Ben Gardner and Phil Koch, of Boca Raton, lead the field of 52 teams in the 41st Four-Ball Championship at The Club at TwinEagles in Naples. Five teams are tied at 67 while four teams are right behind them at 68.
Randy Briggs and Daniel Owen, of Ocala, recorded a 67 after Briggs eagled the 18th hole. Defending Champion, David Sutton, of Maitland, and new partner, John Corzilius, of Englewood, finished with a 68. Thirteen teams scored a 69 including the 2003 Mid-Amateur Four-Ball South Champions, brothers Juan and Julio Nutt, of Miami. Six teams finished two-under par 70.
In the Four-Ball Championship, teams of two 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. Forty-two teams qualified through one of the seven qualifying events and the other ten teams earned exempt status through one of five categories. The Club at TwinEagles, site of the Champions Tour event, the ACE Group Classic, will host the Florida State Amateur Championship in 2004.
Play continues on Sunday, July 20 at 8:00 am. For tee-times, pairings and results, please log on to 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 20 championships for amateur golfers in the state, the FSGA is responsible for 39 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.
