Senior Amateur Match Play Championship

Senior Match Play Champions Crowned

Pete Williams defeated Jerry Rose to win the 9th Senior Amateur Match Play Championship as Larry Vander Bie defeated Gary Saft to win the Super Senior Division at Black Diamond Ranch, in Lecanto, on June 8-12.
 
After several lengthy weather delays over the past two days, the number one seed, Pete Williams, of Juno Beach, defeated Jerry Rose, of Sarasota, 2 up, to capture his second State Championship of the 2014 season. Williams who won the Senior Amateur Championship back in April, trailed Rose after the 13th hole, but Williams would birdie the 14th and 15th holes, to grab a 1 up lead with three holes to play. After both players would halve the 16th and 17th holes, Williams would head to the 18th tee with a 1 up lead. An errant tee shot on the 18th hole would prove costly for Rose, as he would fail to get up and down and lose the match 2 up to Williams. Before reaching the finals, Williams would defeat Robert Savard, of Lecanto, 5 and 4, and then defeated Anthony Baccari, of Odessa, 5 and 3 in the round of 16. Williams then defeated John Vaccaro, of Sarasota, 2 up in the Quarterfinals, and would hang on against Buddy Alexander, of Gainesville, in the Semifinals in 23 holes.
 
In the Super Senior Division, Larry Vander Bie, of Brooksville, defeated Gary Saft, of Fort Myers, 4 and 2, to capture his first State Championship. Vander Bie earned the number one seed after his stroke play rounds of 72-70. En route to capturing the title, Vander Bie defeated Jim McKenzie, of Pensacola, 5 and 4 in the round of 16, and then defeated Ron Green, of Lecanto, 4 and 2 in the Quarterfinals. In the Semifinal match, Vander Bie ousted the 13 seed and current FSGA President, Randy Briggs, of Ocala, 3 and 2.  
 
To be eligible for the Senior Amateur Match Play Championship, participants must be 55 years of age or older for the Senior Division and 65 years of age or older as of June 8, 2014.  The Championship consists of 36-holes of stroke play qualifying over the first two days with the lowest 32 players advancing to the match play portion of the event in the Senior Division and the lowest 16 players in the Super Senior Division to determine the champion.

Full Story

Quarterfinal Matches Recap

Stroke Play Recap

~Quarry Course~

Entries Close Wednesday, May 21, 2014
$195 per competitor ($185 with GHIN handicap)

The Senior Amateur Match Play is a great chance for seniors in Florida to get a chance to compete in a state Championship.  There are two divisions in the Championship, Senior and Super Senior. For a look at the 2013 Championship Results click here.

Black Diamond Ranch offers a golfing experience unlike any other in Florida.  The Quarry course is an experience in and of itself with multiple holes being carved out of a quarry.  The Quarry course is consistently rated as one of the top courses in the country. Sign up quickly as these spots will fill fast!

Championship Format (New)

• 36 holes of individual stroke play. (18 Sunday - 18 Monday). Field will be reduced to Championship Flights Only.
• Championship flight of 32 in the Senior division. Championship flight of 16 in the Super-Senior division.
• There will be a hole by hole play-off to determine the 32nd seed in the Senior Championship and the 16th seed in the Super-Senior; all other seeding ties in each division will be broken randomly.
• All players making match play, will play one match Tuesday morning.
• All successful remaining players will play a match Wednesday morning with winner's playing again in the afternoon.
• The finals of the Super-Senior are scheduled for Thursday morning.
• The semi-finals for the Senior Division will be played on Thursday morning; followed by the Championship match in the afternoon.

Eligibility

• Male amateurs must be a member of the FSGA and have reached 55 years of age (Senior) or 65 years of age (Super-Senior) by June 8, 2014.

Entry Fee

• $185 GHIN or Foundation Member
• $195 Non-GHIN Member

Course Set-Up & Age Divisions

All players will be placed in the age division commensurate with their age as of the first day of the Championship. No player may play in both age divisions The Quarry Course will be set-up at approximately:

• 6,400 - 6,500 yards - Senior Ages 55-64
• 6,100 - 6,200 yards - Super-Senior Ages 65 & over
• Any Super-Senior wishing to compete in the Senior division must notify the FSGA at time of entry

Tee Times

Round one tee times will begin at 8:00 AM off the 1st and 10th tees. Play will begin at 8:00 AM each day. Tee times are subject to change.

Players will be repaired by score after round one with round two tee times beginning at 8:00 AM off the 1st and 10th tees.

Practice Rounds

Practice rounds are available one week prior to the championship.  Practice rounds may be played after 12:00 PM on the weekend.  The price for a practice round is $35.00 + tax.  Please call (352) 746-3446 to arrange your practice round. The proper place to practice your golf swing is on the driving range, hitting multiple shots on the course is unacceptable.

Carts

Carts are included for all competitive rounds. Players are responsible for practice round fees.

Defending Champions

Doug LaCrosse, of Tampa, defeated Walter Himelsbaugh, of Leesburg, 3 & 2 to win the 8th Senior Amateur Match Play Championship, and Steve Earsley, of Hobe Sound, bested Brian Sachs, of Newberry, 3 & 2 to win the Super Senior Division at Belleair Country Club, in Belleair, June 9-13.

Exemptions Earned from this Tournament

Champion (Senior Division - Championship Flight)

• Next three Senior Amateur Championships
• Current year's Florida Senior Open

Runner-up (Senior Division - Championship Flight)

• Next year's Senior Amateur Championship

Other Policies

• Spectators and Spectator Cart Policy -  Click here.
• Caddies - If a player employs a caddie, the caddie MUST walk and player's clubs must remain on the golf cart.
• 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.

Accommodations

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

Payment

Black Diamond Ranch accepts cash,Visa/Mastercard and American Express for method of payment.

Directions

Black Diamond Ranch
3125 W. Black Diamond Circle
Lecanto, FL 34461
(352) 746-3446

Click here for directions