Women's Four-Ball Championship

VENICE, Fla. - Jillian Bourdage and Casey Weidenfeld earned a comeback victory to win the 2023 FSGA Women's Four-Ball Championship at Plantation Golf & Country Club.

Championship Division

The first round saw a battle for the top position between the teams of Jillian Bourdage/ Casey Weidenfeld and Jacqueline Putrino/Karoline Tuttle. The Bourdage/Weidenfeld duo would jump out to take the early lead after opening with three straight birdies. Putrino and Tuttle would not let them get too far away as they made nine birdies during their first round's play. At the conclusion of the day's play, Putrino and Tuttle would find themselves at the top of the leaderboard at 9-under par. Bourdage and Weidenfeld would sit two shots back after an opening round of 7-under par, 65. Rounding out the top three was the pair of Samantha Paradise and Samantha Stites at 5-under par.

With a two-shot lead starting the final round Putrino and Tuttle would have to continue their stellar play to fend off Bourdage and Weidenfeld. After opening with birdies on the opening two holes Bourdage and Weidenfeld would tie things up at the top. Putrino and Tuttle would make two birdies of their own to take a two shot lead into the final nine holes. Weidenfeld would ride a hot putter on the back nine, with the team shooting 31 on the final nine holes, making five birdies along the way. Standing on the penultimate hole the teams would find themsleves tied at 12-under par. An untimely bogey by Putrino and Tuttle and one of Weidenfeld's five birdies would give them a two-shot lead heading into the last hole. Both teams traded birdies on the final hole meaning that Bourdage and Weidenfeld would emerge victorious in Venice after firing consistent rounds of 65-65 - 130 (14-under par). The pair of Samantha Paradise and Samantha Stites would finish in third place at 4-under par.

Middle Division

Gross Results

There would be a two way tie at the top at the end of round 1. Sitting at 4-over par, the teams of Jennifer Polich/Nancee Duffy and Mary Kozak/Lisa Robinson would head into the final round with a chance to claim the title. One shot back in a tie for third place were the teams of Christine Martin/Kimberly Byle and Nicola de Stwolinska/Linda Chen. With seven teams within four shots of the lead, the final round would surely be an exciting one as teams battle it out for the Middle Division title.

Polich and Duffy would claim the Middle Division title in the final round with a brilliant round of 1-over par, 73. This would put them at 5-over par for the Championship, two shots clear of their nearest competitors, Nicola de Stwolinska and Linda Chen.

Net Results

Beth Pajak and Deidre Spina would claim the net title with scores of 73-61 - 134.

Middle First Flight

Gross Results

Gayle Erickson and Amanda Kluzynski would take a two-shot lead into the final round after opening the Championship with a 5-over par, 77. Two shots back would be the team of Jennie Taylor and Kerstin Koenig. 

Taylor and Koenig would climb one spot on the leaderboard to claim the title when the final putt dropped. Their final round 77 would put them at 12-over par for the Championship.

Net Results

Gayle Erickson and Amanda Kluzynski would win the net title with scores of 63-71 -134.

Format

• 36 holes of Four-Ball stroke play, (commonly known as a two-person, Best-Ball)
• Maximum Field Size - 48 teams (96 players)
• Two divisions - Championship, and Middle
• The overall Champion will be the team from the Championship Division with the lowest 36-hole total score

Eligibility

• Female amateur golfers
• One entrant must be at least 16 years of age as of the first day of the Championship
• Committee approval is required for entry if the second partner is less than 13 years of age
• A valid Florida GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 34.0 at time of entry
• Both entrants are required to be members of the FSGA

Entry Fee

• $360 (per team)

Entry fee includes all competitive rounds of golf, tee gift, awards luncheon and gift certificate prizes. Late entries will be accepted subject to a $10 late fee should the team gain acceptance into the field. 

Schedule of Events

Saturday, June 24th

• 7:30 AM - 8:15 AM - Player registration
• 8:30 AM - Round 1 shotgun 

Sunday, June 25th

• 8:30 AM - Final round shotgun
• Awards luncheon immediately following play 

Entry Priority

Entries will be accepted based upon the order of receipt. Half of the number of teams for the entire field will be held for the Championship Division. 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 order of receipt of entry, if and when, a spot becomes available. 

Partner Changes

Partner changes will be accommodated following these guidelines:

• One player on the original entry must remain on the side.
• Partner changes in the Middle Division will NOT be permitted after divisions and flights have been posted if the new player would move the side to another flight or division.
  (Example - First Flight handicap range 10-15, the new partner must have a handicap within the 10-15 handicap range). 

Divisions & Course Set-Up

Teams must select their division at the time of entry. A team may not switch divisions once pairings are posted.

• Championship Division - 6,100 yards (Gross Only)
• Middle Division - 5,200 yards (Gross & Net)

Suggested Handicap Guidelines

The following should be considered when selecting divisions (recommended based on combined team handicaps).

• Championship Division - 18.0 & Under
• Middle Division - 34.0 & Under

Committee Discretion: The Championship Committee reserves the right to move any team out of the Middle Division if their team handicap (or an individual partner's handicap) is significantly lower than the majority of the competitors in that division, and their scoring history does not reflect the need to play from the Middle Division yardage. 

Handicap Requirements

• All valid Florida GHIN Handicap Indexes used will be from 7 days prior to the championship start date
• Each player must have a valid Florida GHIN Handicap Index not exceeding 34.0
• Players in the Middle Division will play to 85% of their course handicap

It is the responsibility of any player that maintains a Handicap Index lower than her current Florida GHIN Handicap to inform the FSGA for resolution. Failure to do so will result in disqualification.

Flighting

The Championship Division is gross only and will not be flighted.   

The Middle Division will be pre-flighted based on combined team handicaps.

Generally, divisions of more than 12 teams will be pre-flighted. Flights will be based on the number of teams and the range of combined team handicaps.

Breaking Ties

Championship Division – The overall Champion will be the team with the lowest total score. In the event of a tie for first place, there will be a hole-by-hole sudden death playoff on a hole designated by the Committee to determine the Champions.

Net Divisions – All ties in each flight of the Net Divisions will be broken by the USGA scorecard match. The last 9 holes will be considered holes 10-18, the last 6 holes will be holes 13-18, the last 3 holes will be holes 16-18 and the last hole will be hole 18. In the case that players are still tied after the 18th hole, the winner will be determined by lot. 

Net Divisions will pay gross first, then net. 

Practice Rounds

Practice rounds are available one week prior to the Championship on a space available basis and after 12:00 PM the weekend before. The price for a practice round is $40.00 + tax and includes cart and range balls prior to the round. Please call 941-497-1494 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 Champions

Chloe Kovelesky and Gabriella Albert raised the trophy at the Women’s Four-Ball Championship at Estero Country Club. The two-person team outlasted the defending champions, Elle Nachmann and Amelia Williams, by one stroke to secure the victory.

Kovelesky surpassed the field during round one by shooting a course record of 64 on her own ball. The pair carded a team score of 61 hold the lead by four strokes heading into the final round. Kovelesky birdied the first four holes to lead the team to a front-nine 30. The pair went on to card five more biridies for a back-nine 31 and team total 61. 

Click here for the previous year's results.

Other Policies

• Spectators and Spectator Cart Policy - Click here.
• Caddies - Caddies are NOT permitted in FSGA Championships and FSGA qualifying rounds per the FSGA Code of Conduct; except at the Florida Open, Florida Women's Open & Senior Open, and the Florida Senior Open. Click here.
  
• Championship Pace of Play Policy - Click here.
• Local Rules and Terms of 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 Hotels

TownePlace Suites Venice

2986 Executive Drive
Venice, FL 34292
(941) 879-9100

Studio King - $139/night plus tax
Studio Two Queens - $139/night plus tax

The deadline to guarantee the room rate is June 1, 2023

Book your room Here. 

Payment

Plantation Golf & Country Club accepts Visa, Mastercard, and American Express as forms of payment.

Directions

Plantation Golf & Country Club
500 Rockley Blvd.
Venice, FL 34293
(941) 497-1494

Click here for directions