County set to host State Am golf championship

JUPITER — Only two former champions are among the 168 starters in the 102nd annual Florida State Amateur Championship scheduled on two local golf courses this weekend.

Brad Quiri and Ryan Abbate are the champions in this year’s field. Among those not competing is defending champion Gabriel Lench of Lake Mary, who beat Marc Dull of Winter Haven on the second extra hole last year at the Concession Golf Club in Bradenton. Dull is playing this year.

On Thursday and Friday, the field will play one round each at the Loxahatchee Club and on the Fazio course at Jonathan’s Landing Golf Club at Old Trail. After 36 holes, a cut will be made to the low 70 and ties, and the final two rounds will be played Saturday and Sunday at Loxahatchee. Play starts each day at 8 a.m. The Palm Beach County Sports Commission is a supporting sponsor.

There are 23 entrants from Palm Beach County:

Steven Green, Jacob Halligan, Reece Kornfeld, Troy Stribling, Paul Stockall and Collin Warren, Jupiter; Chase Cohen, Anthony Colombino, Jesse Daley and Tim Vickers, Palm Beach Gardens; Henry Dubiel, Zachary Fineberg and Thomas Parker, North Palm Beach; Anthony Muttillo, Kritsarin Oukosavanna and Timmy Wideman, Boca Raton; Pete Williams, Juno Beach; Andrew Kozan, West Palm Beach; Derek Hurwitch, Lake Worth Beach; Anthony Klingseisen, Boynton Beach; Daniel Eggertsson, Royal Palm Beach; Matthew Hanson, Wellington; and Sean Steinemann, Hypoluxo.

The Florida State Amateur Championship is one of the oldest and most prestigious amateur golf championships in the country, with a rich history dating back to 1913 when A.C. Ulmer won the first of four titles. Other past champions include Bob Murphy, Doug Sanders, Gary Koch, Jerry Pate, Buddy Alexander and Blayne Barber.