Amateur Match Play Championship

Knowles Wins 24th Amateur Match Play

Philip Knowles defeated Edward Figueroa in the final match to win the 24th Florida State Amateur Match Play Championship at The TwinEagles Club in Naples on July 31 - August 3. 

In the finals, Philip Knowles, of Bradenton, secured the title beating Edward Figueroa, from Naples, 4 and 2.  Knowles would get off to a hot start Sunday afternoon winning the first two holes to grab an early 2 up lead. After a stellar eagle on the par 5 third hole, Figueroa would narrow Knowles lead to 1 up. Knowles would quickly get his 2 up lead back after winning the 4th hole and would hold that lead thru the 9th hole. After making birdie on the par 4 tenth hole, Knowles would grab a 3 up lead. The players would then have to wait out three hour weather delay before resuming play on the 11th hole. After resuming play, Figueroa would win the 11th hole to cut Knowles lead to 2 up with seven holes to play. Knowles would yet again make another birdie on the 12th hole to take a commanding 3 up lead in the match. After halving the next three holes, Knowles would make his six foot birdie putt on the 16th hole to win his first State Championship 4 and 2. Knowles was able to redeem himself on Sunday after narrowly missing out on last year’s Amateur Match Play Championship giving up a 2 up lead with 4 holes to go to eventual Champion, Kevin Jorden. Knowles has also solidified himself as one of the best match play players in recent memory. Combined with his Junior Florida Cup match record and his Amateur Match Play record, Knowles is an astonishing 17-1 in his last 18 matches.

En route to the finals, Knowles and Figueroa each won five matches to meet Sunday afternoon. Knowles, who earned the 8th seed after posting a four-under par 68 in the seeding round, defeated Emilio Mariconda, from Naples, 5 and 3 in the first round. Knowles defeated Michael Anderson, of Parkland, 3 and 2, to advance to the round of 16 and then defeated Miles McConnell, of Riverview, 2 and 1 to earn his spot in the quarters. Playing the number one seed, Tommy Hurst, from Miami Shores, Knowles won 4 and 3 to advance to the semifinals. On Sunday morning, Knowles bested fellow FJT standout Danny Walker, from Bradenton, 2 up to face Figueroa in the final match.

Before reaching the Championship, more than 260 players attempted to qualify at one of seven sites across the state. In the qualifying stage, players competed in 18 holes of stroke play in hopes of reaching the Championship at The TwinEagles Club. The Match Play Championship begins with an 18-hole seeding round to seed the 64 player field. Single elimination match play follows to determine the Match Play Champion.

Full Story

~Talon Course~

Entries Close Wednesday, June 25, 2014

The Amateur Match Play Championship is an exciting event that utilizes golf's original match play format.  There are 7 qualifiers slated throughout the state to provide players the opportunity to qualify for this prestigious championship.  The Jack Nicklaus and Jack Nicklaus II co-designed Talon course opened in 1999 and features length, tricky approaches, and undulating greens. TwinEagles has played host to numerous FSGA Championships including the Amateur Championship, Four-Ball Championship, Southeastern Challenge Match, as well as the U.S. Open local qualifiers. For a look at the 2013 Championship Results click here.

Championship Format & Seeding

• 18 holes of individual stroke play on Thursday to determine seeds in round of 64. Ties for seeds will be broken randomly.
• Single elimination round of 64 match play will begin on Friday morning.
• The round of 32 is scheduled to begin Friday afternoon.
• The round of 16 will be played on Saturday morning followed by the quarter-finals that afternoon. 
• The semi-finals will be played on Sunday morning and the finals will be held on Sunday Afternoon.

Eligibility 

• Male amateurs must be a member of the FSGA
• Must have a handicap index no higher than 11.4.

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 tee gifts and gift certificates, course and cart fees, range balls for each competitive round.
  
• Exempt Fee: Exempt Fee includes Championship Fee and Entry Fee for those individuals eligible for exemption.

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 $125 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, July 28 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 Field Size

64 players

Course Set-Up

• The golf course will be set-up at approximately 6,900-7,300 yards.

Qualifying

18 holes stroke play at 7 qualifying sites. 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 practices rounds.

Defending Champion

Kevin Jorden, of Juno Beach, defeated Philip Knowles, from Bradenton in 21 holes at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville.

Carts

During qualifying and the Championship proper, each player must use a golf cart. Carts are included for all competitive rounds. Players are responsible for practice round cart fees at qualifying sites and at the Championship proper.

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 a practice round is $30.00 + tax.  Please call (239) 352-2121 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.

Exemptions

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

NOTE: Blank entries will be filed by the FSGA for players who become exempt after the close of entries. 

• Last three year's Amateur Match Play Champions
• Last year's Amateur Match Play Semifinalists
• Last three year's Amateur Champions
• Current year's top five and tied Amateur Championship finishers
• Last three year's Mid-Amateur Champions
• Last year's Mid-Amateur Championship Semifinalists
• Current year's Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Champion
• Current year's Amateur Public Links Champion
• Last year's Mid-Senior Champion
• Last year's Junior Amateur Match Play Champion (16-18 Age Division)
• Last year's Florida Open Low Amateur
• Current and last year's Boys' Junior Champion (16-18 Age Division)

Exemptions Earned from this Tournament

Winner

• Current year's Mid-Amateur Championship
• Next year's Amateur Championship
• Next year's Amateur Match Play Championship

Semi-Finalist

• Next year's Amateur Match Play Championship

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

The TwinEagles Club will accept cash and Visa/MasterCard for payment.

Directions

The TwinEagles Club
11330 Twineagles Blvd
Naples, FL 34120
(239) 352-2121

Click here for directions.