Club Team Championship

Palma Ceia Comes Back to Win Club Team Championship

Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club came back from 13 points down to win the 65th Club Team Championship at Golden Hills Golf and Turf Club and Juliette Falls. Black Diamond Ranch went wire-to-wire to capture the Senior Division of the 2008 Championship.   

Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club, in Tampa, posted a tournament total of 237 points to win the 2008 Club Team Championship. After earning 117 points in the first round at Juliette Falls, Palma Ceia trailed the leading team by 13 points. The team came out strong in the final round to earn 120 points at Golden Hills and win the title by 12 points. John Gabler secured 89 points over the two-round tournament to lead Palm Ceia. In the final round, Gabler made nine birdies en route to recording 50 points. Paul Royak earned 41 points the first day and 34 in the final round. Also playing for Palma Ceia, Mike Walters and Max Castro contributed to the team’s success. First round leader Rio Pinar Country Club fell to second place with a final round 95. Rio Pinar, in Orlando, led after the first round with 130 points and finished at 225 for their second consecutive second place finish. Vero Beach Country Club took third place with 223 points.  

In the Senior Division, Black Diamond Ranch won with an overwhelming 240 points. Black Diamond Ranch, in Lecanto, led after the first round earning 131 points and ran away with the title with 109 points in the final round. Ron Green posted 47-35 for Black Diamond as Dave Blackshear, Carl Nanni and Bill Joens also played a role in the team’s victory. Black Diamond Ranch will host the 2009 Senior Amateur Championship. Buckhorn Springs Golf and Country Club, in Valrico, took second place with 219 points and Interlachen Country Club, in Winter Park, claimed third place with 211 points.

Round One Story

Two great courses will host the Club Team. Golden Hills is set among rolling hills and thoroughbred horse farms redesigned by Rees Jones. Newly opened in the Fall of 2007, Juliette Falls is designed by John Sanford featuring beautiful rolling fairways and manicured greens. The cart paths take you under shady oak trees and spectacular waterfalls. Each team will play both courses.

ELIGIBILITY:  Open to traditional golf clubs (that own their own course) which are members of the FSGA. The four team members must each be members of the club (traditional dues-paying golf membership). Any questions regarding eligibility should be directed to the FSGA Executive Director.

PRACTICE BEFORE or BETWEEN ROUNDS:  Rule 7-1b has been waived; this will allow competitors to play on the competition courses between competitive rounds.

ENTRY FEE:  $600 per team. ($700 - member clubs not using the FSGA/GHIN Handicap System)

ENTRIES CLOSE:  Wednesday, April 2

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT:  36 holes of stroke play stableford scoring. All players play eighteen holes each at Golden Hills Golf & Turf Club and at Juliette Falls.  Each team total is derived from the total of the high 3 of the 4 stableford scores each round. 

The FSGA will introduce a Senior Division in the Club Team Championship. All players on the team must be 55 years of age or older as of May 3, 2008. The Senior Division will play from approximately 6300-6400 yards.

Each club can send as many teams as it prefers.  Prior to March 26, only two teams per club (any combination) will be entered into the field (in order of receipt).  If the field is not full as of March 26, additional teams will be added on a first come first-serve basis.

SEEDING:  The Tournament Committee will seed the field based upon prior performance in this event. In the event the Championship is reduced to 18 holes (weather), the Committee reserves the right to declare a champion from the course with the highest-seeded teams.

PRACTICE ROUNDS: Practice rounds may be arranged on a space available anytime one week prior to the Championship. The cost of your practice round is $30.00 plus tax.  Please call 352-629-7980 to arrange your practice round at Golden Hills Golf & Turf Club and 352-322-0852 to arrange your practice round at Juliette Falls.

CARTS:  Carts are included for all competitive rounds. Players are responsible for practice round fees.  All players must ride during their stipulated round.

CADDIE & SPECTATORS: 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.

ACCOMMODATIONS: Click on the link for hotels in the Ocala area.  Then click on the hotel icon.  The FSGA does not have a host hotel. Click Here

DEADLINE:  Clubs may, through their golf professional, reserve a spot (with a fully-paid entry) without team members' names prior to the closing date, but must have players verified upon close of entries.

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.

CHAMPIONSHIP PACE OF PLAY: Click here to read about the Championship Pace of Play Policy. NOTE: The pace of play will be modified for a deduction of one point off of your total score for the first breach and an additional 2 points for the second breach.

HARD CARD; CONDITIONS OF COMPETITIONS: Click here to read about the Hard Card and Conditions of Competitions.

CHAMPIONSHIP POLICIES: Click here to read about the withdrawal policy, dress code and Caddie and spectator procedures.

DIRECTIONS TO JULIETTE FALLS: Click here for directions to the club.

DIRECTIONS TO GOLDEN HILLS GOLF & TURF CLUB: Take exit 354 off of I-75.  Travel West on US 27 4.3 miles, turn right on NW 80th Avenue 3

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS:  Team members George Roat, Doug Dvorak, James Byrd and Nico Donaldson defended Isleworth's title winning at Stonegate Golf Club in Poinciana with stableford scores of 127-117--244.