Florida Open Championship

Caleb Johnson Wins 68th Florida Open

Six birdies in his final seven holes propels Johnson to victory.

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.

Caleb Johnson, of Ocala, outlasted the field of 156 players to capture the 68th Florida Open Championship.  Johnson opened up his Championship campaign on the Cypress Course, posting a four-under par 68 to trail Charles Wang, of Bradenton by two shots after 18-holes of play. Johnson’s flawless first round included four birdies and no bogeys.  Playing the Bay Island Course in the second round, Johnson would use three birdies to go along with his two bogeys for his round of one-under par 71. With a 36-hole total of five-under par 139, Johnson would find himself in the final pairing on Sunday and only three shots back.

In the final round, Johnson would trail the overnight leader, Tyler Hock, of Ocala, for most of the afternoon, and even after a two-under par front nine, Johnson would still trail Hock by two shots enter the final nine holes of play. After birdies by Hock on 10 and 12 to get to 12-under par for the Championship, Johnson’s chances looks slim as he stood on the 12th tee box. What happened on the final seven holes was for Johnson was pretty special. Johnson would peel off four birdies in a row on holes 12-15 to cut Hock’s lead to only one shot. After both players bogeyed the difficult par-3 16th hole, Johnson would still only trial by one shot. Johnson would take the lead on the 17th hole with another birdie, as Hock would make bogey. Standing on the 18th tee, Johnson would hold a one shot lead over three players. Needing at least a par on the final hole, Johnson would do one better finishing off the Championship in style by knocking his approach shot to one foot to make yet another birdie and cap of his round of seven-under par 65. With his victory, Johnson will take home the first place check of $12,000.

Matt Borchert, of Windermere, and Tyler Hock, of Ocala, finished tied for second place with a tournament total of 10-under par 206. Brad Brunner, of Tampa, and Zachary Oakley, of Palm City, shared fourth place honors with a tournament total of nine-under par 207. Low amateur honors were shared by Joe Alfieri, of Lutz, Keith Green, of DeBary, and Charles Wang, of Bradenton, who all finished tied for 11th place. 

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 2 Recap

Round 1 Recap

Final Professional Payout

Final Results and Course Statistics

~Cypress & Bay Island Courses~

Entries Close Wednesday June 11, 2014

Bonita Bay Club will play host to the 2014 Florida Open in Naples.  The Florida Open allows the best amateurs in the state to compete against golf professionals living in Florida.The Florida Open has a rich history that dates back to 1942 with Lou Broward winning the first championship.  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 2013 Championship click here.

Championship Format

• 156 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 players play eighteen holes each on the Cypress and Bay Island courses on Friday, July 18th and Saturday, July 19th
• The final 18 holes will be played on the Cypress course on Sunday, July 20th

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
• Click to see Eligibility for 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

• Qualifying Fee: Qualifying Fee includes Entry Fee and course fee (not carts). Players have the option to walk or ride during the qualifying round. Cart fee is not included at qualifying sites and players will need to pay the professional shop if they wish to use a golf cart.
  
• Championship Fee: Fee paid by those individuals who advance to the Championship through qualifying includes tee gifts, course and cart fees, range balls and lunch for each competitive round.
  
• Exempt Fee: Exempt Fee includes Championship Fee and Entry Fee for those individuals eligible for exemption.

Late entries will be accepted subject to a $10 late entry fee should the entrant gain acceptance into the qualifying 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 Monday, July 14 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

Schedule of Events 

Friday, July 18th

• 8:00 AM - 9:48 AM - Round One tee times off of #1 and #10 on Cypress Course
• 8:00 AM - 9:48 AM - Round One tee times off of #1 and #11 on Bay Island Course
• Complimentary players' lunch buffet in the main clubhouse

Saturday, July 19th

• 8:00 AM - 9:48 AM - Round Two tee times off of #1 and #10 on Cypress Course
• 8:00 AM - 9:48 AM - Round Two tee times off of #1 and #11 on Bay Island Course
• 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 20th

• 8:00 AM - Final Round tee times begin off of #1 and #10 on Cypress Course
• 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 6,900-7,300 yards.

Championship Field Size

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

Local Qualifying

18 holes stroke play at 16 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

Tyler McCumber, of Ponte Vedra Beach, won the Florida Open Championship shooting a 69-68-67--204 at The Quail Valley Golf Club and Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club.  

Cart and Caddie Policy

Qualifying Round

Players have the option of walking or they may rent a cart.  Only a player or his caddie may ride in a cart but not both at the same time.  (Cart fees at qualifying site not to exceed $25 per player)

Championship Rounds

Cart fees are included in the Championship Fee for all competitive rounds of the Championship. Only a player or his caddie may ride in a cart but not both at the same time. Players may ride, carry their bag or have a caddie at the Championship, however no refunds will be given for unused cart fees and players choosing to walk must adhere to the established FSGA Pace of Play Policy.

Practice Rounds - Cart fees, if charged, are the responsibility of the player.

Championship Information

Play-Off

If necessary, there will be a three-hole aggregate score play-off for champion. If the play-off results in a tie, play will immediately continue, hole by hole. 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 (239) 495-0200 to schedule a practice round.

Players will be allowed to practice after their practice round on Wednesday & Thursday and after each competitive round. 

You may not make your practice round tee time before qualifying is completed. Weather permitting, qualifying concludes. 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 Club’s Representative
• Current year’s SFPGA Open Champion
• Last year’s Dixie and SFPGA Professional Champion
• Current year’s Fort Lauderdale Open Champion
• Last year’s NFPGA PNC Champion
• Last year’s Dixie, NFPGA and SFPGA Section Champions
• 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

On-Site Registration

TBD

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

Accommodations

Please click the View Hotels tab in the Tournament Links section for hotels in the Naples area.

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 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 or 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

Bonita Bay Club accepts cash, Visa/MasterCard and American Express for payment.

Directions

Cypress Course
Bonita Bay East
3700 Wildwood Blvd.
Naples, FL 34120
(239) 352-8700

Bay Island Course
Bonita Bay Club
26660 Country Club Drive
Bonita Springs, FL  34134