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3 Local Teens Qualify For Golf Tourney

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By DAREK SHARP

The Tampa Tribune

Published: June 14, 2008

PLANT CITY - Getting into the Florida State Golf Association's amateur championship tournament is no easy feat. Pressure-packed events are held around the state with only a handful of qualifying spots available in each.

A trio of teenage golfers from Plant City stood up to the pressure. Spencer Baldwin, Chad Ballantyne and Daniel Ruel will tee it up next week at the championship, which will take place at the Jupiter Hills Club in Palm Beach County.

All three golfers are Plant City High School graduates and recent standouts for the Raiders.

Joining them in Jupiter will be John Adcock, a former Bloomingdale High star and mini-professional tour player in his late 30s who lives in Plant City.

Nearly 900 competitors were entered into the 13 championship qualifiers around the state. From that group, the final field of 168 is set.

The amateur championship will be held Thursday through June 22.

Last week, Ballantyne, who just finished his freshman year as one of the top golfers at Warner Southern College in Lake Wales, and Ruel qualified out of the tournament in Sarasota. Ruel was tied for the top score with 73 and Ballantyne had a 74.

Nine golfers advanced from the event held at Sara Bay Country Club on June 2.

On June 5 in Lakeland, Baldwin had to go into a playoff to advance and did so. That qualifier was held at Bridgewater Country Club.

Adcock shot a 76 at Grand Pines in Orlando to qualify.

According to the association, the amateur championship is the oldest continually running sporting event in Florida and is also the largest amateur event in Florida. This will be the 91st year in a row it is held.

Last year's winner was Matthew Galloway of Valrico. He will be in the field and, as a past champ, was exempt from having to qualify.

Reporter Darek Sharp can be reached at dsharp@tampatrib.com.

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