Brad Knight set to return to defend his Sarasota City Championship title

The 2024 Sarasota City Championship at Bobby Jones Golf Club carried all the drama of a golf major as Brad Knight stepped up to the tee on No. 18.

Knight, clinging to a one-shot lead at the 412-yard, par 4, would see his second shot slip off the green. His chip would be a little strong, going past the hole.

No pressure, but he and his friends were the last group in the tournament on the course. So that also meant the entire field of 90-plus golfers were on hand to watch.

He was facing a 25-foot monster of a putt to avoid a playoff.

And like a pro, he drained it.

"That was crazy," Knight said. "That was one of the best shots of my career for sure. I had a lot riding on the line there because I was the last player in."

The city championships at Bobby Jones has been a Sarasota institution for 49 years and will hit the 50th milestone when as many as 100 golfers tee off late next month.

Knight, 34, is well chummy with the Jones course having grown up in Sarasota, went to Riverview High, and lives about 10 minutes from the course.

"I think I had my first tournament there when I was like, 12 years old or 13," Knight said. "I'm 34, so winning it last year was something special for me. I just remember being a kid and looking at that trophy."

Knight, a member of the Florida State Golf Association, most recently finished tied for 12th at the Two-Man Scramble Championship at Lakewood National Golf Club in Lakewood Ranch on Aug 10.

A past qualifier for the Florida Amateur Championships and the United States Mid-Amateur, Knight would like to be more than just a qualifier.

"In 2022 I qualified in the Mid-Amateur Tournament," he said. "If you do win the US Mid-Am you play in the Masters. So it's a big deal."

As the defending champion, Knight will point out that its been more than 10 years when a golfer last defended the Sarasota City Championship when Phil Walters accomplished the feat.

As of now, Bobby Jones' General Manager John Sparrow says there are about 60 golfers who have registered for the Sept. 27-28 tournament. Knight is the defending champion in the mens regular division, but there is a host of divisions for everyone.

"So we have a mens senior division for golfers age 50-64," Sparrow said. "We also have a super seniors division for golfers over 65, a womens division and junior (17 and under) division."

The tournament, held on the 6,240-yard, par-71 "Ross Course" is an open field that will draw golfers from areas away from the Sarasota area reach. 

"We have them come in from around the state," Sparrow said. "We even had a couple golfers come in from Ocala."

Cost for the City Championships is $250 and golfers can register at bobbyjonesgolfclub.com

Sparrow is even expecting to utilize the 9-hole, par-3 "Gillespie Course" which sits across Circus Blvd from the Ross Course.

"Last year we had a kind of family-friendly party on the par 3 course," Sparrow said "We had food out there, drinks out there. We had just a great time."

Last year, the tournament was played just after Hurricane Helene and remnant winds played an issue with the setup of the championships. 

As staff and golfers await the construction to begin on a new clubhouse, the club has been using a large tent to congregate under. 

"We had a projection screen to keep everyone updated on scores," Sparrow said. "It was windy and that was just fluttering in the breeze."

This year, the championship will display scores on an 85-inch TV, still under the tent, but a defense against too much breeze.

Although a bit of a breezy repeat, may not bother Knight.

"Last year was great to get that monkey off my back," he says. "It's a big goal of mine to go back-to-back."