The top 168 amateur golfers in the state will compete this week, June 25-28, with hopes of winning the 98th Florida State Amateur Championship at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club and Ocala National Golf Club in Ocala.
Before reaching the Championship, more than 780 participants attempted to qualify at one of 14 sites across the state. In the Championship, participants will play 18 holes each at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club and Ocala National Golf Club on June 25-26. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 70 and ties. The final 36 holes of the Championship will be played at Golden Ocala on June 27-28.
The 2015 field features three past Amateur Champions: Robbie Davis, of Lakeland, Daniel Owen, of Ocala and Brad Quiri, of Tampa. Joining our past Amateur Champions will be a hand full of recent State Champions including: 2015 Amateur Public Links Champion, Richard Donegan, of Okeechobee, 2014 Boys’ Junior Champion, John Coultas, of Valrico, 2013 Junior Champion, Jacob Kline, of Saint Augustine, 2014 Mid-Amateur Champion, Thad Hudgens, of Longwood, 2014 Amateur Match Play Champion, Philip Knowles, of Bradenton and the 2014 Senior Amateur Champion, Pete Williams, of Juno Beach. Other notable players include: Joe Alfieri, of Lutz, Kevin Jorden, of Juno Beach and Ryan Orr, of Belleair.
In all, 30 players earned exempt status through a variety of different means. The field features 59 players under the age of 20. The youngest player competing this week will be Anthony Muttillo, of Boca Raton, who is 15 years old, while the oldest player is past FSGA Senior Player-of-the-Year, Rick Woulfe, of Fort Lauderdale, at 65 years young.
Started in 1914, the Florida Amateur Championship is the oldest continuous sporting event in the state as well as the largest amateur event in Florida. Past Amateur champions include Bob Murphy, Jerry Pate, and PGA Tour players David Peoples, Chris Couch, Barry Cheesman and Blayne Barber.
Spectators and media are welcome to watch the state’s best amateur golfers compete at Golden Ocala Golf & Equestrian Club and Ocala National Golf Club.
