Ben Vertz posted fired a five-under par 66 in the second round to the lead by two strokes heading into the final round of the 64th Florida Open Championship at Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club in Palm Harbor.

The Championship continues with the low 60 competitors and ties advancing to play the final 18 holes on the Copperhead course on July 18.

Ben Vertz, of Coral Springs, fired an opening round a 3-over par 75 on the Island course to trail the first round leader by five strokes. Vertz came out firing in the second round on the Copperhead course with a two-under par 33 on the front nine, which included two birdies and no bogeys. Vertz continued his solid play on the back nine carding a three-under par 33 for a round of 5-under par 66.  Vertz’s two-round total of 141 puts him at 2-under par for the Championship. Vertz recently finished tied for fifth at the 93rd Florida State Amateur Championship at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge and currently is a member of the Nova Southeastern Golf team.

Three players are currently tied for second place trailing Vertz by two strokes heading into the final round. Kevin Aylwin, of New Smyrna Beach, is one of the players tied for second place after carding back to back rounds of even par on the difficult Copperhead and Island courses for a two round total of 143. Aylwin recently captured the 2010 Amateur Public Links Championship at PGA Golf Club. David Ladd, of Palm Beach Gardens and the Head Professional at Tequesta Country Club, is also tied for second place after firing a second round one-under par 71 on the Island course to currently sit at even par 143 for the championship. Jerry Tucker, of Stuart, and the Head Golf Professional at Trump International Golf Club is the final player tied for second place. Tucker carded an even par 71 on the Copperhead course in the second round to go along with his even par round of 72 on the Island course in the first round. First round leader Devin Hernandez, of Seminole, is currently in a tie for sixth place with a two round total of 145.

The top 156 amateur & professional golfers in the state will play 18 holes each on the Copperhead course and the Island course on July 16-17. After 36 holes, the field will be cut to the low 60 and ties. The final 18 holes of the Championship will be played on the Copperhead course on July 18. Before reaching the Championship, more than 1000 participants attempted to qualify at one of 16 sites across the state setting a new tournament record for entries filed.

Started in 1942, The Florida Open Championship has produced past champions that include Willie Turnesa, Bob Murphy, Gary Koch, Bruce Fleisher, John Huston, Dudley Hart, and Bart Bryant.  This will be the second year the Florida State Golf Association will be conducting this great championship.

Spectators and media are welcome to watch the state’s best professionals and amateur golfers compete at Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club.

Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club at Copperhead & Island Courses, Palm Harbor, FL, July 16 & 17, 2010

             Ben Vertz (a), Coral Springs 75 IS-66 CH--141

             David Ladd, Palm Beach Gardens 72 CH-71 IS--143

             Jerry Tucker, Stuart 72 IS-71 CH--143

             Kevin Aylwin (a), New Smyrna Beach 71 CH-72 IS--143

             Tyler McCumber (a), Ponte Vedra Beach 72 CH-72 IS--144

             Andrew Pressentin (a), Bonita Springs 72 IS-73 CH--145

             Christopher Toulson, Weston 71 CH-74 IS--145

             Devin Hernandez (a), Seminole 70 IS-75 CH--145

             Max McKay (a), Saint Augustine 72 CH-73 IS--145

             Richard Terga, Palm Beach Gardens 72 IS-73 CH--145

             Zachary Sobel (a), Clearwater Beach 73 CH-72 IS--145

             Brant Peaper (a), Tequesta 75 IS-71 CH--146

             Patrick Lamb (a), Lake Wales 70 CH-76 IS--146

             David Bishop, Lakeland 71 CH-76 IS--147

             Jamey Salmon (a), Jacksonville 71 IS-76 CH--147

             Ken Martin, Wellington 73 CH-74 IS--147

             Manny Zerman, Miami Beach 76 IS-71 CH--147

             Matt Mitchell, Dunedin 77 IS-70 CH--147

             Scott Smyers (a), Lakeland 73 CH-74 IS--147

             Carl McCauley (a), Parkland 74 IS-74 CH--148

             Christopher Biuso (a), Tampa 77 IS-71 CH--148

             David Arnold (a), Ocala 73 IS-75 CH--148

             Josh McCumber, Jacksonville 76 IS-72 CH--148

             Kyle Cobb (a), Tallahassee 72 CH-76 IS--148

             Ryan Black (a), Port Saint Lucie 76 IS-72 CH--148

             Dan Heaslip, Naples 73 CH-76 IS--149

             Danny Germaine (a), Palm Beach Gardens 78 IS-71 CH--149

             David Hanson, Santa Rosa Beach 71 CH-78 IS--149

             Frank Dobbs, Port Saint Lucie 74 IS-75 CH--149

             Jamie Miller, Lakewood Ranch 76 CH-73 IS--149

             Jordan Lewis (a), Winter Park 73 IS-76 CH--149

             Joseph Marino (a), Weston 74 CH-75 IS--149

             Rod Perry, Port Orange 73 IS-76 CH--149

             T J Heidel, Zephyrhills 78 CH-71 IS--149

             Tim Polce, Zephyrhills 72 CH-77 IS--149

             Victor Billskoog, Miami 72 IS-77 CH--149

             Brian Richey, Lakeland 76 IS-74 CH--150

             Chris Kaufman, Coral Springs 77 IS-73 CH--150

             David Hronek, North Port 73 CH-77 IS--150

             Gary Rusnak, Santa Rosa Beach 73 IS-77 CH--150

             Greg Koch, Orlando 78 IS-72 CH--150

             Kevin Collins, Palmetto 79 CH-71 IS--150

             Lee Rinker, Jupiter 73 IS-77 CH--150

             Philip Pellerito, Naples 76 IS-74 CH--150

             Steve Madsen, Boca Raton 73 IS-77 CH--150

             Andrew Golden, Fort Lauderdale 75 CH-76 IS--151

             Bill Shriver, Largo 76 CH-75 IS--151

             Joe Alfieri (a), Lutz 75 CH-76 IS--151

             Major Forbess (a), Jacksonville 75 CH-76 IS--151

             Michael DeGreiff (a), Southwest Ranches 77 CH-74 IS--151
             Chris Leake, Tampa 75 CH-77 IS--152

             Duke Butler (a), Ponte Vedra Beach 76 CH-76 IS--152

             Jeff Schmid, Deland 75 IS-77 CH--152

             John Balmer, Ocala 80 IS-72 CH--152

             John Powers (a), Boca Raton 76 IS-76 CH--152

             Justin Hull, Orlando 73 IS-79 CH--152

             Paul Scaletta, Jupiter 73 CH-79 IS--152

             Ryan Garrity, Jupiter 71 CH-81 IS--152

             Si Clemo (a), Panama City 77 CH-75 IS--152

             Alexander Medinis (a), Fort Myers 78 IS-75 CH--153

             Andres Pumariega (a), Miami 76 CH-77 IS--153

             Brad Brunner (a), Tampa 75 IS-78 CH--153

             Brendon Ehlers, Jacksonville 77 IS-76 CH--153

             Chase Sargent (a), Orlando 78 IS-75 CH--153

             Chris Hamilton (a), Clermont 76 CH-77 IS--153

             Daniel Berger (a), Jupiter 73 IS-80 CH--153

             Jon McDonald, Bonita Springs 75 IS-78 CH--153

             Logan Blondell (a), Lakeland 78 CH-75 IS--153

             Matthew Newman, Boca Raton 75 IS-78 CH--153

             Mike Keymont, Orlando 77 CH-76 IS--153

             Robert McNaughton (a), Lutz 74 CH-79 IS--153

             Steve Carter (a), Saint Augustine 77 CH-76 IS--153

             Tyler Sluman (a), Bradenton 75 CH-78 IS--153

             Zachary Potter (a), Cocoa Beach 77 CH-76 IS--153

             Missed Cut

             Alan Pope (a), Orlando 75 CH-79 IS--154

             David Kent, Estero 73 IS-81 CH--154

             Donny Lee, Davenport 77 CH-77 IS--154

             Gabriel Costa (a), Tequesta 77 CH-77 IS--154

             Justin Dorward (a), Port Saint Lucie 79 CH-75 IS--154

             M J Maguire (a), Saint Petersburg 77 CH-77 IS--154

             Parker Clowers (a), Jacksonville 76 IS-78 CH--154

             Sam Ryder (a), Longwood 77 IS-77 CH--154

             Stan Cooke, Homosassa 74 CH-80 IS--154

             Alan Zimmerman, North Palm Beach 77 CH-78 IS--155

             Bill Sellers, Orlando 76 CH-79 IS--155

             Chandler Gruenemeier (a), Jacksonville 79 IS-76 CH--155

             Clint Wilhelm (a), Saint Cloud 75 IS-80 CH--155

             Dolph Roder, Fort Lauderdale 80 CH-75 IS--155

             Doug Snoap (a), Apopka 78 IS-77 CH--155

             Gerry James, Ponte Vedra Beach 74 CH-81 IS--155

             Junhyun Shin, DeBary 73 CH-82 IS--155

             Spencer Baldwin (a), Plant City 75 IS-80 CH--155

             Thad Hudgens (a), Longwood 78 CH-77 IS--155

             Thomas Stewart (a), Ponte Vedra 81 IS-74 CH--155

             Tim Hume (a), Tampa 77 CH-78 IS--155

             Tory Henderson (a), Bradenton 81 IS-74 CH--155

             Andrew Colvin (a), Longwood 83 IS-73 CH--156

             Jay Westerlund, Estero 79 IS-77 CH--156

             John Collins, Sarasota 82 CH-74 IS--156

             John Nieporte, Boca Raton 76 CH-80 IS--156

             John O'Leary, Orlando 79 IS-77 CH--156

             Mark Baggarly (a), Ocala 72 IS-84 CH--156

             Paul Wilson, Coconut Creek 81 CH-75 IS--156
             Scott Kennedy (a), Plantation 79 CH-77 IS--156

             Sean Gorgone, Casselberry 80 CH-76 IS--156

             Shelton Smith (a), Port Orange 75 CH-81 IS--156

             Ty Callahan (a), Tampa 76 CH-80 IS--156

             Ben Adelberg (a), Boynton Beach 81 CH-76 IS--157

             Chip Brooke, Saint Augustine 80 CH-77 IS--157

             Dan Grier (a), Niceville 79 CH-78 IS--157

             Dominic Frontero, Oviedo 82 IS-75 CH--157

             Jimmy Buell, Palm Beach Gardens 83 IS-74 CH--157

             Kyaw Htet, Clearwater 80 IS-77 CH--157

             Mike San Filippo, Hobe Sound 77 CH-80 IS--157

             Davidde Giordano, Jupiter 79 IS-79 CH--158

             George Roat (a), Windermere 81 IS-77 CH--158

             Jeff Ulaszek, Lakewood Ranch 76 CH-82 IS--158

             John Lee, Naples 82 IS-76 CH--158

             Rick Sargent, Kissimmee 80 IS-78 CH--158

             Brian Hart, Saint Agustine 81 CH-78 IS--159

             Brian Phelan (a), Saint Augustine 80 IS-79 CH--159

             Chaz Heinz (a), Trinity 80 IS-79 CH--159

             Gordon Love (a), Naples 81 CH-78 IS--159

             Kyle Hammond, Tallahassee 79 CH-80 IS--159

             Micah Jacobsen (a), Amelia Island 78 IS-81 CH--159

             Paul Daniels, Port Saint  Lucie 77 IS-82 CH--159

             Rip Halverson (a), Atlantic Beach 80 CH-79 IS--159

             Spencer Cole (a), Bradenton 84 IS-75 CH--159

             Wally Les, Wellington 82 CH-77 IS--159

             Christopher Bray (a), Hilliard 79 IS-81 CH--160

             Drew Mathews (a), Winter Haven 76 CH-84 IS--160

             Jacob Davidson (a), Jacksonville 80 IS-80 CH--160

             Marty Stanovich, Tamarac 78 IS-82 CH--160

             Rick Kittelstad (a), Tampa 78 IS-82 CH--160

             Andrew Gain (a), Bradenton 80 IS-81 CH--161

             Bob Dickson, Ponte Vedra Beach 81 CH-80 IS--161

             Craig Russell (a), Orlando 82 CH-79 IS--161

             Doug Rhea, Orlando 80 CH-81 IS--161

             Jason Still, Tallahassee 78 IS-83 CH--161

             Shaun Kelley, Kissimmee 79 CH-82 IS--161

             Tyler Gentilella (a), Parkland 81 IS-80 CH--161

             Brandon Meltzer (a), Boca Raton 78 IS-84 CH--162

             Joshua Spalding (a), Bunnell 82 CH-80 IS--162

             Michael O' Connor, Fort Pierce 78 CH-84 IS--162

             Albert Mlynarski, Oviedo 83 IS-81 CH--164

             Jimmy Stanger (a), Tampa 84 IS-80 CH--164

             Marcus Plunkett (a), Saint Augustine 84 CH-81 IS--165

             Mark Doss, Fort Myers 82 IS-83 CH--165

             David Garratt (a), Cape Coral 86 IS-81 CH--167

             Rafael Floriani, Port Saint Lucie 84 IS-83 CH--167

             Jonathan Lee, Wesley Chapel 82 CH-86 IS--168

             Nick Jones, Palm Harbor 90 IS-79 CH--169

             Kevin Britton (a), Palm City 80 CH-NC IS--NC

             A J Duncan, Naples NC

             Anthony Hollis, Palm Beach Gardens DQ

             Nikhil DeSai (a), Sanford NC