SARASOTA, FL — Women amateur golfers from around the state are converging at the Oaks Club this week to vie for the State Amateur Championship title. Thirty-eight women teed off Monday in a stroke play round to compete for thirty-two spots.
Today’s final eight have all advanced in match play rounds earlier in this week. Local players advancing include Page Halpin, former LPGA pro and current Oaks Club member. Halpin, who played on tour for 6 years and won the NCAA in 1985, defeated Tovie St. Louis of West Palm Beach, 2 & 1 on Wednesday.
Other local standouts who will continue play include sisters Robbi and Ginger Howard, of IMG Academies in Bradenton. Doie Tolbert, a resident member of The Oaks Club, also advances. Tolbert has won The Oaks Club Championship two out of the last three years. Locals Tatiana Gammicchia of University Park, Florida and Gennifer Mendez of Northport also advance to play in Thursday’s round.
Tim Beckwith, The Oaks Club PGA Master Professional, says this tournament is one of the three biggest women’s events in the state. “There are two amateur championships and the LPGA Open Qualifier and we are hosting the Open Qualifier event on Monday, May 16th right on the heels of this week’s tournament,” Beckwith added. “This week’s event gathers the best female amateurs in the State of Florida. The Florida Women’s State Golf Association chooses the course and the feedback from the players is that the course is absolutely pristine,” he said.
The Oaks Club Eagle course was the first in the world to have Sea Isle Supreme Paspalum wall to wall. The rough, fairways, tees and greens on this 5911 yard course all have this new type of turf that stays green twelve months a year.
Beckwith mentioned that player, Tovie St. Louis from West Palm Beach “thanked me for having the event saying the course and your staff are absolutely magnificent,” he said. “Hearing that made my day,” Beckwith added.
The Oaks Golf & Country Club is a 1,000 acre development featuring two private 18-hole championship golf courses. The Oaks Club is situated on both the east and west sides of US 41 in Osprey, Florida just 12 miles south of downtown Sarasota. Amenities include the private equity country club, guest lodge, 14 Har-Tru tennis courts, croquet court, a 34,000 square foot Georgian-style clubhouse, junior Olympic pool and an active social calendar.
Organized in 1927, The Florida Women’s State Golf Association is an organization of individual members and golf clubs throughout the state. Its mission is to develop, promote, maintain and protect the game of golf among Florida’s women amateur golfers. It is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of a dedicated group of 20 women (all volunteers) who conduct tournaments and offer golf-related services for the benefit of its members.
