Florida Ties for 2nd in Southeastern Challenge Matches
Florida and Alabama each earned 17 ½ points as Georgia defended their title gaining 28 points to win the 2004 Southeast Challenge Matches. The Matches were played at The Club at TwinEagles in Naples on October 16-17.
In Saturday morning's four-ball matches, Florida earned 1 ½ points after winning one match and finishing all square in one match. The Florida team of Strafaci and Woulfe defeated Alabama's team of Hudson and Weaver 4 and 3. The senior pair of Cristillo and Earsley finished all square with Georgia's Marsh and Sappington. After the morning matches, Florida had 1 ½ points, Alabama earned 3 ½ points and Georgia led with 4 points.
Florida gained five points in the afternoon foursome matches with a win again from Strafaci and Woulfe as well as Cristillo and Earsley. Florida's Anthony and Purnell won both their matches giving Florida two points and Madson and Scamehorn defeated an Alabama team to also win a point for Florida. Georgia gained 7 ½ points in the foursome matches as Alabama added 5 ½ points. After day one, Georgia led with 11 ½ points, Alabama had nine points and Florida 6 ½ points.
Florida came out strong in Sunday's three-ball matches winning eight matches and finishing all square in six matches. Strafaci, Sutton, Anthony and Voisin each gained 1 ½ points for Florida with one win and one halved match. As Florida secured 11 points, Alabama had 8 ½ and Georgia won the three-ball matches with 16 ½ points and the Championship with 28 total points.
Florida's team featured the 2002 Player-of-the-Year Rick Woulfe, of Fort Lauderdale, and the 2003 Player-of-the-Year Andy Purnell, of Jacksonville. Also named to represent Florida were Mid-Amateurs: David Anthony, of Jacksonville, Michael Nealy, from Boca Raton, Doug Snoap, of Apopka, Frank Strafaci, of Davie, David Sutton, of Maitland, and Bret Voisin, of Orlando. The top seniors selected to represent Florida are Joseph Cristillo, of Crystal River, Steve Earsley, of Stuart, Curt Madson, of Mount Dora, and Bruce Scamehorn, from Winter Haven.
The Southeast Challenge Matches is a biennial match play competition pitting twelve man amateur teams from Alabama, Florida and Georgia. The Matches consist of four-ball, foursome and individual matches over two days, with one point awarded to the winning team for each match. One-half point is awarded to each side for halved matches.
Georgia won the Matches in 2002 with 26 ½ points, Florida 19 ½ points and Alabama finished with 17 points at The Ledges. Florida leads the series with five wins, Georgia now has four wins and Alabama won the Matches once.
