The 11th playing of this biennial event will be held at French Lick Resort in French Lick, Indiana on September 30 - October 2.

Jon Veneziano profile

Jon Veneziano, 43, of Mount Dora, earned his spot on the team by leading the two year points list with 27,124 points. The multiple time FSGA State Champion will serve as the veteran on the team. Veneziano has had the opportunity to represent Team Florida at the 2007, 2010 and 2012 USGA State Team Championships.

Veneziano had a great 2013 capturing the Florida Mid-Amateur Championship, and qualifying for two USGA National Championships. [Veneziano also was runner- up against a stacked field at the 2013 Crane Cup, Ed.] He has continued his stellar play in 2014 by capturing the Florida Senior/Mid- Amateur Four-Ball Championship, finishing T17 at the 97th Florida Amateur Championship, and advancing to the round of 16 at the USGA Public Links Championship.

Sam Horsfield profile>

Sam Horsfield, 17, from Davenport, who is currently ranked 67th in the GolfWeek/AmateurGolf.com World Amateur Ranking will also represent Team Florida. Horsfield’s remarkable 2013 season was capped off by winning the 96th State Amateur Championship by eleven strokes at the Jupiter Hills Club. Horsfield also qualified for the USGA Junior Amateur Championship, where he advanced to the Quarterfinals and advanced to the round of 16 at the USGA Public Links Championship. 2014 has been just as impressive for Horsfield, qualifying for the USGA Public Links Championship, the USGA Amateur Championship and advancing all the way to the semi-finals at the USGA Junior Amateur. This will be Horsfield’s first time representing Team Florida for the USGA State Team Championship. [Horsfield, who has committed to Florida, has long been on AmateurGolf.com's "watch list" for a while. You might enjoy our February, 2014 Q&A with Sam Horsfield. Ed.]

Gabriel Lench Wins Florida State Am>

Gabriel Lench, 17, of Lake Mary, earned an automatic selection to Team Florida by capturing the 97th Amateur Championship. Lench won his first State Championship in 2013 outlasting the field at the Junior Match Play Championship, and finished no worse than T17 at all of his 2013 Florida Junior Tour events. After Lench won the 97th Florida Amateur Championship back in June, he also made a run at the Boys’ Junior Championship where he would fall just short to finish in 4th place. This will also be Lench’s first time representing Team Florida for the USGA State Team Championship.

The USGA State Team Championship began in 1995 to celebrate the USGA’s Centennial celebration. It was such a success that the USGA now conducts the event every two years. Fifty-two teams, from all 50 states and Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia, are invited to send three non-college amateur players and can choose their teams by any method. Teams compete in three, 18-hole stroke play rounds; the two lowest scores by players from each team constitute the team score for each round. The 54-hole total is the team’s score for the Championship.

- story courtesy Florida State Golf Association