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First Tee – North Florida and St. Johns Golf Club, along with a dedicated group of community individuals and businesses, are fully engaged to stage a premier amateur tournament that showcases everything St. Augustine has to offer. All net proceeds will directly benefit First Tee – North Florida, in an effort to grow and support our game locally.
In collaboration with its dedicated sponsors, the St. Augustine Amateur has generated over $375,000 since 2004 to support First Tee – North Florida.Tournament sponsorships ensure this tradition continues.
In 2004, a dedicated group of golf enthusiasts founded the St. Augustine Amateur. Within two years, the tournament was recognized as a World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR) event. Annually, the tournament features an international field of accomplished collegiate, junior, and mid-amateur players.
The St. Augustine Amateur is open to male amateur golfers who have either met an exempt criteria, applied and been accepted or advanced through the local qualifier.
The 54-hole no-cut stroke play competition, scheduled for three days, is held at St. Johns Golf Club each fall. The field will be comprised of up to 84 players. Morning tee times are assigned off holes 1 and 10. Players are required to walk and may employ their own caddie.
The Conquistador Helmet Trophy is presented to the champion.
Net proceeds, generated through sponsorships, directly benefits First Tee – North Florida, a local youth development organization.
2022 – No Champion (Course Renovations)
2021 – No Champion (Course Renovations)
2020 – Sam Anderson
2019 – Ty Gingerich
2018 – U Minn Woon
2017 – Giulio Castagnara
2016 – Brandon Mancheno
2015 – James Yoon
2014 – Edward Richardson
2013 – Andres Halvorsen
2012 – Jack McGuire
2011 – AJ Crouch
2010 – Christopher Bray
2009 – Blayne Barber
2008 – Zack Sucher
2007 – Danny Evelyn
2006 – Peter Uihlein
2005 – Arnond Vongvanij
2004 – Tyler Brown
1. EXEMPT applicants, who conform to the Rules of Amateur Status as approved by the United States Golf Association and The R&A, will be accepted into the 2023 St. Augustine Amateur on a first-come, first-served basis once they submit a paid, online entry during the registration window (opens August 15th at 8:00 am EDT and closes October 27th at 5:00 pm EDT). Exempt Criteria is listed below. Final field size is at the Committee’s discretion and will not exceed 84 players.
2. NON-EXEMPT applicants, who conform to the Rules of Amateur Status as approved by the United States Golf Association and The R&A, and submit an online entry during the registration window, will be considered by the Committee for any available spots. All accepted players will be notified by October 30th and must pay by November 3rd at 5:00 pm EDT to confirm their spot in the field.
3. QUALIFIER – An 18-hole qualifier will be held on November 19th to finalize the field. Qualifier registration opens November 1st at 8:00 am EDT and closes November 15th at 5:00 pm EST. The exact number of Qualifier spots will be announced on November 19th. If the Qualifier is canceled due to weather, it will not be rescheduled.
Exempt Criteria
Players who meet any of the following criteria shall be considered “EXEMPT” for the 2023 St. Augustine Amateur.
St. Augustine Amateur Past Champions from last 5 tournaments (2016-2020)
Amateur Rankings (Between time of entry and the application deadline.)
Top 750 World Amateur Golf Rankings (WAGR)
College Golf Rankings (Based on final rankings from the 2022-23 season.)
Top 250 Golfstat NCAA DI Individual Rankings
USGA/R&A Championships
2023 US Amateur Match Play Participants
2023 R&A Amateur Match Play Participants
2023 US Mid-Amateur Round-of-16 Participants
2023 US Junior Amateur Round-of-16 Participants
2023 US Amateur Four-Ball Quarter-Finalists
Local Exemptions
2023 Florida Azalea Amateur Champion
2023 Jacksonville Area Golf Association Amateur Champion
2023 First Coast Amateur Champion
2023 The Junior PLAYERS Championship Champion
2023 St. Augustine Amateur Boys Challenge Champion | First Tee – North Florida
2023 Greater Jacksonville Junior Boys Champion | North Florida Junior Golf Foundation Tour
Entry:
Tournament – $399
Qualifier – $100*
*Successful Qualifiers will be required to pay the $299 difference by 5:00 pm EST on November 22nd.
Withdrawals:
By November 17th – Full refund less $50 admin fee
After November 17th – No Refund
Confirmed tournament and qualifier participants may schedule practice round tee times by contacting the St. Johns Golf Club Pro Shop at (904) 209-0350.
The Committee reserves the right to shorten, postpone, or cancel the tournament or qualifier for any reason.
Originally opened in 1989 as a Bob Walker design, it received a 7.9 million dollar renovation in 2022 and reopened November 29, 2022. As part of the renovation done by Erik Larsen, of Larsen Golf Design, the course concept was reimagined into a traditional layout as would have been designed by C.B. McDonald or Seth Raynor in the early 1900’s. The par 71 layout was lengthened to 7,034 yards and many template holes were used such as a Biarritz, Cape, Redan, Thumb Print, Reverse Redan and a Punchbowl. The coffin bunkers were moved nearer to the greens and feature flat bottoms and Zorro Zoyzia grass faces. Fairways were widened and re-grassed with TifTuf Bermuda turf, the greens were re-grassed with TifEagle Bermuda. The drainage work done during the project allows for dryer overall conditions.
Click here for examples of template concepts.
For images and more information on the golf course please follow the link below.
Experiences are our greatest teacher. First Tee believes in developing the ones that are just as fun as they are meaningful, where kids feel excited to grow, safe to fail, and better equipped for whatever comes their way next. Through our golf-based personal growth programs, we see kids build life and leadership skills that empower them in all areas of life, including school, friendships and eventually careers.
