Tournament News

The Dixie Amateur originated in 1924 and was played at the old Miami Country Club. South Florida was the “first” great golf destination and the South Florida golf scene has always been rich in talent. The Dixie Amateur always attracted great amateur players.

Early winners of the Dixie Amateur included: Frank Stafaci, Earl Christianson, Frank Perpich, Frank Strananhan, Al Besselink, and Doug Ford. With the closing of the Miami Country Club in 1953 the Dixie was discontinued until 1962.

The tournament has been played continuously since 1962 at various courses around Miami including The Links of Key Biscayne and The Golf Club of Miami. During this period many Champions won the Dixie Amateur before finding success on the PGA Tour. These players include: Andy Bean, Bruce Fleisher, Nolan Henke, Len Mattice, Jesper Parnevik, Hal Sutton and Lanny Wadkins.

From 1990 through 1997 the Dixie Amateur Championship was hosted at the Bonaventure Resort & Country Club in Fort Lauderdale. During this period, the tournament was held in December over the Christmas break. This move allowed a greater number of collegiate players to participate. The Dixie Amateur began attracting a very strong field at a time of year when there were no other amateur events. Golfweek magazine began awarding points towards Amateur National Rankings and a new wave of talent emerged including Tiger Woods in 1992 and Sergio Garcia in 1997.

In 1997 the Dixie Amateur created a Senior Division for players 50 years and older. This attracted a larger audience, increased exposure and an even stronger field resulted. Steve Earsley of Stuart, Florida won the inaugural event at Bonaventure Country Club and successfully defended his title again in 1998.

In 1998 the Dixie Amateur moved to Palm- Aire Country Club in Pompano Beach, Florida utilizing the two challenging course layouts designed by George and Tom Fazio.

The Oaks and Cypress courses have hosted several Florida Opens and in 1999, the PGA NIKE Tour’s South Florida Classic. From 1998 to the present, the Dixie Amateur has continued to grow and develop into one of the premier amateur golf tournaments.

Hunter Haas was our 2000 Dixie Amateur Champion. At that time, he was the number one ranked amateur golfer in the United States, had won the USGA Public Links Championship and was invited and played in the 2000 Masters. That year 57 colleges and universities were represented in the tournament.

In December of 2002, the Dixie Amateur petitioned Golfweek magazine to award points towards National ranking for the Senior Division. To comply with the ranking criteria, the age for the Senior Division was changed to age 55 and older. Seniors will receive National ranking points beginning in December of 2003.

The tournament committee added a new Ladies Division in January of 2003. The inaugural event attracted 5 of the top 20 nationally ranked Lady Amateurs. The first "Lady Dixie" Amateur Champion, Meaghan Francella, defeated Paula Creamer in the final match. Paula Creamer was the number one ranked Junior Girl in the United States.

In January of 2003 the Dixie Amateur attracted 257 golfers from as far away as the Peoples Republic of China, Australia, New Zealand and Scotland. There were students from 75 colleges and universities along with students from 26 different high schools, as far away as Los Angeles, California.

The Dixie Amateur is unique because of its history and because it is held at a time when the rest of the country is freezing cold. The “golfing world” takes a holiday break, there are no other amateur golf events to compete with, no collegiate tournaments and no PGA Tour events to steal the spotlight.

The Dixie Amateur continues as one of the oldest amateur golf championships in the country, rich in history and tradition.

PAST CHAMPIONS

2014 Mathilda Cappeliez
2013 Shannon Aubert
2012 Isabelle Lendl
2011 Paula Reto
2010 Paula Reto
2009 Lindy Duncan
2008 Candace Schepperle
2007 Alexis Thompson
2006 Vicky Hurst
2005 Angela Park
2004 Ashley Hoagland
2003 Angela Park
2002 Meaghan Francella

Dixie Amateur Senior Women’s Champions

2011 Diane Lang
2010 Diane Lang
2009 Diane Lang