2018 - Annual Dinner

Overview

On November 16, 2018, the Florida State Golf Association held its Annual Dinner at the Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club in Tampa, Florida. Roughly 200 individuals attended this year's dinner including some of this year's champions, volunteers throughout the state, board and staff members, and their families. Hall of Fame inductee, Buddy Alexander, were the special guests in attendance. 

Introduction Movie

To begin the 2018 Annual Dinner, guests were shown an introduction video that highlighted some of 2018's best moments. There were 40 state championships held throughout the state in 2018 that required the help of hundreds of volunteers. The success of the qualifiers, events, and championships would not have been possible without our incredible players and volunteers. 

Welcome - Steve Carter

Steve Carter, the 2018 President of the FSGA, welcomes the guests to the 2018 Annual Dinner prior to dinner being served.

Welcome - Jim Demick

Executive Director, Jim Demick, welcomes guests to the 2018 Annual Dinner.

Champions Movie

The champions from the year are each recognized in a video highlighting their accomplishments. Please click here to view results from all events in 2018.

Junior Players of the Year

Chloe Schiavone - Girls' Junior Player of the Year

• 18,894 points. the most for a Girls' Junior Player of the Year since 2015 (Sierra Brooks, 21,100)
• Captured the Girls' Junior Amateur Championship, her first individual FSGA title
• Won the Women's Four-Ball Championship with partner Ariel Yu
• Took the title at the Junior Amateur Match Play in July
• Teamed up with Izzy M. Pellot to advance to the quarterfinals of the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball Championship
• Secured one Florida Junior Tour win and two other top-10 finishes
• Verbally Committed to Florida State University

Tyler Wilkes - Junior Player of the Year

• Won his second-straight Boys' Junior Amateur Championship in July
• Amassed 14,033 points over the season, the most by a Boys' Junior Player of the Year since Brandon Mancheno (14,668) in 2015 
• Competed in five FJT events, finishing not worse than tied for fifth
• Captured one FJT win at River Strand Golf & Country Club
• Advanced to U.S. Open Sectional Qualifying 
• Competed in the U.S. Junior Amateur Championship, having qualified at The Country Club of Winter Haven
• Verbally Committed to the University of Florida

Marc Dull - Mid-Amateur Player of the Year

Meghan Stasi - Women's Amateur Player of the Year

• Eighth Women's Amateur Player of the Year honor, third-straight year
• Was one of just seven mid-amateur in the field at the U.S. Women's Amateur at The Golf Club of Tennessee
• Advanced to match play for the 13th straight year and was a quarterfinalist at the U.S. Women's Mid-Amateur
• Had a Round of 16 appearance at the U.S. Women's Amateur Four-Ball, with partner Dawn Woodard
• Finished fourth at the Women's Mid-Amateur Championship at Sugar Mill Country Club
• Took fourth place at the Women’s International Four-Ball at The Wanderers Club, with her partner Catalina Lara
• Tied for fifth at the Women's Four-Ball Championship, with partner Tama Caldabaugh

Pete Williams - Men's Senior Amateur Player of the Year

• Earned Senior Amateur honors for the second time in his career
• Claimed the Senior Amateur Match Play in June, defeating defending champion Owen Joyner
• Won the Senior Four-ball Championship alongside Don Whittemore
• Finished runner-up at the Mid-Senior Championship
• Had a Round of 16 appearance at the Mid-Amateur Championship
• Took home a tied for fourth finish at the Senior Amateur
• Tied for sixth at the Senior/Mid-Amateur Four Ball

Gabriel Lench - Men's Amateur Player of the Year

• Captured the Amateur Championship in July, defeating Marc Dull in a playoff
• Won the Florida Open Championship with a two-stroke lead over Joe Alfieri
• Only the third player in the last 65 years to win both championships in the same year
• Had a runner-up finish at  the Four-Ball Championship, with partner Chase Ibbotson
• Currently a senior at Liberty University

Volunteer Appreciation - Jim Demick

The Florida State Golf Association would not be able to conduct over 600 days of competition each year without the support and dedication of their volunteers. Chuck Phillips, President of the FSGA, thanks them for their ongoing support of the organization. 

Thanks you, Volunteers!

The Florida State Golf Association has over 500 volunteers around the state. This is a short video highlighting their accomplishments and involvement throughout the year.

Service Award

This year,Johnny Williams was recognized and received an award for his volunteer service with the Florida State Golf Association. Johnny is a tremendous asset to the Florida State Golf Association, the game of golf, and all events throughout the state.

Johnny Williams - 25 Years of Service

• Resides in Tampa, Florida
• Has worked tirelessly as a tournament chairman and rules official over the past 25 years
• Supported not only FSGA event, but has been a major contributor to Tampa junior golf and collegiate golf

Volunteers of the Year

Ken Stoner - Tournament Volunteer of the Year

• Began volunteering with the FSGA in 2008, after retiring to Florida in 2007
• Has worked over 130 events in his 11 years with the FSGA
• Served as a tournament chairman for several FSGA and USGA qualifiers in 2017 and 2018
• He is dedicated to performing his best each day and is a positive influence on players and other volunteers at events
• Began playing golf in 1986 with his wife Mitzi 

Bert and Sheri Gwaltney - Course Rating Volunteer of the Year

• Bert began volunteering with the FSGA in 2010 and Sheri joined his a year later with the course rating team
• Together, the couple has work more than 80 FSGA events and qualifiers 
• The pair travels far distances for course rating and tournaments and are always ready to accept a task
• Bert and Sheri met when Bert was stationed at Dobbins Air Force Base in Cobb County, Georgia
• Bert picked up golf in 1965, as a young airman, while Sheri started playing after their son was born
•  The pair have served on both the Tournament Committee and the Section 1 Course Rating Team

Hall of Fame

Nick Gilliam introduces 2018 FSGA Hall of Fame Inductee, Buddy Alexander.

Hall of Fame Inductee - Buddy Alexander

Buddy Alexander - 2018 Hall of Fame Inductee

• Born in St. Pete, Fla., and grew up near the eighth tee of Lakewood Country Club (now St. Petersburg Country Club)
• His father, Skip Alexander, was the head golf professional at Lakewood and a long-time PGA Tour member and a two-time Ryder Cup team member
• Graduated from Georgia Southern university, where he was an Al-American in 1974 and 1975
• Was the head coach at Georgia Southern and Louisiana State University, leading the Eagles to four consecutive NCAA appearances and the Tigers to back-to-back SEC titles 
• Won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1986 at Shoal Creek (Ala.) Golf and Country Club 
• Played on the victorious 1987 Walker Cup team and played in the Masters 
• Has  played in two U.S. Opens. His son, Tyson, qualified for the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills, and his father, Skip, competed in six, making the Alexanders one of just three families to have had three generations compete in the championship
• Was the head coach at the University of Florida for 27 years, leading the Gators to eight SEC Championships and two NCAA National Championships in 1993 and 2001
• Coached team captain Nick Gilliam to an individual NCAA golf championship in 2001 and led eight players to SEC individual titles
  
• Twenty-six  of his players would go on to play golf professionally on the PGA Tour, Web.com Tour and Champions Tour, including his son, Tyson
• Retired in 2014 and now resides in Auburn, Ala. with his wife, Joan, who is the director of operations for the Auburn men’s and women’s golf teams
  
• Advanced to the Round of 32 at the U.S. Senior Amateur Championship in August and was the runner-up at the 2015 Florida State Senior Amateur Championship