Latin America Amateur champion Aaron Jarvis made a First Coast stop last summer in Jacksonville Amateur
The latest amateur to qualify for the Masters Tournament made a stop on the First Coast last summer and contended for the Jacksonville Amateur Golf Association Amateur Championship.
Aaron Jarvis, a native of the Cayman Islands and a freshman at UNLV, won the Latin America Amateur on Sunday by one shot with a birdie on the final hole at the Casa de Campo “Teeth of the Dog” course in La Romana, Dominican Republic, nipping University of Florida freshman and Brazilian Fred Biondi.
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In July of 2021, Jarvis tied for third in the Jacksonville Amateur at Marsh Landing, with rounds of 72-68-72—212. He finished three shots behind winner Michael Smith.
Biondi, a Tampa resident, had a one-shot lead with two to play but bogeyed No. 17 and parred the par-5 18th. Jarvis (69) two-putted for birdie at the last for a 7-under 281.
"I can't even put this into words. What a day," Jarvis said. "It means the world to me. The opportunity to go to the Masters, the British Open. There's no young golfer who doesn't dream of anything but going to those tournaments."
In addition to becoming the first player from the Caymans to play at Augusta, Jarvis will get a spot in the U.S. Open at The Country Club.
Jarvis grew up in George Town, Cayman Islands, and has been working at the David Leadbetter Golf Academy in Orlando.
"I hope to get more kids involved and represent the country well," he said.
Swafford remembers a father’s love
Hudson Swafford, the latest resident of St. Simons Island, Ga., to win on the PGA Tour, captures his third career title on Sunday at The American Express in La Quinta, Calif., with a final-round 64.
But it was his first victory since his father, David Swafford, passed away in December at age of 83.
Swafford, a University of Georgia graduate and a native of Tallahassee eagled the par-5 16th hole and birdied the par-3 17th to win by two shots. It was his second victory at La Quinta, following up on his 2017 title.
It also came on the week that his father would have turned 84 years old.
“I know he was following and watching and to get it done, it was awesome,” Hudson said in his post-round news conference.
“He taught me everything I know,” continued. “How to be a dad, how to be a friend, how to be a champion, and how to play golf."
Early start
This week PGA Tour event, the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines, will begin on Wednesday, with the final round on Saturday, to give CBS all of Sunday afternoon for the AFC championship game between Cincinnati and Kansas City.
It’s also the middle event of three tournaments in a row played at multiple courses.
Last week’s American Express was played at the Nicklaus and Dye Tournament courses, and the La Quinta Country Club, this week will be at Torrey Pines North and South and next week’s AT&T Pebble Beach National Pro-Am will be at Pebble Beach, Monterey Peninsula and Spyglass.
For players who enter all three events and make the cut, that’s three tournaments, eight courses and 216 holes of golf in 18 days.
APGA, Tour share the weekend
The Advocates Professional Golf Association will play its 36-hole Farmers Insurance Invitational Saturday at the Torrey Pines North Course (while the weekend field for the PGA Tour event is playing on the South Course), and the APGA field will move to the South Course on Sunday, using the same hole locations that the Tour players had.
Golf Channel will carry the final round live at 5 p.m., with Damon Hack and Notah Begay III leading the broadcast team.
The winner of the tournament will get a berth in the Korn Ferry Tour’s Simmons Bank Open May 5-8 in College Grove, Tenn.
Established in 2010, the APGA Tour is a non-profit organization with the mission to prepare African Americans and other minority golfers to compete and win at the highest level of professional golf, both on tour and in the golf industry.
This is accomplished through professional tournaments, career development and mentoring sessions. The 2022 season marks the 10th year the PGA TOUR has supported the APGA Tour.
PGA TOUR
Event: Farmers Insurance Open, Wednesday-Saturday, Torrey Pines Golf Course, La Jolla, Calif.
At stake: $8.4 million purse ($1,512,000 and 500 FedEx Cup points to the winner).
Defending champion: Patrick Reed.
TV: Golf Channel (Wednesday, 12:30-4:30 p.m.; Thursday, 3-7 p.m.; Friday, 3-5 p.m.; Saturday, 2:30-4:30 p.m.); CBS (Friday, 5-8 p.m.; Saturday, 4:30-8 p.m.).
Area players entered: Jonas Blixt, Jonathan Byrd, Lanto Griffin, Billy Horschel, Patton Kizzire, Tyler McCumber, Keith Mitchell, Trey Mullinax, J.T. Poston, Doc Redman, Sam Ryder, Greyson Sigg, Hudson Swafford, Jared Wolfe.
Notable: Reed opened with a 64 to beat five players tied for second by five shots at 14-under 274. … The first star-filled field of the calendar year includes world No. 1 Jon Rahm, Players champion Justin Thomas, Bryson DeChambeau, Brooks Koeopka, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, Xander Schauffele and Rickie Fowler. … Rahm won the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines last year.
ROAD TO THE PLAYERS
When: March 10-13, Players Stadium Course at TPC Sawgrass.
Defending champion: Justin Thomas.
Days until first round: 40.
Events until Players: Seven.
Players trivia: Two players share the record for the lowest final round to win at 8-under 64, Fred Couples (1996) and Davis Love III (2003).
Tickets/info: theplayers.com.
LPGA TOUR
Event: Gainbridge LPGA, Thursday-Sunday, Boca Rio Golf Club, Boca Raton.
At stake: $2 million purse ($300,000 to the winner).
Defending champion: Nelly Korda.
TV: Golf Channel (Thursday-Friday, 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m.; Saturday, 12:30-2:30 p.m.; Sunday, 3-5 p.m.).
Area players entered: Marina Alex, Mel Reid.
Notable: Korda had four rounds in the 60s and beat Lexi Thompson and Lydia Ko by three shots. … Korda, her sister Jessica, Thompson, Ko and last week’s winner, Danielle Kang, lead the field.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Latin America Amateur champion Aaron Jarvis contended last summer in JAGA Amateur
