Florida Open Championship

Jonas Dominates 69th Florida Open

John Jonas started the day with a four-stroke lead after two impressive rounds of 63-68 at his home course, Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville. The final round got off to a slow start for Jonas after following up two birdies with two bogeys on the front nine. In the same group, Ryan Carter chased close behind Jonas after two birdies and an eagle on the first four holes. Meanwhile, Philip Knowles, of Bradenton, continued his steady play and moved up the leaderboard. Knowles, who posted back-to-back rounds of 69 on Friday and Saturday, went into his final nine of the tournament at nine-under par after three birdies on the front-nine. Jonas finished the front-nine at thirteen-under par, four strokes ahead of Knowles and three strokes ahead of Carter.

The final nine of the Championship came down to a race between Knowles and Jonas. Jonas came back from his two bogeys on holes seven and eight with two birdies on holes ten and eleven. After a bogey on number ten, Knowles fought back with four birdies, narrowing Jonas' lead to two strokes. Philip, 2014 Amateur Match Play Champion, finished in second place with a score of 66, tournament total 204 (-12). Jonas completed round three at fourteen-under par, 202, to keep his strong grip on first place. Ryan Carter’s strong start faltered with a double bogey on hole nine and he finished the day with one birdie on the back nine for a three day total of 205 (-11) and a tied for third place finish. Joey Petronio played a steady final round with an eagle on the par five 15th hole and tied Carter in third place.

Winning the 69th Florida Open is John Jonas’ first FSGA Championship victory. Jonas is an amateur who plays college golf for the College of Charleston in South Carolina. Four amateurs finished in the top ten and Joey Petronio was the only professional to finish in the top three. Daniel Olsen, David Hronek, and Alan Morin tied for fifth place as professionals.

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 is the sixth year the Florida State Golf Association will be conducting this great championship.

Round Two Recap

Round One Recap

Final Professional Payout

Final Results and Course Statistics

Timuquana Country Club will play host to the 69th Florida Open in Jacksonville. The Florida Open is open to PGA golf professionals, amateur golfers, and other professional golfers who meet the eligibility requirements listed below. The Florida Open has a rich history that dates back to 1942 and includes notable champions, such as Bob Murphy, Gary Koch, Charles Owens, Bruce Fleisher, John Huston, Dudley Hart, and Bart Bryant among others.  Click here to read more about the historic event and its past Champions.

Professionals and Amateurs can qualify for the Championship through local qualifying.  Exemptions are available through State Amateur Championships & PGA Section Events. For a look at the 2014 Championship click here.

Championship Format

• 144 players in the Championship field
• 54 holes of individual stroke play
• The field will be cut to the low 60 and ties after 36 holes
• The lowest score for 54 holes will be the Champion
• All rounds will be played at Timuquana Country Club on Friday, July 17th, Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th

Eligibility

• Open to Professional and Amateur golfers who are residents of Florida since January 1st, and who have NOT played professionally in more than (6) "major" tour events or, more than (18) "one or two-day" type mini-tour events in the 12-months prior to the Championship. Amateurs (or an amateur awaiting reinstatement) must have a current USGA Handicap Index© not exceeding 6.4 under the Men's USGA Handicap System
• Click to see Complete Eligibility and a list of professional tours that count towards these limits, and for more details.  If you have any questions about your eligibility, it is the player's responsibility to review the guidelines and to contact the FSGA office as needed to ensure eligibility
• Ineligible applicants will not receive refunds  Click here to view FSGA Tournament Policies.

Entry Fees

Entries are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until the field is full. Entries are then placed on an alternates list in order of receipt and contacted if, and when, a spot becomes available.

Late entries are subject to a $10 late entry fee should the entrant gain acceptance into the field.

Pre-Registration

Those individuals who advance to the Championship through qualifying must pre-register and remit the appropriate Championship Fee (See Above) online at www.fsga.org under the "My Account" section, which can be located in the top right hand corner of the web-page.  Payment must be received by Friday, July 10 by 3:30 pm or the individual will be withdrawn from the Championship.  Championship fee includes competitive round lunches, golf, cart fees and range balls plus a player's badge and tee gift.

To Pre-Register:

• Log on to the FSGA website at www.fsga.org using your email address and password

• Click on "My Account" in the upper right hand corner of the homepage

• Under "My Tournaments", click on the "Pre-Register" button to the right of the tournament name

• Enter your credit card information and then click the "Charge My Card" button on the bottom right hand corner of the page

Refunds, Notice of Withdrawals

Requests for qualifying entry refunds received prior to entry closing date will be honored (less $20 per entry administrative fee). Requests received after the closing date will be honored (less 50% of entry fee). No requests will be honored within 48 hours of the first scheduled tee time.

Requests for refunds of Exempt or Championship fees prior to the pre-registration deadline will be honored (less $20 per entry administrative fee). No requests will be honored after the pre-registration deadline.

Schedule of Events 

Friday, July 17th

• 7:15 AM - 8:54 AM - Round one tee times off of #1 and #10
• 11:45 AM - 1:24 PM - Round one tee times off of #1 and #10
• Complimentary players' lunch buffet in the main clubhouse

Saturday, July 18th

• 7:15 AM - 8:54 AM - Round two tee times off of #1 and #10
• 11:45 AM - 1:24 PM - Round two tee times off of #1 and #10
• Complimentary players' lunch buffet in the main clubhouse
• The field will be cut to low 60 players and ties after the completion of play

Sunday, July 19th

• 8:00 AM - Final round tee times begin off of #1 and #10
• Complimentary players' lunch buffet in the main clubhouse
• Awards ceremony immediately following the completion of play 

Course Set-Up

The golf course will be set-up at approximately 6,850 yards.

Championship Field Size

144 Players. Cut to low 60 and ties after 36-holes.

Local Qualifying

18 holes stroke play at 16 Local Qualifying sites.

Transferring Qualifying Sites

Players may submit one entry for the Florida Open and choose the site at which they will attempt to qualify.  However, if any site requires adjustment (including, but not limited to, the receipt of more entries than can be accommodated), players will be transferred to another site based on their preference listed on the entry application and date of receipt of entry application (i.e. later applicants will be subject to transfer).

Estimated Purse

$75,000 (see estimated purse pay-out (Click here)  1st Place - $12,000

Defending Champion

Caleb Johnson captured the 68th Florida Open Championship posting a tournament total of 12-under par at the Bonita Bay Club in Naples on July 18-20, 2014. Johnson came from behind with a final round score of seven-under par, 65, to be crowned victorious and earn the first place check of $12,000. 

Cart and Caddie Policy

During qualifying and the Championship proper, each player must use a golf cart which is included in the qualifying and Championship entry fees. Caddies are welcome but must walk at all times.

Championship Information

Play-Off

If necessary, there will be a hole-by-hole "sudden death" play-off for champion. It is the player’s responsibility to be present for any playoff.

Practice Round and Practice Information

Practice rounds will be available to the competitors one week in advance of the competition on a space available basis.  Practice rounds are restricted to after 12:00 PM on the weekend prior to the Championship. The cost of practice rounds is $25 plus tax. Players will be responsible for direct payment of any fees for the practice rounds. Please call (904) 389-0477 to schedule a practice round.

Players will be allowed to practice after their formal practice and after each competitive round. 

You may not make your practice round tee time before qualifying is completed. Weather permitting, qualifying concludes on July 8th. A list of players will be faxed to the club following the conclusion of qualifying. 

Exemptions

Players in the following categories will be eligible for exemption provided they meet all entry and eligibility requirements:

NOTE: Blank entries will be filed by the FSGA for players who become exempt after the close of entries.    

PROFESSIONALS

• Last five year's Florida Open Champions
• Professionals finishing top ten and tied of last year’s Florida Open
• Championship Host Clubs' Representative (may be an amateur)
• Current year’s SFPGA Open Champion
• Current year’s Fort Lauderdale Open Champion (Regular Division)
• Last year’s NFPGA PNC Champion
• Last year’s Dixie, NFPGA and SFPGA Section Champions (Dixie and SFPGA Professional Champion)
• Last year’s Dixie, NFPGA and SFPGA Section Senior (Regular Division) Champion
• Last year’s Dixie, NFPGA and SFPGA Section Chapter Champions
• Last year’s Dixie, NFPGA and SFPGA Section Assistant Champions
• Last year’s Dixie Section Match Play Champion
• Current year’s NFPGA Section Match Play Champion
• Last year’s Dixie, NFPGA and SFPGA Section Senior (Regular Division) Player of the Year
• Last year’s top five and tied on the final Dixie, NFPGA and SFPGA Section Player of the Year Points List

AMATEURS

• Last five year's Florida Open Champions
• Amateurs finishing in the top ten and tied of last year’s Florida Open
• Current Year’s Amateur Champion
• Last two year’s Amateur Champions
• Top 200 and tied from last year's final World Amateur Golf Rankings
• Last year’s top five and tied Amateur Championship finishers
• Last year’s top five and tied on the final FSGA Player of the Year Points List
• Last year’s Junior Amateur Player of the Year
• Last year’s Senior Amateur Player of the Year
• Last year’s Boys Junior Champion (16-18 Age Division)
• Last year’s Amateur Match Play Champion
• Last year’s Mid-Amateur Champion

Exemptions Earned from this Tournament

Winner

• Next five Florida Opens

Players finishing in the top ten and tied

• Next year's Florida Open

Low Amateur

• Current year's Mid-Amateur Championship
• Next year's Amateur Championship
• Next year's Amateur Match Play Championship

Other Policies

• Spectators and Spectator Cart Policy -  Click here.
• Championship Pace of Play Policy - Click here.
• Local Rules and Conditions of Competition - Click here.
• Championship Policies - Click here to read the withdrawal, dress code, and other policies.
• Procedures for Alternates - Click here for information on how alternates may gain entry into this Championship.
• Conditions/ Schedule - The FSGA Championships Committee/on-site Rules Committee reserves the right to alter any of the conditions, provisions and/or schedules. The decision of the Championships Committee/on-site Rules Committee in any matter will be final.

Shirt Sponsor

Cutter & Buck is the official shirt of the Florida Open Championship

Host Hotel and Accommodations

Hilton Garden Inn - Orange Park
145 Park Avenue
Orange Park, FL 32073
904-458-1577

$85 per room, per night

More information

Dress Code

Proper attire for competitors and caddies is required at all times at the golf facility.  Failure to comply may result in withdrawal of entry.

• Golf Shorts are permitted
• All hats must be worn properly.
• Collared shirts or shirts specifically designed for golf must be worn and tucked in at all times.
• This code supplements any course or club guidelines, which shall take precedence.

Refunds, Notice of Withdrawals

Requests for qualifying entry refunds received prior to entry closing date will be honored (less $20 per entry administrative fee). Requests received after the closing date will be honored (less 50% of entry fee). No requests will be honored within two days of the start of the tournament.

Requests for refunds of Exempt or Championship fees prior to the pre-registration deadline will be honored (less $20 per entry administrative fee). No requests will be honored after the per-registration deadline.

Publicity and Promotion; Broadcasting

By participating in FSGA Events you grant the FSGA and those acting with the FSGA, permission, authority and the permanent rights to use your name or likeness for publicity and promotional purposes. Participants understand that all Media, including film, photographic prints, audio or digital files are the exclusive property of the FSGA. Participants in FSGA events waive their rights to inspect or approve all media produced by the FSGA and those acting on the FSGA's behalf. Participants waive their permanent rights to compensation for use of their name and likeness by the FSGA.

Payment 

Timuquana Country Club accepts cash, Visa, and MasterCard for payment.

Directions

Timuquana Country Club
4028 Timuquana Road
Jacksonville, FL 32210
(904) 389-0477