Gabrelcik surges to 7 shot win at New Year's Invitational

January 5, 2020 | by AmateurGolf.com Staff

University of North Florida commit Nick Gabrelcik leads the entire way at St. Petersburg CC

University of North Florida commit Nick Gabrelcik (Trinity, Fla.) slept on the lead for three days in a three-day tournament, the result of a rained out third round that gave him an extra day to prepare for attempting to win his first big amateur tournament.

He left no doubt that the tournament was his to win, as he turned a one-shot lead into a seven-shot romp at the New Year's Invitational at St. Petersburg Country Club.

Gabrelcik shot the low round of the day -- his second 67 in three rounds -- to pull away from the field and finish 54 holes at 11 under par. Cornell University junior Charlie Dubiel (Juno Beach, Fla.) was the runner-up at 4 under after a closing 72.

There was a five-way tie for third, including three mid-amateurs who went on to play off for the Mid-Amateur title. Troy Vanucci (Marlton, N.J.), who started the day one behind Gabrelcik but faded with a 74, got redemption in the playoff by beating Devin Hernandez and Joe Alfieri.

The Senior championship was determined after the rained-out third round, with Don Whittemore coming out on top by three shots.

DAY TWO RECAP

University of North Florida commit Nick Gabrelcik shot a 1-under 71 to get to 6 under and lead the New Year's Invitational by one shot over mid-amateur Troy Vanucci (Marlton, N.J.) at St. Petersburg (Fla.) Country Club.

Cornell University junior Charlie Dubiel (Juno Beach, Fla.) shot a 69 to pull into a third-place tie with another mid-am, Joe Alfieri (Lutz, Fa.), at 4 under par.

Three players are tied for fifth at 3 under, including Canadian Yuqi Liu (Thornhill, Ontario), who had the low round of the day with a 66.

Don Whittemore continues to lead the senior division, extending his lead to three after a second-round 70 that took him to even par for the tournament.

DAY ONE RECAP

Nick Gabrelcik shot a 5-under 67 to take a two-shot lead after the first round of the New Year's Invitational at St. Petersburg (Fla.) Country Club.

Gabrelcik, a University of North Florida commit, was the Florida State Golf Association’s Junior Player of the Year in 2019 and continued his good play into the start of 2020 at the traditional first-on-the-calendar (as the tournament's name would suggest) event.

University of Illinois junior Brendan O'Reilly and mid-amateur Troy Vanucci (Marlton, N.J.) each shot 69 to sit in a tie for second in the 72-hole event.

Vanucci leads the mid-amateur division by one shot over Miles McConell and by two over Joe Alfieri.

Stuart Sierra leads the senior division by one shot over Don Whittemore after an opening 73.

Results: New Years Invitational

Place	Player	Location	Pts	Scores
1	Nick Gabrelcik	Trinity, FL	400	67-71-67=205
2	Charlie Dubiel	North Palm Beach, FL	300	71-69-72=212
T3	Devin Hernandez	St. Petersburg, FL	200	74-70-69=213
T3	Blake Dyer	St. Petersburg, FL	200	71-72-70=213
T3	Yuqi Liu	, China	200	75-66-72=213

View full results for New Years Invitational

About the New Years Invitational

Gabrelcik surges to 7 shot win at New Year's Invitational

The New Year's Invitational is one of the oldest and most respected amateur invitationals in the United States, held annually at St. Petersburg Country Club in Saint Petersburg, Florida. First contested in 1927, the championship has been played every...