registration 
  • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM - Starting times off of #1 (Championship Division only)
• Saturday, May 3rd
  • 7:00 AM - 9:30 AM - Player registration
  • 8:00 AM - 9:57 AM - Starting times off of #1 and #10 (All divisions)
• Sunday, May 4th
  • 8:30 AM - Final round shotgun (All divisions)
  • Player luncheon and awards immediately following play

Entry Priority

• The FSGA will hold 50% of the total field for the Championship Division until March 19th, after which entries will be accepted based upon order of receipt. Entries received after the competitive field is full or after the close of entries, will be placed on an alternates list by division. Alternates will be contacted in the order of receipt of entry, if and when, a spot becomes available in their division.

Flighting

• The Championship Division is gross only and will not be flighted.   

• The Middle & Forward Divisions will be pre-flighted based on individual handicaps.

Generally, divisions of more than 14 individuals will be flighted, however the Committee reserves the right to flight based on the number of individuals and/or the range of individual handicaps or scores.

Handicap Requirments

• All valid Florida GHIN Handicap Indexes used will be from 7 days prior to the championship start date
• Each player must have a valid Florida GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 34.0
• Players in the Middle & Forward Divisions will play to 95% of their course handicap

Suggested Handicap Guidelines

The following should be considered when selecting divisions 

• Championship Division - 10.0 & Under
• Middle Division - 11.0-18.0
• Forward Division - 19.0 & Over

Committee Discretion: The Championship Committee reserves the right to move any player out of the Forward Division if their handicap is significantly lower than the majority of the competitors in that division, and their scoring history does not reflect the need to play from the Forward Division yardage. 

Breaking Ties

• Championship Division – The overall Champion will be the player with the lowest total score. In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a hole-by-hole sudden death playoff on a hole designated by the Committee to determine the Champions.
• Middle and Forward Divisions – All ties in the Middle and Forward Divisions will be broken by the FSGA tie breaking method (Modified USGA). The final day 18 hole score will be used to determine first place. If there is still a tie, the last 9 holes of the last day (10-18). If there is still a tie, the last 6 holes are used (13-18), then if needed the last 3 holes (16-18), then the final hole (18). In the case that players are still tied after the 18th hole, the winner will be determined by lot (coin flip).
• Middle and Forward Divisions will pay gross first, then net.

Championship Practice Rounds

• Practice rounds are available one week prior to the championship and after 12:00 PM the weekend prior on a space available basis. The price for a practice round is $45 + tax and includes cart and range balls prior to the round. Please call (941) 697-3729 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.

Championship Information

Players must select their division at the time of entry. A player may not switch divisions once pairings are posted.

• Course Setup
  • Championship Division - 5,800 - 6,000 yards (Gross only)
  • Middle Division - 5,300 - 5,500 yards (Gross & Net)
  • Forward Division - 4,800 - 5,000 yards (Gross & Net)
• Field Size - 84 players
• Tee Times & Information

Championship Policies

• Championship Policies
• Pace of Play Policy
• Code of Conduct
• Local Rules & Competitions
• Competitive Fairness Gender Policy
• Spectators & Spectator Cart Policy
• 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.

Player Information

• Procedures for Alternates
• Refunds & Notice of Withdrawals
• StrackaLine Yardage Books
• Caddies are NOT permitted in FSGA Championships

Past Championships

• Defending Champion - Stephanie Kono
• Past Results

Host Site

• Lemon Bay Golf Club
  9600 Eagle Preserve Drive
  Englewood, FL 34224
  (941) 697-3729
  
  • Directions
  • Payment - All Major Credit Cards are accepted at Lemon Bay

Host Hotel

• Fairfield Inn & Suites Venice
  • 2935 Executive Drive
    Venice, FL 34292
  • (941) 488-4343
• Booking Details
• Booking Deadline: Tuesday April 1st, 2025
• Book Your Room Here!

Exemptions Earned From This Tournament

• Top 3 and ties earn an exemption into the 96th Women's Amateur Championship