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see also: View results for Gasparilla Invitational Mid-Am, Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club
Hayes Brown wins Gasparilla at 2-under, edging Peyton White by one, while Jeff Frazier claims the Senior title at Palma Ceia.
The Gasparilla Invitational is one of the premier mid-amateur tournaments in the country, played each February at Palma Ceia Golf & Country Club in Tampa, Florida. The event’s roots trace back to the professional-era Gasparilla Open (1932–1935), before returning in 1956 as a strictly amateur championship.
Over the decades, the Gasparilla has attracted U.S. Amateur and U.S. Mid-Amateur champions and a deep roster of elite mid-am competitors. The tournament’s history is also tied to Tampa’s Gasparilla tradition—an annual “pirate invasion” and celebration that helps define the city’s late-winter calendar.
In the modern era, Palma Ceia’s tight corridors, small greens, and slick putting surfaces have created a championship that can swing from record-low scoring in calm weather to survival golf when the wind kicks up.
Palma Ceia is not a modern bomb-and-gouge test. It rewards control off the tee, disciplined wedge play, and a confident putting stroke. The course features a mix of short par-4s that demand position, long par-4s that force full approaches into small targets, and par-3s that punish misses in the wrong spots.
Key holes to watch: The par-5 3rd is a prime birdie opportunity, while the finishing par-5 18th regularly becomes a pressure point—especially when players need one last birdie to reach a playoff number.
Format: 54-hole individual stroke play with a cut after 36 holes. The tournament also features a senior division contested alongside the main championship.
The 2025 edition delivered a classic Palma Ceia finish. Scott Turner posted three rounds in the 60s to win at 206 (-4), edging Steele Dewald and Will Davenport by a single stroke.
Turner’s final round included a key birdie at the par-5 16th, and his closing stretch held up as conditions limited scoring across much of the field.
Senior Division (2025): Miles McConnell defended his title, building a cushion early in the week and holding on through a tougher final round.
Palma Ceia’s scoring profile has swung dramatically in recent years. Calm conditions can produce record-chasing totals, while wind and firmness can turn the event into a grind where even-par looks like a winning number.
| Year | Champion | Winning Total | To Par | Trendline Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | Mike Finster | 202 | -8 | One of the lowest modern winning totals |
| 2020 | Derek Busby | 206 | -4 | Competitive but controlled scoring |
| 2021 | Chip Brooke | 205 | -5 | Tight finish; winning score hovered around mid-single digits under par |
| 2022 | Logan Blondell | 200 | -10 | Record-setting pace in scoring-friendly conditions |
| 2023 | Brendon Wilson | 200 | -10 | Another record-tying run; elite birdie conversion |
| 2024 | Charles Fitzsimmons | 211 | +1 | Windy, demanding; winning score over par |
| 2025 | Scott Turner | 206 | -4 | Back to under-par winning; fewer low rounds on the final day |
How to interpret this: When the wind stays down, the Gasparilla can produce 200-ish winning totals and a true shootout. When gusts arrive and greens firm up, par becomes a premium and the leaderboard compresses quickly.
A Palma Ceia local, Blondell produced a wire-to-wire performance and posted a record-winning total at 10-under 200. His week was defined by steady fairway positioning and clean conversion on birdie looks.
Wilson matched the tournament record at 10-under 200, highlighted by a closing 64 that remains one of the most impressive rounds in modern Gasparilla history.
In the ultimate survival edition, Fitzsimmons finished at +1, forced a playoff with a late birdie on 18, then won by making birdie on the second extra hole.
Turner’s 2025 title at -4 reinforced the tournament’s identity: you can win with birdies, but you must avoid the big mistake—especially late, when the finishing stretch tempts aggression.
Round 1: (Add recap and key numbers)
Round 2: (Add recap, cutline, and movers)
Final Round: (Add recap, champions, highlights)
| Place | Player | Location | Pts | Scores |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Charlotte, NC | 400 | 67-73-68=208 | |
| 2 | Dublin, OH | 300 | 72-70-67=209 | |
| T3 | Miami Beach, FL | 200 | 70-70-70=210 | |
| T3 | Lakeland, FL | 200 | 67-73-70=210 | |
| T5 | Plant City, FL | 200 | 74-67-70=211 |
54-hole individual stroke play championship with a cut after 36 holes to the low 60 and ties. Good mix of Florida players and national competitors looking for an early season tune up. Played on a traditional, tree lined golf course that isn't very lo...
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