Mid-Amateur Championship

Anderson Goes Back to Back

Stephen Anderson defeated Joe Alfieri in the final match to win the 30th Florida State Mid-Amateur Championship held at Old Marsh Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens on October 6-9.

Stephen Anderson, of Hobe Sound, earned the 26th seed after posting rounds of 79-72—151 in stroke play qualifying to advance to match play. In the first round, Anderson defeated Jeronimo Esteve, of Windermere, 4 and 3 in the round of 32, and then bested Rokki Rogan, of Fort Myers, 1 up, in the round of 16. Anderson then defeated the second seed, Joseph Latowski, of Port Saint Lucie, 1 up to advance to the semifinals.  Anderson then ousted Gary Nicklaus, from Jupiter, in the semifinals 2 and 1 to secure his spot in the finals versus Joe Alfieri.

The final match went back and forth on the front nine as Anderson was 1 up through the first two holes until Alfieri won the 3rd hole to square the match. Anderson regained the lead after winning the fifth and sixth hole, with Alfieri winning the seventh hole to go one down heading into the back nine.  Anderson took control on the back nine by winning 10, 12, 13 and 14 to beat Alfieri 5 and 4.  Anderson is the first person in 30 years to go back-to-back at the Mid-Amateur Championship.

Joe Alfieri, of Lutz, went into match play as the number one seed.  Alfieri, the 1999 Mid-Amateur Champion defeated Ross Beal, of Orlando, 5 and 4 in the round of 32, and then bested  Dean Stokes, of Palm Beach Gardens, 2 and 1, in the round of 16. Alfieri then defeated Darin Green, of Brandon, 3 and 2 to advance to the semifinals, where he defeated Thad Hudgens, of Longwood, 6 and 4.

To be eligible for the State Mid-Amateur, participants must be 25 years of age or older as of October 6, 2011. Players attempted to qualify at one of nine sites in 18-holes of stroke play. The Championship consists of 36-holes of stroke play qualifying over the first two days with the lowest 32 advancing to the match play on Saturday and Sunday.

Entries Close Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Designed by the highly accomplished Pete Dye, Old Marsh’s masterful 18-hole golf course has received numerous awards and honors, having been ranked among America’s Greatest Golf Courses. The 7,021-yard course winds through tall stands of pine and a unique marsh sanctuary. A five-tee system offers enjoyment and challenge to golfers of all levels.

ELIGIBILITY

Must be age 25 or older as of October 6, 2011, and be a member of the FSGA.

ENTRY FEE

$75 ($85 - members who do not have an active FSGA/GHIN Handicap). Qualifying Fee includes Entry Fee and cart fee. 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 Thursday, September 29 by 3:30 pm, or the individual will be withdrawn from the Championship. Championship Fee includes cart fees for all competitive rounds.

EXEMPT PLAYER'S FEE

$175 ($185 - members who do not have an active FSGA/GHIN Handicap). Exempt Fee includes Championship Fee and Entry Fee for those individuals eligible for exemption. (See below)

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

36 Holes of individual stroke play; 18 each on Thursday, October 6th and Friday, October 7th to identify the low 32 for match play.  There will be a hole by hole play-off to determine the last qualifier's place in the Championship immediately.  All other ties for seeds will be broken randomly.  The match play round of 32 will begin Friday afternoon after all of the cards have been accepted by the Committee. The match play round of 16 will be played on Saturday morning, the quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon. The semi-finals will be played on Sunday morning and the Championship match on Sunday afternoon.

CHAMPIONSHIP FIELD SIZE

84 players

QUALIFYING

Qualifying rounds are 18 holes stroke play at nine different 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 practice rounds. Qualifying Sites -Click here

DEFENDING CHAMPION

Stephen Anderson, of Hobe Sound, defeated Jon Veneziano, of Eustis, in 19 holes to capture the Championship at Timuquana Country Club in Jacksonville.

PRACTICE ROUND CART FEES

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

PRACTICE ROUNDS AND PRACTICE FACILITIES

Practice rounds are available one week prior to the Championship on a space available basis.  Practice rounds are restricted to after 12:00 PM on the weekend prior to the Championship. The cost of a practice round, including range balls and cart, is $30 plus tax.  Starting times for your practice round can be arranged by calling the club.  You may not make your practice tee time before groupings are made.  Groupings will be made on Thursday, September 22nd and faxed to the club that morning. Old Marsh Golf Club telephone number is (561) 694-9267.

EXEMPTIONS

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

• Last five year's Mid-Amateur Champions
• Last year's Mid-Amateur Championship semifinalists
• Last five year's Amateur Champions
• Current year's top five & tied Amateur Championship finishers
• Current year's Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Champion
• Current year's Senior Amateur Champion
• Current year's Amateur Public Links Champion
• Current year's Mid-Senior Champion
• Current year's Florida Open Low Amateur

CHAMPIONSHIP PACE OF PLAY: Click here to read the Championship Pace of Play Policy.

HARD CARD; LOCAL RULES AND CONDITIONS OF COMPETITIONS: Click here to read the Hard Card and additional Conditions of Competitions.

CHAMPIONSHIP POLICIES: Click here to read the withdrawal, dress code, caddie and spectator and other policies.

ALTERNATE PROCEDURES: Click Here here for alternate procedures.

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.

ACCOMMODATIONS

Please click on the hotel icon for hotels in the Palm Beach Gardens area.

METHOD OF PAYMENTS

Old Marsh Golf Club accepts cash, Visa/Mastercard and American Express for method of payment.

DIRECTIONS TO THE CLUB - Click here

OLD MARSH GOLF CLUB

7500 Old Marsh Road

Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418

Clubhouse: (561) 626-7400

Fax: (561) 626-0683