Parent-Child Championship

Jones Team Wins Parent-Child Championship

Austin and Randy Jones posted a pair of 68’s to win the Florida State Parent-Child Championship at the Walt Disney World Golf Resort in Orlando on July 28-29. This annual State Championship attracted more than 150 teams competing in a Junior and Regular Division.

In the Regular Division, the father and son pair of Austin, from Tampa, and Randy, from Lakeland, shot a tournament total of 136 to secure the title by one stroke. In the first round, the duo recorded a 4-under par 68 to trail the leading team by one stroke. The Jones’ matched their first round score of 68 in the final round to move ahead and win the Mickey Mouse Championship Flight. First round leaders Bret and Bryce Voisin, of Orlando, fell to second place shooting a final round 70. The father and son team, who won the 2004 Parent-Child Championship, fired a 67 in the first round for a 137 total. Blase Sparma, of Sarasota, and Connie Malenick, of Naples, claimed the Donald Duck Championship Flight by three strokes. Sparma and Malenick posted similar scores of 72 to win the flight. In the Mickey Mouse First Flight, Jarrod and Steve Owen, of Vero Beach, and Mark Rutland and Mike Gardell, from Jacksonville, finished with a 146 total to share top honors in the flight as Forrest Heidel, of Lutz, and TJ Heidel, of Zephyrhills, won the Second Flight by one stroke. Carl Goff, of St. Joseph, and Phillip Goff, of Tampa, took first in the Donald Duck First Flight with rounds of 80-73 and Jim and Paul Demick, from Tampa, won the Second Flight shooting 84-77.            

In the 10-12 Age Division, Brandon and Giles Meyer, of Lehigh, earned 57 points to win the division title by three. Tyler and Frank Strafaci, from Davie, gained 54 points to secure the 8-9 Age Division and Alex and Marc Johnson, from Tampa, emerged from a playoff to capture the 6-7 Age Division. Alex rolled in a 10-foot putt on the third playoff hole for the victory.  

The Regular division will play Disney's Palm and Magnolia courses. Both designed by Joe Lee, Disney's Palm and Magnolia plays host to the PGA Tour's FUNAI Classic. The Junior division will play the Oak Trail Course which is a 9-hole par 36 featuring shorter par 4's and par 3's.

ELIGIBILITY

At least one entrant of each team must be a member of the FSGA or FWSGA. There is no maximum age limit for parent or child. Professionals can play but are not eligible for trophies or prizes in the regular division but are fully eligible in the junior division. Grandparents may also play with grandchildren.

JUNIOR DIVISION

Must be age 6 or older as of July 28, 2007. A child 6-12 years of age can move up to regular division, but a child age 13 or older may not move down.

ENTRY FEE

$280 for Regular Division ($300 - members who do not have an active FSGA/GHIN Handicap).

$140 for Junior Division ($160 - members who do not have an active FSGA/GHIN Handicap). (Only two-person teams are permitted).

CHAMPIONSHIP FORMAT

Regular division will play 18 holes of modified alternate shot each day. Teams will be grouped by combined handicap for day one groupings. Juniors play 9 holes of modified alternate shot using Stableford scoring each day.

FLIGHTS

Regular Division - the field will be divided between the Palm and Magnolia courses based upon combined handicaps of the teams. After 18 holes, the field will be flighted (within course divisions). There will be no gender-based divisions, but four sets of tees will be utilized: Regular men, Regular women, Jr./Sr. men and Jr./Sr. women (Seniors age 55 and older will move up to play the same tee as the 13-15 year old juniors).

Junior Division - Teams will be flighted according to child's age in one of three age divisions (6-7, 8-9, 10-12). There will be no gender-based divisions.

DIVISIONS

• Junior (child is 6-12 years of age) and Regular (child is age 13 or older)
• Regular Division will play on Palm and Magnolia. The Junior Division will play the Oak Trail executive course.

CARTS

Players are responsible for practice round cart fees.

DEFENDING CHAMPIONS

Regular Division - Jarrod and Steve Owen, from Vero Beach, won the overall shooting a pair of 66's to win the title with a 132 at Disney.
Junior Division - Ryan and Gregory Hicks of Clearwater combined for a 46 point total in the 6-7 age division while Bert and Jill Hinton from Gainesville wrapped up the 8-9 age bracket with a total of 50 points. Darian and Carl Ste-Marie from Lake City captured the 10-12 age division with a point toal of 58.