Mid-Amateur Championship

Carter Wins Mid-Amateur Championship

Steve Carter fired a three-round total of 213 to win the Florida State Mid-Amateur Championship at Sawgrass Country Club in Ponte Vedra Beach. Due to the threatening weather, the Championship was changed to a 54-hole stroke play competition.

Carter, of Jacksonville, posted a 72-67-74 to finish 3-under par for the tournament. His second round score of 67 was the low round of the Championship. In second, four strokes back from Carter, was 2004 Mid-Senior Champion Rick Barger, of Merritt Island. Barger shot a 74-72-71-217. Scot Regner, of Ponte Vedra Beach, recorded a 74-73-71-218 while the 2002 Player-of-the-Year Rick Woulfe, from Fort Lauderdale, shot a 71-72-76-219. Defending Champion Ryan Konkus, of Hobe Sound, tied with two others shooting a 223 with scores of 75-73-75.

The Championship originally was 36-holes of stroke play qualifying over the first two days with the lowest 16 advancing to match play on Saturday and Sunday but was modified to 54-holes of stroke play due to the threatening weather. Competitors played 18 holes on Thursday and 36 holes on Friday.

To be eligible for the State Mid-Amateur, participants must be 25 years of age or older. More than 350 entries were received for this year's Championship. Participants attempted to qualify at ten sites across the state in an 18-hole stroke play format to advance to the Championship. After the qualifiers, 90 players completed the field for the Championship.

To view pairings, tee times and complete results, please visit www.fsga.org.

Sawgrass Country Club features 27 holes of Championship Golf designed by Ed Seay. Consistently ranked in the top 100 courses to play by Golf Digest, the Sawgrass Oceanside Course (East-West) gained its reputation as the home of the PGA Tour’s Tournament Players Championship from 1977 to 1981 when the course, along with the treacherous winds of Sawgrass Country Club tested the greatest players of the game. If the tightness presented by nature’s pines and palms do not provide enough challenge, the Bermuda rough, strategically placed water hazards and consistently guarded greens will.

ELIGIBILITY

Must be age 25 or older as of September 23, 2004, and be a member of the FSGA.

ENTRY FEE

$90. ($80 for online entry.) Those individuals who advance to the Championship, including exempt players, must pre-register and remit $50 either online at the FSGA website at www.fsga.org or by check to the FSGA office for advance payment of Championship fees. Payment must be received by Monday, September 20, or the individual will be withdrawn from the Championship.

EXEMPTIONS

The following are exempt to the championship:

• 2003 Mid-Amateur semifinalists
• 2004 Match Play Champion
• Champions from the last five State Amateur Championships
• 2004 Mid-Senior Champion
• Champions from the last five State Mid-Amateur Championships

An exempt player shall meet all entry requirements and must submit a complete entry prior to deadline.

QUALIFYING FORMAT

18 holes stroke play at 9 sites.

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

Thursday - 18 holes stroke play and Friday - 18 holes stroke play to identify the low 16 for match play. (The low 16 will have the lowest 36-hole scores) Match play begins Saturday morning with the final match on Sunday afternoon.

CARTS

During qualifying, each player must use a golf cart. Caddies are acceptable, but he/she may not ride in a golf cart or carry the player's clubs. Players are responsible for cart fees for all practice rounds. Those individuals who advance to the Championship, including exempt players, must pre-register and remit a Championship fee which includes cart fees for all competitive rounds.

DEFENDING CHAMPION

Ryan Konkus, of Hobe Sound, defeated Peter Dachisen, of Wesley Chapel, 1 up, to claim the title at the Emerald Dunes Golf Course.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Arrangements have been made at the Hilton Garden Inn for $89 for a double and $99 for a suite. Call (904) 280-1661 by September 1 and identify yourself as an FSGA competitor for reservations.