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Senior Amateur Match Play Championship

Streamsong Resort - Black Course, Streamsong, FL

June 26-29, 2023

BOWLING GREEN, Fla. - After four long days, and seven rounds of golf, on the Black Course at Streamsong Resort, Brian Keenan was able to navigate his way through the bracket to claim the Senior Amateur Match Play Championship.

Stroke Play Seeding Rounds

The large and undulating greens at the Black Course, which plays as a par-73, combined with the blistering heat made for two difficult rounds of golf for the Championship field. Just four players competed the two stroke-play-seeding rounds with cumulative scores under-par. R J Nakashian, of Palm Beach Gardens, and Chad Ibbotson, of Sanford, earned co-medalist honors after shooting scores of 2-under par, 144. Don Whittemore, of Temple Terrace, and William Mallon, of Vero Beach, would round out the top-four seeds in the match play bracket with two-day total scores of 1-under par, 145.

Match Play Rounds

As the Championship shifted to its match-play stage, the momentum gained by players who earned a top seed during the stroke-play-seeding rounds carried over into their matches. Just three players (Ken Palladino, Mike Riley, and Cory Walker) were able to pull off upsets in the Round of 32, while no player seeded 10th or better failed to advance to the next round. Riley and Richard Kepper played the longest match of the Championship during the Round of 32, finishing in 24 holes. In the Round of 16, the top-seeded players continued to perform up to expectations as just two of the top-eight seeded players did not advance to the Quarterfinals. Co-medalist R J Nakashian and eighth-seeded Glen Przybylski faced off in the Quarterfinals with neither player having reached the 16th hole in either of their two previous matches. The two most dominant players of the Championship to that point proved to be worthy competitors as Nakashian would go on to win 1 up after staving off a late comeback attempt from Przybylski. 6th-seeded Brian Keenan, 10th-seeded Douglas Jones, and 12th-seeded Paul Royak also advanced into the Semifinals after completing upsets of the other three top-4 seeds in the Quarterfinals, setting up for an exciting final day of the Championship. In the Semifinals, Nakashian defeated Royak 3 & 2 and Keenan defeated Jones in 19 holes. This set up a final match between Nakashian, a six-time FSGA champion competing in his first FSGA event as a senior, and Keenan, a five-time FSGA champion.

Finals

At 12:25 PM on Thursday afternoon, the sun was blazing and the humidity was high as the two finalists teed it up to compete for the title of Senior Amateur Match Play Champion. With it being their seventh round of golf in the span of four days, both competitors were well aware of the intricacies of the Black Course at Streamsong Resort, meaning no hole would be easy to win. Early on in the match, it was made clear both players belonged in the Finals. After Keenan took an early lead with a birdie on the par-5 first hole, both finalists would birdie the par-4 third hole and par-5 fourth hole. Keenan then birdied his third consecutive hole to take a two-hole lead. For the next eight holes, Nakashian and Keenan would match each other shot-for-shot as Keenan maintained a two-hole lead through 13 holes.

On the short, par-4 14th hole, Nakashian hit the green with his tee shot and two-putted for birdie to take the hole, and diminish his deficit to just one. Later, on the par-4 16th hole, both golfers hit the green in two shots. After Nakashian sank an eight-foot putt for birdie, Keenan missed a five-footer for birdie, and the match was tied for the first time since the players teed off on the first hole. On the par-3 17th hole, a poor first putt from Nakashian would prove costly as Keenan was able to quickly regain the lead with a par. Then, on the par-5 18th hole, both players drove their ball in the fairway and were looking to reach the green in two. Nakashian, knowing he had to win the hole to extend the match, was first to hit his second shot. From 255 yards away, the Palm Beach Gardens native was able to stick it to 15 feet, giving him an excellent look at an eagle. Keenan, hitting his second shot from 230 yards, hit the green as well, but had a complicated, 45-foot putt left in front of him. The Tampa native stepped up, made his stroke, and watched the putt travel all the way into the hole for a walk-off eagle. After a long and grueling week of golf, Keenan emerged with his sixth FSGA Championship and the title of Senior Amateur Match Play Champion. 

Results

Tee Information

Tee

Yardage / Info

Senior Match Play

6.650 yds. 72.0/130

Par: 73

Weather Information

Description

Temp

Sunny

Hot & Breezy

91 °F

Tournament Results

PosPosition Name Rd.1 Rd.2 TotalTotal Score Points
T1 Chad Ibbotson 70 74 144 0
T1 R J Nakashian 74 70 144 0
T3 Don Whittemore 72 73 145 0
T3 William Mallon 76 69 145 0
T5 Bobby Bird 74 72 146 0
T5 Brian Keenan 74 72 146 0
T5 Chad Frank 71 75 146 0
+ View Full Results

Tournament Summary

Format:  36 holes of individual gross stroke play, followed by match play

Eligibility FSGA Adult Member at least 55 years of age

Handicap:  Florida GHIN 10.0 or less

Entry Fee:  $225

Schedule of Events

Past Results

Championship Format

  • 36 holes of individual stroke play to determine the 32 qualifiers for match play.
  • Maximum Field Size - 90 players
  • A tie for last qualifier's place will be decided immediately by a hole-by-hole play-off.
  • For purposes of determining places in the draw, ties in qualifying rounds will be decided by a blind draw.
  • In the event of a tied match, the stipulated round is deemed to extend to as many holes as are required for a match to be won.

Eligibility

  • Male amateur golfer; at least 55 years of age as of the first day of the Championship
  • Entrant is required to be an Adult member of the FSGA, with a valid FL GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 10.0

Entry Fee

  • $225

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

Entry Priority Guidelines

Prior to Close of Entries

  • Last five year's Senior Amateur Match Play Champions
  • Last year's Senior Amateur Match Play Quarterfinalists
  • Top 25 and ties from Senior Player of the Year Points List at close of entries
  • Top 25 and ties from current year's Senior Amateur Championship
  • Top 25 and ties from previous year's Senior Amateur Points List
  • Top 5 and ties from previous season's Winter Series Points List (55-64 Age Division)
  • Florida Residents Qualifying for previous year's USGA Individual Championships
  • Committee Exemptions

After Close of Entries

  • Any available spots in the field will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis (up to 20 spots)
  • The alternate list is determined by handicap index on the entry close date.
  • Entries received after the competitive field is full or after the close of entries, will be placed on an alternates list. Alternates will be contacted in the order of receipt of entry, if and when a spot becomes available.

Schedule of Events

Monday, June 26th

  • Round one stroke play tee times will begin at 7:30 AM off #1 and #12 tees in foursomes.

Tuesday, June 27th

  • Round two of stroke play. Players will be re-paired by score - 7:30 AM Shotgun in foursomes.

  • If necessary, a playoff to determine the final match play seeds will commence immediately following stroke play.

  • Single elimination matches begin at 1:45 PM

Wednesday, June 28th

  • 7:30 AM - 8:18 AM - Round of 16 Matches

  • 11:15 PM - 12:00 PM - Quarterfinal Matches

Thursday, June 29th

  • 7:30 AM - 7:42 AM - Semifinal Matches

  • 11:30 AM - Final Match

Course Set-Up & Age Divisions

The course will be set-up at approximately:

  • 6,400 - 6,500 yards - Senior Ages 55 & Over

Practice Rounds

Practice rounds are available Sunday, June 25th, the day prior to the championship. Tee times will be available from 9:06-10:54 AM for $89 or 11:06 AM-2:54 PM for $50 + taxCaddies will not be required. A Golf Genius booking link will be provided on May 25th after entries close and the field is determined. Please do not call Streamsong to book!

Any practice rounds prior to June 25th will be at full resort or Florida Resident rates, with club's caddie and cart policies.

Carts

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

Defending Champions

Miles McConnell, of Tampa defeated Vinny Testaverde 2 & 1 in the final match to become the 2022 Senior Amateur Match Play Champion.  Click here for the full results.

Exemptions Earned from this Tournament

Winner

  • Next three Senior Amateur Championships
  • Next year's Florida Senior Open

 Runner-up

  • Next year's Senior Amateur Championship

Other Policies

  • Spectators and Spectator Cart Policy -  Click here.
  • Caddies - Caddies are NOT permitted in FSGA Championships and FSGA qualifying rounds per the FSGA Code of Conduct; except at the Florida Open, Florida Women's Open & Senior Open, and the Florida Senior Open - Click here
  • Championship Pace of Play Policy - Click here.
  • Local Rules and Terms of the 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

Streamsong Main Lodge

$155 + Tax per night

Players can make their reservation by calling (844) 207-8079 and reference FSGA Senior Amateur Match Play Championship.

The reservation deadline is May 25th, 2023.

Click here for more information

Payment

Streamsong accepts cash and all major credit cards.

Directions

Streamsong Resort
3000 Dunes Pass 
Streamsong, FL 33834
(863) 428-1000

Click here for directions.