Boys' Junior Championship

Barber Wins Boys Junior Championship

Ceravolo Captures Junior Division Title

Blayne Barber went wire-to-wire to capture the 54th Florida State Boys Junior Championship for his second Boys Junior title as Matthew Ceravolo claimed the junior division title at Interlachen Country Club and Country Club of Orlando on July 7-9.  

In the 16-18 age division, Blayne Barber, 18, of Lake City, posted a tournament total of 9-under par 206 to win the 2008 Championship. After a first round 5-under par 66 on the par 71 Country Club of Orlando course, Barber took a one stroke lead heading into the second round. Barber then expanded his lead to three with a second round 67 at Interlachen. “I never played so well in my life,” said Barber. “I hit the ball exactly as I wanted and made lots of birdies.” In the final round, Barber started with a pair of pars then made double bogey on three and bogey on four. “I just hung in there and tried not to get down,” said Barber. With a par on five and birdie on six and nine, Barber made the turn at 2-over and maintained his three stroke lead. On the back, Barber birdie holes 15, 16 and 18 to go 3-under for the last five holes and post a 1-under par 35 on the back. “I knew I had a four stroke lead with two holes to play,” said Barber. “It let me relax and not worry so much about the remaining holes.” Barber’s final round of 73 secured his second Boys Junior Championship by four strokes. “This win is great,” said Barber. “This is my last junior tournament so it’s nice to go out on top.” Barber, who will be playing at University of Central Florida in the fall, won the 2006 Boys Junior Championship and was last season’s Florida Junior Tour (FJT) Points Champion.This win puts him slightly ahead to win this season’s FJT points race. George Letson, 17, of Tampa, took second place carding rounds of 67-72-71 to finish 5-under par 210 for the 54-hole event. Ben Vertz, 18, of Coral Springs, placed third shooting a 70-66-78—214. In the second round, Vertz broke the course record by two strokes.  

In the 13-15 age division, Matthew Ceravolo, 15, of Palm Beach Gardens, ran away with the title recording a tournament total of 5-under par 210. After posting a 68-71 the first two days, Ceravolo held a two stroke advantage heading into the final round. “I’ve been there before,” said Ceravolo about having the lead with one round remaining. “I thought if I stayed at even, I would have a shot to win.” In the final round, Ceravolo made the turn at 2-under par 34 with birdies on the holes 3, 6 and 9 for a six stroke lead. On the back nine, Ceravolo continued to birdie holes 14 and 16 to maintain the six stroke lead for the win. “This course was unbelievable,” said Ceravolo. “It really suited my game.” With this win, Ceravolo wraps up the Florida Junior Tour points race winning four additional events this season. “I live for pressure,” said Ceravolo. “This win really means a lot and gives me a lot of confidence before the US Junior Championship.” Keith Greene, 15, of Debary, jumped into second place with a final round 67. Combine with his first two rounds of 75-74, Greene finished with a 216 total. First round leader Chris Ingham, 15, of Pinecrest, placed third at 217. Ingham led with a first round 67 and finished with rounds of 74-76.

Round Two Story

Round One Story

The 54th Boys Junior Championship will play at two of Orlando's most prestigious clubs. Designed by Joe Lee, Interlachen Country Club is a tribute to the natural beauty of the re-claimed land and was recently renovated by Steve Smyers in 2007. The Country Club of Orlando has undergone many course renovations.  The latest renovation in 1990 was meant to preserve and enhance the features of the original Donald Ross design. The first two days, players will compete on each course with the final 18 holes at Interlachen Country Club.

ELIGIBILITY:  Open to male amateur golfers ages 13-18 as of July 9, 2008. Entrant must not have reached their 19th birthday by July 10, 2008 and not attending college. Players must be (1) a resident of Florida (reside in Florida at least 4 months per year or have otherwise established legal residency); or (2) a member of a FSGA member club; or (3) a dependant of a military personnel or a military personnel based in Florida on active duty.

ENTRIES CLOSE:  Wednesday, May 14

ENTRY FEE:  $20 ($30 - players who do not have an active FSGA/GHIN Handicap). Those individuals who advance to the Championship through qualifying must preregister and remit an additional $120 either online at the FSGA website at www.fsga.org  or by check to the FSGA office for advance payment of Championship Fees. Preregistration payment must be received by Monday, June 30 by 3:30 pm, or the individual will be withdrawn from the Championship.

EXEMPT PLAYER'S FEE: $130 ($140 - players 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)

EXEMPTIONS:  All players will compete in the age division that commensurates with their age as of the last day of the Championship. No players are allowed to play out of their age division. Players in the following categories will be eligible for exemption provided they meet all entry, age and eligibility requirements.

• Previous Boys Junior Champions (either age division)
• Top 10 & tied from last year’s Boys Junior Championship (16-18 age division)
• Top 5 & tied from last year’s Boys Junior Championship (13-15 age division)
• Top 3 & tied from last year’s FHSAA Class 1A Golf Finals
• Top 3 & tied from last year’s FHSAA Class 2A Golf Finals
• Current season’s Florida Junior Tour Boys Winners
• Top 5 & tied from the current year’s FJT Points List (either age division) as of the close of entries for the Boys Junior Championship
• Players qualifying for last year’s US Amateur Championship
• Players qualifying for last year’s US Junior Amateur Championship
• Players making the cut at last year’s Amateur Championship

HANDICAPS:  No higher than 17.4.

QUALIFYING:  18 holes stroke play at 6 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.

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT:  Fifty-Four holes of individual stroke play. All players play eighteen holes each at Country Club of Orlando and at Interlachen Country Club Monday, July 7th and Tuesday, July 8th.  After thirty-six holes, the field will be cut to the low fifty (50) scores and ties in the Boys 16-18 division and the low twenty (20) scores and ties in the Boys 13-15 Division. The final eighteen holes will be played at Interlachen Country Club. 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. It is the player’s responsibility to be present for any play-off.

DIVISIONS:  Regular (16-18) as of July 9, 2008 and Junior (13-15) as of July 9, 2008.

COURSE:  Interlachen Country Club/Country Club of Orlando - Orlando  

SPECTATORS AND CADDIES: Spectators are always welcome at FSGA Championships. Spectators are allowed to ride and the cost of a spectator cart is $20 plus tax.  Players are not allowed to employ a caddie. Spectator carts will be available on a first-come, first-served basis and the number of carts allowed per group may be limited.  Click here for spectator policies.

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: Click on the link for hotels in the Winter Park & Orlando area.  Then click on the hotel icon.  The FSGA does not have a host hotel. Click here

CHAMPIONSHIP PACE OF PLAY: Click here to read the Championship Pace of Play Policy (timing checkpoints at holes 9 and 18).

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 here for alternate procedures.

PRACTICE ROUND AND PRACTICE FACILITY INFORMATION: Practice rounds are available one week prior to the Championship on a space available basis at either golf course.  Practice rounds are restricted to after 12:00 PM on the weekend prior to the Championship.  There will be NO practice rounds available on July 4th.  

Starting times for your practice round can be arranged by calling each individual club.  

The telephone number to Interlachen Country Club is (407) 657-5220. The telephone number to the Country Club of Orlando is (407) 425-2319.  

You may not make your practice round tee time before groupings are made. Groupings will be made on Monday, June 16th and faxed to the clubs that morning.   

Players will be allowed to practice after their practice round on Sunday and after each competitive round. 

METHOD OF PAYMENTS: Both clubs will accept cash and Visa/MasterCard for payment.

DIRECTIONS TO INTERLACHEN COUNTRY CLUB:

(407) 657-5220  

Interlachen Country Club is located in Winter Park. Go on I-4 East; take Fairbanks exit. Go East (right) on Fairbanks, past Rollins College. Then, the road will curve around some lakes. When it straightens, look for a street called: “Lakemont.” Make a left-hand turn on Lakemont and go 1 mile. Then, the road will fork; bear right. That street is: “Lake Howell Road.” Lake Howell has speed bumps. After two speed bumps, Interlachen Court is on right. The Clubhouse is a half mile down the road on the right.  

DIRECTIONS TO COUNTRY CLUB OF ORLANDO: Click here for driving directions to Country Club of Orlando.

(407) 425-2319  

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS:  Michael Hebert, of Orlando, shot a 70-75-69--214 to win the Championship as Hojin Kang, from Longwood, posted a 71-70-70--211 to win the junior division at CC of Ocala and Golden Hills. Click here to view past Champions.