The Golfweek Amateur Tour/Orlando will open its 2014 season on March 22 at Red Tail GC in Sorrento. Thirteen tournaments are scheduled on some of the finest courses in central Florida. “Last year we played a terrific schedule; this year our lineup is every bit as good” said Tom Mirus, Tour director. “We will be taking the tour to some new courses this year. We are playing eight courses we did not play in 2013. We are excited about the coming season. We will again qualify fifty players (10 from each of the five flights) for the Tour Championship in October. It is being held in Hilton Head, SC now and the players that made the trip last year loved it. I am sure competition for the invitations will be strong again this year. Plus, our players competed for nearly $50,000 in prizes last year.”

The Golfweek Amateur Tour/Orlando is the first Florida affiliate of the Golfweek Amateur Tour. There are local tours operating in 30 states and 44 markets with nationwide membership exceeding 4400.

The Senior (50 & up) flights will continue play on Saturdays with the regular flights. Senior players may choose to compete simultaneously in Regular flights for an additional surcharge. Senior players will qualify for the senior Tour Championship in November, in Pinehurst.

Players are put into flights by handicap/handicap index. Players without indexes may submit recent scorecards to be assigned to a flight, subject to change based on tournament performance. All prizes in all flights are based on gross scores. Entry fees start as low as $75 and include course costs, range balls and prizes. Annual Player Cards are $110. Registration is open now. Player Cards are $110.  Tournaments average nearly 100 players. Visit www.amateurgolftour.net or www.orlandoagt.com for more information. 

We look forward to another great season in 2014.

We look forward to another great season in 2014.

We look forward to another great season in 2014.

Here is a summary of the postseason in 2013.

BRADY-FOSTER EDGE PATERNITI-POWELL FOR 2-MAN TITLE

On a glorious December weekend, the Orlando Golfweek Amateur Tour closed the 2013 season with the first 2-Man Challenge at the Legends course at the Orange Lake Resort on December 7-8.  20 teams competed in the first of what we hope will be many editions of this event.  Teams were placed in one of four flights based on their AGT index.  Three different formats were used for the event.  On Saturday players played 9 holes using the Alternate Shot format and 9 holes of Scramble.  Sunday was contested with 18 holes of fourball (best ball) play.  

Flight I

The teams of Dennis Brady/Bill Foster and Ed Paterniti/Doug Powell shared the day one lead with rounds of 75.  Sunday was just as close as each team held the lead at one time or another until the Brady/Foster duo birdied holes 15 & 17 coming down the stretch to pull out a one shot victory.

Flight II

In Flight II, the action was just as close.  After day one the teams of Denis Cargo/Rex Hyder and Doug Burch/Alex Hargaden shared the top spot with rounds of 74.  On Sunday, the lead went back and forth before Burch/Hargaden posted another 74 to take a one stroke victory over the Cargo/Hyder team.

Flight III

When you didn't think it could get any closer, Flight III proved that it could.  Chet Rakowski and Ray Rodriguez jumped out to a three stroke lead on Saturday after a solid 77 opening round.  Two teams were tied for second at 80 including Andy Baker and Billl Robertson.  Paired together on Sunday, Baker/Robertson put up the flight's best rund of 74.  Rakowski/Rodriguez were solid firing another 77 to also finish at 154 and force a sudden vicroty playoff.  Baker/Robertson won on the first extra hole to finish off their comeback.

Flight IV

Brothers Tom & John Saskowski came up with the second come from behind victory of the day Sunday.   After opening with an 85 Saturday they found themselves four strokes behind leaders Chuck Jaqueth and Jay Freeman, who carded 81.  But Sunday was different as the Saskowskis socred an impressive score of 76 to erase the lead and close out a 3 shot victory after Jaqueth/Freeman shot 83.

Thanks to everyone who played in this unique and fun event.  We hope next year the field will grow and this will become a "can't miss" event for Golfweek Amateur Tour members.