Amateur Golf Tournament ends, Danny Evelyn leads winners

By Jennifer Setton | gargoyle@flagler.edu

The St. Augustine Amateur Golf Tournament attracted over 80 players, ages 15 to 35, from the United States and three foreign countries. The Tournament was held Oct. 19-21 at the St. Johns Golf Club.

Visitors, spectators, and volunteers were seen while players kept busy on the course. Volunteers from Flagler College, The First Tee, St. Johns Golf Club, Rotary Club of St. Augustine, and St. Augustine High School put a hand towards a smooth first round.

With a thunderstorm threatening the area, the first round for the St. Augustine Amateur finished with minutes to spare. Against a par of 70, Florida Southern’s Danny Evelyn, Mu Hu and AJGA standout Wesley Graham finished with a score of three under par 67 and got a taste of the lead for the first round.

Following the leaders, Marc Issler of Toms River, NJ, finished with 68 and Bud Cauley, ranked 21st nationally, with 69. The competition still sat as anyone’s game between Saturday and Sunday.

Danny Evelyn of Wellington, Fla., finished the second round of the St. Augustine Amateur with three-under-par (67), placing him as the leader with a two-day total of 134. Evelyn started his conquer with a first round score of three-under-par and continued Saturday with the same results.

Evelyn’s game for the finall day of the Tournament consisted of two Birdies on holes four and five and made par on the remaining 16 holes. With two-day total of 134, Evelyn bypassed Wesley Graham, 136, Burgess Houston and Brad Barfield, both tied with a two-day total of 138.

The Mid-Amateurs include Brad Stainsby of Lakeland, Patrick Mainey of Newsburgh, NY, and Tim O’Neil of St. Augustine. Stainsby finished five-over-par and two-day total of 146. Mainey finished six-over-par and two-day total of 146. O’Neil finished three-over-par and two-day total of 149.

Evelyn finished the Sunday’s final round with a two-shot lead and a five-under-par 205 at the St. Johns Golf Club. Evelyn wrapped up the tournament with his three-day totals of 67, 67, and 71, which guaranteed his spot as the leader.

Only two shots behind, Patrick Reed, listed as six in the Junior Golf Week ranking, finished the three-day score of 207. Reed kept his position secure by raising the bar with six birdies and a continually hit to par during the final round.

With one shot in his way, Jonathan Mount finished third from the leader. Mount closes with final scores of 72-69, and 67 for his three-day totals. His success showed in the score of Sunday’s final round with six birdies and multiple holes of even par.

During the award ceremony, which followed the play, Jonathan Mathias reconciled a final round by being named the low Mid Amateur (216) for St. Augustine Amateur. Jay Jennison, Tournament Chairman, presented the award ceremony.