The top 168 amateur golfers in the state will compete this week, June 21-24, with hopes of winning the 95th Florida State Amateur Championship at The Bear’s Club and The Loxahatchee Club in Jupiter.
Before reaching the Championship, more than 770 participants attempted to qualify at one of 14 sites across the state. In the Championship, participants will play 18 holes each at The Bear’s Club and The Loxahatchee Club on June 21-22. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 70 and ties. The final 36 holes of the Championship will be played at The Bear’s Club on June 23-24.
The 2012 field features three past Amateur Champions including the Defending Champion Tyler McCumber, from Ponte Vedra Beach. McCumber who is also a past Boys’ Junior Champion will be joined by the 2010 Champion, Sean Dale, of Jacksonville, and the 2005 Champion, Ryan Abbate, of Fort Lauderdale. Six Florida Boys’ Junior Champions are in the field including the reigning Champions Hunter O’Mahony, of Tequesta, and Sam Horsfield, of Davenport. They will be joined by the 2010 (16-18) Champion Hank Lebioda, of Winter Springs, the 2008 (13-15) Champion Matthew Ceravolo, of Palm Beach Gardens, and the 2007 (13-15) Champion Hojin Kang, of Longwood.
In all, 32 players earned exempt status through a variety of different means. The average age of the participants is 28 years old. There are 11 players over the age of 50 while 105 competitors are 25 years of age and younger. The youngest player competing this week will be Luis Gagne, of Orlando, who is 14 years old, while the oldest player is the 2011 Senior Player-of-the-Year, Rick Woulfe, of Fort Lauderdale, at 62 years old.
Started in 1914, the Florida Amateur Championship is the oldest continuous sporting event in the state as well as the largest amateur event in Florida. Past Amateur champions include Bob Murphy, Jerry Pate, and PGA Tour players David Peoples, Chris Couch, and Barry Cheesman.
Spectators and media are welcome to watch the state’s best amateur golfers compete at The Bear’s Club and The Loxahatchee Club.
Click here for tee-times, pairings and results.
