Amateur Public Links Championship

Biondi Captures Victory at Public Links

HAINES CITY, Fla. – Fred Biondi was victorious at the Amateur Public Links on Sunday at Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club. The Fort Lauderdale secured the two-shot victory with a 12-under 204 for the three-day championship.

Biondi began the final round with a one-shot lead over the field, after starting the championship with back-to-back rounds of 68. The incoming University of Florida sophomore carded his first birdie of the day on the fourth.

He went bogey-birdie-par to close out the front nine and make the turn at 9-under for the championship. Biondi used a bogey-free back nine with three birdies to card a final-round 68 and secure the victory.

This is the third FSGA championship for Biondi, who captured back-to-back Boys’ Junior titles in 2016 and 2017.

Nicholas Gabrelcik and Joseph Trim took home a tied-for-second finish at 10-under 206. Gabrelcik, the 2019 Public Links champion, used the low round of the day to take home a share of the second place. The incoming freshman at the University of North Florida began the day with a bogey on the first and played the next 17 holes bogey free, posting six birdies.

Trim, who held the 18-hole lead, started the final round with a 3-under front nine, before running into a little trouble on the back with two bogeys. The Tampa native eagled the par-5 16th hole to move into a tie for second with Gabrelcik. He finished the final round with a 3-under 69.

Kiko Francisco Coelho, the 2020 Boys’ Junior champion, and Richard Donegan finished in a tie for fourth place at 9-under 207.

The Amateur Public Links Championship continues to test some of the best amateur golfers in Florida, on the state's best public golf courses. This Championship is a weekend packed with great competition between a list of very successful Champions. Although the competition is fierce, the format is as simple as it gets - 54 holes of stroke play with no cut.

The FSGA Reserves the right to modify how entries are accepted to the Championship. The field will be determined by the following:

• Past Performance in FSGA Amateur Public Links Championship
• Past Performance in other FSGA Championships
• 2018 & 2019 FSGA Player of the Year Points Lists
• Handicap Index
• First Come, First Served

**Mandatory** read the eligibility questions below prior to entering to verify you are eligible.

Championship Format

• 54 holes of individual gross stroke play
• Maximum Field Size - 84 players 78 players due to single rider carts

Eligibility

• Male amateur bona fide "public links" golfer
• Entrant is required to be a member of the FSGA, with a Florida GHIN not exceeding 7.0

Male amateurs must be bona fide public course players, since January 1, 2020, and have not held privileges at any course that does not extend playing privileges to the general public, or privileges at any private club maintaining its own course. 

A bona fide public course player may hold incidental privileges at a course not open to the public when such privileges are provided by; an educational institution at which he/she attends, a federal armed service at which he/she is a member, or an industry by which he/she is employed.

If you answer "Yes" to any of the following questions, you are NOT ELIGIBLE for this year's FSGA Public Links Championship:

1. Private Club Access - Have you had privileges at a private club (not open to the public) at anytime during the current year?
2. Social Memberships - Do you maintain a social membership at a private club that allows you to play the course sometime during the year?
3. Dependents of Members - Does your spouse or parent/guardian belong to a private course and as a result you are allowed to play the course without a guest fee?
4. Golf Course Employees - Have you been an employee at a private course during the year, where you are allowed to play golf more than one day per week?
5. Resort Courses - Do you have a membership at a resort that restricts which days resort guests can play?
6. Golf Team Members - As a member of a scholastic golf team, are you allowed to play a private course not owned by the school at times other than your regular golf season including playoffs and championships?

Permitted Exceptions:

• Military Courses - A player, because of his military service may hold privileges at a facility from which the general public is excluded.

• County and City Courses - A player may be a member at a course open to county or city residents even if it is closed to nonresidents.

• Handicap - There is no restriction to where a player maintains his handicap.

Entry Fee

• $235

Late entries will be accepted subject to a $10 late entry fee should the entrant gain acceptance into the field

Schedule of Events

Friday, August 7th

•  7:30 AM - 9:18 AM - Round one tee times off #1 and #10 tees

Saturday, August 8th

• 7:30 AM - 9:18 AM - Round two tee times off #1 and #10 tees

Sunday, August 9th

• 7:30 AM - 9:18 AM - Final round tee times off #1 and #10 tees
• Awards ceremony immediately following the completion of play

Entry Priority

See top of page.

Entries will be accepted based upon the order of receipt. Entries received after the competitive field is full or after the close of entries, will be placed on an alternates list. Alternates will be contacted in the order of receipt of entry, if and when, a spot becomes available. The FSGA reserves the right to modify the alternates list, based on previous performance in FSGA Championships, and hold spot for the defending Champion of the event.

Course Set-Up

Practice Rounds

Practice rounds are available one week prior to the championship on a space available basis and after 12:00 PM on the weekend.  The price for a practice round is $35.00 + tax.  Please call (863) 421-4653 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.

Defending Champion

Nicholas Gabrelcik went wire-to-wire with rounds of 69-67-70 to win the 2019 Amateur Public Links, hosted by Orange County National, by one shot at 206 (-10). Eugene Hong posted three consistent rounds of 69 (-3) to finish in second place. Click here for the previous year's results. 

Exemptions Earned from this Tournament

Winner

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

Other Policies

• Spectators and Spectator Cart Policy - Click here.
• Caddies - Caddies are allowed in all FSGA Championships except Junior events. However, a player must not use a parent, step-parent or guardian as a caddie. The caddie MUST walk and the player's clubs must remain on the golf cart. 
• Championship Pace of Play Policy - Click here.
• Local Rules and Terms of the 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.

Host Hotel and Accommodations

Courtyard Winter Haven
6225 Cypress Gardens Boulevard SE
Winter Haven, FL 33884

$99 per room, per night, plus tax. Click here to book online or call hotel referencing "FSGA Public Links". Must book by Monday, 8/3 to take advantage of rate.

Payment

Southern Dunes Golf & Country Club accepts cash and all major credit cards for payment.

Directions

Southern Dunes Golf Club
2888 Southern Dunes Boulevard
Haines City, FL 33844
(863) 421-4653

Click here for directions