Ethan Weinberg, a rising sophomore at the University of West Florida, made two eagles and played his last five holes at 4-under to earn a share of the lead at 6-under 66 in the first round of the 80th Florida Open on July 17, at the Longboat Key Club Harbourside Course near Sarasota.
Weinberg is tied with professionals Chase Haygood of Orlando and Patrick Ross of Delray Beach. Jonathan Yaun of Minneola (67) is one shot behind and former University of North Florida assistant golf coach Tyler Gulliksen (68) is two back. All five leaders played the Harbourside Course.
Weinberg more than offset two bogeys with an eagle-three at No. 8 and an eagle-two at No. 15.
Haygood, a former University of Central Florida player, was bogey-free and birdied Nos. 17 and 18. Ross had only one bogey and birdied Nos. 15 and 18.
Andrew McLauchlan of Neptune Beach, who played collegiately at Wake Forest and Florida State, is the low First Coast resident with a 3-under 69 at Harbourside, tying for ninth. Three former UNF Ospreys are tied for 14th at 2-under: Kevin Aylwin, Andrew Riley and Sean Dale.
David Palm, a member of the pro staff at Glen Kernan, was tied for the lead at 4-under through seven holes at the Links Course. However, he played his last 10 holes at 4-over and shot even-par 71 to end in a tie for 28th.
Three-time Florida Open winner and defending champion J.C. Deacon, the University of Florida golf coach, shot 72 at the Links Course and is tied for 40th.
Players will switch courses in the second round on July 18. The low 60, plus ties, will play at the Harbourside Course in the final round on July 19.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: University of West Florida freshman Ethan Weinberg shares Florida Open lead
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