If he had shot 70, no one would have said a word

Carson Klawonn opened the 78th Florida Open at Golden Ocala Golf Club on Friday with an 8-under 64, a competitive course record, and led by three. An hour later, Klawonn says the tournament director of the Florida State Golf Association called to tell he was "being withdrawn" from the event because he didn't meet the eligibility requirements. 

According to Jeff Magaditsch, executive director of the FSGA, Klawonn was withdrawn because he had played more than the maximum 26 mini-tour events allowed over the past 12 months (Aug. 1 to Aug. 1), as stipulated in the rules. However, Klawonn was allowed to play in last year's Florida Open despite exceeding the 26-event max. Also, multiple players I spoke with on Saturday pointed out that numerous players in this year's field hadn’t met the eligibility requirements. A search of a few resumes of players in this year's field confirmed that multiple players had played more than 26 events. 

Magaditsch stated that the eligibility rules are listed “in bold” in the entry fee and also there is a question you must answer stating that you read the eligibility rules. 

I also spoke with two players who had played in the Florida Open multiple times despite not meeting the eligibility requirements. They both confirmed that multiple players had exceeded the number of allowable events. 

One of the players in this year's field told me, "I was walking on the range this morning thinking, that guy plays full time, that guy plays full time, that guy plays full time." 

The Florida Open is open to pros, amateurs and section members. The $125,000 purse is one of the most lucrative on the mini-tour circuit, and the winner will take home $20,000. Entrants must be Florida residents, and the eligibility requirements also stipulate that players can compete in no more than six events on the major tours, a list that includes the PGA Tour, the DP World Tour, the LatinoAmerican Tour and the Korn Ferry Tour. The 26 events include 18-hole, one-day events. Monday qualifiers do not count; nor do the U.S. Open and PGA Championship. 

Klawonn, 28, plays full-time on the Minor League Golf Tour in South Florida. The MLGT runs mostly one- and two-day events about three times a week. He estimates he has played hundreds of events on the MLGT over the past six years and has career earnings of about $74,000. A large majority of those events have been one- or two-day tournaments. His biggest check is $4,300, and no other has been for more than $1,600. He has never played an event on an OWGR-sanctioned Tour. 

Maraditsch told me that after Klawonn got through the qualifier, the tournament staff Googled him but didn't turn up any events he had played in. After Klawonn opened with his 64, multiple players approached FSGA officials and alerted them about his mini-tour history. Maraditsch discovered that Klawonn had his MLGT profile set to private (a choice the tour gives players), and after Klawonn made it public, Maraditsch confirmed he didn't meet the eligibility requirements.

Klawonn doesn't dispute that. "I'm not sure what the rule is for,” he said, “and lots of players don't meet the requirements."

Another player in the field added, "If he had shot 70, no one would have said a word." 

Klawonn said he has tried to qualify for the Florida Open "since I was a kid." Last year he finally got through. He shot 71-73-77 and earned $1,120 for his 66th-place finish. From Aug. 1, 2022 to Aug. 1 2023, Klawonn played well over 60 events. When I asked Magaditsch about Klawonn not meeting the eligibility requirement, he said, "Our championship committee will begin the review of his status for the 2023 Florida Open in the coming days." Klawonn wondered why the rule wasn't enforced at least year's event.

"I'm not sure who they are trying to keep out,” one player said, “and it has a ripple effect." He explained that some players stop playing mini-tour events to stay eligible, some exceed the number and still play the Open, and others honor the 26-event max and don’t enter. "The mini-tours get hurt,” the player added, “but some guys play because they know other players who went over the limit still play." Multiple players said they call the event the "Florida Closed" because of the restrictions. 

Klawonn talked to me from his grandmother's house, where he lives to make ends meet as he pursues his dream of playing the PGA Tour. He lamented the fact that he lost out on a chance to cash the biggest check of his career. 

In the meantime, he’ll head back to the Minor League Tour.

Brad Schneider holds a one-shot lead entering the final round of the 78th Florida Open, with a 9-under 135 total. Among the players five back and tied for ninth is Luke Guthrie. Like Klawonn, Guthrie got through the June qualifier. He hasn’t played in a PGA Tour event since 2023, but he does have $3.12 million in career earnings on the big circuit.  

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