With strong close, Hopkins claims Florida Mid-Amateur Stroke Play

At the end of a long weekend in Sarasota, Fla., Devon Hopkins claimed the Florida Mid-Amateur Stroke Play title at Sara Bay Country Club. Hopkins closed with 4-under 68 to clinch the four-shot victory.

“It means a lot. It shows I can play under pressure and pull it off down the stretch, which is pretty fun,” Hopkins told the FSGA.

It didn’t come easy for the Jacknsville Beach, Fla., native, despite what the final-round scorecard might suggest. Hopkins had to overcome a one-shot deficit to start the final round after starting with rounds of 73-66. David Taylor had gone 69-69 to open.

Hopkins dug himself a deeper hole with bogeys at Nos. 4 and 5 to start the day. From there, he rattled off three birdies in the next four holes and added three more on the back, including at Nos. 17 and 18.

“I told myself all year that I could win, and I never really pulled it off. I had a good season and a couple good qualifiers, but it’s nice to wrap it up in a bow and put some icing on the cake,” Hopkins said.

David Taylor took home second place with a 5-under 211. Taylor, who held the second-round lead, finished the front nine at 2-over. He played steady golf on the back and finished the day with a birdie on the 18th hole.

Quotes and information from the FSGA used in this report