The top 168 amateur golfers in the state will compete on June 23-26 with hopes of winning the 88th Florida State Amateur Championship at Bear Lakes Country Club in West Palm Beach.
Before reaching the Championship, more than 780 participants attempted to qualify at one of 13 sites across the state. In the Championship, participants will play 18 holes each at the Lakes and Links courses on June 23-24. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 70 and ties. The final 36 holes of the Championship will be played on the Lakes course on June 25-26. Designed by Jack Nicklaus, Bear Lakes features two championship golf courses, the Lakes and Links. Bear Lakes hosted the Amateur in 1990 as well as the final stage of the PGA Tour Qualifying School in 2001.
Defending Champion, Brad Quiri, of Tampa, fired a 71-73-67-70—281 to win last year at The Club at TwinEagles. Quiri, as well as other former State Amateur Champions, are exempt into this year’s Amateur. The 2003 Champion Richard Maddox, of Panama City, 2002 Champion Ty Harris, of Tampa, and the 1995 and1997 Mark Leetzow are all in this year’s field. The Mid-Amateur Champions from the past three years, David Anthony, of Jacksonville, Ryan Konkus, of Hobe Sound, and Steve Carter, from Jacksonville, will also be competing for the 2005 Amateur title.
Started in 1914, the FSGA State Amateur 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, Buddy Alexander, 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 Bear Lakes Country Club. For tee-times, pairings and results, please see www.fsga.org.
