Lench Secures Second Florida Amateur Title
BRADENTON, Florida (June 24, 2018) — Gabe Lench shot a final round 69 today en route to a victory at the Florida State Amateur. Beginning the day three shots back of the lead, the Liberty University golfer was able to secure himself in a playoff with Mid-Amateur Marc Dull, and after two holes of play, a decisive par on the second playoff hole would give Lench the victory.
Lench was finding himself in good positions for much of the front nine, with near birdie misses on Nos. 4, 6, 7, and 8. Lench’s push would begin on the back nine, making birdies on Nos. 11 and 12, giving him the outright as Dull gave away a few shots. Marc Dull wouldn’t let those bogey's affect him though, making birdies on the 16th and 17th to take the lead once again. Ever resilient, Lench would make an incredibly clutch birdie on No. 18 to force the playoff where he would eventually triumph.
For Lench, who missed qualifying for the Florida State Open just days previously, this win meant more than just his second time holding the Florida State Amateur trophy, having won this event four years prior. As an added bonus, his victory warrants him a position at this weeks Florida State Open.
“I played the qualifier for the Florida State Open before I came to this tournament and I didn't get through,” explained Lench. “I came here and talked to some of the tournament directors of the Florida Open and asked them what I had to do here this week to get in, and they said, ‘well, you have to win it.’ I said, ‘OK, I’m gonna do that.”
The talented and confident Luke Mary native will travel to Palm Harbor for the event, which begins on July 13.
ABOUT THE Florida State Amateur
Started in 1914, the Amateur Championship is
the oldest continuous sporting event in the
state of Florida. The field will include exempt
players and players who have qualified
through
18 holes of stroke play at one of the qualifying sites.
The Championship features a field of 168
players split alternately on two golf courses
the first two days. The field is reduced to the
low 70 and ties after the first two rounds to
play an additional 36 holes of stroke play.
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