Bradley Goldstein (Stetson Athletics Photo)

Goldstein is a graduate senior at Stetson University.

Goldstein's round was anything but simple, highlighted by going eagle-double bogey-eagle on Holes No. 16-18. Goldstein started on No. 9, since it is a shotgun start, and made pars on the first five holes. After a birdie on No. 14 to move to 1-under, Goldstein made an eagle on the par-5 No. 16 and the par-5 No. 18, but he made a double bogey on the par-4 No. 17.

Goldstein followed up that stretch with birdies on holes No. 2, 5, and 6 and made a bogey on No. 8 to end his round with a 4-under 68.

It is a crowded leaderboard, with three golfers just one shot behind Goldstein and four golfers two shots behind.

Smith, Hofman, and Sullivan are just one shot behind at 3-under. Sullivan recorded five birdies and two bogeys, and Smith recorded six birdies, one bogey and one double bogey. Hofman recorded five birdies, two bogeys, an eagle, and a double bogey.

Joshua Pritchett, Dain Richie, Evan Myers, and Garrett Engle are all tied for fifth place at 2-under.

2023 champion C.J. Easley is T41 after a first-round 4-over 76.

In big amateur tournaments, Goldstein has recorded some great finishes over the last two years. He finished 12th at the 2022 Illinois State Amateur Championship and in solo sixth place at the 2023 Illinois State Amateur Championship, and tied for 13th at the 2022 Illinois Open. He also finished in solo eighth place at the 2023 Palmetto Amateur. He has recorded T24 and T6 finishes at the Dixie Amateur and recently finished T41 at the Orlando International Amateur. 

Mid-Amateur Division

Troy Vannucci and Michael Harrington are tied for first place in the Mid-Amateur Division after recording rounds of 1-under 71. Vannucci is the 2022 champion of the Mid-Amateur Division. Leighton Peavler is in solo third place at even-par, Devin Hernandez is in solo fourth place at 2-over, and Jay Halverson is in solo fifth place at 3-over.

Vannucci and Harrington both recorded two birdies and one bogey.

Senior Championship Division

Mike Barkley got off to a great start, shooting an even-par 72 to lead the division by four shots. Barkley recorded three birdies and three bogeys, with the bogeys coming on Holes Nos. 10-12. Barkley started on Hole No. 8 with a birdie, then fell to 2-over with three straight bogeys. Barkley responded with birdies on Nos. 16 and 5 to get to even-par. 

Miles McConnell and Tom Hyland are tied for second place at 4-over 76. Rob Cowen and Michael Kelley are tied for fourth place at 5-over. 

The second round will start at 9:00 am EST and will be 27 holes in anticipation of weather this weekend. It will again be a shotgun start. 

History of the New Year's Invitational

The New Year's Invitational, played at St. Petersburg Country Club in Florida, has been held every year since 1927. It is the oldest continuously-running invitational tournament in the Southeast and one of the oldest in the country. Originally it was one of a number of tournaments held in the winter months at clubs around the area. The other events, in fact, several of the other clubs, are long departed.

The tournament was a match-play event from its inception until 1956. The first winner was Clearwater resident A.T. Cooper. The 1928 winner, Johnny Revolta, was a combination course ranger - locker room attendant at Lakewood Country Club at the time he won. Later, Revolta became a very successful professional, winning the PGA Championship in 1935 and establishing quite a reputation as a short-game instructor. In 1938, he celebrated his return to St. Petersburg and Lakewood with a win at the St. Pete Open, a regular stop on the fledgling PGA tour.

Bob Goalby was the first winner after the change to stroke play. He went on to a lengthy PGA career, including a 1968 Masters green jacket. Between 1972 and 1991, Buddy Alexander, son of our longtime pro Skip Alexander, won 6 titles, the most wins for any player since the World War II era.

During the past two decades, the championship has been dominated by collegiate players, including winner Ryuji Imada in 1996, Jeff Klauk in 2000 (with a tournament record 21- under par 267), J.B. Holmes in 2003, Brandt Snedeker in 2004, and Jeff Overton in 2005. This year's field shows considerable promise, with entrants from around the U.S. as well as Canada, Germany, Finland, the UK, Colombia, Japan, and China. 2008 winner Bryce Ledford will not be back as he is pursuing a professional career.

Please contact Head Golf Professional Anthony Swinford at aswinford@stpetecountryclub.com for additional information about the event or about registration for the 99th New Years Invitational on a newly renovated golf course.