Judson Eustaquio leads the 90th Florida State Amateur Championship after shooting a first round 4-under par 67 on the Island Course at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor.
Eustaquio, 19, from Lake Worth, posted a 67 in the first round to take a one stroke lead heading into the second round of play. In the first round, Eustaquio made five birdies en route to posting a 33-34 on the Island Course. Eustaquio won the 2004 Boys Junior Championship and earned the 2004 FSGA Junior Player-of-the-Year. Kevin Aylwin, from New Smyrna Beach, trails Eustaquio by one stroke after firing a 3-under par 68 on the Island Course. Aylwin, 18, carded a 35-33 with five birdies. Six players are tied for third place including two past Amateur Champions. Defending Champion Jeff Dennis, of Parkland, shot a 69 on the Island Course as the 2005 Amateur Champion Ryan Abbate, from Fort Lauderdale, shot a 69 on the Copperhead Course. Also at 69 is the 2007 Senior Amateur Champion Rick Woulfe, from Fort Lauderdale. Others at 69 include Tyson Alexander, of Gainesville, Steve Carter, from St. Augustine, and Matthew Galloway, of Valrico.
The top 168 amateur golfers in the state will play 18 holes each on Innisbrook’s Island and Copperhead Courses. 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 June 23-24 on the Copperhead Course, home to the PGA Tour’s PODS Championship. Before reaching the Championship, more than 845 participants attempted to qualify at one of 13 sites across the state.
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 Innisbrook.
For tee-times, pairings and results, please see www.fsga.org.
Organized in 1913, the Florida State Golf Association is a not-for-profit organization that governs amateur golf in the state of Florida. In addition to conducting 25 championships for amateur golfers in the state, the FSGA is responsible for more than 40 qualifying tournaments for USGA National Championships. The FSGA also maintains the USGA Handicap System, performs course ratings throughout Florida and assists in junior programs and scholarships.
