Florida's top professionals and amateurs will take on Quail Valley Golf Club and Orchid Island Golf & Beach Club on July 19-21 in the 2013 Florida Open Championship. Quail Valley has been host to numerous FSGA Championships including the 2004 Four-Ball Championship, 2008 Match Play Championship and the 2011 Boys Junior Championship, along with the 2009 Florida Open.
Quail Valley's 7,325 yard layout designed by Tommy Fazio and Nick Price and the 7,126 yard Arnold Palmer designed Orchid Island are both in tremendous shape and will each play to par 72. "Both clubs are excited to host the 67th Florida Open . The golf courses are in great condition and should provide a very good test for the professionals and amateurs in Florida," says Peter Dachisen, FSGA Tournament Director.
Players from 16 different sites around the state competed in 18 hole stroke play qualifying round to make it into one of the field's 120 spots. The remaining 36 spots consist of exempt professionals and amateurs, including four past Florida Open champions; Joe Alfieri (2003), Tommy Murray (2009), Rod Perry (2011) and Chase Seiffert (2012). Tommy Murray will return to the site of where he captured the 2009 Florida Open title. Defending champion, Chase Seiffert of Panama City, captured the 2012 Florida Open title with an impressive total score of 66-64-63--193, 23 under par, at The Ritz-Carlton Members Club and Sara Bay Country Club. Seiffert's impressive final round of 63 established a new course record for The Ritz-Carlton Members Golf Club, and lead to a nine stroke victory.
This year's 156 player field is made up of 61 amateurs and 95 PGA professionals. Of the 95, 32 are South Florida PGA members and 17 North Florida PGA members. The professionals will compete for the $75,000 purse with the first place prize of $12,000.
Tee times at both courses will begin at 8:00 AM off both the first and tenth tee on Friday, July 19th. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 60 and ties and the final 18 holes will be played on Quail Valley Golf Club.
More information on the Florida Open, including tee times for rounds one and two, are available on the FSGA website - click here.
Also you can follow live scoring on the FSGA website - click here.
Spectators are welcome at the championship, however spectator carts are not allowed. Golf attire is required.
The Florida State Golf Association and its members are celebrating our 100th birthday this year. The FSGA was formed in 1913 and has grown to become the largest state or regional golf association in the country. Currently, over 210,000 golfers keep their handicap through the FSGA's GHIN Handicap System and over 800 golf clubs in the state are full member clubs of the association. With over 470 days of competition at some of Florida's top venues, 2013 promises to be one of our best years yet. This year we invite all Florida golfers to join our staff, our members and our member golf clubs in celebrating this centennial year. For more information on the FSGA or this Championship please contact their office at 813-632-3742.
