Ben Vertz wins the 64th Florida Open Championship shooting a tournament total of 4-under par 210 at the Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club in Palm Harbor, on July 16-18.

Ben Vertz, of Coral Springs, outlasted the field of 156 players to capture the 64th Florida Open Championship.  Vertz 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 would take a two shot lead going into the final day of the championship at Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club playing at 7,255 yards.

In the final round, Vertz started out with a bogey on the second hole, and then rattled off six straight pars before coming to the par 4 ninth hole. Vertz closed out his front nine with a birdie on the ninth hole to turn at even par 36. Vertz stated “After my bogey on number two I really refocused on what I was doing out there, and making birdie on nine really jumpstarted my round".  Vertz played a solid round of golf on the back nine firing a two-under par 33 for a final round two-under par 69. Vertz concluded his round by making a 35 foot birdie putt on the final hole to capture the championship.  “This is the biggest victory of my career, and this is an incredible feeling.  This victory is even sweeter after what happened to me at the Amateur” said Vertz.  Two weeks ago Vertz finished tied for fifth at the 93rd Florida State Amateur Championship at Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge and he currently is a member of the Nova Southeastern Golf team.

Tyler McCumber, of Ponte Vedra Beach, finished in second place for the second straight year three strokes back of Vertz with a tournament total of one-under par 213. McCumber carded a 2-under par 69 on the Copperhead in the final round highlighted by his four-under par 31 on the back nine that included four birdies and no bogeys.  Andrew Pressentin, of Bonita Springs finished alone in third place by firing a final round two-under par 69, for a tournament total of even par 214. Richard Terga, of Palm Beach Gardens who is the PGA Professional at The Breakers Ocean Course finished in fourth place posting a final round one-under par 70, and was the low Professional in the championship taking home $12,000 with his fourth place finish. 

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.

Innisbrook Resort & Golf Club, Palm Harbor, FL at Copperhead & Island Course,July 16-18, 2010

             Ben Vertz (a), Coral Springs 75-66-69--210

             Tyler McCumber (a), Ponte Vedra Beach 72-72-69--213

             Andrew Pressentin (a), Bonita Springs 72-73-69--214

             Richard Terga, Palm Beach Gardens 72-73-70--215 $12,000

             Devin Hernandez (a), Seminole 70-75-71--216

             Kevin Aylwin (a), New Smyrna Beach 71-72-73--216

             Jerry Tucker, Stuart 72-71-74--217 $7,000

             Manny Zerman, Miami Beach 76-71-71--218 $4,500

             Brant Peaper (a), Tequesta 75-71-73--219

            David Ladd, Palm Beach Gardens 72-71-76--219 $3,500

             Patrick Lamb (a), Lake Wales 70-76-73--219

             Danny Germaine (a), Palm Beach Gardens 78-71-71--220

             David Bishop, Lakeland 71-76-73--220 $2,500

             Kyle Cobb (a), Tallahassee 72-76-72--220

             Lee Rinker, Jupiter 73-77-70--220 $2,500

             Rod Perry, Port Orange 73-76-71--220 $2,500

             Carl McCauley (a), Parkland 74-74-73--221

             Christopher Biuso (a), Tampa 77-71-73--221

             Christopher Toulson, Weston 71-74-76--221 $1,300

             Jamie Miller, Lakewood Ranch 76-73-72--221 $1,300

             Jeff Schmid, Deland 75-77-69--221 $1,300

             Andrew Golden, Fort Lauderdale 75-76-71--222 $1,085

             David Arnold (a), Ocala 73-75-74--222

             Max McKay (a), Saint Augustine 72-73-77--222

             T J Heidel, Zephyrhills 78-71-73--222 $1,085

             Daniel Berger (a), Jupiter 73-80-70--223

             David Hanson, Santa Rosa Beach 71-78-74--223 $1,060

             Gary Rusnak, Santa Rosa Beach 73-77-73--223 $1,060

             Ryan Garrity, Jupiter 71-81-71--223 $1,060

             Chris Leake, Tampa 75-77-72--224 $1,015

             Jordan Lewis (a), Winter Park 73-76-75--224

             Joseph Marino (a), Weston 74-75-75--224

             Josh McCumber, Jacksonville 76-72-76--224 $1,015

             Justin Hull, Orlando 73-79-72--224 $1,015

             Ken Martin, Wellington 73-74-77--224 $1,015

             Kevin Collins, Palmetto 79-71-74--224 $1,015

             Mike Keymont, Orlando 77-76-71--224 $1,015

             Scott Smyers (a), Lakeland 73-74-77--224

             Bill Shriver, Largo 76-75-74--225 $960

             Brad Brunner (a), Tampa 75-78-72--225

             Chase Sargent (a), Orlando 78-75-72--225

             Chris Kaufman, Coral Springs 77-73-75--225 $960

             Greg Koch, Orlando 78-72-75--225 $960

             John Balmer, Ocala 80-72-73--225 $960

             Logan Blondell (a), Lakeland 78-75-72--225

             Matt Mitchell, Dunedin 77-70-78--225 $960

             Michael DeGreiff (a), Southwest Ranches 77-74-74--225

             Zachary Potter (a), Cocoa Beach 77-76-72--225

             Brian Richey, Lakeland 76-74-76--226 $910

             Dan Heaslip, Naples 73-76-77--226 $910

             Frank Dobbs, Port Saint Lucie 74-75-77--226 $910

             Jamey Salmon (a), Jacksonville 71-76-79--226

             Joe Alfieri (a), Lutz 75-76-75--226

             Tim Polce, Zephyrhills 72-77-77--226 $910

             Victor Billskoog, Miami 72-77-77--226 $910

             Zachary Sobel (a), Clearwater Beach 73-72-81--226

             Alexander Medinis (a), Fort Myers 78-75-74--227

             David Hronek, North Port 73-77-77--227 $870

             Duke Butler (a), Ponte Vedra Beach 76-76-75--227

             Matthew Newman, Boca Raton 75-78-74--227 $870

             Paul Scaletta, Jupiter 73-79-75--227 $870

             Brendon Ehlers, Jacksonville 77-76-75--228 $850

             Jon McDonald, Bonita Springs 75-78-76--229 $830

             Philip Pellerito, Naples 76-74-79--229 $830

             Steve Madsen, Boca Raton 73-77-79--229 $830

             Tyler Sluman (a), Bradenton 75-78-76--229

             Robert McNaughton (a), Lutz 74-79-77--230

             Ryan Black (a), Port Saint Lucie 76-72-82--230

             Major Forbess (a), Jacksonville 75-76-80--231

             Si Clemo (a), Panama City 77-75-79--231

             Chris Hamilton (a), Clermont 76-77-79--232

             John Powers (a), Boca Raton 76-76-81--233

             Andres Pumariega (a), Miami 76-77-82--235

             Steve Carter (a), Saint Augustine 77-76-84--237

            

             Missed Cut

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

             David Kent, Estero 73-81--154

             Donny Lee, Davenport 77-77--154

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

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

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

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

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

             Stan Cooke, Homosassa 74-80--154

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

             Bill Sellers, Orlando 76-79--155

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

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

             Dolph Roder, Fort Lauderdale 80-75--155

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

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

             Junhyun Shin, DeBary 73-82--155

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

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

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

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

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

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

             Jay Westerlund, Estero 79-77--156

             John Collins, Sarasota 82-74--156

             John Nieporte, Boca Raton 76-80--156

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

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

             Paul Wilson, Coconut Creek 81-75--156

             Scott Kennedy (a), Plantation 79-77--156

             Sean Gorgone, Casselberry 80-76--156

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

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

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

             Chip Brooke, Saint Augustine 80-77--157

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

             Dominic Frontero, Oviedo 82-75--157

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

             Kyaw Htet, Clearwater 80-77--157

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

             Davidde Giordano, Jupiter 79-79--158

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

             Jeff Ulaszek, Lakewood Ranch 76-82--158

             John Lee, Naples 82-76--158

             Rick Sargent, Kissimmee 80-78--158

             Brian Hart, Saint Agustine 81-78--159

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

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

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

             Kyle Hammond, Tallahassee 79-80--159

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

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

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

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

             Wally Les, Wellington 82-77--159

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

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

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

             Marty Stanovich, Tamarac 78-82--160

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

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

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

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

             Doug Rhea, Orlando 80-81--161

             Jason Still, Tallahassee 78-83--161

             Shaun Kelley, Kissimmee 79-82--161

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

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

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

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

             Albert Mlynarski, Oviedo 83-81--164

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

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

             Mark Doss, Fort Myers 82-83--165

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

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

             Jonathan Lee, Wesley Chapel 82-86--168

             Nick Jones, Palm Harbor 90-79--169

 

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

             A J Duncan, Naples NC--NC

             Anthony Hollis, Palm Beach Gardens DQ--DQ

             Nikhil DeSai (a), Sanford NC--NC