St. Augustine Amateur Golf Tournament Returns After Two-Year Break for Course Upgrades

The renowned St. Augustine Amateur has returned, set on a new course and featuring youthful players as young as 13, ready to reclaim its standing as one of the premier amateur tournaments on the First Coast.

This year’s 18th St. Augustine Amateur takes place from Friday through Sunday at the St. Johns Golf Club, ending a two-year break and coinciding with Erik Laren’s $8 million makeover of the par-71, 7,009-yard course.

Sam Anderson triumphed in the previous edition of the SAA in 2020, rallying from three shots behind with a 66 to secure victory. The former University of Wisconsin player is set to join the PGA Tour Americas in 2024.

The list of winners includes PGA Tour member Blayne Barber, Korn Ferry Tour members A.J. Crouch and Jack Maquire, and LIV Golf member Peter Uihlein.

This year’s competition features 84 players representing 40 NCAA Division I schools as well as 14 junior players committed to colleges. Noteworthy participants include 2023 NCAA Division II national champion Andrew Riley, record-holder Ty Gingerich, and Junior Players Championship runner-up Phillip Dunham of Ponte Vedra Beach.

Current UNF and JU players will also compete, making the tournament a World Amateur Ranking event.

Moreover, net proceeds from the tournament are dedicated to First Tee-North Florida, with over $375,000 raised for the organization since the tournament’s founding in 2004 by the late Jay Jennison, former Flagler College golf coach.

Admission is free, with tee times off both sides scheduled for 8:30-10:30 a.m. each day. Live scoring is accessible at staugustineamateur.com.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: St. Augustine Amateur back in the swing of things at St. Johns Golf Club