Florida Open: First Round Results

The first round of the Florida Open is complete, and Gregg Edwards is in a tie for 58th place after shooting a two-over 73 on the day. After tomorrow, about 2/3 of the field will be cut, meaning that the top 50 and ties will probably advance. Edwards is right on the edge.

Orlando resident Camilo Benedetti leads the tournament with a blazing 7-under 64.

Benedetti was born in Medellin, Colombia, but moved to the US as a sophomore in high school. He starred at the University of Florida and was the first freshman in UF history to win the SEC Championship. He, Nick Gilliam, Bubba Dickerson and current PGA Tour pro Camilo Villegas were part of a dominant UF golf team that won the 2001 NCAA Championship. Benedetti tied the course record by posting a 65 in the final round of that tournament, and finished second overall, ahead of such familiar names as Lucas Glover, Ricky Barnes, D.J. Trahan, and Bryce Molder.

Benedetti's group, which included David Kirkpatrick (two-under 69) and Joseph Alfieri (two-under 69), shot the lights out in the first round.

Edwards was grouped with Guy Woodman (two-under 69) from Old Windsor, England, and David Damesworth (plus-eight 79) of Minneola, FL. Woodman was featured on the Golf Channel series, the Big Break IV as a member of the European team, and made it to the finals of the competition. Recently, he has been trying to qualify for full-time status on the European Tour. Damesworth is a veteran of the Hooters and Moonlight Tours who played college golf at Cornerstone University in Michigan.

Edwards tees off tomorrow at 12:48 PM. It promises to be a hot day, with zero percent chance of rain and a high of 89 degrees.

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