Marc Dull (Florida State Golf Association Photo)
Marc Dull continued his successful 2023 campaign with a wire-to-wire victory, concluding Sunday at Bradenton Country Club. Dull would open 8-under with rounds of 65-69 to lead by two strokes over Matt Galloway.
With a closing even-par 71 that included bogey's on three of the final five holes, one stroke was the slimmest lead he had all day.
Starting off patiently, Dull's lead became three, as Galloway bogeyed the par 4 No. 5. Dull would then extend it to four strokes with his first birdie on the par 3 No 6.
After Galloway would bogey Holes Nos. 8 and 9, the pack of Blanton Farmer, John Coultas & Chris Kupniewski would all be bunched up at 4-under, trailing Dull, who was 9-under, by five strokes with 9 holes to play. As it is with golf, nothing comes easy. Dull would falter and fail to get up and down on the par 4 No. 14, after missing the green.
He then would three-putt bogey, the par 5 No. 15, while both Galloway & Kupniewski (one group ahead), would make birdies, leaving the pair only two strokes behind with two to play. Kupniewski would post par-bogey on Holes Nos. 17-18, to post 4-under, and was no longer a threat.
On the par 5 No. 17, playing together, both Dull & Galloway would hit approaches inside 10 feet. Galloway made first, and then Dull answered to hold a two-stroke lead walking up to 18. Hitting first, Galloway's hybrid would cut through the wind and finish long left of the green in the greenside bunker.
Dull next would stare down his long iron on the 224 yard, closing par 3, playing into a strong left to right breeze, but it would hit the lip of the front right bunker about 5 yards short.
Greenside, Galloway would play first, and blasted the 30 yard bunker shot to within 3 feet and a likely par.
Dull's blast would "catch a lot of ball" and roll out some 35 feet past the hole. With the ability to two-putt to win the Championship, Dull would lag it up 6 inches short, allow Galloway & Farmer to complete their rounds, and tap in to the applause of family, Bradenton Country Club members and fellow competitors around the green.
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ABOUT THE Florida Mid-Am Stroke Play
An estimated 300+ mid-amateurs (25 years of age
and older) will attempt to qualify for this premier
championship with a Championship field of 84 players.
Format is 36 holes of stroke play with the low 32
scores advancing to match play.
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