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The United States Golf Association has taken a cut from the PGA Tour in forming a "feature group" for the 36 holes of stroke play Aug. 10-11 in the U.S. Amateur, at the Merion Golf Club and Philadelphia Country Club.
Jacksonville Beach native Miles Russell is part of the mix.
The USGA has grouped Russell, Preston Stout of Dallas and Tyler Watts of Huntsville, Ala., putting together three of the top four players on the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Stout is first, Watts third and Russell fourth. No. 2 Tyler Weaver of England is not in the field.
Russell, Stout and Watts will tee off at 1:03 p.m. on Aug. 10 from the first tee at Merion, and at 7:33 a.m. from the 10th tee at the Philadelphia Country Club. The top 64 players in stroke play will qualify for match play, beginning on Aug. 12.
Stout is a senior at Oklahoma State and Watts is entering Tennessee this fall. Russell has verbally committed to Florida State for the fall of 2027.
The other First Coast player in the field is Tyler Mawhinney of Fleming Island, who is playing with future Vanderbilt teammate Michael Riebe and high school student Anson Munzlinger of Columbia, Mo. Mawhinney enters Vanderbilt later this month and Riebe is a sophomore.
Russell has reached the finals of the U.S. Junior Amateur and the semifinals of the Western Amateur this summer. Mawhinney lost to Russell in the U.S. Junior semifinals.
David Bennett, who led the University of North Florida to five team victories from 1998-2001, has earned his PGA Masters Professional status, the highest education designation possible in the organization.
Bennett is co-founder of the Bennett Golf Group in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and Chief Operating Officer of the Hill Club. He is the 487th PGA Member to achieve the designation in Executive Management.
Bennett, a member of the UNF Hall of Fame, is tied for sixth all-time on the Ospreys career list with 17 career top-10 finishes and is one of only three players to win The Hayt, UNF's invitational tournament at the Sawgrass Country Club, in back-to-back years. He led the Ospreys to four team victories in 1999-2000, and a tie for second in the NCAA East Region.
The PGA Master Professional program was established in 1969 to recognize PGA of America Members who make a significant effort to improve as Golf Professionals. Individuals must have at least 10 years of PGA of America Membership, along with advanced certification through the PGA Specialized and Certified Professional Programs.
Bennett, a member of the Carolinas PGA Section, has been a PGA Professional since 2005, after graduating with a degree in Business Administration from UNF. He has also been a head pro at Stowe Country Club (VT), General Manager of the Country Club of Vermont and General Manager at Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville.
Bennett, alongside his wife Amy, established the Bennett Golf Group in December 2025, a consulting firm concentrating on golf operations and course development. Bennett Golf Group is currently developing a golf course in Florida called The Hill Club. Upon completion, Bennett will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, overseeing the club’s entire operation.
Chloe Schiavone of Jacksonville shot 69 in the first round and went to tie for third in the Florida Women's Open July 31-Aug. 2 at The Moorings at Hawk's Nest in Vero Beach.
Schiavone finished 4-under 212, five shots behind wire-to-wire winner Caroline Patterson of Jupiter.
Becca DiNunzio of Orange Park (218) tied for 13th and Elize Nograbat of St. Johns, Addy Vogt of Jacksonville and Cambree Hodge of Fleming Island tied for 16th (219).
The National Golf Foundation said U.S. golf courses are on track to set an annual record for rounds played for the fifth time in six years.
Rounds are up year-over-year by six percent in May and one percent in June. Rounds played are ahead of last year's pace in every month so far.
Since the post-COVID boom, golf rounds in the U.S. are about 16 percent ahead of a comparable period between 2013-2019. The nationwide trend is four percent ahead of the same time period in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Miles Russell will play in a power-packed group at U.S. Amateur
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Jacksonville Beach native Miles Russell is part of the mix.
The USGA has grouped Russell, Preston Stout of Dallas and Tyler Watts of Huntsville, Ala., putting together three of the top four players on the World Amateur Golf Rankings. Stout is first, Watts third and Russell fourth. No. 2 Tyler Weaver of England is not in the field.
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Russell, Stout and Watts will tee off at 1:03 p.m. on Aug. 10 from the first tee at Merion, and at 7:33 a.m. from the 10th tee at the Philadelphia Country Club. The top 64 players in stroke play will qualify for match play, beginning on Aug. 12.
Stout is a senior at Oklahoma State and Watts is entering Tennessee this fall. Russell has verbally committed to Florida State for the fall of 2027.
The other First Coast player in the field is Tyler Mawhinney of Fleming Island, who is playing with future Vanderbilt teammate Michael Riebe and high school student Anson Munzlinger of Columbia, Mo. Mawhinney enters Vanderbilt later this month and Riebe is a sophomore.
Russell has reached the finals of the U.S. Junior Amateur and the semifinals of the Western Amateur this summer. Mawhinney lost to Russell in the U.S. Junior semifinals.
Former UNF star earns PGA Master
David Bennett, who led the University of North Florida to five team victories from 1998-2001, has earned his PGA Masters Professional status, the highest education designation possible in the organization.
Bennett is co-founder of the Bennett Golf Group in Mount Pleasant, S.C., and Chief Operating Officer of the Hill Club. He is the 487th PGA Member to achieve the designation in Executive Management.
You must be registered for see images attach
Bennett, a member of the UNF Hall of Fame, is tied for sixth all-time on the Ospreys career list with 17 career top-10 finishes and is one of only three players to win The Hayt, UNF's invitational tournament at the Sawgrass Country Club, in back-to-back years. He led the Ospreys to four team victories in 1999-2000, and a tie for second in the NCAA East Region.
The PGA Master Professional program was established in 1969 to recognize PGA of America Members who make a significant effort to improve as Golf Professionals. Individuals must have at least 10 years of PGA of America Membership, along with advanced certification through the PGA Specialized and Certified Professional Programs.
Bennett, a member of the Carolinas PGA Section, has been a PGA Professional since 2005, after graduating with a degree in Business Administration from UNF. He has also been a head pro at Stowe Country Club (VT), General Manager of the Country Club of Vermont and General Manager at Cabot Citrus Farms in Brooksville.
Bennett, alongside his wife Amy, established the Bennett Golf Group in December 2025, a consulting firm concentrating on golf operations and course development. Bennett Golf Group is currently developing a golf course in Florida called The Hill Club. Upon completion, Bennett will assume the role of Chief Operating Officer and General Manager, overseeing the club’s entire operation.
Chloe Schiavone ties for third in Florida Open
Chloe Schiavone of Jacksonville shot 69 in the first round and went to tie for third in the Florida Women's Open July 31-Aug. 2 at The Moorings at Hawk's Nest in Vero Beach.
Schiavone finished 4-under 212, five shots behind wire-to-wire winner Caroline Patterson of Jupiter.
Becca DiNunzio of Orange Park (218) tied for 13th and Elize Nograbat of St. Johns, Addy Vogt of Jacksonville and Cambree Hodge of Fleming Island tied for 16th (219).
Another rounds record in the works
The National Golf Foundation said U.S. golf courses are on track to set an annual record for rounds played for the fifth time in six years.
Rounds are up year-over-year by six percent in May and one percent in June. Rounds played are ahead of last year's pace in every month so far.
Since the post-COVID boom, golf rounds in the U.S. are about 16 percent ahead of a comparable period between 2013-2019. The nationwide trend is four percent ahead of the same time period in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Miles Russell will play in a power-packed group at U.S. Amateur
Continue reading...
