Amateur Public Links Championship

Alfieri Shines at Public Links

The Amateur Public Links Championship is open to bona fide public course players who are not members of a private club and also do not have a handicap index higher than 6.4. Competitors play 18 holes of stroke play on each of the three days.

The amateurs faced difficult weather conditions the first two rounds of the Championship. Round one, on Friday, was delayed after playing for just over an hour. Despite the inclement weather, David Burnham shined some light on the day after making a hole-in-one from 218 yards on the par three 7th hole with a four iron. The players returned to finish their first round on Saturday where play was again suspended at 4:19 PM.  Joe Alfieri, of Lutz, and Marc-Olivier Plasse, of ChampionsGate, were tied for the lead at even par after the first round. Mike Andre, of Fort Myers, and Martin Cancino, of Boca Raton, followed one stroke behind tied for second.

Sunday made for a long day of golf where the players finished their second round and continued on to play their final round. Alfieri, the 2015 Amateur Player of the Year, rose to lead by one stroke heading into the final round after a steady second round of one over-par 73. Alfieri finished second in the event in 2015 and was out for redemption in 2016. After carding three birdies in a row on holes three through five and one more birdie on the seventh hole, Alfieri made the turn at two under-par in his final round. Five birdies on his last nine holes sealed a victory for Alfieri with a final round of six under-par 66, tournament total 211 (-5). Eight shots back in second place was Casper Howells, of Fort Myers, who posted consistent rounds of 74-72-73—219. Austin Schultz, of North Port, carded an impressive final round of 67 to advance to third place with a 220 tournament total. 

**Mandatory** read the eligibility Questions below prior to entering to verify you are eligible.

The Amateur Public Links Championship is a weekend packed with great competition between a list of very successful champions.  Although the competition is fierce, the format is as simple as it gets - 54 holes of stroke play with no cut.  The Championship will head to the Jack Nicklaus Signature Design, Old Corkscrew Golf Club in Estero.  For a look at the 2015 Championship results click here. 

Eligibility

Male amateurs must be bona fide public course players, since January 1, 2016, and have not held privileges at any course that does not extend playing privileges to the general public, or privileges at any private club maintaining its own course. 

A bona fide public course player may hold incidental privileges at a course not open to the public when such privileges are provided by: an educational institution at which he/she attends, a federal armed service at which he/she is a member, or an industry by which he/she is employed.

If you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions, you are NOT ELIGIBLE for this year's FSGA Public Links Championship:

1. Private Club Access - Have you had privileges at a private club (not open to the public) at anytime during the current year (since January 1st)?
2. Social Memberships - Do you maintain a social membership at a private club that allows you to play the course sometime during the year?
3. Dependents of Members - Does your spouse or parent/guardian belong to a private course and as a result you are allowed to play the course without a guest fee?
4. Golf Course Employees - Have you been an employee of a private course during the year, where you are allowed to play golf more than one day per week?
5. Resort Courses - Do you have a membership at a resort that restricts which days resort guests can play?
6. Golf Team Members - As a member of a scholastic golf team, are you allowed to play a private course not owned by the school at times other than your regular golf season including playoffs and championships?

Permitted Exceptions:

• Military Courses - A player, because of his military service may hold privileges at a facility from which the general public is excluded.

• County and City Courses - A player may be a member at a course open to county or city residents even if it is closed to nonresidents.

• Handicap - There is no restriction where a player maintains his handicap. (This is the one exception that the FSGA allows that is not permitted for the USGA Public Links Championship).

Players must be a member of the FSGA.

Championship Format

• 54 holes of individual gross stroke play (no handicaps)
• Maximum 84 player field size

Entry Fee

• $225 Active FSGA/GHIN handicap or Foundation Member
  
• $235 Non active FSGA/GHIN handicap

 Late entries will be accepted subject to a $10 late entry fee should the entrant gain acceptance into the field

Entry Priority

Entries will be accepted based upon the order of receipt. Entries received after the competitive field is full or after the close of entries, will be placed on an alternates list. Alternates will be contacted in the order of receipt of entry, if and when, a spot becomes available.

Handicap Limit

• Must have a Handicap Index no higher than 6.4

Course Set-Up

Schedule of Events

Friday, June 10th

•  7:30 AM - 9:27 AM - Round one tee times off of #1 and #10

Saturday, June 11th

• 7:30 AM - 9:27 AM - Round two tee times off of #1 and #10

Sunday, June 12th

• 7:30 AM - 9:27 AM - Final round tee times off of #1 and #10
• Awards ceremony immediately following the completion of play

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 $30.00 + tax.  Please call (239) 949-4700 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.

Defending Champion

Richard Donegan was the 2015 Champion as he started the tournament with a course record 62.  Held at Celebration Golf Club, Donegan continued to post two more under par rounds to seal his victory.  Two-time Amateur Player of the Year, Joe Alfieri would not make it easy for Donegan as he posted consecutive rounds of 67 to close the tournament and finish with a total of 204, one behind Donegan.  

Exemptions Earned from this Tournament

Winner

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

Other Policies

• Spectators and Spectator Cart Policy - Click here.
• Caddies - Caddies are allowed in all FSGA Championships except Junior events. However, a player must not use a parent, step-parent or guardian as a caddie. The caddie MUST walk and the 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.

Host Hotel and Accommodations

Hilton Garden Inn Fort Myers Airport/FGCU
16410 Corporate Commerce Way
Fort Myers, FL 33913
239-210-7200

$115 per room, per night, plus tax.
Click here to book online, or call 239-210-7200 to reserve.

Payment

Old Corkscrew Golf Club accepts Cash, Visa, and MasterCard for method of payment.

Directions

Old Corkscrew Golf Club 
17320 Corkscrew Road
Estero, Florida 33928
(239) 949-4700

Click here for directions 

Click here for more information on Old Corkscrew.