Devin Hernandez fired a 2-under par 70 at the Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club in Palm Harbor to lead after the first round at the 64th Florida Open Championship.
Devin Hernandez, of Seminole, leads the field of 156 players by one stroke heading into the second round of play. Hernandez, currently a member of the University of South Florida golf team, played his first round on the Island course. Hernandez played a solid round of golf firing an even par 36 on his front nine, and followed up with a two-under par 34 on his back nine for a round of two-under par 70 on the difficult Island course. Patrick Lamb, of Lake Wales is currently tied for second place with a round of one-under par 70 on the Copperhead course. Jamey Salmon, of Jacksonville, is also tied for second place with a round of one-under par 71 on the Island course. A group of seven players are currently tied for fourth place which includes the 2010 Amateur Public Links Champion, Kevin Aylwin, of New Smyrna Beach and the 2009 South Florida PGA Player of the Year, Ryan Garrity, of Jupiter, both firing rounds of even par.
The top 156 amateur & professional golfers in the state will play 18 holes each on the Copperhead course and the Island course on July 16-17. 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 the Copperhead course on July 18. Before reaching the Championship, more than 1000 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 second year the Florida State Golf Association will be conducting this great championship.
