Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship

Bird Wins Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship

Bobby Bird battled through windy conditions to post a tournament total of 2-under par 214 to capture the Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship at Hawk’s Nest Country Club in Vero Beach on April 23-25.

Bobby Bird, from Vero Beach, shot a final round even par 72 to win the 2010 Championship by six strokes. After a first round 1-under par 71, Bird shared the lead with four other players. Bird then matched his first round score of 71 in the second round to hold the lead by two strokes heading into the final round. In the final round, Bird posted another solid round with an even par round of 72 on the difficult Hawk’s Nest Country Club to capture the championship.  This victory adds to Bird’s Two-Man Shoot-Out victory which he captured last year.

Ross Beal, of Orlando finished alone in second place firing a tournament total 220. In the final round Beal posted a 4-over par 76 to go with his first round one-under par 71 and a 2-over par 73 in the second round. Don Bell, from Port Orange, finished in third place carding rounds of 73-76-73 to finish 6-over par 222 for the 54-hole event. The Defending Champion Tim Hume, from Tampa, finished tied for 27th place with a tournament total of 237. The shot of the tournament went to Kevin Altenhof, of Melbourne with a hole-in-one on the par three 15th hole, playing 195 yards.

The Mid-Amateur Stroke play is for players who are at least 25 years of age by the beginning of the event. The Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship is conducted over fifty-four holes of individual stroke play.  All players play thirty-six holes, with a cut instituted after thirty-six holes.  The players who make the cut play the final round the following day.

Entries Close Wednesday, March 24, 2010 

Designed by Jim Fazio, Hawks Nest was carved from a heavily wooded sand ridge.  This feature gives the course one of the highest elevations in southeast Florida - up to 50 feet above sea level.

ELIGIBILITY

Must be age 25 or older as of April 23, 2010, and be a member of the FSGA.

ENTRY FEE

$190 ($200 - members who do not have an active FSGA/GHIN Handicap).

CHAMPIONSHIP

Fifty-four holes of individual stroke play. All players play thirty-six holes at Hawks Nest Golf Club on Friday, April 23rd and Saturday, April 24th. In an effort to assist players with their travel and hotel plans, the Committee will establish the 36-hole cut after the completion of Saturday morning's round (Announced at approximately 3:00 PM). The cut will be statistically determined in an attempt to identify a field of approximately 70 players. Since the cut will be established prior to the completion of the afternoon round on Saturday, the total number of players making the cut may be several more or less than 70. This method of establishing the cut at mid-round has been used effectively in our Senior Championship where we also play a morning and afternoon round. The early determination of the cut will prevent players from having to "wait around" until 7:00 PM Saturday night to find out their status (For your own projection purposes, the cut will be very close to two times the score necessary to be in 70th place after the first round). The final eighteen holes will be played on Sunday, April 25th. The lowest score for 54 holes will be the Champion. There will be a hole by hole play-off immediately following play in event of a tie to determine the Champion. It is the player's responsibility to be present for any playoff.

COURSE SET- UP

The golf course will be set-up approximately 6900 - 7000 yards.

TEE TIMES

Round 1 and 2 tee times will be both morning and afternoon tee times starting at 8:00 am and 12:30 pm off the 1st and 10th tees.  The final round will be morning only starting times beginning at 8:00 am off the 1st and 10th tee.

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 your practice round is $35.00 + tax.  Please call (772) 569-9402 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 CHAMPION

Tim Hume, of Tampa, posted a 73-75-71--219 at Sara Bay Country Club to win the inaugural event.

CHAMPIONSHIP PACE OF PLAY: Click here to read the Championship Pace of Play Policy.

HARD CARD; LOCAL RULES AND CONDITIONS OF COMPETITIONS: Click here to read the Hard Card and additional Conditions of Competitions.

CHAMPIONSHIP POLICIES: Click here to read the withdrawal, dress code, caddie and spectator and other policies.

SPECTATORS AND CADDIES

Spectators and caddies are always welcome at FSGA Championships. Only players are allowed to ride in carts.  If a player employs a caddie, the caddie MUST walk and the player's clubs must remain on the golf cart.

CONDITIONS; SCHEDULES

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 hotel icon for hotels in the Vero Beach area.

PAYMENT

Hawks Nest Golf Club will accept Cash (For merchandise only), Visa/Mastercard, and American Express for method of payment.

DIRECTIONS TO HAWKS NEST GOLF CLUB

6005 Old Dixie Highway

Vero Beach, Florida 32967

(772) 569-9402: Golf Shop

(772) 569-9400: Office