Two-Minute Drill: Super Bowl 59 has several ties to state of Florida
From Florida high school and college players to the coin flipped before the game, the state of Florida has a big hand in Super Bowl 59.
Three First Coast courses will host qualifying events for USGA national championships this spring and summer.The Marsh Creek Country Club, Stillwater Golf and Country Club, and Amelia Island Club at Long Point will be the host sites.For more information or to enter the qualifiers, visit fsga.org.
Qualifying for USGA national championships will be held at three First Coast courses this spring and summer.
The Marsh Creek Country Club in St. Augustine will be the site of an 18-hole U.S. Open local qualifier on May 5. Depending on the size of the field, several or more of the top scorers will advance to one of the 36-hole sectional qualifiers on June 2.
The U.S. Open is June 12-15 at the Oakmont Country Club in Oakmont, PA.
A U.S Amateur qualifier will be held on June 9 at the Stillwater Golf and Country Club in St. Johns, the area’s most recently built course that opened in 2022. The Amateur will be Aug. 11-17 at the Olympic Golf Club in San Francisco.
The Amelia Island Club at Long Point will be the site for a U.S. Senior Men’s Amateur qualifier July 29. The Senior Amateur is Aug. 23-28 at the Oak Hill Country Club in San Antonio.
Three other USGA qualifiers are a quick drive from the First Coast. A U.S. Men’s Mid-Amateur qualifier is July 29 at the Conservatory at Hammock Beach in Palm Coast; and U.S. Junior Amateur qualifiers will be at the University of Florida’s Mark Bostick Golf Course, with the girls on May 23 and the boys on May 28.
For additional information or to enter the qualifiers, visit fsga.org.
Flagler women’s golf on the rise
The Flagler College women’s golf team begins the spring season fourth in the nation according to the first NCAA Division II rankings by Scoreboard.
The Saints, who have won three of their four tournaments in the fall season and nine of 15 starts since the fall of 2023, are the top-ranked team in the Peach Belt Conference.
Three players are ranked among the top 25 nationally. Jordyn Hodges is No. 13, Henrietta Stranda is 16th and Stella Jelinek is 23rd.
Flagler won the Peach Belt last year, finished third in the NCAA Super Regional and was the stroke-play medalist in the NCAA Tournament. The Saints open their season Feb. 17-18 by hosting the World Golf Invitational at the King & Bear.
Among the returning starters is sophomore Shanya Arasu, a Nease graduate.
Chuck Kirk stays hot in Winter Series
Chuck Kirk of Middleburg posted his fourth consecutive finish of sixth or better in the Florida State Golf Association’s Winter Series.
Kirk scored 82 over 36 holes points and finished second in the senior division of the Winter Series Stableford Feb. 3-4 at the Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club. Brian Keenan of Tampa won with 94 points.
Brad Rollinson of Ponte Vedra Beach (72 points) was fifth in the super-senior division. Kevin McDonald of Jacksonville (72) was ninth in the mid-amateur division.
Kirk has a tie for sixth, a victory, a fourth and a second since Jan. 7.
Fleming Island teammates tied for second
Ryan Houck and Emmet Kuhlenkamp, who helped Fleming Island win a second FHSAA state title in November, both shot 2-over 144 to tie for second in the Florida Junior Tour Bent Creek Open, at the Westside course. Yuma Nemoto of Bradenton shot 5-under 137 to win. Japreet Kondal (146) of Beachside High tied for seventh. Sahana Chokshi (148) of Episcopal finished third in the girls division, won by Ava Zhang of Lake Mary at 4-under 138. … Charlie Hipps of Creekside High shot 3-under 141 at Candler Hills in Ocala to finish fourth in the FJT 13-15 Candler Hills Open. He was two behind winner Karl Stenson of Orlando.
