Dale wins 93rd Florida State Amateur Championship

April Goode

Sports Coordinator, Athletics Media Relations

(904) 620-4026

University of North Florida sophomore golfer Sean Dale won the 93rd Annual Florida State Amateur Championship on Sunday with a 3-under, 285 at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club and Lodge in Orlando, Fla.

“Congratulations to Sean on the great win,” said UNF head golf coach Scott Schroeder. “This makes the second win for UNF golfers in the past five years of this event which is great.”

In the first round, Dale carded a 2-under, 70 at Orange Tree Golf Club and a 73 in the second round at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge to sit just two strokes back heading to the weekend. Playing the final 36 holes of the championship at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge, Dale shot a 1-over, 73 in the third round to trail by two strokes going into the final day of play.

In the final round, playing the par five 4th hole, Dale holed out his greenside bunker shot for an eagle. He went on to make a key par putt on the ninth hole after coming off a bogey on the difficult eight hole to turn with a 1-under, 35. After making the turn, Dale came out firing on the back nine with birdies on holes 10 and 11 to take the lead with seven holes to play.

With a three shot lead heading into the par five 16th hole, Dale hit his second shot into the water. He hit his fourth shot to 20 feet and made his putt for par. On the 17th hole, Dale made par and two putt on the 18th hole to card a 2-under, 34 on the back nine for a 3-under, 69 in the round and a three stroke victory.

This is Dale’s first career Florida State Golf Association title and the second for a UNF golfer in the past five years. Jeff Dennis won the tournament in 2006.

Dale was named a Division I PING Second-Team All-America and tied for 25th at the 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Golf National Championships, scoring a 1-under, 215 (72-74-60) while leading the Ospreys to a 14th place team finish. Dale finished the 2010 season ranked 11th in the Golfstat Index and 19th in the Golfweek/Sagarin standings.

-UNF-