Amateur Public Links Championship

Veneziano Wins Public Links

Jon Veneziano fired a three-round tournament total of 1-under par 215 to win the Florida State Public Links Championship at Grande Pines Golf Club in Orlando on July 21-23.  

Jon Veneziano, of Mount Dora, played steady golf to post scores of 73-71-71 to win the Championship by six strokes. Veneziano’s back-to-back scores of 71 were the only under par rounds of the tournament. With threatening weather on the final day, Veneziano jumped ahead of the field holing out for eagle on the par four 9th hole. This is Veneziano’s second state title as he won last year’s Mid-Amateur Championship. Jimi Brindell, the first and second round co-leader, recorded a 77 in the final round to fall to second place. Brindell, of Tequesta, shot a pair of 72’s in the first two rounds to give him a share of the lead after each round. Brindell’s second round 72 included a two stroke penalty. Devin Patel, of Celebration, posted scores of 76-72-75—223 to take third place while the 2001 Public Links Champion Paul Melson, of Plantation, placed fourth with a 226 total. The 2004 and 2005 Public Links Champion Robert Parker, of Sanford, tied for 14th place. Another Mount Dora resident, Curt Madson, won the first flight shooting a 231 total and Kenneth Roy, of Jacksonville, and Robert Cupper, of Hollywood, shared top honors in the second flight with a 242 total.

The 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 any higher than 6.4. Competitors played 18 holes of stroke play on each of the three days with the field flighted after 36 holes. 

Round Two Story

Round One Story

For public course players, the Public Links Championship is 54 holes of stroke play and flighted after 36 holes. Golf course architect Steve Smyers together with player consultant Nick Faldo created Grande Pines with contoured rolling fairways and well-bunkered, multi-tiered greens.

ELIGIBILITY

Competitors must be bona fide public course players, since January 1, 2006, 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 (1) an educational institution at which he/she attends, or (2) a federal armed service at which he/she is a member, or (3) an industry by which he/she is employed. The FSGA follows USGA guidelines for the Public Links Championship except for the handicap rule. See the website for guidelines. Players must be a member of the FSGA.

ENTRY FEE

$225 ($215 for online entry). Includes three competitive rounds, cart fees for the competitive rounds and prizes.

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

54 holes stroke play.

FLIGHTS

After 36 holes. The number of flights will be based on the number of competitors and/or the range of scores.

CARTS

Players are responsible for practice round cart fees.

DEFENDING CHAMPION

Robert Parker, of Sanford, shot a 70-69--139 at MetroWest Golf Club to win his second Public Links title.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Accommodations have been made at the Hampton Inn for $99 per night. Please call (407) 465-8150 by June 20 for rooms.

HANDICAP

No higher than 6.4.