Castellano captures Florida Mid-Am Stroke Play title

Charles Castellano (Miami, Fla.) shot three consecutive rounds of 68 to win the Florida Mid-Amateur Stroke Play Championship on Sunday at the Coral Creek Club in Placida, Fla., located just across from the Gasparilla Island Causeway.

Castellano began the final day one-stroke behind 36-hole leader Brian Bassett (Naples, Fla.), who had posted rounds of 67 and 68 to sit at 5-under heading into the final round. However, with Bassett struggling to a Sunday 79, Castellano was going in the other direction.

Castellano made birdies on holes 2 and 3 and then eagled the par-5 fifth hole to seize control of the tournament. However, a poor drive on the par 4, 9th by Castellano found the penalty area, and ultimately lead to a double-bogey, 6, trimmed the lead from four strokes to just two. Another bogey on the challenging par 4, 11th saw Castalleno's lead to shrink fall to just one stroke over Bassett.

The par 3, 12th would bring a pivotal three-shot swing and change all the momentum in the Championship. Castellano would convert for a birdie, 2, while Bassett faltered making a double-bogey; seeing Castellano's lead back up to four strokes.

While Bassett continued to struggle through the closing six holes, Castellano hit fairways and got on or around greens making six pars in the challenging conditions, to close with his third consecutive 68, and post the lowest round of the on Sunday.

Blanton Farmer (72-68-69, 209) birdies the 16th and then closed with two pars, tying Spencer Provow (68-70-71, 209) for second-place at one-under-par. Ty Capps, of Palm Coast & Devin Hernandez, of Saint Petersburg would post the only other red numbers on Sunday, with 69's, when the scoring average was 74.9 for the field.

Jim Young of AmateurGolf.com contributed to this report.