Florida Azalea: Stauffer takes early lead

PALATKA, Fla. (March 15, 2013) -- Logan Stauffer fired a first-round 67 and leads a solid field at the 2013 Florida Azalea Amateur at Palatka Golf Club. Stauffer’s first-round score leaves him one shot up on a pair of contenders currently in second place after 68s, Zhong Yang Fu of Purdue and Travis Trace. Cyril Suk, a former IMG Academy attendee and current Jacksonville University freshman, Texas A&M commit Mickey Werenski and Osten Waite of University of North Florida are tied for fourth place after firing first-round 69s. A Golfweek/amateurgolf.com rankings event, the Florida Azalea Amateur first began in 1958 as a two-man team tournament. Throughout its history, the field has included numerous players who went on to success at the game’s highest level, including Tommy Aaron, the 1973 Masters champion, and Bob Murphy, an 11-time PGA Tour winner. Peter Uihlein won the event in 2008. The host course is a Donald Ross design dating back to 1925. It only checks in at 6,000 yards from the tips but proves to challenge the ever-improving field with its well-placed bunkers and small and fast greens. Second-round action begins Saturday morning.