Senior Amateur Championship

Pete Williams Wins 53rd Senior Amateur

Pete Williams outlasted 144 of the top senior amateur golfers in the state to capture the 53rd Senior Amateur Championship at Vero Beach Country Club in Vero Beach on April 15-17.

Pete Williams of Juno Beach, put together a solid performance on Thursday en route to capturing his second individual State Championship. Williams opened with a three-over par 75, to find himself five shots off the lead entering the second round. Williams rode the momentum of his hole-in-one in the first round to fire the low round of the Championship in round two with a five-under par 67. Williams’ second round was highlighted by an eagle on the par 5 eighth hole to go along with his five birdies and only two bogies. After rounds of 75-67, Williams would take a three shot lead heading into the final round of play.

Standing on the first tee on Thursday, Williams looked poised to capture the Senior Amateur Championship. Williams would open with a front nine score of even par 36, to take a three shot lead into the final 18-holes of play.  With solid pars on holes 10-13, Williams would hit the accelerator making birdies on 14, 16, and 17 to open up a commanding lead as he approached his final hole of the tournament. After hitting a solid tee shot and approach on the 18th hole, Williams would two putt for his round of three-under par 69 to win the 53rd Senior Amateur Championship by six strokes.

Michael Cox of Naples, and David Roschman of Jupiter, finished tied for second place with a tournament total of one-over par 217. The Defending Champion and reigning Senior Player-of-the-Year, Doug LaCrosse of Tampa, finished in fourth place after rounds of 76-72-72. The 2007 Champion, Rick Woulfe of Fort Lauderdale, finished tied for fifth place with a tournament total of 221. In all, sixty-nine players advanced to play the final round posting 156 or better.

Since the number of entries received has always surpassed the capacity of the Championship, a qualifying stage was instituted in 2005. While 60 players earned exempt status through a variety of different means, more than 300 participants attempted to qualify at one of seven sites across the state, as competitors played 18 holes of stroke play hoping to advance to the Championship. Participants must be 55 or older to participate in the Championship.

Final Round Story

Round 2 Recap

Round 1 Recap

Newspaper article by Craig Dolch (Scripps Treasure Coast Newspaper)

Entries Close Wednesday, March 5, 2014

Not only is the Senior Amateur Championship a great chance to reconnect with old friends but it is also one of the FSGA's most popular and prestigious events.  Join the state's top senior amateur golfers at Vero Beach Country Club; a great course and a great location on Florida's Treasure Coast.  Vero Beach Country Club will be hosting this Championship for the fifth time.  Enjoy a players' dinner on the eve of the first round as well as lunch after each round.  For a look at the 2013 Championship Results.

Championship Format

• 54 holes of individual stroke play
• 144 player field 
• Cut to the low 60 and ties after the second round
• Initial groupings will be for two days; the field will be re-paired by score after the second round
• Round three tee times will start at 8:00 AM off of the first & tenth tees

Eligibility

• Male amateurs must be age 55 or older as of April 15, 2014, and be a member of the FSGA.

Entry Fees

• Qualifying Fee: Qualifying Fee includes Entry Fee and cart fee.
• Championship Fee: Fee paid by those individuals who advance to the Championship through qualifying. Includes a players' dinner, tee gifts and gift certificates, course and cart fees, range balls, and lunch for each competitive round.
  
• Exempt Fee: Exempt Fee includes Championship Fee and Entry Fee for those individuals eligible for exemption. As well as the players' dinner, tee gifts and gift certificates, course and cart fees, range balls, and lunch for each competitive round.

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

Pre-Registration

Those individuals who advance to the Championship through qualifying must pre-register and remit an additional $240 either online at the FSGA website at www.fsga.org or by check to the FSGA office for advance payment of Championship Fees. Fees include lunch after each of the first two rounds and a Player Dinner. Payment must be received by Wednesday, April 9 by 3:30 pm, or the individual will be withdrawn from the Championship. Championship Fee includes cart fees for all competitive rounds.

To Pre-Register:

• Log on to the FSGA website at www.fsga.org using your email address and password
• Click on "My Account" in the upper right hand corner of the homepage
• Under "My Tournaments", click on the "Pre-Register" button to the right of the tournament name
• Enter your credit card information and then click the "Charge My Card" button on the bottom right hand corner of the page*Championship 

Schedule of Events

Monday, April 14th 

• 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM – Tournament Registration (in the main clubhouse)
• 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM – Players’ Dinner at Vero Beach Country Club

Tuesday, April 15th

• Tournament Registration (Outside of the Golf Shop)
• 8:00 AM - 9:39 AM - Round One morning tee times off #1 and #10
• Complimentary players' lunch buffet in the main clubhouse
• 12:30 PM - 2:09 PM - Round One afternoon tee times off #1 and #10

Wednesday, April 16th

• 8:00 AM - 9:39 AM - Round Two morning tee times off #1 and #10
• Complimentary players' lunch buffet in the main clubhouse
• 12:30 PM - 2:09 PM - Round Two afternoon tee times off #1 and #10

Thursday, April 17th

• 8:00 AM - Final Round tee times off #1 and #10
• Complimentary players' lunch buffet in the main clubhouse
• Awards ceremony immediately following the completion of play

Course Set-Up

The golf course will be set-up at approximately 6,500-6,600 yards.

Local Qualifying

18 holes of stroke play at 7 sites.  Cart fees are included in your qualifying fee. Qualifying Sites - Click here

Defending Champion

Heading into the 16th hole of the final round, four players were tied for the lead, but Doug LaCrosse , of Tampa, came out on top, winning the title by shooting 2-under 72-68-74--214 at Quail Ridge Country Club in Boynton Beach.

Practice Round Cart Fees

Players are responsible for practice round cart fees at qualifying sites and at the Championship Proper.

Exemptions

Players in the following categories will be eligible for exemption provided they meet all entry and eligibility requirements.

• Last ten year's Senior Amateur Champions
• Top 30 and tied from last year's Senior Amateur Championship
• Last three year's Senior Amateur Match Play Championship senior (55-64 Age Division) Champions
• Last year's Super Senior Champion
• Player finishing runner-up in last year's Senior Amateur Match Play Championship senior (55-64 Age Division)
• Top 10 and tied from last year's Senior Player of the Year final point standings
• Top 20 and tied from the Winter Series senior (55-64 Age Division) current points list as of the close of entries
• Winners of the current year's Winter Series season (55-64 Age Division) individual events
• Points Champion of previous year's Winter Series (65 and Over Age Division) points list
• Points Champion of previous year's Winter Series (55-64 Age Division) points list
• Last year's Super-Senior Amateur Champion (65-69 Age Division)
• Players finishing in the top 30 and tied of last year's Mid-Senior Championship
• Players making match play at last year's Mid-Amateur Championship
• Players qualifying for any one of last year's USGA National Championships 
• Top 3 and tied from last year's Palm Beach County Golf Association Senior points list
• Last year's PBCGA Senior Amateur Champion
• Last year's PBCGA Tour Championship Senior Division Champion
• Top 3 and tied from last year's Emerald Coast  Senior Scratch Series (ECSSS)
  
• Last year's ECSSS Match Play Champion

Exemptions Earned from this Tournament

Winner

• Next ten Senior Amateur Championships
• Current year's Amateur Championship
• Current year's Mid-Amateur Championship
• Next two Florida Senior Open Championships

Top five and tied finishers

• Current year's Florida Senior Open Championship

Top thirty and tied finishers

• Next year's Senior Amateur Championship

Practice Round- Championship

Practice rounds are available one week prior to the Championship, after 12:00 PM on the weekend at a rate of $30. Please call (772) 562-2775 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.

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.

Payment

Vero Beach Country Club accepts cash, Visa, MasterCard and AmEx.

Directions to the Club

Vero Beach Country Club
800 30th Street
Vero Beach, FL 32960
(772) 562-2775

Click here for directions