The Jacksonville duo of Steve Carter and Andy Purnell fired an 8-under par 64 in the first round to lead the 43rd Florida State Four-Ball Championship at Grand Cypress Golf Club in Orlando.
Steve Carter and Andy Purnell lead the field of 48 teams after shooting a 64 on the North/South course combination. Carter, the 2004 Mid-Amateur Champion, and Purnell, the 2003 Match Play Champion and 2003 Player-of-the-Year, are in front by two strokes. As a team, the Jacksonville pair won the 2003 Mid-Amateur Four-Ball North Championship. Dan Beckman and Eddie Pearce, both from Temple Terrace, posted a 66 to go into the final round in second place. Seven teams are at 5-under including Florida Junior Tour (FJT) members Chappell Brown and Robbie Wight, both from West Palm Beach, and this year’s Mid-Amateur Four-Ball South Champions, Brian Johnson, of Coral Springs, and Scot Brassard, from Hollywood. Defending Champions, Bret Voisin, of Orlando, and Jeff Robinson, from Sanford, are tied with five other teams who carded a 68 in the first round.
After nine qualifying events across the state, teams advanced to compete on the Jack Nicklaus designed North/South combination and New Course in the Championship. The Championship will also feature exempt teams who earned exempt status through different categories. In the Championship, participants play 36 holes of four-ball stroke play in the two-day event. In four-ball stroke play, two competitors play as partners, each playing his own ball. The lower score of the partners is the score for the hole.
For tee-times, pairings, and complete results, please visit www.fsga.org .
