The Florida State Golf Association has two state championships being held this weekend. Both championships are State Mid-Senior Four-Ball Championships. The northern championship is being held at El Diablo Golf & Country Club, while the southern championship is at Collier's Reserve Country Club in Naples.
Jacksonville's Pinky Pelham and Ponte Vedra Beach's Fred Lester made eight birdies and 10 pars during their first round to lead the northern championship by one stroke. Tallahassee's George Gavalas and Victor Gavalas combined to shoot 65 to stand in second place. Jacksonville's Steve Dodson and David Anthony, the defending champions, are three strokes back after posting a 67.
At the southern championship, Winter Garden's Mark Puskarich and Orlando's Fred Stones combined to shoot a 65 to lead Ft. Lauderdale's Steven Sim and Wellington's Stephen Marotta by one stroke. Sim won the Florida State Match Play Championship for the second time a little over a month ago.
The Mid-Senior Four-Ball Championships are for amateurs over the age of 40. The competition uses the four-ball stroke play format. In four-ball stroke play, two competitors play as partners with each playing their own ball. The lower score of the partners is the score for the hole. The rounds of both events will be held tomorrow.
The championships are the 13th and 14th of 17 state championships conducted annually by the Florida State Golf Association. The FSGA was form in 1913 to preserve, promote and protect amateur golf in the state.
