The Florida team is now set for the USGA Men's State Team matches being held September 19-21 at Galloway National Golf Club, in Galloway, NJ. Florida will be represented by Don Bell of Port Orange, Joe Alfieri of Lutz and Jon Veneziano of Mount Dora in the biannual competition.
Bell is making his 2nd consecutive appearance in the matches after competing in 2010 at Mayacama Country Club in Santa Rosa, California. The Port Orange native has compiled an impressive resume including winning both the 2011 and 2012 FSGA Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championships as well as the 2011 FSGA Amateur Match Play Championship. Bell along with Rick Woulfe captured the 2012 FSGA Senior/Mid-Amateur Four-Ball and compiled other high finishes with a T2 at the FSGA Public Links Championship and a third place finish at the Mid-Amateur Four-Ball North with Roger Dean.
Alfieri was buoyed by a 2nd place finish at this year's FSGA Amateur Championship as well as making it to the semifinals of both the 2011 and 2012 FSGA Match Play Championships. The Lutz native also qualified for the 2012 USGA Amateur Public Links Championship.
Veneziano, like Bell, played on the 2010 team in California and is eager to get another chance at bringing the title to Florida. Veneziano, finished T3 at the Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship and paired with Stephen Anderson to capture the Mid-Amateur Four-Ball South. The Mount Dora native also qualified for the USGA Mid-Amateur Championship as well as the USGA Amateur Public Links Championship.
Florida will be under the watchful eye of FSGA Director of Rules & Competition, Jack Pultorak who will serve as team captain. Two years ago, Florida finished an impressive T-2 behind the strong play of Bell, Veneziano, as well as Doug Snoap. It was Florida's best finish since the inaugural event at Lake Nona, where they finished solo 2nd place behind Virginia.
The USGA Men's State Team Matches are a biannual competition open to all states, the district of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Each state may enter a team of 3 players, who play 54 holes of stroke play with the two lowest rounds each day counting towards the team's score. The team with the lowest 54-hole aggregate score is the winner.
