Joseph Kern and Rod Perry fired a 5-under par 67 at Quail Valley Golf Club in Vero Beach to share the first round lead at the 63rd Florida Open Championship.
Joseph Kern, of Vero Beach, and Rod Perry, from Port Orange, lead the field of 156 players by one stroke heading into the second round of play. Kern, the Head Professional at the Indian River Club, played his first round on Quail Valley Golf Club and made three birdies to record a 2-under par 34 on his front nine. Kern continued his solid play with three birdies on the back nine for a 33. Perry, a PGA Professional at the Daytona Beach Golf Club, also playing Quail Valley Golf Club made six birdies and one bogey in route to his 5-under par 67. Two amateur competitors are tied for third at 4-under par, Justin Dorward, of Port Saint Lucie, and Thomas Murray, of Orange Park both carded 68’s on John’s Island West. Six Players are tied for fifth place including two former State Public Links Champions, Kevin Aylwin, of New Smyrna Beach, and Jon Veneziano, of Eustis fired rounds of 3-under par 69 at Quail Valley Golf Club.
The top 156 amateur & professional golfers in the state will play 18 holes each on Quail Valley Golf Clun and John’s Island West on July 17-18. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 60 and ties. The final 18 holes of the Championship will be played on Quail Valley Golf Club on July 19. Before reaching the Championship, more than 1100 participants attempted to qualify at one of 16 sites across the state setting a new tournament record for entries filed.
Started in 1942, The Florida Open Championship has produced past champions that include Willie Turnesa, Bob Murphy, Gary Koch, Bruce Fleisher, John Huston, Dudley Hart, and Bart Bryant. This will be the first year the Florida State Golf Association will be conducting this great championship. Spectators and media are welcome to watch the state’s best professionals and amateur golfers compete at Quail Valley Golf Club and John’s Island West.
