Sam Horsfield wins State Amateur Championship by 11 Strokes
Sam Horsfield had quite an up and down week at the Jupiter Hills Club. An opening round of 72 on the Village course quickly left him six shots off the pace. Horsfield then went out on Friday and shot a three-under 67 on the very difficult Hills course to head into the weekend with a four shot lead. The 16 year old from Davenport never looked back on his way to a four day total of 4-under and an 11 shot victory.
Despite the large margin of victory, it was still an up and down weekend. Despite a 72 on Saturday, the rest of the field was not able to take advantage and Horsfield actually extended his lead. He fired a 67 on Sunday to comfortably coast to win the 96th State Amateur Championship.
Horsfield has already built up quite the golfing resume. Starting the game at the age of four, Horsfield won the 2011 Boys’ Junior Championship by five shots. He also set a course record at Fox Hollow Golf Club in Trinity a few weeks ago en route to qualifying for the U.S. Amateur Pub Links.
Kevin Jorden of Juno Beach fired a final round 70 to finish in a tie for fourth. The fourth place finish earns him an exemption into this year’s Mid-Amateur Championship and Amateur Match Play Championship and next year’s Florida Open.
The 11 stroke margin of victory was the second largest in a State Amateur event. In 1993, Chris Couch of North Lauderdale won by 14 strokes at Bay Hill in Orlando.