First round leader Darin Goldstein
(MGA Photo)
TAMPA, FL (February 22, 2017) - A flawless 5-under 65 has propelled
Darin Goldstein to the lead after day one of the Gasparilla Invitational hosted by Palma Ceia Golf and Country Club.
The native of New York, NY began his round with four consecutive pars before jump starting his round with the first of his five birdie on No. 5. Once that first birdie fell there was little that could slow down Goldstein who birdied Nos. 7, 10, 12 and 16 as well.
Goldstein is coming off a solid 2017 season that saw him
win his first Metropolitan Golf Association title, the MGA Mid-Amateur at Bayonne Golf Club. He also reached the quarterfinals at the Walter J. Travis Invitational and qualified for the U.S. Mid-Amateur for the third straight year.
Behind Goldstein are Phil Caravia (St. Louis, MO) and Derek Meinhart (Mattoon, IL) in second place at 4-under while Ben Snow and
2017 AmateurGolf.com Senior Player of the Year Doug Hanzel (Savannah, GA) are sharing fourth at 2-under.
Reigning U.S. Mid-Amateur champion
Matt Parziale (Brockton, MA) shot a 1-under 69 and site in 6th place, four shots behind Goldstein.
Two-time defending champion
Nick Mullhaupt (Indian Wells, CA) will have some work to do in order to make up ground in the final two rounds. Mullhaupt will begin the second round six shots off the lead following a 1-over 71 that leaves him in a tie for 16th.
Related: Nicholas Mullhaupt defends his Gasparilla Invitational Title
Related: Nicholas Mullhaupt upsets Scott Harvey at Gasparilla Invitational
The Gasparilla is unique in that the Senior competitors play in the Championship division, from the same tees as all of the other players. Hanzel's 68 puts him two shots ahead of the defending senior champion Bob Royak (Tampa, FL) and Don Whittemore (Temple Terrace, FL), both of whom shot even par in round one.
ABOUT THE Gasparilla Invitational
54-hole individual stroke play championship
with a
cut after 36 holes to the low 60 and ties. Good
mix
of Florida
players
and national competitors looking for an
early
season
tune up. Played on a traditional, tree lined
golf
course that isn't very long but has small,
undulating
greens.
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