Processing your payment, please wait.

Florida Represents at U.S. Amateur Four-Ball

May 16, 2023

 

KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. – Two-hundred and fifty-six of the best amateur golfers in the country will head to Kiawah Island Club in South Carolina to compete for the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship title. Qualifying took place over 52 sites across the United States and amongst the 128 teams that qualified, nine teams consist of Floridians.

The tournament begins May 20 and starts with 36 holes of stroke play on the River Course at Kiawah Island club followed by a cut. In order to advance to match play, the side must survive the cut and lie within the top-32 teams.

Let’s take a look at the nine teams representing Florida.

Richard Donegan and Joey Latwoski

Making their first appearance as a team at the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, these two players make a powerful pair. Making his first USGA appearance, Richard Donegan played college golf at the University of Florida. Shortly after graduation, he captured the victory at the 2015 Florida Amateur Public Links Championship. Most recently, Donegan advanced to the Round of 16 at the Florida Mid-Amateur Championship.

His partner, Joey Latwoski, is well-known around the Florida State Golf Association. The Port Saint Lucie native won 2022 Amateur and Mid-Amateur player of the year honors. In addition, Latowski has been a member of two Florida Cup teams, he is a two-time Mid-Amateur Champion, and a Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Champion. Latwoski competed in the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship. The duo is hoping to raise a trophy at the end of the week in South Carolina.

Chip Brooke and Marc Dull

Brooke and Dull have competed in five of seven U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championships and the pair is set to make their sixth appearance at the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball in Kiawah. This team has quite the history of playing in U.S. Four-Ball Championships and Florida Four-Ball Championships together, and they have certainly earned the title as the team to beat. The duo advanced all the way to the semifinals in 2017 and to the finals in 2018. In addition, Brooke and Dull also advanced to the quarterfinals last year at the 2022 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball in Birmingham, Alabama.

Marc Dull has captured several victories with the Florida State Golf Association and he earned Amateur Player of the Year in 2017 and Mid-Amateur Player of the Year in 2018. Chip Brooke captured a victory at the 2016 Mid-Amateur Championship and secured Low Amateur at the 2017 Florida Open. Brooke and Dull teamed up and captured the 2020 and 2021 Two-Man Scramble Championship. The pair will certainly pose a challenge to their opponents and have hopes of raising the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball victory in South Carolina.

Marc France and Carl Santos-Ocampo

France and Santos-Ocampo will make their second appearance at the U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship in Kiawah. The pair have teamed up for events since 2016. They certainly make a powerful pair as they have placed in the top five in four out of five Florida Four-Ball Championships and also captured a victory in the 2020 Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship. The pair also secured a second place finish at the 2021 Two-Man Shoot-Out.

Andres Atrio and Nicholas Prieto

Making their first appearance at a U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship, Atrio and Prieto are not strangers to the big stage. Nicholas Prieto competed in the 2022 U.S. Junior Amateur Championship at Bandon Dunes Golf Resort. In addition, Prieto won the 2021 Florida Boys’ Junior Amateur Championship and earned 2020 FJT Points Champion honors.

Brad Knight and Ryan Prokay

Sarasota native, Brad Knight has partnered with Ryan Prokay to compete in the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. Most recently, Knight and Prokay teamed up and secured a third-place finish at the 2023 Two-Man Shoot-Out. Brad Knight competed in the 2022 U.S. Mid-Amateur Championship and he also captured a top-10 finish at the 2021 Florida Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship. Additionally, Prokay is an active member with the FSGA and has secured numerous wins in Winter Series events. The duo hope to raise the trophy at the end of next week as U.S. Four-Ball Champions in Kiawah.

Lucas Carpenter and Paul Simpkins

Lucas Carpenter out of Tampa has partnered with Paul Simpkins of Oviedo. The pair will head to South Carolina to make their first appearance as a team at the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. Paul Simpkins competed in the 2013 U.S. Amateur Championship. The pair is hoping to make their first time as teammates memorable with a trophy at the end of the week.

Brendon Ehlers and Matt Giovannelli

Ehlers and Giovannelli, both out of Ocala, have teamed up to compete in their first U.S. Four-Ball Championship. Giovannelli and Ehlers are each experienced players in Four-Ball Championships. The pair captured a third-place finish at the 2022 Florida Mid-Amateur Four-Ball Championship. They have hopes of success Kiawah.

Bobby Frazzini

Bobby Frazzini of Bonita Springs is set to compete in his first U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship. He has paired up with Will Holmgren of Plymouth, Minnesota.

Jack Irons

Jack Irons of Naples has teamed up with Troy Vannucci of Marlton, New Jersey. The pair hope to find success at the 2023 U.S. Amateur Four-Ball Championship in Kiawah.